Offroading Shotgun Creek: Subaru + Jeeps + Hondas

[@JonDZ_Adventuring]

It's so nice to see all the different car brands getting dirty together. Your Subaru looked great on the logs! Also, congratulations on the growth of your channel, it's about doubled since your last video. Keep up the exceptional work!

[@softroadingthewest]

Thanks Jon! I have to admit climbing over the log pile was more fun than I would've thought. 8^) Appreciate the kind words. (To anyone else reading these comments, this ^ guy has been a huge inspiration for everything I do with my Forester and the spirit of sharing information. If you're not already subscribed to him, go check out his channel.)

[@joevasquez1776]

I remember taking my completely stock tired crv into places I probably shouldn’t have. So fun.

[@jmfaria450]

I did that route on my dualsport today. Lots of fun to be had up there. Cool video. Keep em coming.

[@wuddupboy96]

Where is this route or what’s it called ? I live in Eugene and trying to hit a trail with my new truck

[@silver_rd1545]

Awesome video dude! You did an excellent job capturing us all out there. Thanks again for capturing and sharing footage 👍🏼 I loved some of those slo-mo and replay segments you used, great job! I’ll post mine up now as well.

[@softroadingthewest]

Thanks, it wouldn't have come together without your footage in there, that really completed the story - and allowed me to actually appear in the video a little here and there. 8^)

[@robbergstrom943]

Looks like a blast. I was very nervous for a second and thought the civic would go for it in the log obstacle! The Forester breezed over.

[@richr7604]

Wow! Another good video and narration. Looks like you guys have a blast up there!!

[@alexanderweaver9182]

Wow! Great job, Lucie! That had to be incredible fun. Now I know I want to move back to Oregon. I don't know if full sized vehicles are allowed on the sand dunes but we used to take an amphicat out on them back in '69. We had a wonderful commander who purchased the amphicat and a boat for everyone's use. I think Oregon is the ultimate playground offering landscapes for all types of outdoorsmen. Ten Mile Lake provided food for our tables. Crabbing on the piers was such a blast for my kids. Now that I'm a bigger and older kid I want to go 4-wheeling with other bigger and older kids :)

[@softroadingthewest]

Yes, there are still areas where you can drive on the dunes and we've done it a couple of times...keep poking through my videos, you'll find them. :-) I haven't gone crabbing since I was a kid but that's a great idea.

[@danhohman]

Looks like a fun trip! A little muddier than my side of the mountain! The view over the fog is fantastic!

[@softroadingthewest]

Yeah, this is less "wilderness exploration" than I'm usually after but I do feel there is a definite value in tackling obstacles in OHV parks with buddies, to safely gain a better feel for what your vehicle will or won't do without worrying about getting stuck. And as much as I love quiet, introspective wilderness excursions, it is undeniably fun to get out and just offroad a bit. 8^) It's pretty cool to get up over the valley fog and see the sun, though it's even better when you can get up here and actually see the view down into the valley. Thanks as always for watching and commenting!

[@jmsuitter5]

Very cool to see different vehicles doing there thing and making it happen

[@BackroadExploration]

Awesome trip! So beautiful and very impressed with what you put the rigs through on the adventure!

[@softroadingthewest]

Thanks! Not a bad little trip for being right in our backyard. Plenty of stuff on that Jeep trail we couldn't tackle, but I guess knowing your limitations is important! 8^)

[@Meka.83c]

Hey buddy! Greetings from Eugene! Stumbled upon your channel after acquiring a gently used 2000 Outback with 350k! I love your creative mod ideas and love the content you create! Maybe someday I'll catch you out there!

[@softroadingthewest]

Nice! Congrats on the Outback, see you around I'm sure!

[@MrRawlings20]

@softroadingthewest Did that one guy have a Front wheel drive civic?!

[@softroadingthewest]

Yep, Evan runs that crazy build in the Gambler 500 here in Oregon. The silver CRV in this video is actually also only front wheel drive but Shawn gets surprisingly far with it. Thanks for watching!

[@Hershel_777]

Heck yes I drive a fwd Civic. Lol. It does well for a non VTEC.

[@VeteranParanormal1]

Thanks for this video new to the area and was having hard time for places to get away😊

[@ALNSMOVERLAND]

Sweet video ! And as usual that was a very beautiful area, it's a nice feeling to be higher than clouds ! I had a really good laugh when your friends were taking pics of their car instead of enjoying the landscape ahahaha typical car guys ! (Yes, I do the same!) Keep up the good work and thanks for sharing !

