Table of contents for November - December 2021 in TREAD

Since becoming editor of Tread, I’ve had the privilege of meeting some extraordinary people—people with whom I never would have crossed paths had I still been a middle school science teacher. Some travel the globe in vehicles or on a motorbike. Some build unique and extraordinary vehicles (such as an overlanding ambulance). Some use their backgrounds to educate others. Almost everyone leaves me thinking about the possibilities of future adventures and inspire thoughts of what I can accomplish in my lifetime. Many of those people have served in the military. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve developed a great admiration for, and a connection to, those who have served. While this wasn’t even a thought in my social circles growing up, I realize why I, too, might never have felt comfortable…

It’s never a bad time to pick up a new set of aftermarket wheels. They look good and can provide improved performance, facilitate bigger tire sizing, provide custom offset options and enhance the trail toughness of your rig. Choosing the right set depends on your intended use, styling preference and application. Here, we’ve gathered some of the most in-demand wheels currently on the market for you to check out. No matter which set you choose, it’s sure to upgrade your ride’s looks and ability. BLACK RHINO WHEELS / RAPID The all-new Black Rhino Rapid Rotary Forged/RF lightweight truck wheels offer weights starting at 22 pounds per wheel, while they’re still engineered and tested for heavy off-road use. They’re available in Matte Midnight Blue, Matte Brushed Gunmetal, Matte Bronze and Matte…

A midday sun beat down on the northern reaches of Australia’s Top End, tapping the desiccated soil for any remaining moisture and sending the mercury toward the century mark. We were somewhere between Cairns and Darwin, skirting the Bay of Carpentaria, during a three-week “Down Under” adventure. Cresting a rise, I glimpsed what appeared to be a log in the road … but it was moving—a large, yellow-spotted goanna. I hit the brakes, jumped out with camera in hand and slowly approached. When it headed for the bush, I ran to cut it off at the pass. It went the other way, and I circled around. This scenario repeated until it finally settled down and we sat there staring at each other. Dropping to my belly put me eye to…

There are few organizations in the off-road and overland industries that exhibit the level of professionalism and expertise as the aptly named Overland Experts (OEX). OEX is an off-road driving and recovery school with four locations around the United States that train just about everyone. From weekend warriors to rally raid competitors and elite Special Forces military—and everyone in between—OEX has the off-road expertise to train them all. While we’ve seen the OEX team in action at overland events across the country for a decade now, we wanted to find out more to share what makes this company unique. For one, OEX guys show up to events with unobtainable vehicles such as brand-new Toyota Hilux and 70 Series Land Cruisers. To find out more, we connected with OEX’s Tony Cerruto.…

Canadian resident Nick McKay caught the off-roading bug after attending Washington’s 2014 NW Overland Rally. After being a passenger on his first off-road trail run, McKay witnessed extreme excitement when the 1998 Land Rover Discovery I he was in slipped into a deep V-notch, showing its underbody. After he and the driver, Spencer Whitney, were checked on, the vehicle was righted and winched back to safety. Prior to recovery, McKay had a smile the size of Alberta on his face; he was hooked. McKay’s First Build: Ourea After the unexpected rescue, McKay bought a “well-loved 2008 Nissan Xterra” four months later, nicknamed it “Ourea” and has been going on adventures ever since. Since then, the 34-year-old adventurer, along with his wife, Tina Rahn, have piloted many off-roading excursions with it.…

What propels you forward into the unknown? Is it the destination that motivates you to explore the trail less taken, or is it the experience of the journey that drives you? Do you do it to challenge yourself and test your equipment? While each of these factors is definitely important, for most of us, it’s who we share our adventures with that’s the key motivator. Whether you enjoy the outdoors by truck or by other conveyance, such as a UTV, it’s the people you enjoy the activity with that make it memorable and worth doing. For avid off-roader Harold Hunt, taking the path less traveled had multiple meanings. Hunt, CEO and chairman of SuperATV, began his journey riding creeks in his Polaris Sportsman ATV. "SUPERATV’S GOAL WAS TO FILL A…

Peering over the edge, my eyes slowly adjusted to the inky abyss below—a wormhole in the earth that seemed to spiral into oblivion. I glanced up at my traveling mates near the mouth of the crevasse, reaffirmed my snowy footing and carefully backed away to safer ground. This was not a cave or natural grotto but a deep fissure formed by the hands of men with picks, shovels and dynamite. My friend, “Geology John” Mears, picked up a chunk of rock and began a short dissertation on its formation and elemental properties. This was the Nightingale mine, one of a plethora of mines that pepper a range of mountains of the same name. I joined the group and listened. We were standing on “hallowed” ground—hallowed, that is, if you were…

