Tabla de contenidos para March/April 2019 en TREAD

It seems like we were just celebrating the New Year and then—wham—we’re already turning the corner on winter and quickly entering the spring thaw. As the weather gradually warms up, for many of us, thoughts of new adventures start to take shape. I’m still trying to get my truck updated for this year’s upcoming adventures. Once it's ready, I plan to get reacquainted with some trails I haven’t been to in a while. Where will your next trip be? Will you revisit some of your favorite stomping grounds or will you explore someplace new? With our hectic schedules, finding time for everyone to travel together can be difficult, but it’s well worth the effort. The memories you make with friends and family on the road can last a lifetime. This…

O1. HELINOX/RUMPL CHAIR ONE You’ll always have a place to sit with Helinox’ award-winning Chair One. Smaller and lighter than a bottle of wine, this durable seat is just what you need for your next outdoor adventure. This eye-catching variation is made in collaboration with Rumpl, makers of popular outdoor technical blankets. The chair features a lightweight, compact design, is made to last and holds up to 320 pounds. MSRP: $100 helinox.com O2. SUREFIRE/STILETTO There’s always room for another flashlight as long as it’s as slim as the Stiletto. The Stiletto’s sleek profile allows it to be drawn and activated from a pocket quickly and effortlessly. The rechargeable, high-output handheld flashlight features a wide 650-lumen, medium 250-lumen or dialed-down 5-lumen beam for tasks inside the cabin of your…

“I remember coming up to a sandbar and it was probably 100 yards long, and you had to cross this to get on the trail to continue on. I was by myself and wishing I had 4WD. It sucked. I didn’t want to risk getting stuck, so I turned around and found another way. I told myself, my next car will be 4WD.” For photographer, AJ van de Water, the decision to purchase a 4WD vehicle came from necessity. He had grown frustrated with his ‘01 4Runner, which was costing him countless amounts of money for constant repairs and was only 2WD. Despite having a few modifications such as a 2-inch lift and 32-inch Toyo Tire RTs, the vehicle just wasn’t capable enough for what AJ wanted out of his…

The new Chevrolet ZR2 Bison edition hit dealer lots in January. The American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) accessorized Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 will set you back an additional $5,750, over the standard ZR2. What you get for that money is an impressive array of thoughtfully engineered off-road accessories, and some AEV Bison styling ques. “AEV HAS TAKEN THE ALREADY CAPABLE ZR2 AND ELEVATED IT TO BE EVEN MORE READY FOR OFF-ROAD AND OVERLAND ADVENTURES.” The ZR2 is already at the top of the dealer available off-road vehicle food chain in the U.S. market. The new ZR2 Bison takes that off-road prowess from a manufacturer warrantied vehicle to a new level of refinement. Let’s dive into what this truck is all about and some first impressions from our experience putting it through the…

We recently got our hands on the Cliffride Escape 365 Jeep Wrangler prototype for a little photo session. This Southern California-built Jeep is loaded with quality upgrades for off-road and overland travel. This impressive vehicle will be available in the spring of 2019 at a dealership near you. Overland Upgrades Obviously the most noteworthy feature on this Wrangler build is the hardtop with integrated pop-top tent. The top is a crank-up design and comes with a height-adjustable aluminum ladder for easy access. The tent also offers up two doors and two windows, providing easy entry/exit and quality airflow for those hot and humid camping trips. Mosquito nets on all of the above keep out unwanted pests. Not so obvious from our photos is the impressive interior that Cliffride is working…

I grew up understanding that there’s the right tool for the right job, and to tackle any job with the wrong tool was just asking for trouble. When we talk about tools, most people think of screwdrivers, box wrenches, power drills and the like. They’re not wrong, as those most certainly are tools. But for the culinary minded, the term tools also include stoves, knives, mixing bowls and anything else you might use to cook with for that matter. As you are probably well aware, outdoor cooking is an art unto itself. The act of cooking in a non-controlled environment presents many challenges that cooking in the kitchen does require you to contend with. Weather is the main factor followed by the availability of cooking tools such as a stove,…

The roads may be thawing, but they still can be slippery from residual rain and melting snow, leaving you to contend with even more potholes than ever before. Off-road conditions can be even more treacherous at the tail end of winter and into the leading weeks of spring. Hazards, both on and off the road require strong wheels to get you through them. A set of robust yet sharp looking wheels can help you safely roll through rough terrain, while maintaining your high standards of style. Here’s a selection of popular wheels that might be just what you’re looking for. BLACK RHINO/CRAWLER The Black Rhino Crawler wheel design is now available in both a true beadlock and non-beadlock variations. The Crawler Beadlock is load rated to 3,300 lbs/wheel and exclusively…

What is the best expedition vehicle in the world? Picking just one is a tough thing to justify, and whatever you nominate you’re going to get lively arguments. But if there’s one choice that would appear at the top of most lists from those who have turned tens of thousands of miles in the remote parts of the globe, it is Toyota’s mighty 70-Series Land Cruiser Troop Carrier. By 1980, Toyota’s Land Cruiser had firmly proven itself a reliable, durable alternative to the legendary Land Rover. The British icon, while eminently capable, rugged, and easy to work on, had suffered through ups and downs in quality control that opened the door to the impeccably constructed Japanese competitor, even in formerly stalwart British colonial markets in Africa and Australia. Toyota’s workhorse…

