[ChuckTaylor]

We have a 2in lift from LP adventure, with LP wheels and Ko2 tires. We towed this little trailer across Canada through some of the worst snow storms when moving to the west coast last winter. We pulled into the Vancouver ferry terminal when Vancouver was pretty much shutdown due to 15cm of snow.
A truck isn’t any more capable unless you want the truck for towing or having a box etc.

 

[TSiWRX]

About 1/2" without rubbing on bumpy turns, etc (with or without lift). Some people claim an inch will fit - but buried someplace will be the "only slight rubbing" caveat. Lift doesn't affect it much, like Jim said.

And that's because of the articulation of the suspension/steering components?

 

[Senderofan]

I think the advice given for installing a good set of winter tires for the Ascent is Excellent advice. I can tell you……My M35A3 Deuce with 45 inch tall tires and two air locking differentials has managed to get stuck…..briefly. Also, my F350 , in the picture, has gotten stuck far more easily than any Subaru that we’ve owned. The F350 has two sized larger tires than stock……it seems to struggle fairly easily.
If your heart is set on an F150……get one with a Tremor package with the limited slip front axle. Otherwise……..the Subaru will outshine the F150……IMHO.

 

[Senderofan]

I should also say…….that installing a set of Three Peak rated tires or dedicated snow tires will make a world of difference. I’ve switched to Falken Wildpeak tires, not as a promotion, and they’ve made a Huge improvement in snow traction. Subaru has not earned a solid reputation in snow / Mountainous areas because it’s a trendy vehicle…… they have perfected AWD!

 

[Jackm567]

I am torn between buying an F150 or an Ascent. I prefer everything about the Ascent except the deep snow capability. I can put a high off road front bumper on a 150. But the Ascent will handle better and be more balanced. What are the biggest tires and Ascent can use without rubbing?

How difficult would it be to lift it and possibly put a locking differential?

I saw Torquelock makes an easy install rear. That would make it a beast and my only concern would be ground clearance for deep snow.

View attachment 22562
A bumper like this would be great for clearance.

I am torn between buying an F150 or an Ascent. I prefer everything about the Ascent except the deep snow capability. I can put a high off road front bumper on a 150. But the Ascent will handle better and be more balanced. What are the biggest tires and Ascent can use without rubbing?

How difficult would it be to lift it and possibly put a locking differential?

I saw Torquelock makes an easy install rear. That would make it a beast and my only concern would be ground clearance for deep snow.

View attachment 22562
A bumper like this would be great for clearance.

According to my dealer, if you change the tire size from anything other than 245/50/20 or 245/60/18 they will void your warranty on your drivetrain because I was thinking about putting larger tires on mine. That’s the first question I asked them and that’s what it that’s the answer I got.

 

[pdxeca]

According to my dealer, if you change the tire size from anything other than 245/50/20 or 245/60/18 they will void your warranty on your drivetrain because I was thinking about putting larger tires on mine. That’s the first question I asked them and that’s what it that’s the answer I got.

They were lying to you. If they could prove that a specific change you made to the vehicle caused a specific electrical/mechanical problem, then they "might" not warranty that specific repair. But they don't just wholesale void the warranty.

The issue with larger tires is that there's not a whole lot of room in the wheel well before they start to rub at lock (or sooner). A lift would get you more vertical space, but you'd need a sawzall to get much bigger tires to turn without rubbing.

 

[Jackm567]

They were lying to you. If they could prove that a specific change you made to the vehicle caused a specific electrical/mechanical problem, then they "might" not warranty that specific repair. But they don't just wholesale void the warranty.

The issue with larger tires is that there's not a whole lot of room in the wheel well before they start to rub at lock (or sooner). A lift would get you more vertical space, but you'd need a sawzall to get much bigger tires to turn without rubbing.

You’re right, they don’t void the whole warranty on the car. They void the warranty on all your drivetrain as far as transmission all wheel drive system that’s what they void if you put bigger tires on the car transmission clutches just like when I had them install my 2 inch lift on my car in voided the warranty on all my CV axles I still have the rest of my four years left on all the rest of the warranty on my car but my CV axles are not warranted anymore because of the lift so no, they didn’t lie to me maybe I just miss spoke or you didn’t understand what I meant. Sorry for the confusion, but make sure you do your research before you start putting taller tires on your car.

