Best off-road accessories for a new Subaru Outback Wilderness?

Question

I just picked up my Geyser Blue Outback Wilderness last week and honestly I am so scared of messing it up already. It looks so cool and rugged but I have never actually driven off a paved road in my life unless you count my parents gravel driveway back in Kansas. I live in Denver now and all my friends are into overlanding and camping and I really want to join them but I feel like such an idiot because I dont even know what I need to buy to make sure I dont get stuck or break something. I was looking online and there are so many things like metal plates for the bottom of the car and these orange plastic board things and different lights and I am just totally overwhelmed. I have about two thousand dollars saved up for gear right now but I dont want to waste it on stuff I dont actually need yet since the car payment is already pretty high. My first trip is supposed to be to the Great Sand Dunes area next month and I heard the sand can be really tricky for cars so I am really nervous about that part especially. Like should I get a better jack or something? Or those traction board things? I saw some people have these huge racks on top but I dont even have a tent yet so maybe thats for later on. Sorry if this is all really basic stuff I just feel like a total fish out of water here and the guy at the dealership wasnt super helpful he just wanted me to buy the expensive floor mats. I want to be safe and not be the person who ruins the group trip because I got stuck in a hole or something or popped a tire. What are the absolute must have accessories for a complete beginner who has a Wilderness and wants to go off-road for the first time without breaking the car? I really need to know what to prioritize first so I dont go broke buying useless stuff...

yhirjotrtj · Accepted Answer

TL;DR: Focus on air management and actual underbody armor. Skip the cosmetic stuff for now. Unfortunately, the factory protection on the Wilderness is pretty underwhelming for real trails. I was disappointed when I saw how thin the stock stamping is compared to aftermarket options. If you're hitting the dunes, you absolutely have to air down your tires to like 18 psi or you're gonna sink. Don't buy those cheap cigarette lighter pumps, they always overheat. Get a Viair 400P Portable Air Compressor because it has a 33 percent duty cycle which is way better for back-to-back filling. For the sand, cheap recovery boards usually just melt under wheel spin, so grab the Maxtrax MKII Recovery Boards. To actually protect the engine, the LP Aventure Main Skid Plate 3/16 Aluminum is much beefier than the OEM plate. Honestly, skip the roof racks and lights until you've got the basics covered so you dont break anything on your first trip.

iqmkzwvitu · Answer

Unfortunately, the Wilderness recovery points are not as good as expected for the 3500lb curb weight when stuck in sand. I had issues with structural deformation under load... Like someone mentioned, stock parts fail. Just dont trust the factory eyelet for real recoveries. Quick tip: get a rated hitch point.

Agency 6 Shackle Block 2 inch Receiver

Rhino USA Kinetic Recovery Rope 7/8 inch x 20 foot

wwvlkxsqwl · Answer

Congrats on the Geyser Blue! That color is honestly the best. Jumping in here because I've spent way too much money on gear and some stuff is just fluff. For the Sand Dunes, you need to think about your rear end. In my experience, the factory protection back there is basically non-existent. People sometimes crack their diff housing on a small rock without even realizing it. I'd recommend getting a Primitive Racing Rear Differential Skid Plate 3/16 inch Aluminum or the LP Aventure Rear Differential Skid Plate Outback Wilderness. The Primitive one is a tank and easy to bolt on. Also, you're gonna be airing down tires constantly. I've tried many tools and the ARB Air Systems E-Z Deflator Digital Gauge is my go-to for speed. Or grab Staun Tire Deflators Standard 6-30 PSI if you want to just screw them on and walk away. Prioritize the diff plate... sand can push against your mechanicals more than you'd think.