Table of contents for July - August 2020 in TREAD

ENGINE: 2.3L ECOBOOST WITH AFTER-CAT EXHAUST SUSPENSION: ICON VEHICLE DYNAMICS 3.5-INCH STAGE 5 SUSPENSION KIT, 17-INCH COMPRESSION; HELLWIG STEEL HELPER SPRINGS AND REAR SWAY BAR WHEELS & TIRES: 17X8.5 ICON COMPRESSION WHEELS; FALKEN WILDPEAK ATW3 285/75 17-INCH TIRES EXTERIOR ACCESSORIES: FORD ACCESSORIES TOUGHBED SPRAY-IN BEDLINER; ADDICTIVE DESERT DESIGNS FRONT AND REAR VENOM R BUMPERS AND ROCK SLIDERS; BUSHWACKER FENDER FLARES AND ROCKER PANEL GUARD; RM PAINT APPLIED BY LGE-CTS MOTORSPORTS; RIGID INDUSTRIES RADIANCE SCENE, ROCK, SR, SPREADER, AND 360 SERIES LIGHTING; TEPUI HYBOX ROOFTOP TENT; YAKIMA OVERHAUL HD BED RACK AND ACCESSORIES; HOLDUP EVO BIKE RACK; SLIMSHADY AWNING; SPECIALIZED LEVO TURBO MOUNTAIN BIKES; RIGD ULTRASWING TIRE CARRIER; EXPEDITION ESSENTIALS EXO TABLE LITE; TRAIL KITCHENS BED-MOUNTED KITCHEN AND KITCHEN ACCESSORIES; BEDSLIDE 1000 CLASSIC; ARB ELEMENTS FREEZER FRIDGE; JACK AND JACK BASE…

There are countless reasons why people love camping. It’s a way to relax and disconnect from the everyday stress of the modern world, connect with nature, and the perfect time to bond with friends and family. Whether it’s sharing stories around the warmth of a campfire, hiking in nature, or learning new skills, such as outdoor cooking, there is something for everyone that the great outdoors provides. It’s no wonder why camping is increasing in popularity. For those with families, camping becomes a way to connect and create lifelong memories. Nature is the ultimate distraction from technology for those with kids who are glued to their smartphones or video games on a daily basis. Camping is also convenient, can be done close to home, and is relatively more affordable than…

Over the decades I’ve developed 10 personal health “commandments” for tropical events where storage space is at a premium and being soaked and covered in mud is unavoidable. 1. The “two-pair” rule. With the exception of socks and underwear, only bring two pairs of clothes. Pair number one for the flight to and from (these go in a ziplock bag upon arrival), and the pair for everything in between. Peel these moldy rags off and throw them away when done. 2. Wash down when possible in any source of reasonably clean water. 3. Store a dry T-shirt, underwear, and socks in a ziplock for sleeping in. Keep your sleeping bag dry and use a mosquito net if needed. 4. Douse your feet, private parts, and armpits with foot powder before…

After ensuring there weren’t any goats, springbok, or giraffe on the runway, we touched down to a surprisingly smooth landing on the dirt strip in Opuwo, located in the remote far Northwest of Namibia—Africa’s most sparsely populated country. Just outside of the plane sat five preproduction Defenders outfitted with the latest in proper exploration gear—Maxtrax recovery boards, extra fuel cans, shovels, and communications equipment—all attached to the factory roof rack. The new machine certainly looks the part with available side ladders, storage cases, and even a factory raised air intake that we’d end up putting to legitimate use. After the pilot killed the engines and the dust stopped flying, I grabbed my duffel and walked over to my Defender. It sounds like a tiny detail, but I’m so happy they…

As we edge ever closer to the warm days of summer, being outdoors usually necessitates the carrying of certain tools and gear. For us, we always reach for a good pair of sunglasses, sunblock, and a trustworthy knife. Aside from saving our retinas and skin from the sun, we recognize that a good knife can take care of many of our other needs on the trail, including cutting, digging, and prying, and can be useful in our daily tasks as well, such as opening those Amazon packages. In this edition of Made The Cut, we look at popular pocketknives for outdoor and daily use. Which will you stick in your pocket? 01. SOG /TERMINUS XR Closed Length: 4.26 in. Open Length: 7.21 in. Blade Length: 2.95 in. Blade Material:…