 

[Jim_in_PA]

You’re right, they don’t void the whole warranty on the car. They void the warranty on all your drivetrain as far as transmission all wheel drive system that’s what they void if you put bigger tires on the car transmission clutches just like when I had them install my 2 inch lift on my car in voided the warranty on all my CV axles I still have the rest of my four years left on all the rest of the warranty on my car but my CV axles are not warranted anymore because of the lift so no, they didn’t lie to me maybe I just miss spoke or you didn’t understand what I meant. Sorry for the confusion, but make sure you do your research before you start putting taller tires on your car.

There is no "voiding of the warranty". They can, however, deny a specific claim if they can prove the modification caused an issue. However, folks are going to check more carefully when there are clearly modifications like lifts and other things that are substantially different than OEM design.

 

[Titanrx8]

You’re right, they don’t void the whole warranty on the car. They void the warranty on all your drivetrain as far as transmission all wheel drive system that’s what they void if you put bigger tires on the car transmission clutches just like when I had them install my 2 inch lift on my car in voided the warranty on all my CV axles I still have the rest of my four years left on all the rest of the warranty on my car but my CV axles are not warranted anymore because of the lift so no, they didn’t lie to me maybe I just miss spoke or you didn’t understand what I meant. Sorry for the confusion, but make sure you do your research before you start putting taller tires on your car.

Did they actually provide a statement in writing that the lift was voiding your warranty on your CV joints from that day forward or was it a verbal comment? No one at a dealership has the authority to alter the text or meaning of the warranty provided by the manufacturer. As stated by @Jim_in_PA they could only deny on a case by case basis and would have to prove that the mod was directly contributory to the failure.

 

[Jackm567]

Did they actually provide a statement in writing that the lift was voiding your warranty on your CV joints from that day forward or was it a verbal comment? No one at a dealership has the authority to alter the text or meaning of the warranty provided by the manufacturer. As stated by @Jim_in_PA they could only deny on a case by case basis and would have to prove that the mod was directly contributory to the failure.

Hopefully I won’t have to answer any more questions after this this is from the general manager of my local Subaru dealer who I bought my last three Subarus from and I deal directly with the general manager no salesman, and I talk directly to the general manager when I had them install my lift kit, and I was going to put the taller tires on the car. And he warned me the first thing that Subaru will ask them When they do a warranty is what modifications have been done to the car or has there been any modifications done to the car. That’s when he told me that once I do the lift kit, they will void the warranty on the CV axles then i asked about taller tires, and was told any tires besides the two sizes that come stock on the Subaru ascent, which are 245/50/20 or 245/60/18 will void the warranty on the transmission, and/or the all-wheel-drive system, clutch packs, etc. and on a second note just for information if your car has 20s on it like mine and you want to put 18s on it you have to use Subaru ascent wheels not Outback or Forrester because they don’t have the weight rating and unless you buy aftermarket wheels with the weight rating. If you guys want to sit here and go back-and-forth about they can’t do this and they can’t do that all you want I’m just telling you what the general manager of my dealer told me I’m just trying to give the guy a heads up you guys want to go back-and-forth and play armchair go ahead it’s up to Subaru in the end and they’re going to win

 

[TheLex]

I've written this many times before. Modders like to fall back on the Magnussesn-Moss Warranty Act. Real world it's a toothless act because a company can deny warranty coverage based on your modifications and what systems it might affect. You might feel otherwise but the only way you're going to be able to cause action on the part of the manufacturer is to litigate it in court. That means hiring a $450-650/hr attorney to litigate the thing. Meanwhile the manufacturer has a contingent of lawyers on retainer and your car is sitting broken while your case slowly winds its way through the court system. And of course your attorney will be asking for a substantial retainer and then ongoing payments as the case slowly develops.

