2019+ Subaru Forester How To Roof Rail Delete & Headliner Drop

[@decdragon]

With the wheel upgrades and roof rails remove it looks gorgeous

[@MatthewHeiskell]

Thanks! 😄 I've kinda switched gears and now I'm going for a bit of a sleeper vibe. I think it is so much fun to drive something that looks so chill but is surprisingly capable off road.

[@HollingworthTim]

Nicely made video. Appreciate lack of drama and music. Thinking of removing my rails and this was very useful for seeing what it entails. Thanks for putting it together.

[@MatthewHeiskell]

Thanks! 😄 happy to help!

[@pf465]

The car is looking really clean and sharp - (er). I'll admit I like the way it came out without the roof rails, and I would love to do this to mine if they were not so darn useful in my highest use of the car. Keep up the good work.

[@MatthewHeiskell]

Thanks! 😄 Yeah, they are really useful for some people. I'd left them on the car if they were the Outback style, you know, with the folding cross bars built in.

[@mrcha0s]

IMO he roof rails are one of the positive things about the car for anyone who does any outdoor activities or road tripping. Never thought of removing them

[@MatthewHeiskell]

Yeah, they are really useful for a lot of people, that's why I added the part at the beginning about using this video to install a big fancy roof rack.

[@johnopetersen96]

Looks great! I'm looking to do this on my 18' so I can install a prinsu rack and this is the most detailed video I've found. Thank you!

[@MatthewHeiskell]

Awesome! I was hoping this video would be useful to as many people as possible!

[@billb571]

Certainly looks a lot cleaner with the roof rail delete. Keep it up!

[@MatthewHeiskell]

Thanks Bill! 😄

[@santims82]

5:10 I need to replace the antenna. If you only needed to remove the back portion of the headliner, what parts do you recommend removing to get to it? Do all the pillars from the back seat to the trunk need to be removed?

[@MatthewHeiskell]

Yes, everything from the B pillars back. You don’t want to damage or crease the headliner.

[@santims82]

@@MatthewHeiskell thank you. Video was very helpful!

[@Yang-cz1jo]

oh my, I need to do the exactly same thing, replace the antenna😂 do it work out for you

[@santims82]

@@Yang-cz1jo I took the dome light out of the trunk and worked carefully within the opening and slightly pulled down the center back of the headliner. Took about a half hour.

[@Yang-cz1jo]

@@santims82 thanks! I just tried today, I can put two hands in, but still having trouble to unplug the two wires... any special tool or tricks you used?😂 thanks

[@stickman-1]

Totally agree it looks very clean and nice. But not sure i'd be grinding away the nail heads. What if you need to put them back on some day?

[@MatthewHeiskell]

Yeah, haha, this was a permanent mod.

[@johngifford7725]

We just bought another 2010 Forester. She gets the nice one, and I'm keeping the rough one. I was going to steal the roof rails off of her nice one and install them on the rough one because it's getting a lift, AT tires, and bumpers. After seeing this, I think I'll do an after-market rail and rack system.

[@MatthewHeiskell]

Haha, yeah, messing with roof rails is a bit involved. Lots of aftermarket options like you said though. Sounds like it's going to be a sweet build! Try disconnecting or removing your swaybars. It adds a massive amount of off road capability and just a little more body roll on the road. Totally worth it for me.

[@lexiirose5483]

I followed your video and it worked out perfectly! We had it all ready to go to take off the rails and found out 2 of the bolts are stripped and we can't take the nuts off... Do you have any ideas in removing them as its a tight spot? We thought about heat like a torch, or a nut cutter? Or trying to cut the bolt and nut off completely? Thank you! Anything helps❤

[@MatthewHeiskell]

I’m glad to hear the video helps. Sorry to hear about the fussy fasteners. I recommend a nut cutter or Vice Grip Pliers.

[@mr1blakman]

Did you have part number or link for molding/weather strip that goes in place when roof rack when removed

[@MatthewHeiskell]

Sure! Here you go! parts.subaru.com/a/Subaru_2019_Forester-25L-CVT-Base-Premium/_51505_7497805/MOLDING-ROOF-MOLDING/S14-915-01.html You want the 91046B and 91046C

[@mr1blakman]

@@MatthewHeiskell Thx looks like 91066 also needed to hold that molding in place.

[@Korrui]

@@MatthewHeiskell images on Subarus website make it look like the ones with the cutouts for the roof rails lol. They are in actuality the flush ones though correct?

[@crazymonkeyGames-o95]

In your opinion after stripping it for access to the underside of the rails bolts.... where would you run cables for a platform mounted lightbar?