GAIA: Gaia has long been the industry standard for off-road off-grid navigation. It is a powerful app with lots of features. The app is free to download for both iOS and Android, but in order to save and access maps offline you’ll need a subscription ($20 per year gets you offline maps or $40 per year gets you custom offline maps for your activity). LEADNAV: The LeadNav app is built around the needs of military and search and rescue, so it focuses on communication and accurate GPS mapping. The app is designed to link to external GPS antenna and satellite communication devices. The app is $19.99 and is for iOS devices only. Additional $4.99 to $249.99 in-app purchases for subscriptions and specific-use map updates are available. REVER: The Rever app…

One month after Father’s Day I received a text message from my dad: “Finished The Emerald Mile last night. Great read. Want to do a hike in the Grand Canyon?” There was zero hesitation on my part before answering in the affirmative. The canyon, as Theodore Roosevelt once said, “is the one great sight which every American, if he can travel at all, should see.” I gifted my dad a copy of The Emerald Mile by Kevin Fedarko for Father’s Day. The book delves into the Grand Canyon’s rich history, the design and construction of the Glen Canyon Dam, and the challenges of environmentalism, resource extraction, and tourism in the canyon today. Fedarko’s work was a great fit for my dad, a cerebral civil engineer with a love for mountain…

ENGINE: 4.0L V-6 SUSPENSION: ARB OLD MAN EMU BP-51, HEAVY REAR SPRINGS, JBA UPPER CONTROL ARMS WHEELS & TIRES: 285/70-17 BFGOODRICH KO2 (E-RATED) INTERIOR ACCESSORIES: FLEXOPOWER LITHIUM 444 BATTERY, 100-WATT SOLAR PANEL, BLUE OPTIMA SECONDARY BATTERY WITH NATIONAL LUNA DUAL BATTERY ISOLATOR, HAM RADIO TYT, COOK PARTNER TWO-BURNER STOVE, HOMEMADE SKOTTLE, OZARK TRAIL TRIPOD GRILL, COLEMAN OVEN EXTERIOR ACCESSORIES: ENGO SR SERIES 9,000-POUND, CALI RAISED DITCH LIGHTS, RIGID REAR BUMPER LIGHTS, RCI ROCK SLIDERS, FULL RCI STEEL SKIDS AND AN ALUMINUM GAS SKID, SSO FRONT AND REAR STEEL BUMPERS, NITRO 456 GEARS, ARB SAFARI SNORKEL, GOBI ROOF RACK, ORANGE BOXX REAR MOLLE PANELS, ARB ON BOARD TWIN AIR COMPRESSOR KIT, MORRFLATE FOUR-WAY HOSE, BLUE RIDGE OVERLAND GEAR ATTIC, RAM MOUNTS, 23ZERO USA PEREGRINE VEHICLE SHOWER ENCLOSURE, CVT MT. RAINIER RTT,…

SUSPENSION: OME BP-51 SUSPENSION SYSTEM, HILUX REAR LEAF PACKS, TOTAL CHAOS UCA, UPGRADED FRONT BUMPSTOPS, DOBINSON PINS (GREASEABLE), FIRESTONE AIRBAGS WITH DAYSTAR CRADLES WITH IN-CAB CONTROLLER WHEELS & TIRES: 16X8 DARK BRONZE SCS F5 WHEELS WRAPPED IN 315/75R16 BFGOODRICH KM3 TIRES IN THE SUMMER, AND 295/75R16 BFGOODRICH KO2 TIRES IN THE WINTER DRIVELINE: NITRO 4.88 GEARS, ARB FRONT AIR LOCKER, REAR FACTORY E-LOCKER, ARB DIFFERENTIAL BREATHER EXTENSIONS EXTERIOR ACCESSORIES: CBI MOAB 2.0 FRONT BUMPER, CBI OVERLAND SKIDS, CBI BUSHMASTER 2.0 REAR BUMPER, TOTAL CHAOS LCA SKIDS, WHITE KNUCKLE SLIDER, WARN XEON 10-S WINCH WITH FACTOR 55 FLATLINK, SAFARI SNORKEL, ARB TWIN AIR COMPRESSOR ON SLEE BRACKET, DMOS DELTA SHOVEL WITH MOUNT, AXE, FULL RECOVERY/WINCH KIT, TWO PAIRS OF MAXTRAX WITH ALU-CAB HOLDER, TWO WAVIAN JERRICANS, BAJA DESIGNS S8 40-INCH COMBO…

