I am overlanding full time in a Subaru Brat

[iluvdrt]

February 2021

Well, after a horrendous year last year, I have decided to sell 90% of my belongings and go full time Overlanding in my 82 Subaru Brat. Crazy, I know. I retire from the military soon, so that will be my income source for a while. Ill stay local at first in the San Diego area, probably on Camp Pendleton at one of the campsites, but after my retirement is finalized I plan on overlanding up the PCH to Washington, and hopefully Victoria BC if the boarders are open. After all of that in Sept/Oct I am enrolling into fabrication school, and will rent an RV spot by the school in LA to park the truck, and utilize my other car for day to day driving. I should be able to save about $2000 a month rent by doing this, pay off some bills, and save up for a small house by next summer.

Ive already sold off my furniture. Now I am in the prepping phase of going through my equipment, organizing, and storing the remaining items I am keeping in storage on base.

My Brat is an 82, it has a 1996 Subaru Legacy EJ22, 5 speed hi/low transmission, custom made lift and Bilstein long travel suspension, rear Torq locker, full LED conversion, GMSR radio, 40qt fridge on dual batteries, 6000lb MotoAlliance winch, TJM RTT, Subaru Forester brakes, a portable shower, chuck box with grill and everything, and storage for tools, recovery gear, and clothes. 235/75/15 Achilles Desert Hawk XMT tires among many other things that round it out.
IG is @iluvdrt_oz

 

[iluvdrt]

The first place I decided to go was up to Crown king, Az. I took the hard way up, and it didnt disappoint. I was surprised at all the snow up there in March.

 

[iluvdrt]

Shortly after that, I drove back to Cali and went to visit a friend in Joshua Tree. We spent several nights on Old Dale road. That trail is getting rougher and rougher every year going over black mountain. It was very nice to catch up with him, have a few drinks and eat some mountain man foil meals.

 

[iluvdrt]

From there I went and spent a few days in Anza Borrego at Oriflamme Canyon. One of my favorite spots. Exceptionally windy though. Good thing I have ear plugs. Oh yeah, this was in April.

 

[iluvdrt]

After spending a week at my base camp in a barn out in Pauma Valley, I decided to go to the Kern River for a week. This is a beautiful place, with Lake Isabelle near by and good trout fishing. The river is called the Killer Kern because of how many people die in it every year. The middle is very deep, and the current is so fast with undercuts under the rocks itll sweep you away kill you in no time.

There was a lot of trash there, even though a huge dumpster is placed by the campsites. I spent many hours picking up trash and cleaning up the area.







Before I left, I thought Id play around a bit and bit off more than I could chew. I ended up stuck in this ditch and broke both of my rear axles. Fortunately, I got someone to help pull me out, and limped her 5 hours back to camp. The old Subaru groups are invaluable for this stuff because rear axles are no longer made. Shortly after posting I have 4 "new" axles on their way.

 

[SDDiver5]

So awesome. I love Brats they're so unique and fun. Friend in HS had one and drove it a few times. Awesome build, good luck and thank you for your service!

 

[iluvdrt]

After a couple of weeks working and living at the barn and staying some nights with my girlfriend, I decided to take her along and invite my friends @atlasdelica along. They new of a terrific spot along the Colorado river. We spent 4 days there, swimming, skinny dipping, and watching wild horses. It was a fantastic time.





Unfortunitley my girlfriends tire blew, and we had the wrong wheel. So we swapped tires right there on the spot onto the right wheel. This was a lot harder to do without a tire machine lol.

 

[iluvdrt]

Ill be heading out somewhere this weekend since Ill have 5 days off. Most likely this will be my last desert run since it is getting hot out. I need to start exploring in the mountains more. Stay tuned!!

 

[halseyt]

So far so good... looking forward to more of the story. Thanks..

 

[pith helmet]

that is the brat of my childhood dreams. great plan! thank you for your service!

 

[SDDiver5]

Dude I saw your IG post! Made me sad my man sorry to see the damage. To those who haven't seen it or don't follow on the gram, it appears he crashed or sent it too hard and basically totaled the brat. Sad sight for such a neat rig.

Post up some pics for all to see please with a back story.

So what's next for you then?

 

[BritKLR]

please update!

 

[iluvdrt]

Well, I decided to go to the Kern River secret spot. Stayed there about 4 days. It was Fantastic. Cool waste deep water, fantastic wild life, and just a great sense of serenity.

I did get stuck though in riverbed silt. LOTS of stuck people here. I think i pulled out 11 people in 3 days.




Like I said, Lots of relaxing and fun ensued.



Beaver friends came by.



Puppies enjoyed themselves

 

[iluvdrt]

On Monday it was time to leave. My GF had to work on Wed, and I was supposed to work as well.
The drive home was OK. We were all very sleepy, but in good spirits. It was extremely hot, so leaving the windows down and pouring ice water from the freezer was key.

Unfortunately, After 7 hours of driving I got a bit of heat exhaustion, and on a back country road, went around a blind corner and while wiping sweat from my eyes hit a massive rock in the road. It sent me into the berm away from oncoming traffic, where I went into a huge ditch and ran over another small car sized rock going apx 40mph.

The impact was so hard, my windshield blew out 100% intact. It ripped the transmission and lower control arm mounts from the body, broke the rear swing right trailing arm and swing arms off, folded a steel wheel cutting the tire, and bent the frame into a "U" which buckled the roof and "B" pillar totalling her out. The rear bed cage tore out of the bed on the driver side having absorbed the impact. This was welded and reinforced into the bed.

I didnt even get a scratch.

 

[iluvdrt]

Called the Ins on Tuesday and filed the claim. Just waiting now to see what I get for it. In the mean time, Ive moved into my 2005 Outback Sport, and transferred as much as I could onto/into it.

This is the Red Dragon. She has a lot of work done to her as well, but not as much as the Brat did. Its not as comfortable, but itll work for now until I get my ins check and figure out what im going to build next.

Im still full time BTW.