[@softroadingthewest]

Thank you! There is definitely some ALNSM Overland influence in the making of this video...all that muddy splashy action inspired me to ask myself, what would Jordan do? 8^)

[@ALNSMOVERLAND]

@@softroadingthewest Just send it ! 👊 Ahahah, glad to hear that I give you some inspiration ! The result with your touch is very entertaining ! And I also agree with JonDZ, the foz was majestic on those logs ! Nice footage 🙌

[@Soren-rc3jy]

Great video man! So you guys entered at McGowen Creek Road and eventually met up with Shotgun Creek Road? Reason I ask is because the Shotgun Creek Road Loop doesn't seem to get to the elevations and views that you experienced (from what I can tell from topo maps). Any info on what route you took would be greatly appreciated!!

[@swidahooverlanding2867]

Looks like a cool place to wheel.... I was wondering if you guys where airing down. Tires looked still too firm going over those logs. I was going to recommend airing down, but then at the end of the video I saw you guys were airing up. Looks like you have a few more subscribers since last time ;-) ... See you on the trails, George.

[@softroadingthewest]

I always air down, from 37 usually down to about 22. Even when I don't *need* the traction, it's worth it just to smooth out the ride. Only one other guy out with us also aired down; everyone else opted not to. For sure I could've been even lower going over the log pile, though I hadn't been up that trail before and didn't know what was coming...ultimately managed to crawl over them without too much trouble. No low range (alas!) on the Forester so it's pretty hard not to get a little wheel spin sometimes. I'm sure that Jeep Cherokee would've struggled a lot less on the logs had he aired down. 8^) Thanks for watching...hoping we can hit a trail together someday!

[@oic1968]

Would like to know more about the crv build as it is not typically out of parking lots

[@emiliotrench]

Just found your channel. Makes me want to go visit Oregon. Also at 6:16 a branch makes it look like the guy in the hoodie is peeing

[@softroadingthewest]

LOL, I had not noticed that before. Won't be able to un-see that now... 8^D

[@dagger281]

Very cool, might take my stock crosstrek up Shotgun creek and poke around!😁

[@jmsuitter5]

Lovin the music choices

[@ponceanthony]

Awesome channel. Just bought myself a Tacoma and want in on off-roading but didn’t know of good places for beginners!

[@softroadingthewest]

Are you in Lane County? There's not a lot of "real" offroading but there are plenty of BLM and National Forest roads within easy reach and with a bit of exploring there are often interesting little spur roads to tackle. Publiclands.org or the public lands overlay in Gaia GPS are great ways to identify these areas and just go poke around, though you do have to stay on the established roads...mostly straightforward well-graded gravel roads, but fun little surprises here and there. The Shotgun Creek OHV area is pretty motorcycle/ATV oriented, not a lot for those of us in street-legal rigs but there are more extensive OHV options in central Oregon and also up in the Tillamook area. Still, if you're in the Eugene area, heading up McGowan Creek/Shotgun Creek offers some nice exploring. Thanks for watching!

[@ponceanthony]

softroadingthewest thanks for the reply! I’m actually up in Portland. I’d like to start around here and then start venturing a bit further. Love your videos

[@softroadingthewest]

@@ponceanthony I haven't been, but I think there are some OHV areas in the Tillamook forest. Also just getting up onto National Forest land surrounding Mt. Hood is also nice because there are some spectacular views to be had, and up in that area there is the old Barlow wagon road which is a popular Jeep trail (I haven't done that either but looks interesting).

[@andrewthepanda95]

do you have to have good clearance on your vehicle to be able to get up into that area where you saw the Vista above the clouds?

[@softroadingthewest]

The roads are reasonably well graded gravel but I wouldn’t go up there in a slammed car, there can be a few rough patches and deep potholes. But nothing hardcore to get to some of these viewpoints, just basic logging roads.

[@andrewthepanda95]

@@softroadingthewest so do you think that a stock Subaru legacy 2014 be able to get up there?

[@softroadingthewest]

@@andrewthepanda95 Not to be evasive, but honestly I hesitate to say with any certainty what vehicle can or can't do what road. The moment I do, someone will have a bad experience and then come back to me saying "but you said I could!." 8^) Everyone has different tolerance levels for what constitutes a passable road. And I don't know what the ground clearance is on a stock Legacy...they seem lower than the Forester/Outback/Crosstrek. There are roads up there that would be cake for your Legacy. There are also roads which may be challenging or bottom you out, but you don't have to take them. My suggestion would be to just go poke at it and see how it feels. It's a nice drive out through the Mohawk Valley and you can get quite a ways up into the hills on pavement. Then just start exploring the gravel roads and see what your comfort level is. That's basically what I did to figure out what I could or couldn't do. 8^) Good luck and have fun!

[@andrewthepanda95]

@@softroadingthewest That makes sense thank you for responding thought in your video the only thing that looked a bit challenging would be the part where you said most of the vehicles had some difficulty but not the Jeep. I know my car doesn't have much clearance but that doesn't stop me from wanting to take it places like that.