One thing we love making is great coffee on the go. It sets the tone of the day. Packing a coffee-making kit is a critical part of camp preparation. No matter if it’s camping in remote surroundings, traveling the world via Campervan, or even self-quarantining in our side yard, it’s what we do. Coffee, like camping, evolves. So does the gear to make it. Everyone is particular on how it’s made, how strong it can be, and how long it stays hot. No matter if it’s using our oldie but goodie GSI french press, crafting a quick pour-over with our collapsible container, or using the AeroPress at home, creating a solid cup of joe is our staple. Making it, consuming it, and relying on its feel-good characteristics makes us happy.…

TIPS ON PREPARATION AND SAFETY Park Rangers stationed in Grand Canyon National Park report that the most common mistake visitors make is unpreparedness, including not bringing enough water, underestimating trip times, and wearing improper footwear. Note that cell service varies throughout the park. There are major seasonal changes in temperature and weather in the canyon, so preparation will vary depending on what time of year you visit and which section of the canyon you choose (North Rim versus South Rim). Visit the National Park Service website (www.nps.gov) for the most comprehensive and up-to-date information. The North Rim of the canyon sits at nearly 8,000 feet of elevation and drops 1 mile before reaching the Colorado River. As is often the case in high desert environments, temperatures can vary wildly in…

We at Tread understand that traveling, camping, and vacations as a whole can be challenging with kids—especially younger ones. We also know how much more their lives will be enriched through those experiences. As the saying goes “it takes a village,” so why not call upon those of us who have traveled with their kids enough to have discovered ways to make it even a tad bit easier. We asked our friends at Rogue Overland to help us out with some tips from their experiences over the years on trips with their families. A little bit of insight can go a long way. OVERLANDING WITH KIDS Kids are often a part of most overland groups. And the same goes with Rogue Overland where two of the five owners have kids—three…

This year’s rally was dedicated to notable racers and Alcan 5000 friends whom were recently lost: Gary Bockman, Jim Elder, Greg Misbach, Paul Oskamp, Steve Richards, Steve Skogmo, Ramey Stroud, and the legendary off-road racer Rod Hall, whose career included approximately 180 race wins with a streak of 35 back-to-back victories in the ’80s. Rod Hall was the only person to race 50 consecutive Baja 1000s. Whereas other teams have a 50 percent chance to finish a race, Hall’s percentage was 50 percent to win that race. In 1986, Rod Hall competed in the summer Alcan 5000 Rally in a Mitsubishi-built Dodge Raider, similar to the Mitsubishi Pajero we piloted in 2020. Hall’s team was one of only five teams to reach Inuvik, Northwest Territories, that year. Since Hall’s death…

ENGINE: 4.0L V-6 WITH VOLANT CLOSED BOX COLD-AIR INTAKE SUSPENSION: OLD MAN EMU BP-51 (FRONT AND REAR), SPECIALTY PRODUCTS COMPANY UPPER CONTROL ARMS (FRONT), TIMBREN INDUSTRIES FRONT AND REAR ACTIVE OFF-ROAD BUMPSTOPS (FRONT AND REAR), DEAVER EXPEDITION STAGE 3 LEAF SPRINGS (REAR), ARCHIVE GARAGE SHACKLE HANGERS WITH CROSS TUBE (REAR) WHEELS & TIRES: VENOMREX VR-602 17-INCH -12 OFFSET WITH 4.5-INCH BACKSPACING, FALKEN WILDPEAK 285/70R17 M/TS INTERIOR ACCESSORIES: YAESU ORIGINAL FTM-400XDR HAM RADIO, MIDLAND RADIO X-TALKER T290VP4 2-WAY, WEBOOST DRIVE REACH CELL PHONE BOOSTER, SPOD UNIVERSAL TRUCK KIT, OEM AUDIO PLUS SYSTEM 500Q, EXPEDITION ESSENTIALS 2TPAM WITH WIRING COVER EXTERIOR ACCESSORIES: NITRO 4.56 GEARS, ARB FRONT AIR LOCKER, TACO VINYL RAPTOR GRILLE WITH COLOR-MATCHED SHROUD, SPYDER HALO PROJECTOR LIGHTS-LIGHT BAR DRL WITH PIAA H9 PLATINUM LED BULB KIT, SPYDER LIGHT BAR…