TREAD January/February 2026

I love this time of year because it allows us the chance to get out and enjoy all of the places that push the top of the temp gauges all summer long. I don’t know about you, but it brings to mind the red sandstone of southern Utah and the Joshua trees in Arizona. What does this part of the year mean to you? Our January/February issue is packed with awesome features and a killer event. Chad Douglas visited Off-Road Expo Costa Mesa and his story makes you feel like you’re right there with him. We have some incredible feature builds, including James’ Final Frontier, a build more than 10 years in the making; Spencer’s outrageous Tacoma prerunner; the TMR Short Course build; an amazing dentside Bronco; the MESO Toyota…

01. STEEL-IT POLYURETHANE TOPCOATS 12 OZ. MATTE GRAY/ SILVER STEEL-IT Polyurethane paint topcoats feature custom-engineered 316L stainless steel flake and provide superior protection against corrosion, abrasion, salt, alkalis, and other chemicals. These aerosol coatings provide the added benefit of being weldable, UV-resistant, and USDA-compliant for incidental food contact. STEEL-IT Polyurethane withstands high-pressure washdowns and detergents without chipping or flaking, a critical feature in so many applications across industries. Available in a half-dozen color options. MSRP from $29.99 summitracing.com 02. LOCK OFF-ROAD BAJA MACHINED WHEELS 17X9 Lock Off-Road Baja machined face polished wheels interconnect an off-road wheel with a proven lightweight classic motorsports design and a handsome machined finish. Bringing together strength and style with weight reduction, Baja wheels increase the spirit of extreme motorsports on your rig. For the ultimate…

01. PACKFIRE This collapsible round fire pit folds flat, sets up in seconds, and delivers smokeless warmth, so you can enjoy the good times. You know, the classic marshmallow and ghost story gatherings—minus the smoky eyes. MSRP $399.00 packfire.com 02. RTIC ULTRA-DRY BACKPACK The Ultra-Dry Backpack features RTIC EZ waterproof zippers, waterproof fabric, and welded seams throughout, making it watertight. Your essentials will stay dry, whether you’re commuting on a foggy morning, boating, or getting caught in the rain. MSRP $119.99 rtic.com 03. ZEMPIRE KITPAC PRO STANDARD CAMPING TABLE The Zempire Kitpac Pro Standard Camping Table is easy to set up and is ideal for food prep, dining, card games, and more. It folds down small for easy transport and storage. MSRP $140.00 zempirecamping.com 04. KATADYN BEFREE 1.0L Whether you’re…

Meet Adam Nguyen, a Southern Californian based out of Fountain Valley. Adam is the builder behind this Nautical Blue Toyota 4Runner. This truck isn’t just a random build for fun and capability; Adam sold his custom 4th Gen 4Runner to build a family vehicle for himself, his wife, and kids to go out and have fun in! The exterior features on this rig include AlphaRex MK II Nova Series headlights, a Vidal Metal Worx Nighthawk 5G front bumper with its clean and slick look providing its high clearance needs, and McQueen 4-inch fiberglass fenders to give it that wide feel when cruising. The 4Runner’s exterior has also been upgraded with a Bison Gear roof rack with a table and best-in-the-business illumination from Baja Designs, including a linkable LP4, RTL, S2s…

Every legend starts with a spark—an idea too wild to ignore. For this one, it was simple: What if a Tacoma could outrun the horizon? That question became a mission. A Tacoma cab stripped to its bones became the foundation for something unthinkable—a machine that fused Toyota’s proven toughness with Dodge’s supercharged chaos. What followed were years of late nights, TIG sparks, and desert dust, ending in a creation that turned heads first at Toyo Tires’ Treadpass during SEMA 2024 and again a year later under the Lock Off-Road banner at SEMA 2025. At the center of this monster sits a 6.2L Hellcat V8, an engine built for speedways and drag strips, now breathing desert air through a custom titanium intake and K&N filter. It’s anchored by solid motor mounts…

From start to finish, the Off-Road Expo in Costa Mesa, California, is an event that I look forward to every single year, but 2025 was my favorite so far! There were many companies I have close relations with in attendance, like Maxxis Tires, Predator Tires, Fittipaldi Off-Road, PRP Seats, Terra Crew, and many more! There was no shortage of drama on the Proving Grounds course either with the excitement of rowdiness put on by the Terra Crew and Terra Drift Crew. Big names like Ruslan, Blake Wilkey, Eric Conner, Anthony West, and more got to party and jump their rigs for everyone to see as well as show off the capability these desert rigs have on pavement. Saturday morning started off with an early wake-up call at 5:30 A.M. I…