Indice dei contenuti per November/December 2018 in TREAD

The way different people experience and view adventure is likely to influence their decisions on where they go, what they do and how they get there. In this issue of Tread, we catch glimpses of this theme in the five vehicles that we feature, as well as in the outdoor activities and essential gear that we review. Join us as we meet up with Grant Korgan, owner of the 4x4 Sportsmobile van that you see on the cover. Korgan hasn’t let a life-changing injury slow him down one bit, and as you shall soon read, his story is an inspiring one full of positivity. If you live deep in the city but still want access to dirt roads and the great outdoors in a practical way, you’ll want to take…

01. MUUL/RUCKBUCKET COOLER The five-gallon capacity RuckBucket keeps your camera safe, your beer cold and your gear organized without costing you a whole paycheck. MUUL builds ultra-rugged gear that helps you go anywhere and take anything. The Ruck-Bucket can haul everything from a bundle of firewood to seventeen beers and can even pack 12 pounds of trout. When in doubt, bring it. MSRP: $150 muulusa.com 02. BIOLITE/HEADLAMP BioLite’s ultrathin rechargeable light has a better fit due to a flush front, balanced weight and smart fabrics. The headlamp features integrated electronics and fabrics through a custom, composite molded housing, while the low-profile front sits flush on the forehead without any bounce. The headlamp weighs a mere 2.3 ounces, has 3-hour run time on high and 40-hour run time on low, and…

When you’re exploring the outdoors by foot, there’s one critical component of your wardrobe that often gets overlooked—the sock. If shoes, boots, or sandals are like the tires to your outfit, then socks would be the suspension. They take the abuse that your body puts it through regardless of terrain, whether it’s hiking through the forest, desert, mountain, or even through a river passing. Socks protect the foot and body by providing support and regulating temperature. Just like outfitting your rig, you need to make sure you’re prepared for the activity and weather that presents itself. Hiking is the most specialized activity that requires detailed attention to keep your journey safe and blister-free. They say the average person takes over 2,000 steps to travel a single mile. That’s a lot…

I don’t think I’ve ever seen twin insane off-road builds before, especially owned by the same person. These two truly capable 2004, one-ton, solid axle-swapped Toyota 4Runners were both built by CAtuned Off-Road. They’re now owned by Steve, the owner of Rancho Toyota Auto Recycling. Inception Steve first built the Silver 4Runner with a 6-inch lift and some basic modifications. He started to tackle harder and harder terrain around his home in the Sierras, and quickly reached the limitations of the basic setup he had on the truck. The lift he had on the truck provided lots more ground clearance than stock, but also put a lot more strain on the drive-shafts and CV joints. The independent front suspension (IFS) setup, which comes standard on the 4Runner, was the real…

There’s a reason more and more people are becoming entrepreneurs. The freedom, opportunity and self-satisfaction of paving your own road offers unparalleled highs. For Chris Ol, his dream was to open his own automotive shop after working for several years as the lead technician for other businesses. Due to his ambition and the help of his supporting partner, Felixx Cho, his dream became a reality. Entrepreneurship isn’t for everyone. It’s not possible without a ton of sacrifice, skill and support. Thankfully, for Chris, he had this all going on, and he was ready to take some risks. “I left my previous job because I support Chris,” Felixx said. “I had already achieved my dream of working in the film industry, but Chris was still looking up at the stars as…

With so many cooking options available to outdoor enthusiasts, it can be overwhelming to choose which type of outdoor cooking appliance to use. Of course, there are plenty of ways to whittle down the choices. You’d probably start with your needs first. Are you cooking for yourself or for a group? That would dictate the size of your stove or oven. Next would be your activity. If you’re scaling the face of El Capitan in Yosemite, you’ll want to choose a pocket-sized backpacking stove. If you’re car camping with the kids, you’ll undoubtedly pack something much larger. Questions about cooking equipment can also include fuel type. Will you be able to bring fuel, such as, flammable liquid or heavy, bulky pieces of wood with you to your destination? How long…

01. ROAD ARMOR/IDENTITY SHACKLES Road Armor’s Identity Shackles are precision machined from extruded 6061 aluminum and are break tested beyond 40,000 lbs. It comes equipped with a robust stainless steel double shear pin that is 7/8-inches in diameter and a quick release retainer pin for use on the go. Snap rings included for both sides for added security against theft. MSRP: $149 roadarmor.com 02. DIAMOND EYE PERFORMANCE/“HI-TUCK” EXHAUST KITS These 2.5-inch Axle Back Single & Dual “Hi-TUCK” Exhaust Kits for the 2007 - 2017 Jeep JKs are available in either Aluminized or 409 Stainless Steel. The exhaust kits are designed to be pulled up tight underneath your JK making them perfect for off-road adventures, increased performance and that aggressive sound Diamond Eye Performance is known for. MSRP: Starting at $199…