A few years ago, there was a guy on the BMW forums. He was in fact an attorney and had modded his BMW M5. BMW found out and denied coverage. He took them to court. After all he was an attorney and it cost him nothing to represent himself right? Well, it turns out he got tired of having a non-functional broken car. And he was taking time away from his practice when he could have been billing other schmoes $450-650/hr. So he eventually gave up. Lesson learned.

 

[Jim_in_PA]

If you guys want to sit here and go back-and-forth about they can’t do this and they can’t do that all you want I’m just telling you what the general manager of my dealer told me I’m just trying to give the guy a heads up you guys want to go back-and-forth and play armchair go ahead it’s up to Subaru in the end and they’re going to win

We mean no offence, but we're telling you what the US Law says. Of course, as Lex' mentions, ultimately, the vehicle manufacturer who holds the warranty tends to have a lot of control over the situation if there is an issue. Relative to that, BTW, Subaru forbids dealers from installing lift kits and the letter, in writing, has been posted previously. So you'll want to keep that in mind if you have any issues caused by your lift kit relative to dealer responsibility since they installed it.

 

[Robert.Mauro]

Hopefully I won’t have to answer any more questions after this this is from the general manager of my local Subaru dealer who I bought my last three Subarus from and I deal directly with the general manager no salesman, and I talk directly to the general manager when I had them install my lift kit, and I was going to put the taller tires on the car. And he warned me the first thing that Subaru will ask them When they do a warranty is what modifications have been done to the car or has there been any modifications done to the car. That’s when he told me that once I do the lift kit, they will void the warranty on the CV axles then i asked about taller tires, and was told any tires besides the two sizes that come stock on the Subaru ascent, which are 245/50/20 or 245/60/18 will void the warranty on the transmission, and/or the all-wheel-drive system, clutch packs, etc. and on a second note just for information if your car has 20s on it like mine and you want to put 18s on it you have to use Subaru ascent wheels not Outback or Forrester because they don’t have the weight rating and unless you buy aftermarket wheels with the weight rating. If you guys want to sit here and go back-and-forth about they can’t do this and they can’t do that all you want I’m just telling you what the general manager of my dealer told me I’m just trying to give the guy a heads up you guys want to go back-and-forth and play armchair go ahead it’s up to Subaru in the end and they’re going to win

Your GM is mostly correct. He's simplifying some terms and the process, but is otherwise on it. For instance, the correct term would be "deny __ related warranty claims", eg: "deny CV axle related warranty claims". No portions of the warranty get voided - instead, it's the warranty itself that allows those denials.

But the simpler term many use is "void" the warranty, because it's just easier to explain/understand.

Anyone who does a lift should definitely be aware of what they're changing and within what parameters, so they have an idea of whether or not it will affect warranty claims. Even at that end, dealer mechanics often have no clue. For instance, mine was flagged for my wheels and tires. I went to a dealership that knows what they're doing, and had them measure and weigh them, and they're exactly spec, so, the previous dealership's nonsense flagging was ignored.

But, that means one has to know what they're doing. And they have to have a dealership that will go through the effort instead of simply assuming a modification doesn't "meet or exceed" OEM and that a modification is "out of spec".

Many dealership technicians have no clue about such stuff. In many cases, though, they're right - like the LP Aventure lift kit with overly tall overly narrow spacers. I'd flag that for any propeller shaft issues, rear diff input shaft seal or bearing issues, or rear subframe issues.

 

[Jackm567]

Your GM is mostly correct. He's simplifying some terms and the process, but is otherwise on it. For instance, the correct term would be "deny __ related warranty claims", eg: "deny CV axle related warranty claims". No portions of the warranty get voided - instead, it's the warranty itself that allows those denials.

But the simpler term many use is "void" the warranty, because it's just easier to explain/understand.

Anyone who does a lift should definitely be aware of what they're changing and within what parameters, so they have an idea of whether or not it will affect warranty claims. Even at that end, dealer mechanics often have no clue. For instance, mine was flagged for my wheels and tires. I went to a dealership that knows what they're doing, and had them measure and weigh them, and they're exactly spec, so, the previous dealership's nonsense flagging was ignored.

But, that means one has to know what they're doing. And they have to have a dealership that will go through the effort instead of simply assuming a modification doesn't "meet or exceed" OEM and that a modification is "out of spec".