[@softroadingthewest]

@@andrewthepanda95 Yeah, that particular little dead-end spur I probably wouldn't recommend for a vehicle that isn't lifted or has good ground clearance to begin with, but you don't need to take that road to get to some of these viewpoints. Go check it out, I suspect you'll be just fine. 8^)

[@dougsfan9984]

Great video!! Cars still allowed at OHV? I thought cars are considered ORV.

[@softroadingthewest]

In Oregon, street-legal vehicles can drive OHV trails, but only those which are designated for Class II ATVs (Jeeps/4x4s) and you must have an ATV permit on the vehicle.

[@dougsfan9984]

@@softroadingthewest that's very nice. I don't think that's the case in MN.

[@isaacvargas1423]

Awesome! I’m looking for a place to go off roading LOL and awesome

[@jmsuitter5]

Liking that Honda CR-V

[@mikeschannel-85]

What specific trails did you hit?

[@teto6180]

I can't wait to move up there!

[@AlexandrosKomm]

Hi . My name is Alex. I am from Greece and I have been watching all your videos .I also have a Forester SH and I would like to ask you something. When you are driving off road. Is it better to have the traction control on or off ? Cause I was trying to cross a small hill and unless I had momentum it felt almost impossible.

[@AlexandrosKomm]

Also it's a manual gearbox and I also have low and high ratio gearbox.

[@softroadingthewest]

For me it really depends on the driving surface. I leave traction control ON nearly all of the time, but switch it off in scenarios where the automatic braking of spinning wheels makes it harder to get over/through an obstacle. In sand, deep snow, up steep hills in loose dirt, and mud, turning OFF traction control can help, because you need the wheels to keep spinning. On rutted terrain that provokes diagonal wheel lift, having the traction control ON helps transfer the power to the wheels that are on the ground. I also find traction control to work wonderfully when driving gravel roads with a little more speed...it's very good at keeping the car in line if you go into a turn a little too fast. And traction control is helpful on hardpacked snow or icy conditions where minimizing wheel spin is definitely desired.

[@griffinmead934]

What year is your subaru? Im looking into Forester but am not sure what would be better. The 3rd gen Foresters with the 4EAT trans or the 4th gen with the CVT

[@softroadingthewest]

Mine was a 2012. 3rd-gen, 4EAT. Based on my experience with my 3rd gen 4EAT and some of my friends' experience with the 4th gen Forester with the CVT, the only Forester I would buy is a 3rd gen. In addition to the solid, proven-reliable 4EAT transmission, it has better approach & departure angles than the 4th gen, can run 15" wheels on all models including XT turbo versions, can fit a full size spare in the factory spare well (assuming you don't go too far oversize on tires), and most importantly, doesn't have the CVT. The 3rd-gen Foresters run 2009-2013 (U.S. model years). In the US, 2009 & 2010 have an older EJ25 engine which will require a timing belt replacement every 100,000 miles and may see head gasket issues. 2011-2013 have the newer FB25 engine which has a timing chain instead of belt and multi-layer steel head gaskets that theoretically should be far less prone to failure, BUT suffer from dangerously excessive oil consumption that needs to be closely monitored if the short block hasn't had a warranty replacement. If you have a 2011-2013 FB25 Forester that is out of warranty, running 5W30 instead of the 0W20 Subaru tells you to run can greatly mitigate the oil consumption issue. I still feel the 3rd-gen Forester is the best "modern"-ish Subaru for offroad/overland use. It's literally the only Subaru I would buy again. I no longer have my Forester (totaled in a wreck earlier this year) but I absolutely loved that car.

[@wvoutdoorsman5326]

Beautiful views👍

[@kevinhammond9556]

Could you share any info on the Civic, or ask @hershel_777 to? I've got an '03 civic and that's just the thing I've been wanting to do with it. Looks like a 2" lift with a bit of cutting to fit the tires. I'd love to know what size he's running. So far a 27x8.5 is the only AT tire I've been able to find in 14".

[@softroadingthewest]

He's on Instagram @hershel_777 - that would be the best place to find info or message him. He's mostly been running his Jeep lately but if you scroll through you'll find his Civic, he may have details posted, not sure.

[@Hershel_777]

Honda rescue garage or aerogenics have lift spacer sets. I use aerogenics 1"lift spacers. I run 27x8.5r14 maxxis bighorn tires with 2 inch wheel spacers. Wheel bearings are not happy after 4 years of it. Thanks to Shawn in the silver cr-v, soon I will be running cr-v front struts and springs with the 1"spacers doubled up in the rear to make up for the front. If needed I can also flip and swap the lower control arms to gain another 1.25" of free lift. I just need to do it and see if I have to get adjustable camber links from positive camber.

[@seannscott7206]

Where are all the gen.1and 2 ford escapes?