[@MatthewHeiskell]

I'd run the wires up the edge of the windshield and hide them using this stuff: amzn.to/46sajTx

[@crazymonkeyGames-o95]

@@MatthewHeiskell thanks mate.

[@blueline5150]

Man I wish I could do that with my 19 Outback! Great job!!!!

[@MatthewHeiskell]

Thanks! 😄 the process should be practically the same for your Outback.

[@blueline5150]

Finding the weather strip to fit seems to be the problem…… What did you order from Amazon?

[@MatthewHeiskell]

Yeah, Amazon. I think I put links in the video text description section.

[@blueline5150]

That link is for the dome light LEDS. I thought you got the weather strips from Amazon I may be wrong though.

[@stanstann6158]

What are the part numbers for the moldings and clips you replaced the roof rails with?

[@MatthewHeiskell]

I didn't replace the parts, I did a weird DIY thing, but these are the parts that a normal person would use, haha. parts.subaru.com/a/Subaru_2019_Forester-25L-CVT-Base-Premium/_51505_7497805/MOLDING-ROOF-MOLDING/S14-915-01.html Specifically 91046B and 91046C

[@bugoutfozzy]

Dude. That looks fantastic!

[@MatthewHeiskell]

Many thanks! 😄

[@siralouiskiat.6561]

Cooool…So what a spec on Lifted Kit ( medium load or high load )? I’m looking for Ironman Lift Kit but I don’t know how stiff filling. Thank you for sharing all VDO.

[@MatthewHeiskell]

I have the original version of the Ironman suspension. I guess they call it “medium” spring rate now. It sits a littler lower than the Spec-C version, but the ride is more comfortable and I still have the extra suspension travel. Get the stiffer spring version if you carry a lot of stuff, or if you want more ground clearance at the expense of some comfort.

[@Doc1855]

What are you going to attach your basket to for hauling things on your roof?

[@MatthewHeiskell]

They make universal roof rails that attached were the door opens at the top, I could use those if I really wanted to.

[@Em_Echo]

I have to remove/displace only one rack because of a dent that occurred mid-rear door that creeps underneath the rack and causes a break in the continuity of the rack line. Is there any way to displace one half of the headliner to address the whole dent? @Matthew Heiskell

[@MatthewHeiskell]

No, sorry, you have to drop the whole head liner.

[@FOZ23]

Was there a reason why the sunroof was open during removal of everything? Also kind of a specific question but how much space would you say is between the open sunroof and the roof above it.

[@MatthewHeiskell]

I had the sunroof open to possible improve access. There’s an inch or two in places up there in the gap.

[@FOZ23]

​@@MatthewHeiskellthank you for the information 🙏

[@tpseeker3367]

Gonna have to let us know if the MPG's changed at all.

[@MatthewHeiskell]

Haha, I was thinking about that too! In theory the air over the top should be less disturbed, but I doubt that the improvement is enough to measure.

[@tpseeker3367]

Slim Potatohead didn't think using a snowboard as a wind deflector would do much for his trailer either @@MatthewHeiskell . Shoot even fog lights on the hood by the windshield eats up MPG's. Watched a few vids on where even folding in side mirrors adds MPG's saved.

[@SamSam-ih6nt]

My guy took his subaru to a base model from 15 years ago 😅

[@MatthewHeiskell]

I’ve got a 24’ Forester Wilderness on the way and I’m going to do the same thing! I prefer the clean look and putting anything up there kills your highway MPGs.

[@SteveC-Aus]

Nice tutorial video mate - what are you long term plans for the car?

[@MatthewHeiskell]

Thanks Steve! That's a good question! I think it is just about complete. I might add some pre-load spacers that I designed to compensate for the extra nose weight of the winch and bumper, but I don't have any other major plans for it. Oh, maybe some electrical stuff. I'd really like a "always on" 12 volt source in the cargo area.

[@SteveC-Aus]

@@MatthewHeiskell Sounds good! So looks like it's going to be your off-road rig for some time to come!

[@MatthewHeiskell]

Yeah, exactly! It’s 4 years old now, 42,000 miles. I just changed the oil in both diffs and the CVT. Everything’s lookin’ good to go!

[@eugenegutierrez5106]

I like the wheels. I was in the market to buy these wheels because it’s lighter and price it’s reasonable.

[@MatthewHeiskell]

Yeah, they are excellent wheels for the price. You get high quality manufacturing and light weight at a great price. Certainly one of the most popular wheels. Very proven.

[@Doc1855]

I would have kept the roof rails myself. They come in handy when needing to haul stuff on the roof for overnight camping

[@MatthewHeiskell]

Yeah, I certainly sacrificed some functionality to adjust the look, haha

[@kelsey809]

😎👍

[@MatthewHeiskell]

Many thanks! 😄