SEMA: Save us Subaru Mountain Rescue Vehicle!
by Jonathon Ramsey on Nov 5th 2008 at 2:57PM 
Click above for high-res gallery of the Subaru Mountain Rescue Vehicle
Leave the Saint Bernards at home, honey, we've got something better. The Subaru Mountain Rescue Vehicle was made for the National Ski Patrol -- an organization we had never heard of until we saw this truck. On its tiptoes it has 14 inches of clearance, and the staid passenger car driving compartment is balanced by the diamond plate floor and steel walls in the rear. Its got more flashing lights than K-Mart, and a 9,500-pound winch in case you need to rescue snowcats. And apparently, when ski time is over, you can hop in the toboggan that's mounted on the roof. Or you can put injured people in it. Your choice. Have a look at the mighty mountain rescue ranger vehicle in the gallery of high-res photos below.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
TJ 3:05PM (11/05/2008)
yet, not one pic of the suspension, which is the most changed aspect of this Forrester....
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Scott 3:12PM (11/05/2008)
The National Ski Patrol is a non-profit organization that provides Ski Patrol services to many ski resorts throughout the United States. It's not unusual for skiers/snowboarders to lose control and end up in weird places they can't get out of, even if they aren't injured. A strong winch and a place to put a toboggan (the standard method of transportation for an injured skier) just makes sense for a rescue vehicle.
Pretty awesome looking vehicle, IMO. Just the thing for getting someone out of the backtrails and down to an ambulance.
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conor 3:41PM (11/05/2008)
They also certify all other ski patrols. My mountain had the first ski patrol in America,the national ski patrol and the 10th mountain division were created by a guy impressed with it.
Geoff 3:43PM (11/05/2008)
Very, very cool! The biggest limitation I see is that they chose mud-terrain tires instead of snow tires, or at least some well-siped all-terrain tires, which provide MUCH more traction in the type of terrain this concept is designed for.
Some photos of the suspension would have been nice.
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Throwback 3:42PM (11/05/2008)
I like this, Subies look good kitted out for off-road. see their rally cars
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Stuka 4:23PM (11/05/2008)
And I bet it has no low range (pretty much a requirement offroad), and no articulation being that it has 4 wheel independant suspension.
Now thats not to say it cant be used for rescue, its just very limited as to where it can rescue people from.
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BoxerFanatic 6:20PM (11/05/2008)
Ummm....
Foresters and Outbacks have a low range option in other countries, this vehicle could be fitted with one.
And since when does independent suspension, especially on a custom vehicle with air suspension, have no articulation?
The point isn't to drive OVER boulders. Rock crawling is a hobby, not necessarily ideal for rescue situations anyway. This probably has enough suspension travel to do what it needs to do, and probably at least as much as other similar vehicles. They can buy jeeps otherwise.
catgirlshyla 4:26PM (11/05/2008)
I see a trend with emergency cars concepts.
Dodge had Dodge City Police with the Dodge Charger and Magnum Cop Cars and now Subaru has it with the Mountain Rescue.
So which company will be next to place their name/car name in emergency services?
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inteller 4:45PM (11/05/2008)
looks better than the Raptor. probably more practical too.
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BoxerFanatic 6:25PM (11/05/2008)
This is very cool.
Still would love to have seen it customized with Tribeca's 3.6 H6, and Variable Torque Distribution AWD, with the aforementioned low-range that Subies get in other countries. Or the new Subie turbodiesel boxer. Both have more torque than an EJ25x turbo engine. (I'll keep the EJ25x engine in my performance car, though, thanks. :D )
And I think something like this would make an excellent candidate for Baja/Brat conversion to a smallish open bed.
The inside shots of this vehicle just reminded me of a line from the Boondock Saints... "Whaddya need ROPE for???" :D
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John D 7:36PM (11/05/2008)
I'm pretty sure the toboggan is to tow your buddies down the street on snow days
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Prhime 4:19PM (11/06/2008)
for some reason the lyrics.. 'who will save our soul' popped into my head.
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Carols Ray 10:06AM (11/07/2008)
They should put that next to the Knight XV!!!
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