2019 Subaru Forester 🚙in the Gila Wilderness

[@rodc4334]

Funny, just found your videos, and we own a 2009 Forster now driven by our son, a 2015 driven by my wife, and a 2019 that I drive. A week after getting the 2019 took it on a similar or maybe worse road camping and hiking with my son. Then did some semi-serious off-roading (not planned, I got lost!) last summer with my wife (fortunately she is very calm!). Track was not only rather rough but in places it was about 95% as wide as the car! Lots of dirt and brush scratches; when we got home son said, "Wow! Its a real Subbie now!" Not a serious 4-wheel drive, but does remarkably well in somewhat rough condition and is a super snow car.

[@KurtPapke]

Thanks for your interesting comment. I’m from Minnesota, so have done plenty of snow driving, but not yet with the Forester. I’ll be taking it to Utah next month where there will be many miles of rough driving, hope it does OK!

[@cabinman]

I have never owned a Subaru but I've driven one and it's amazing how the AWD works so flawlessly...i remember taking off in gravel with a nice punch on the gas and it didn't even spin a tire.

[@AZdroptop]

Hi Kurt, I finally got around to watching your video. Great job, enjoyed your commentary and the scenery along the way. Look forward to getting together for our celebration here soon. Happy Thanksgiving.

[@eldorado5650]

Subscribed because of good content! This style is fit for overlanding-type vidoes.

[@KurtPapke]

Thanks for the insightful feedback, much appreciated.

[@kek1807]

Great video. Is that a Limited Model? Did you need to use the dual mode Xmode? Would a lift kit made it even easier?

[@KurtPapke]

It's a premium. No need for Xmode on this trip, and a lift kit was totally unnecessary for this road. Great questions!

[@Sirgromulus]

Very informative video! I just purchased a 2019 Sport model a few weeks ago (after driving a 2004 4Runner for the past 15 years). Just wondering how you like your Forester since filming this?

[@KurtPapke]

Great question. Had it for just under a year now, and it has been flawless. I am about to take it on a month-long 5,000 mile road trip to Minnesota, Montana, Wyoming, and Oregon. I'll have a lot more observations when I return in October!!

[@Sirgromulus]

@@KurtPapke Thanks for the update...great to hear. Have fun on your journey and safe travels!

[@joshstew85]

I'm planning on making this same drive in a month in my truck, but I'm a little concerned about having a longer wheelbase on some of those hills and hairpins. Is the road from Reserve any better, or about the same? Truck is a Ram 2500 4x4 crew cab and long bed (it's about the length of a city block, give or take).

[@KurtPapke]

A buddy of mine always takes the road from Reserve. Longer, but you get there in about the same amount of time because the road is much better. Yeah, some of those hairpins could be a challenge for your truck, especially if there’s someone coming from the opposite direction.

[@joshstew85]

@@KurtPapke Good to know. I'm planning on calling the Ranger Station in Reserve and getting a report on road conditions and stuff like that too. Have you (or anyone you know) ever fished in Snow Lake? Any luck?

[@KurtPapke]

joshstew85 have not fished the lake. No boats on it when I was there either.

[@maxdietter2292]

What tires are you running? Stock or upgrade?

[@KurtPapke]

Good question: stock

[@canyonoverlook9937]

Have you ever driven the 21 mile unpaved road in Organ Pipe National Monument? If so, could it be done in a regular rental car or should I get a high clearance suv at the rental agency? I don't want to break down and then not be covered because I wasn't supposed to take the car on that road. I might have to ask the rental car company. Have you done any hikes in Organ Pipe? I am thinking of going there in Mid Nov. I don't think that and Saguaro National Park will be too hot. Any recommended hikes in Saguaro and Organ Pipe? Or any others in the Tucson area? Day hikes only. I wish the Forester had a steering wheel that you can hold right at the bottom but it looks like it has a post there. I can't stand that steering wheel design and more and more cars have it.

[@KurtPapke]

Organ Pipe: if you can rent a compact SUV you'll be fine. I drove it a couple of years ago, but a lot depends on recent maintenance. We've had a lot of rain this Fall, so I am guessing it'll be a bit washed out in spots. I've only done short day hikes there, so can't be of too much help on hike guidance at OP. Saguaro: if you look at the Arizona hiking trails section of my youtube channel you'll find a complete guide to backpacking the Rincons, and several day hikes in the West unit in the Tucson Mtns. While in Tucson you should hit Sabino Canyon and day hike up Romero Canyon in Catalina SP.

[@canyonoverlook9937]

@@KurtPapke Thanks for the info.

[@canyonoverlook9937]

@@KurtPapke I am going to be there 5 full days and I was thinking of 3 days in Tuscon and 2 in Phoenix, but I might switch to all 5 in Tucson. Saguaro 1 day, Sabino Canyon 2nd day, maybe Kitt Peak 1 day, then Organ Pipe. Do you think Organ Pipe is worth the drive if I am going to be there for 5 days? It's 2.5 hours or so each way I read. Maybe I could stay a night closer in Ajo. I could stop at Kitt Peak and then drive the rest of the way to OP and stay overnight in Ajo and then do OP 1 day. I don't know if logistically that is good.

[@KurtPapke]

Canyon Overlook will you have camping gear? Organ Pipe has a fantastic campground. Not many places to stay in Ajo, but that’s the best spot. Makes great sense to stop at Kitt Peak on the way to OP. Check the tour times so you can see the scope you are interested in.

[@canyonoverlook9937]

@@KurtPapke I won't have camping gear. Camping gear seems to allow you to be a little more flexible though.

[@ronhudson1161]

How was the gas mileage?

[@KurtPapke]

After about 1000 miles of driving I'm averaging about 30.5 mpg

[@johnganshow5536]

I got rid of my lifted Ram 1500, road noise, gas guzzler, 6 cylinder. Got a regular 2018 Ram Hemi 8 cylinder, better gas mileage, quieter, and if the road is going to be really rough, I can bring the Polaris 850. I spend to much time on the pavement for my every day driver to be that off road capable...

[@KurtPapke]

I've owned a Dakota and a Silverado. Great for when I owned a boat to tow, but that's capablity I don't need now.

[@raydavies3278]

One lane ?? yes and only 20 feet wide,sad.

[@KurtPapke]

Yeah. It was a real problem on the way in when I encountered a huge pair of RV's, that should *not* have been on this road, going the other way. If my Subie had one more coat of paint, woulda scratched it.