TREAD的March - April 2020目录

I’m not one of those people who can pop-up off the sofa and head out the door to the grocery store at a moment’s notice—the thought gives me anxiety. Nor am I my typical easy-going self when you change plans on me at the last second. I get quite perturbed. And don’t you dare organize a surprise party for me. When I find out about it, I’ll pester you for all the details of the things that don’t add up right in my head. By the way, I’m quite observant. This may sound absolutely ridiculous to some, but others know exactly how I feel. I like to be prepared. I like to be ready for whatever comes my way as best as I can, understanding that mishaps can still happen.…

01. BEYOND CLOTHING/ PRIMA LOCHI JACKET This reversible jacket is built to handle a variety of scenes and needs. Rugged quilted ripstop protects against gusts and showers, while the performance insulation keeps you warm without the sweat. The reversible design offers two looks for the price of one. Made of 70-denier quilted micro ripstop, Polartec Alpha Insulation, and perfect for weather below 45 degrees. The epic colorways can be worn in the woods or in a bustling city anywhere on the globe. Comes in standard and long sizes. Available in Black/ Woodland, Grey/Rescue Red and a limited-edition snow Olive/Artic colorway. MSRP: $185 beyondclothing.com 02. BEYOND CLOTHING/ MAKER’S PANT Day-to-day wearability meets purpose-built power with the Maker’s Pant. It’s comfortable and tough enough to wear every day. Flexible fabrics…

This ’90 Nissan short-wheelbase diesel Patrol is Chuck Kurtz’s third Patrol, and most capable yet. Kurtz has a long history with Nissan, one that dates back to the 1960s when his father owned a Datsun/Lotus dealership in Pennsylvania. His passion for the brand was solidified with a long and storied history with racing a wide range of Nissans in America. Nissan Race Life Kurtz’s father road-course raced Datsuns and Nissans all his life. He actually built up a successful race team to such a level that it became the Nissan Factory Team in the IMSA GTU series, racing Nissan 240SXs during the 1990s. At its peak the team ran a three-car program in the GTU series, winning numerous driver championships and manufacturer championships for Nissan. For three years during 1983…

Standing out in the sea of Gladiators at SEMA Show 2019 was Brit Mansell’s 2020 Jeep Gladiator, nicknamed Spartacus. As the owner of American Adventure Lab (AAL), Mansell used the Gladiator platform to show off the new product offerings from his company. Loaded with top-quality parts, this truck especially shows off AAL’s new truck bed platform rack with integrated rooftop tent (RTT) system. Making its debut at the SEMA Show 2019 in the Overland Experience area, this Gladiator shows ingenuity and style—reasons why it stood out to us. Building from Top Down The whole idea for this build was to show off the latest products from AAL and be Mansell’s daily driver and overland adventure machine. The component that really set this Gladiator apart from the crowd—and there was a…

It’s not every day that a person finally gets to purchase his dream truck. And it’s not every day that a person sees his dream truck get totaled after only having it six months. But while some may look at that loss as a dream crusher, Jason Denney saw it as an opportunity for improvement and a way to mimic the impeccable design and thought put into his company’s new product, the Rigd Supply UltraSwing. Just like a phoenix rising from the ashes, this ’18 Tacoma was born from the ashes of its predecessor. “...WITHIN FIVE WEEKS OF HAVING IT, THE BRAND-NEW TRUCK THAT WAS BOUGHT WITH ZERO MILES ON IT WAS LEANING ON ITS SIDE, HELD UP BY A VW BUG-SIZED BOULDER...” Dreams Come True…and Crash Ever since Jason…

The Land Rover Discovery is an iconic vehicle in its own right, but it has always been overshadowed by its fancy big brother, the Range Rover, and its even older and scrappier sibling, the Defender. The Discovery is the Land Rover that is generally more affordable, and offers most of the everyday comforts of a Range Rover and a good bit of the off-road prowess and utilitarianism of the Defender. With the new Defender about to hit dealers and its design more closely related to the latest Discovery 5 than past Defenders, we were very interested to see how the latest Discovery stacked up against previous generations on a proper overland adventure. Luckily, the good people at Lucky 8 Off Road, a leading Land Rover specialty shop outside Buffalo, New…

Spring is in the air. And it’s the perfect time to upgrade some items—like your wheels. Why not do some spring cleaning, sell off stuff and buy yourself a new set of wheels? Start the new season with an eye-catching look. Whether you’re still heading to the snow or in search of warmer weather, there is sure to be something to fit your style and accompany you on your journey. MAYHEM / VOYAGER The Voyager from Mayhem Wheels targets the off-road and overland crowd, with special attention to the Toyota and Jeep enthusiast. Additional fitments are offered for the mid and full-size pickup truck market, too. The wheel is available in 17x8.5 and 18x9 in 5-, 6- and 8-lug applications and is available in a stunning Matte Black or Stellar…