Many dealership technicians have no clue about such stuff. In many cases, though, they're right - like the LP Aventure lift kit with overly tall overly narrow spacers. I'd flag that for any propeller shaft issues, rear diff input shaft seal or bearing issues, or rear subframe issues.

Thanks Robert I was hoping that you would get on here and clarify a little better than I can but thanks for the input

 

[Randy Home]

According to my dealer, if you change the tire size from anything other than 245/50/20 or 245/60/18 they will void your warranty on your drivetrain because I was thinking about putting larger tires on mine. That’s the first question I asked them and that’s what it that’s the answer I got.

You could have difficulty finding 20” wheels also.

 

[Jim_in_PA]

You could have difficulty finding 20” wheels also.

All but the lowest trims of Ascent come with 20" wheels standard.

 

[Randy Home]

All but the lowest trims of Ascent come with 20" wheels standard.

We have a 2019 Ascent Tour, and tried to get wheels and snow tires. At the time they couldn’t get 20” wheels to fit the Ascent because the brake line would allow the larger tire. The dealer told us we would need to get an aftermarket wheel, but we couldn’t find any. Wish my memory was better.

 

[TSiWRX]

^ The US-spec Touring (and Limited, too) came standard/OE with 20" wheels, starting with the first iteration of the Ascent in 2019.

This is clearly spec'ed in the product literature during that time: https://cdn.dealereprocess.org/cdn/brochures/subaru/2019-ascent.pdf

Not sure why your dealership gave you that excuse. It's literally nonsensical.....

Why would an aftermarket 20-inch wheel be needed, if the FACTORY 20-inch wheel somehow could not clear the brake lines? What even in the? 🤔

Regardless -assuming that their only intent had been to up-sale you to take advantage of your inexperience and lack of knowledge- why could they also then not find aftermarket wheels for you? There were plenty of 18" and 20" fitments in the aftermarket by the time the 2019s would have had to face their first winter.

I took delivery of my '19 (a US-Spec Touring model just like yours) in late-fall of 2018, and immediately shod them with an 18" winter setup of my choosing from Tire Rack. I could have easily gone with any of an impressive number of aftermarket 20-inch wheels had I so desired, and there were plenty of 20-inch winter tire fitments by then, too.

I hope you're not still trapped with that particular dealership, @Randy Home , as the information they gave you was factually wrong.

 

[Randy Home]

^ The US-spec Touring (and Limited, too) came standard/OE with 20" wheels, starting with the first iteration of the Ascent in 2019.

This is clearly spec'ed in the product literature during that time: https://cdn.dealereprocess.org/cdn/brochures/subaru/2019-ascent.pdf

Not sure why your dealership gave you that excuse. It's literally nonsensical.....

Why would an aftermarket 20-inch wheel be needed, if the FACTORY 20-inch wheel somehow could not clear the brake lines? What even in the? 🤔

Regardless -assuming that their only intent had been to up-sale you to take advantage of your inexperience and lack of knowledge- why could they also then not find aftermarket wheels for you? There were plenty of 18" and 20" fitments in the aftermarket by the time the 2019s would have had to face their first winter.

I took delivery of my '19 (a US-Spec Touring model just like yours) in late-fall of 2018, and immediately shod them with an 18" winter setup of my choosing from Tire Rack. I could have easily gone with any of an impressive number of aftermarket 20-inch wheels had I so desired, and there were plenty of 20-inch winter tire fitments by then, too.

I hope you're not still trapped with that particular dealership, @Randy Home , as the information they gave you was factually wrong.

I’ve gathered from this forum that bad information from dealers is possible. Too bad, because the cars use to sell themselves.

 

[TSiWRX]

^ Sadly, ill-informed or outright ignorant dealership staff -on the sales floor or in the service/parts department- are endemic to the entire automotive retail industry, and isn't something that's isolated to the Subaru brand. Even more sadly, Subaru cannot escape the presence of these individuals within the industry.

It's on us to be educated consumers so that we are not taken advantage of, whether we are shopping for a car, for services performed on our vehicle, or, for that matter, at any other time where we are purchasing goods or services.