01. BDS / TOYOTA TUNDRA 3” COILOVER LIFT KIT BDS offers next-level performance while maintaining on-road handling and factory suspension geometry with 3-inch coilover systems for the Toyota Tundra. These kits use Fox 2.0 Performance Series IFP coilovers for a bolt-in upgrade to the factory strut assemblies for improved damper performance across all terrains. The kit also includes a pair of BDS performance series upper control arms, a set of heavy-duty shackles, grade-8 installation hardware and more. It allows clearance for 33-inch tires under 2WD and 4WD Tundras. MSRP: $2,389 bds-suspension.com 02. PPE / ENGINE OIL PAN 3.6L JK The PPE Cast Aluminum Oil Pan is your best choice for increased strength and lower oil temps. Thick cast aluminum is superior to stamped steel for cooling engine oil.…

When’s the time to update your pocket blade? How about ... right now? Your pocketknife is one of the most useful tools that you carry daily, so having the latest and greatest design at your disposal is a good idea in our book. In the latest roundup, we have an innovative collection, including one that has easily interchangeable blades and another that you can custom order to your own specs. 01. CRKT/ PIET BLUE WITH D2 BLADE CLOSED LENGTH: 3.76” OPEN LENGTH: 6.44” BLADE LENGTH: 2.69" BLADE MATERIAL: D2 HANDLE MATERIAL: Glass-reinforced nylon WEIGHT: 2.5 ounces MSRP: $55 crkt.com 02. HAVALON/ REDI CLOSED LENGTH: 4.25” OPEN LENGTH: 7” BLADE LENGTH: 3" BLADE MATERIAL: AUS-8 HANDLE MATERIAL: ABS polymer NOTE: Includes two blades that are quickly changeable.…

The quest for perfection in the off-road world can be a long journey. Many off-road builds seem to have humble beginnings that spiral into rigs that give up daily driving duty and take on weekend trail duty. “THE QUEST FOR PERFECTION IN THE OFF-ROAD WORLD CAN BE A LONG JOURNEY. MANY OFF-ROAD BUILDS SEEM TO HAVE HUMBLE BEGINNINGS THAT SPIRAL INTO RIGS THAT GIVE UP DAILY DRIVING DUTY AND TAKE ON WEEKEND TRAIL DUTY.” For Jim Hart of Ground Pounder Coffee, that’s exactly what happened to his 2015 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. The Inspiration Outside of maybe the first vehicle or two after getting his license, all of Hart’s vehicles have always been heavily modified. He believes it all started when he was off-roading with his dad in his modified 1970…

I distinctly remember complaining that I’d paid too much when I bought my 1973 Land Cruiser FJ40 from a friend in 1978. True, it only had 23,000 miles on it and was in “as-new” condition. But still, couldn’t a buddy have accepted less than $3,500? I know what you’re thinking—and you’re right: In vehicular terms, that purchase was an investment right up there with IPO Apple stock. More than 300,000 miles later, that FJ40 has yet to leave me stranded a single time, except as the result of a dead battery. It’s been used for exploration, guiding sea kayaking trips in Mexico and four-wheel-drive training (not to mention a first date with my wife). And it’s now insured for more than 10 times what I paid for it. Legends Live…

“STEPPING UP TO TAKE OVER THE FAMILY BUSINESS WHEN HER HUSBAND WAS DEPLOYED IN 2018, JILLIAN SCHAIBLE EMBODIES COURAGE, STRENGTH, DISCIPLINE AND HARD WORK.” Strength, valor, discipline and determination are characteristics that often shine through in those who serve or have served our country. However, sometimes, it’s not just the person in a partnership who enlists who displays these traits. Those who are left behind to look after the home, family and business might also greatly impact their communities in a positive way. As the saying goes, “Behind every great man is a great woman.” That could not be truer for Josh and Jillian Schaible, the owners of the Apex Overland 4Runner. Stepping up to take over the family business when her husband was deployed in 2018, Jillian Schaible embodies…

