Sommaire pour January/February 2019 de TREAD

O1. TAPPLOCK/ONE+ No more fumbling for keys or remembering a combination, your finger is your key. This smart-padlock has a capacitive fingerprint sensor which allows it to unlock in under 0.8 seconds and stores up to 500 fingerprints. It’s so smart, in fact, that the lock even has its own app. Tapplock one+ is secured by a double-layered lock design with anti-shim and anti-pry technologies. MSRP: $99 tapplock.com O2. DIAMOND BRAND/THE BELAY BAG The Belay Bag is spacious, durable, customizable and built in the Carolina Mountains. The bag is constructed from durable 1000D nylon with polyurethane and durable water-resistant coating, and is engineered for comfort and durability. Its straps are interchangeable and adjustable, allowing you to switch from a traditional backpack layout to a one strap cross over. MSRP: $139…

There are few vehicles that are as capable off pavement as a factory stock Jeep Wrangler. You don’t have to tell that to Frank Lopez, whose modified ‘14 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon has been improved in almost every way to be the ultimate camping, wheeling, and expedition vehicle. “WITH THE GOAL OF MAINTAINING THE RELIABILITY OF THE FACTORY 3.6L PENTASTAR V-6, THE ENGINE IS LEFT STOCK SAVE FOR A SUPERCHIPS REFLASH AND AN AEV SNORKEL WHICH KEEPS CLEAN AIR RUNNING THROUGH THE ENGINE.” Frank’s first experience with the Jeep brand was in the form of a ‘10 Wrangler Sport model. Over the years, he clocked over 140K miles on wheeling and travel expeditions. One day, after coming back from an eight-day trip, he experienced overheating and transmission issues. Instead of…

I took a Myers Briggs personality test once. It categorized me as The Executive. “You are an assertive and charismatic extrovert that thrives on solving problems and gains energy from socializing. You have a knack for managing things, but struggle to empathize. You are a better talker than listener, and prefer structure to spontaneity. You have difficulty relaxing.” Funny, I always thought of myself as a laidback Californian; turns out two dead ladies know me better than I know myself, and myself sounds like she needs some help. So how does a chatty lil’ uptight robot find Zen without popping Xanax? She quits her big city job, blindly moves to Utah, and picks up fly-fishing. Ta-da! Insta-chill. Every tourist board is trying to convince you that their state has something…

This '70 Toyota FJ40 was discovered during a Craigslist search residing in rust-free New Mexico, but not in the condition that you see here. The FJ was all-original, displaying faded tan paint with some old graphics on it. Aside from it being all-original, which was a blessing to begin with, the FJ was also completely stock and free of rust, too. As often is the case with older off-road vehicles, it sat on a set of white spoked wagon wheels that were wrapped in all too aggressive Baja Claws. It was just what Dale Manahan was looking for in a project. Dale had been looking for the same model and year truck his father had when he was just a kid. The FJ40 was just like the one he fondly…

Nate Huro out of Alexandria, Virginia, had been tinkering with autos as long as he has owned them. His first project in college was a ‘79 VW bus. Currently, Nate—like many of us—has had a bit of a Jeep problem. His latest obsessions include a creampuff ‘86 CJ-7 and a ‘06 LJ. However, the focus of this article is on another one of his Jeep obsessions, a ‘99 Cherokee XJ. He bought the XJ in 2013 with no intentions of having it become what it is today. At first it started with some basic modifications, such as an aftermarket front bumper, rear axle, and mild lift, which seemed to be sufficient enough for some weekend wheeling. “AT THIS POINT THEY GOT SERIOUS ABOUT THE BUILD AND STARTED TO CONVERT THE…

Ryan Huff and LeeWhay Pasek met hiking in the summer of 2000. They haven’t left each other’s side since, and continue to adventure in the outdoors together. They discovered the overland community in 2011, while attending one of the very first Overland Expos in Arizona, and early Overland Rallies in California. They were instantly hooked on vehicle-based adventure travel. “THE OVERLAND EXPO COMMUNITY, ITS PEOPLE AND THEIR STORIES OF ADVENTURES AROUND THE GLOBE WERE ENTHRALLING. THE CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS GOT THEM EXCITED ABOUT SKILLS AND ADVENTURES THEY HADN’T EVER THOUGHT OF NEEDING OR DREAMING OF.” The Overland Expo community, its people and their stories of adventures around the globe were enthralling. The classes and workshops got them excited about skills and adventures they hadn’t ever thought of needing or dreaming…

With the season changing to a decidedly colder climate, road and trail conditions are changing too. The cold and frost may be picturesque, but they also make for wet roads and declining on- and off-road conditions. Uneven pavement and potholes can make even city driving feel like you’re descending onto the more challenging side trails at Imogene Pass. To get you through the season, a set of sturdy wheels can help you traverse even the toughest of winter road hazards. Which of these latest wheels have caught your attention? RACELINE WHEELS/939 DISRUPTOR The face of the 939 Disruptor provides a bold look with strong angular lines and it’s a modern-day interpretation of the classic 9-spoke design. Available in gloss black finish with milled windows, chrome finish, and polished finish the…