New pocketknives are released regularly, and the itch to grab a new one consumes us all. It’s hard not to start a collection of these ageless tools that serve a variety of purposes. Their many daily uses, such as opening packages or slicing food while on a break at work, are aplenty, which makes it easy to rationalize having more than one. Whether you’re starting your collection or adding to it, this issue’s selections are bound to delight your senses. Consider your needs and pick one that’s right for you. 01. BENCHMADE /TACTICAL TRIAGE Type: Folder Overall Length Open: 8.33 in. Overall Length Closed: 4.85 in. Blade Length: 3.48 in. Weight: 5.28 oz. Blade Material: CPM-S30V Handle Material: G10 MSRP: $235 benchmade.com 02. ZERO TOLERANCE /0460TI Type: Folder…

The gals who participate in the Re-belle Rally challenge themselves to ditch their cell phones, their laptops, their GPS’s. With only a map and a compass to guide them, they go off-road for 10 days of grueling navigational competition. I competed in last year’s 1,600 mile Rebelle Rally as part of Team Free Range Dames. I drove a customized ’12 Toyota Tacoma with a manual transmission. I stepped—well, drove—way beyond my comfort zone. I dove head-first into a world of off-road uncertainty to test my abilities. Even if I failed miserably, I told myself, I would get up, dust myself off and be proud of just getting out there. I learned a lot. This year, I returned to the Rebelle as media. I watched 38 all-women teams battle their way…

I first experienced the Canadian Rocky Mountains with a fly fisherman friend who lived in Calgary. As we drove down Highway 40, I pressed my face against the glass of the back window, the only effective way to take in the towering mountains surrounding us. Lodgepole pines and Douglas firs lined the roadway, and the forests gradually sloped and terminated at the treeline where limestone and shale slabs formed pointy, jagged peaks. Even after road-tripping from Canada to Argentina and spending time in the Andes, the Canadian Rocky Mountains instantly stole my heart. We parked and jumped out of my friend’s Hilux Surf. I ran my fingers through juniper bushes and over tiny wild roses as we walked toward the jewel-colored Bow River. Old Man’s Beard dangled from coniferous tree…

“IF YOU HAVE AT LEAST TWO IDENTIFIABLE LANDMARKS, YOU CAN USE YOUR MAP AND COMPASS TO TRIANGULATE YOUR POSITION.” Away from civilization, you are just one mistake away from turning an enjoyable outing into a struggle for survival. We tend to be more carefree during an outdoor adventure. We don’t always think of becoming lost and the bad things that can happen as a result. Add to that the fact that we’ve become dependent on having a little electronic voice tell us when to turn right or turn left. Fun Times Can Take a Wrong Turn If you’re not properly prepared for traveling off pavement, you can suddenly be caught off-guard and become lost. How does this happen? Multiple scenarios can lead you astray, including some of these possibilities. You’re…

I stare intently at the gas gauge while trying to drive with the least possible amount of throttle. I’m in Sixth gear only moving at 30 miles per hour, trying to keep the revs as low as I can to stretch every single mile from what little gas remains. After 15 miles I’m not really surprised to find the dusty town does not have a gas station—rural Zambia is not a densely populated place, after all. With little choice, I roll on toward almost certain failure. A handful of miles later, the engine dies. There is no coughing or spluttering, no indications that anything is amiss. It simply dies without fanfare. Manhandling the 6,000-pound Jeep onto the shoulder without power steering is not easy, and it eventually comes to rest…

01. MISHIMOTO / JEEP XJ FAN SHROUD Say goodbye to the stock cooling fan on your Jeep XJ. Besides being outdated, the stock option fan pulls a lot of power away from the performance of your Cherokee. This new fan shroud by Mishimoto incorporates three high-flow 10-inch electric slim fans. Each of these fans moves at a constant 950 CFM regardless of engine speed. This combo will provide way better cooling power than OE parts thanks to the unique design, which offers one fan to replace the stock A/C fan, as the other two fans are free to cool the radiator. Their testing has shown the fans have moved air 41.9% better than the stock fan shroud at idle and 22% better than the stock fans at 2,500 RPM.…

01 FRAME STEEL FRAME Sturdy and strong steel frame supports rider and components with stainless steel hardware to keep rust at bay. DIMENSIONS The length from front of the front wheel to back of rear wheel is 65 inches or 165 centimeters. It is 25 inches wide, including handlebars. SEAT The 4-inch wide comfy seat sits 32 inches from the ground and accommodates most heights. 02 FEATURES TIRES The all-terrain tires are 20x4 to provide a smooth ride on all types of terrain. KICKSTAND Keep the bike upright on the heavy-duty alloy kickstand. RANGE On a full battery charge, the bike can travel 35 to 40 miles at 20 mph, pending given variables. 03 PERFORMANCE MOTOR The 500-watt nominal motor and 1,000-watt rear hub motor keeps you moving. BATTERY Weighing…