[@aaronwilson3004]

What the bull bar that you have on? Just bought a 2013 Forester X Limited 🤙🏼

[@aaronwilson3004]

Nevermind...Rally Innovations 😂 Great Rig man.

[@softroadingthewest]

Haha, that was easy! 8^D Thanks for watching, and good luck with your Forester build!

[@deanfirnatine7814]

What height lift is that on your Subaru?

[@softroadingthewest]

1" lift from ADF, plus a tiny bit of extra height from the slightly oversize tires

[@jmsuitter5]

Logs where epic

[@rossyrocks5952]

Do you have a lift in it? Also, what size tires are you running? Is there any rub ever?

[@softroadingthewest]

I have ADF's 1"/1.375" lift. Tires are 215/75R15. Tiny bit of rub in the front at full lock only, not even enough to bother trying to fix. More details on the build (so far) in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oHmwZmeuft2Xodk Thanks for watching!

[@emmanuelleavalos4348]

Is there areas where one could camp in this trail?

[@softroadingthewest]

There are campsites throughout these hills but I don't recommend camping this close to town. I've stumbled into a few too many sketchy scenes in this area. It makes a good day trip for some exploring but personally I would push further out of town to camp.

[@emmanuelleavalos4348]

@@softroadingthewest is there a location that you recommend? I am not necessarily new to the area but have not been Overlanding for a while and now I have a toddler.

[@krismiller5474]

Can I get info on access location of the first road in this video?

[@softroadingthewest]

0:54

[@bangbang-ul6wv]

please do a video on that civic

[@softroadingthewest]

Hmmm...that might be fun actually, I'll see what I can do!

[@bangbang-ul6wv]

@@softroadingthewest sounds good keep up the good work either way

[@SaveTheManuals]

Fantastic 🌲🌲👍👍

[@softroadingthewest]

Thank you sir!!

[@FootballofOregonBro]

What’s the name of that spring?

[@ValFinale]

that wk2 could use a lift and some real tiires...it would slay anything

[@dvonehrlich]

Another great video. So. . . How do I join your off-road club? If you come north some time let me know.

[@softroadingthewest]

Thanks! And there's no club, this was a pretty impromptu gathering and I was really just tagging along (and subjecting everyone to my video documentation, LOL)...I'd never met half these people before. I am hoping to get north in the coming months...if I ever pull anything together I'll certainly mention it on Instagram. 8^)

[@0004ogre]

I'd love the route info on this . I can find the ohv park but just the drive you took. I'd love to take my babies and wife for that view

[@softroadingthewest]

Drive up McGowen Creek Road, not Shotgun Creek. That's what we did on this trip. If you take a look at map/satellite, you can plot the course along the ridgeline from McGowen Creek to the Shotgun Creek area. The actual OHV trail we drove spurs right off the road from McGowen Creek to Shotgun Creek (that's the only OHV trail available to Jeep/etc vehicles, everything else up there is ATV/motorcycle only). Explore some other spurs and side roads to find a few of the other spots seen here. It's not a huge area or massive distance. If you spend the day up there you can explore pretty much every accessible road from McGowen Creek to Shotgun Creek and find plenty of nice views. The BLM land up there is checkerboarded with private land so just watch the signs. Some of the private land is gated, some only has signs. But there is plenty to check out. It can get kinda populated up there on nice weekends, and lots of people go shooting up there since it's some of the easiest access BLM land in our area. Definitely nicer on a weekday if you can swing it.

[@0004ogre]

@@softroadingthewest thanks I'll check out the map for that. I'm in Newberg but so love the area away from the city over there. Truck driver so I see all the places I like but never get to stop.

[@mikeheckathorn5692]

How do I join in with you guys? I have a 2006 toyota tundra ac limited 4x4 with a 3in lift.

[@ronaldgrage201]

Great vid , got to make the captions larger print hard to read

[@overlandsubaruinternationa2378]

Maby we could do a trail together that would be nice hahah

[@sandman503]

Not sure why anyone would choose a Honda CRV as an offroad platform however they seem to out perform that grand Cherokee

[@softroadingthewest]

I was initially surprised to discover the fairly widespread community of first-gen CRVs used for offroading, but I've been very impressed by what I've seen of them. They are hardy little cars, remarkably capable on the trail, and they seem to run forever, which is why you still see these ~20-yr-old cars so frequently around town. Thanks for watching!

[@pnwtacoma1142]

Hey dude I'm located in Hillsboro if u ever wanna go hit some trails I got an 06 fozzy

[@nordberg3218]

20 bucks his dad is Les Stroud

[@stevenjohnson7348]

This does not look like anything I drive thru all the time to get my dog that is playing with my neoghbor"s dogs. Two Wheel drive. School Bus every day, twice a day. .

[@916wetcustoms]

Wtf is "softroading"?