This '07 Toyota Tundra Double Cab is owned by Paul May of Equipt Expedition Outfitters in Salt Lake City. The Tundra is nothing new, but that’s part of its charm. While other manufacturers are moving to aluminum bodies and advanced off-road traction management systems, Toyota is making the same old-school Tundra. This is probably why Paul also has a supercharged Gen 1 named Sleepy. Double the fun! You can spend a boatload of money on fancy ultra-modern F-150s and Silverados, but this overbuilt truck with an idiot-proof interface masters the basics of what trucks should excel at: it sounds great and rides beautifully over both asphalt and rugged terrain. Of course this particular Tundra isn’t stock. Given his line of work in the overlanding industry, Paul needed a vehicle capable…

During the past few decades, electronic gadgets and gizmos have infiltrated nearly all aspects of a four-wheel drive’s operation. As they gained increasing real estate on the dash, our view from the driver’s seat has become cluttered with toggles, buttons, and gauges. ARB, understanding that their accessories have contributed to our dashboard dilemma, took it upon themselves to help us clean up our act. We spent a day at their U.S headquarters to gain a better understanding of LINX, their accessories management system, and how it can simplify our backcountry experience. At first glance LINX appears to be no more than an iPhone-sized device, but behind its touchscreen is a wealth of technology. Rather than a tangle of electrical leads threading into your dash, wiring looms are routed to a…

There’s no arguing that campfire and food preparation time are often the center pieces of any camp outing, especially when you’re out with your friends and family. The time-honored tradition of sitting around a crackling fire, swapping stories and reminiscing about the day’s events are things that everyone looks forward to. The fire’s warmth, as well as the mouth-watering aroma of food cooking over open flames are favorite perks of a campfire. There is one thing that people don’t look forward to with campfires however; we’re talking about the billowing smoke a fire gives off. They say where there’s smoke, there’s fire; while this may be true most of the time, BioLite’s FirePit is rewriting this rule. BioLite FirePit is a portable wood and charcoal burning fire pit that promises…

O1. RUBICON EXPRESS/JEEP JL 2.5-INCH SUPER-RIDE SUSPENSION KIT This feature rich suspension kit for Jeep JL clears 35-inch tires on loaded non-Rubicon models and 37-inch tires on Rubicon models. It includes custom tuned coil springs based off of factory rate to provide OE ride handling characteristics, 2.5 shock body outer diameter with full bore piston, replacement control arms, and shocks that are tuned to maximize ride quality, suspension travel and more. MSRP: $1,550 rubiconexpress.com O2. POISON SPYDER/BRUISER FRONT BUMPER The Bruiser is a low-profile, high-clearance bumper featuring a recessed winch mounting plate that provides unrestricted airflow to the radiator and a lower center of gravity. The ends of the bumper extend far enough to protect the lower corner of the JL grille, but not far enough to hinder tire clearance…

O1 FEATURES STORAGE Auxiliary cargo hold under floor boards, totaling 45 gallons of storage for equipment or the installation of additional fuel tank. EXTRA FUEL 15 gallons of diesel fuel can be stored within each of the wheels for a total of 60 gallons of extra fuel capacity. O2 PASSENGER COMFORT It looks stubby but Sherp can hold up to four full-size beds. The passenger compartment can be heated by the engine, the vehicle heater, or a Webasto autonomous heater. SURVIVABILITY Sherp has high survivability characteristics so you can be confident in taking it anywhere. In the event of damage, Sherp can continue to move on three and even two wheels! O3 PERFORMANCE ENGINE The power plant is a 4 cylinder, 91 cubic-inch, Kubota-V1505-t / E3B that…

There is mountain biking as you and I know it, and then there is big mountain freeride mountain biking, like on display at Red Bull Rampage. While both involve two tires with knobby tread, the similarities pretty much stop there. The 13th running of Red Bull Rampage showed the world what is truly possibly on a mountain bike. Twenty-one of the world’s top freeride mountain bikers were selected to compete in this invite-only Red Bull Signature Series event. Riders not only had to ride down insanely steep, loose and rocky terrain, but they had to hand shape their own trail down the mountain. 2018 Rampage Venue Set on private land on the side of a mountain in the desert, near the west entrance to Zion National Park, the new 2018…

The importance of having the proper set of tires equipped on your ride can’t be stressed enough. This is true of virtually all vehicles, but none more so than on off-road trucks, Jeeps and SUVs. Combining a heavy load with uncivilized terrain can be a recipe for disaster if your vehicle can’t grip the ground. Depending on the season’s conditions and what type of usage you intend on putting your rig though, your choice of tire is an important decision to make. While it’s easy to say that you won’t cut corners when you outfit your vehicle, your wallet may have another thing to say about it. The one thing you should never skimp on are your tires. They have the capability of getting you to your destination and back,…

Winter is the darkest time of the year for those of us who live in the Northern Hemisphere. It also happens to be the coldest, too, but we’ll save that topic for another article. When exploring the wilderness or camping at a local campground, it’s important to be able to see what is right in front of you as well as your surroundings. For those times, many of us reach for our trusty flashlights. These portable sources of bright, reliable light deliver light when and where we need it the most. For the days and months that seem to get darker earlier and lighter later, it’s nice to have plenty of on-demand light available. Ever since English Inventor David Misell invented the first battery-powered flashlight in 1899, the light-emanating tool…