When: Every year during October. 2019 was the fourth year running. Where: Every year, the rally starts north of Lake Tahoe, spanning off-road territory north of the Mexican border. Course details are top-secret and change every year. Who: This year, 38 all-women teams. That’s 76 women, with ages ranging from 23 to 71. This event brings in women from all over—gals from the US, Canada, Australia, South Africa, and even Norway. The Challenge: The Rebelle Rally tests each team’s grit, determination, and willingness to succeed. Topographic maps and a compass are the only navigational tools allowed. Speed is just one objective. It’s also about precision, time management, and driving skill. The Mission: Every morning, each team is given a list of coordinates for hidden checkpoints. It’s their job to find…

CLOTHES • Jackets: Down or synthetic warm layer, waterproof shell • Pants: Hard shell, waterproof and windproof or snow pants (can do standard hiking pants or leggings in fall when temperatures are warmer) • Base layers: Shirt and/or bottoms (wool or synthetic) • Beanie/hat • Gloves • Extra pair of socks (wool) • Face mask/balaclava/buff (or equivalent) • Polarized sunglasses DAYPACK • Snow gear: Snowshoes, crampons or microspikes, gaiters • Hiking boots, shoes or trail runners • Trekking poles • Sunscreen and lip balm • Water bottle • Emergency shelter/emergency blanket • Multi-tool or knife • Lighter/matches • Hand and toe warmer packets • Spot or InReach (Topographical Map, Compass) • Headlamp and spare batteries • First-aid kit • Kleenex/wet wipes • Re-sealable double-bagged plastic bags for toilet paper, toilet…

On Aug. 27, 2019, we lost one of the most influential and endearing off-road automotive greats: Jessi Combs. Inspirational in many respects, Jessi was fearless, compassionate, funny and dedicated to making a difference. This one-of-a-kind woman, who died at the young age of 39, left us too soon, but the impact she made on the world is felt by all, especially those who got to ride alongside her in life. Her encouragement and influence helped women excel in their non-traditional careers, take chances on new paths, and retain resiliency to forge ahead and face challenges head on. “JESSI’S BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS AREN’T EVEN CLOSE TO BEING OVER.” Jessi was a talented welder, fabricator, off-road racer and prominent TV personality on shows like “Overhaulin’,” “Xtreme 4×4” and “Mythbusters.” Her physical life ended…

Nothing is left to chance when I build an overland adventuremobile, as I have a deep depth of knowledge and experience to draw from. I lived on the road full time for nearly seven years, first in a 4x4 E350 Sportsmobile van and then in a RAM 2500-based custom expedition camper. Both of these vehicles taught me so much about what I need and what I might want for my style of travel. Add to it the fact that I’ve also been an automotive journalist in the overland and off-road space for more than eight years, which has allowed me to see and try a huge diversity of adventure vehicles. This combined knowledge from my personal travels and my work led me to build the ultimate overland vehicle for my…

He signed the book and handed it across the counter. Not one to waste words, he simply smiled and carried on with his work. On the title page he’d written, “Randy: Enjoy the snow! Feels like a streamer day to me! Josh G.” A few hours on the river would reveal whether Josh Greenberg, owner/operator of Gates Au Sable Lodge and author of “Rivers of Sand: Fly Fishing Michigan and the Great Lakes Region” was correct. While Greenberg does has have a stellar reputation for knowing the where and how of Michigan rivers, we crossed our fingers in hopes the overcast sky and light snow in the air would help make his prediction a reality. As we launched the raft downstream of the lodge, nickel-sized snowflakes fell like confetti, the…

CHILI BEEF AND MAC 1 28-ounce can of baked beans 1 15.5-ounce can of kidney beans 1 14.5-ounce can of diced tomatoes 2 packages of chili seasoning 1 1-pound box of elbow macaroni 1½ pounds of hamburger 1 pound of ground sausage 1 cup of diced onions 1 cup of diced green peppers 3 pounds of shredded cheese Chili powder to taste Brown hamburger and sausage in 12-inch Dutch oven. Drain. Add beans, tomatoes, onions, peppers, chili seasoning, macaroni and one quart of water. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Stir in shredded cheese and cook until cheese is melted. Add chili powder to taste. STRAWBERRY RHUBARB COBBLER 4 cups sliced fresh strawberries 3 cups sliced fresh rhubarb ½ cup quick tapioca 2 cups sugar 1 yellow cake mix…