The Modifications to Our TransAmerica Trail 2025 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness

July 28, 2025 / Andy Lilienthal / 1 Comment

We did it! We completed the TransAmerica Trail from Nags Head, North Carolina, to Port Orford, Oregon, in a 2025 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness. It was a heck of an adventure spanning more than 7,100 miles with over 3,100 of that being unpaved. One question we get regularly asked is what modifications were made to the…

Continue reading →

We’re Running the TransAmerica Trail in a 2025 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness

March 4, 2025 / Andy Lilienthal / 2 Comments

For years, I was curious with the TransAmerica Trail (TAT). This is a transcontinental route, primarily on dirt, going from North Carolina to Oregon. When I first learned about it, I was intrigued; most who ran it did it on motorcycles. Then I heard it was doable in a four-wheeled vehicle, and I added to…

Continue reading →

Automotive Detailing: How Much Do You Do?

September 2, 2024 / Andy Lilienthal / Leave a comment

Who doesn’t love the look of a freshly cleaned and detailed car? Lately, we’ve been traveling a lot, so I haven’t had a chance to do as much automotive detailing as I wanted. However, over the Labor Day weekend, I gave our rides some TLC. This included some intense detailing, including the engine bay.

Continue reading →

Adding a Light Bar, Lights, and Armor to our 2022 Subaru Crosstrek

April 15, 2023 / Andy Lilienthal / 1 Comment

Our goal with our Crosstrek was to add just a bit more capability to it. We want to hop in it and go pretty much anywhere we want (within reason). So after we added the 15×7 Reika Seeker wheels and 215/75/15 BFGoodrich KO2 tires, we added a light bar, lights, and armor to our 2022 Subaru Crosstrek. You can see how we did this in our Subaru Crosstrek video above.

Continue reading →

Crosstrek Wheels and Tires: Reika Vehicle Solutions and BFGoodrich

September 29, 2022 / Andy Lilienthal / 4 Comments

I’m a hopeless wheel and tire junkie. I absolutely love what a great set of wheels and tires can do to a car’s appearance. And, of course, we knew our Crosstrek would end up with a good set of rollers and shoes. Before making our selection, I did a bunch of research on which way…

Continue reading →

Nameless Performance Subaru Crosstrek Strut Tower Bar Installation

September 14, 2022 / Andy Lilienthal / 1 Comment

Today, our 2022 Subaru Crosstrek finally crossed over 1,000 miles! But shortly before that, we installed yet another modification, this time in the form of a Nameless Performance Strut Tower Bar. This modification is done to help increase handling and structural rigidity and decrease chassis flex on the Crosstrek. If this helps to increase handling, we’re all for it.

Continue reading →

First Crosstrek Mod: Nameless Performance Executive Axle Back Exhaust

August 14, 2022 / Andy Lilienthal / 2 Comments

Well, that didn’t take long. We’ve already installed our first modification onto our 2022 Subaru Crosstrek. We don’t even have 900 miles on it. So first things first? Let’s make this thing a bit louder. We installed a Nameless Performance Executive Axle Back Exhaust. So far? We’re impressed.

Continue reading →

We Bought a 2022 Subaru Crosstrek

August 9, 2022 / Andy Lilienthal / 3 Comments

There’s a new ride in the Crankshaft Culture driveway. No, not the Alcan 5000 Outback Wilderness, but close. We actually bought a 2022 Subaru Crosstrek—like, with our own money. It was time to retire our steadfast 2007 Toyota Yaris liftback and add a go-everywhere (at any time) daily driver. We’re totally going to keep it…

Continue reading →

Crankshaft Chronicles: Marlon Chopra’s Subaru Crosstrek

July 5, 2018 / Andy Lilienthal / Leave a comment

Marlon Chopra was living in Portland, Oregon when he learned his sister wanted to get rid of her Tangerine 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek. He jumped at the chance to buy it from her. One thing: his sister was 3,000 miles away in New Jersey. So he did what any raging gearhead would do: He flew…

Continue reading →

2018 Subaru Crosstrek Details

March 8, 2017 / Andy Lilienthal / Leave a comment

Subaru showed off its all-new 2018 Crosstrek this week at the Geneva International Motor Show. It retains a lot of the things people love about the lifted hatchback and adds a few new goodies, too.

Continue reading →