There’s an argument to be made that the pick-up truck is the most useful four-wheeled vehicle ever to be devised. Sure, that may be a bold statement, but pick-up trucks are indeed that amazing. They’ve been hauling everything from building materials to soil and everything in between for just over a hundred years. Nowadays, we’ve adapted the pick-up truck to not only do our dirty work but also for recreation. The bed of a pick-up truck is a blank canvas ready for casual outdoor enthusiasts and seasoned explorers alike to customize to meet their wants and needs. Taking the family out for a weekend romp? Throw a bed rack and rooftop tent on the bed. Planning to take a once-in-a-lifetime trip to a faraway land? A sturdy, well-equipped camper would…

The big gathering of the overland tribe in North America is a bicoastal biannual thing these days. The east coast version of Overland Expo was in its fifth year in 2018 and was held at an all-new venue, Oskar Blues Reeb Ranch, in the mountains of southwest North Carolina. As seems to be par for the course, no matter the time of year, the event experienced some pretty extreme weather. Even through the wet and cold conditions, there was an impressive turnout of vendors, travelers, instructors and participants. Let’s have a look at the Top Ten things that truly stood out to us at Overland Expo East 2018. 1 MUD The area got many inches of rain leading up to and during the opening days of the event. This, of…

O1. BAJA DESIGNS/XL LASER If extreme distance penetration is your primary light requirement, look no further than the XL Laser. Utilizing groundbreaking laser technology, Baja Designs presents a new laser light that throws light farther out than anything else on the market. Using advanced laser chips instead of LEDs, Baja Designs Laser Lights not only piece the darkness further and more efficiently, they are also remarkably compact when compared to Halogen, HID or LED lighting sources. MSRP: $1000 bajadesigns.com O2. WARN/MEDIUM ROLL BAR CYLINDER BAG Store your gear securely with Warn Epic Trail Gear Bags. This Roll Bar Cylindar Bag can be attached in a variety of locations and holds loose accessories securely. The bag is UV-stable, weather resistant, and built tough with marine-grade vinyl, premium zippers, straps,…

O1 PERFORMANCE ENGINE The motorcycle is powered by a 249cc, one-cylinder, double overhead cam, four-stroke, liquid cooled engine that is good for 15.2 lb-ft @ 7,000 rpm. TRANSMISSION KLX250 is fitted with a 6-speed transmission with a return shift and a sealed chain final drive. FUEL INJECTION Ignition type is a digital DC-CDI. A DFI fuel-injection system is installed for easy starting and smooth throttle response. O2 SUSPENSION/FRAME SUSPENSION On the front of the bike is a telescopic fork with 10.0 inches of travel and 6-way compression damping adjustment. In the rear is a Uni-Trak swingarm that allows for 9.1 inches of suspension travel. FRAME The high tensile steel perimeter frame is built up of box-section and tubular high-tensile steel. Its high frame rigidity contributes to excellent straight-line…

It might look like a really nice old Jeep, but it’s not a Jeep. It might be sold as a side-by-side, but it isn’t really a side-by-side either. The ROXOR is a vehicle in its own category. It is also an absolute blast of a vehicle to take on an off-road adventure. The Plan We got a little taste of what it’s like behind the wheel of a ROXOR at the vehicle’s launch last year in Texas. However, that experience was in a parking lot with well-manicured off-road obstacles, which didn’t really show us the real-world capabilities of this vehicle. After the event, we became quick friends with the head of media relations at ROXOR, Eric Anderson, through a shared love for adventure motorcycles and off-road adventures. Close proximity to…

Mega X2 is a custom vehicle build shop out of Kanosh, Utah. They have been creating insane builds for over 30 years, specializing in six-door conversions on trucks and Jeeps. Steve Maxfield, the owner and builder, is an energetic guy who has a serious passion for making unique vehicles. Beyond that though, his real passion is seeing the smiles and community that surround these builds when they’re out being used. This Mojito Green six-door Jeep Rubicon is the first of its kind on the new JL platform. Steve at Mega X2 brought it to life, with the help of Truck Guru and RBP, for its debut at the SEMA Show 2018. Needless to say, it attracted a lot of attention. The Six-Door Jeep Idea Steve’s six-door Jeep journey started back…

Looking for a flexible solution to keep your beverages cold after a long day out on the trails, the soft-sided cooler may be the answer you’ve been searching for. Technology, innovation, and environmental conservation have made the disposable styrofoam cooler a thing of the past. Today’s soft-sided cooler rivals that of its hard case sibling when it comes to function and purpose. Soft-sided coolers are the more versatile option due to their lightweight construction and portable design—many of which come with backpack straps, handles, or an over-the-shoulder strap for hands-free carry. Many offer a waterproof zipper or an entire waterproof design and can double as a dry pack. They are also a little cheaper than their rotomolded counterparts. Although soft coolers may not typically hold as much or keep beverages…