It took Thomas Tucker about 2½ years to build and evolve this 2018 Jeep Wrangler to what it is today; and he’s quite happy with it … for now. With 55,000 miles on the clock through more than 13 countries (about half of that traveling off-pavement), this Jeep is dialed in and ready for more adventures. “ … COVID HAPPENED, AND EVENTS OF ALL TYPES DIED DOWN, SO THE IN-PERSON TENTS + TREADS GATHERINGS HAVE BEEN ON HOLD DURING THE PANDEMIC.” Tucker has spent the past nine years on overseas duty with the U.S. Air Force. In late 2017, he used some deployment funds to buy this Jeep and had it shipped directly to his station in England at the time. He’s since spent a lot more deployment money upgrading…

01. ALTRA/LONE PEAK ALL-WTHR MID Pack up and head out with Lone Peak All-Wthr Mid. This ground-stomper is through-hike-ready, with an eVent weather-resistant bootie construction, a grippy DuraTread outsole and a soft, yet responsive, Altra Ego midsole. From day hikes to through-hikes and everything in between, the Lone Peak All-Wthr Mid is ready to take you wherever you want to go. MSRP: $170 altrarunning.com 02. LIVSN/FLEX CANVAS PANTS These pants look clean and are capable of doing more without looking tactical. Livsn thoughtfully integrated features such as a gusseted crotch, articulated knees, zippered security pockets, discrete EDC pockets, roll-up leg system, ventilation and reinforcements at all stress points. Available in Brown, Caramel, Black and Olive (shown). MSRP: $99 livsndesigns.com 03. BRANON FAMILY MAPLE ORCHARDS/MAPLE TO GO! Can’t…

LENGTH: 23” FRONT & REAR TRACK: 9.8” WHEELBASE: 12.8” GROUND CLEARANCE: 3.14” BATTERIES: NIMH (4-7 cell) or LiPo (2s-3s) URL: traxxas.com O1 DRIVELINE LOCKING DIFFERENTIALS. Just as with your full-sized rig, the 1:10-scale Bronco’s front and rear differentials can be locked and unlocked, according to the terrain you drive it on. Leave them unlocked when the going is smooth, and lock them down when tackling tricky, technical trails. TRANSMISSION. Moving from one crawling section to another? Select “high gear” to get there quickly. Once you’re ready to crawl, hit the rocker switch on your transmitter to engage “low gear” for extra torque and power to crawl the rocks. PORTAL AXLES. To provide additional ground clearance, the TRX-4 is equipped with portal axles that lift the differential “pumpkin” up high.…

Imagine a world in which off-road adventurers can pilot their electric vehicles (EVs) anywhere in the country—without battery charge stations nearby; powering up whenever needed, no matter where they are. What if they’re traveling via remote country roads with camp gear in tow or driving over miles of dirt? How about slushing through snow while heading to an off-the-grid campsite? No problem. Adventure enthusiasts can soon self-sustain off the grid while piloting an EV. Envision an environment in which “range anxiety” doesn’t exist and folks aren’t tethered to EV charge stations. Is there a way away from generators or battery chargers when traveling remotely? How about exchanging intricate charge station plans for “just going,” no matter how far you travel? We’re explorers at heart. We strive for the next adventure.…

There’s a good chance you’ve come across one of the Last Line of Defense’s (LLOD) vehicles while browsing through social media or have stumbled across his popular YouTube page. In only a few short years, Mike Pfeiffer of Last Line of Defense has amassed quite the following, with more than 365,000 subscribers on YouTube and more than 138,000 on Instagram. Through social media, he’s been able to share his gear reviews, tips and advice for survival in the outdoors, as well as his various project vehicles that range from a Toyota Tacoma to an all-new Ford F250 Tremor. “MIKE WANTED A LARGE TRUCK WITH A HIGH PAYLOAD AND A LOT OF POWER TO GO WITH IT. AND, BECAUSE THE TREMOR HAD A 7.3-LITER GAS V8 GODZILLA ENGINE THAT PUSHES 430…

There are times when heating up a kettle full of water in order to rehydrate freeze-dried food in a pouch is warranted. Perhaps you’re climbing or backpacking and need to keep things extremely light in weight. Then, there are other times you can bring the full weight of your outdoor kitchen to bear in order to impress your campsite mates and your own taste buds with your culinary prowess. For those times, don’t skimp. Finex Cast-Iron Cookware There are plenty of kitchen tools available that are made to be lightweight and packable. While we love those items, there are some cooking implements that are best left to their full-sized brethren. In this case, we’re talking about cast-iron cookware. There’s no way around it: Cast iron is a weighty material, and…