“A NANO-SCIENTIST BY PROFESSION AND AN ATHLETE BY PASSION, KORGAN HAS ALWAYS PURSUED ADVENTURE, TESTED THE LIMITS OF POSSIBILITY AND SHARED POSITIVITY WITH ALL AROUND HIM.” VanDiesel is Grant Korgan’s ultimate adventure van. With a name inspired by the impressive ability to overcome obstacles and low vocal tones of actor Vin Diesel, this 4x4 van has been built through much love, positivity and sheer will. It has not been a smooth journey to this “van life” for Korgan, but many times, the best things in life come from the hardest of times. This adventure machine isn’t Korgan’s first dream van, but it is so good it might be his last. Grant Korgan It is so hard to narrow down exactly who Grant Korgan is in a few short words within…

1 Sock height: To protect against abrasion from your footwear and from the elements. Choose based on style of footwear, weather and environment as you may want to wear a long sock with boots while hiking through tall brush. 2 Cushioning: Provides additional support and comfort in key areas of the foot from the toes, heel and arch of the foot. Additional padding provides stability through the trails. 3 Fabric / Material: Depending on the activity, you’ll want a fabric that is not only comfortable, but wicks away moisture, dries quickly, and either holds in heat for colder days or disperses it. Cotton may be the go to for normal days at home, but it absorbs moisture and dries slow. It also provides no insulation while wet. Silk is a…

When a vehicle’s battery dies, it’s typically a surprise. At times, it happens in your driveway. Other times, it’s someplace else, like the parking lot at work or at the supermarket. Finding out that your battery decided to quit on you in those places can be a pain, but it’s not unmanageable. Calling the auto club or asking a neighborly passerby for a jump can usually remedy the situation. Now imagine you’ve traveled fifteen miles deep into a mountain trail. You pull over to take a break and have lunch, but when you resume your trek—bam! The truck’s ignition won’t turn over. The best you can do is wait for someone to roll by or call for help, which will probably take a fair share of time considering your location.…

“BLACK RHINO WENT TO THE OFF-ROAD SUBARU AFTERMARKET EXPERTS AT LP ADVENTURE FOR THEIR 1.5-INCH LIFT KIT. THE LIFT KIT CONSISTS OF A SET OF SPACERS AND HARDWARE TO INCREASE THE CAR’S GROUND CLEARANCE.” How do you define adventure? Is it taking off for a month to retrace a Camel Trophy route in some far-off land? Or would an exploration of a natural habitat be enough to feed your desire to escape? Big or small, far or near, we believe that adventures can be had anywhere. Our focus here is on the conveyance itself that takes you on these grand or humble explorations. When I first laid eyes on a Land Rover Defender 110, images of navigating tight, almost non-existent routes through dense brush danced through my mind. I had…

What’s the quickest way to change up the look of your truck, SUV or Jeep? If you said roll it, you might be right, but we’ve got a much more attractive and safe alternative. Swapping out your tired wheels for a fresh new set can not only make your ride look fresh, but the right set can also add to its ruggedness and capability. With so many great choices out there, we thought we’d give you a head start by showing you some of the latest rims to hit the market. Which set are you eyeing? ROLLING BIG POWER/50R COBRA Established in 2001, Rolling Big Power (RBP) has become a unique player in the custom off-road truck category. RBP adds a distinctive, bold aesthetic to rugged off-road wheels. Their off-road…

OVERALL LENGTH 84.6 in. OVERALL WIDTH 47.8 in. GROUND CLEARANCE 10.2 in. FUEL CAPACITY 4.6 gal. CURB WEIGHT 725 lbs. 01 PERFORMANCE ENGINE The power plant is a 722cc 4-stroke, liquid-cooled, 4-valve, DOHC single cylinder. TRANSMISSION The KingQuad 750AXi’s Quadmatic CVT-type drivetrain features an automatic variable ratio (V-belt) equipped with high/low-range, and reverse selections. DRIVE Whatever you need, it’s got it. Select from 2WD, 4WD, and even 4WD differential lock for those challenging areas. 02 TECH INSTRUMENT PANEL A new, fully redesigned multi-function instrument panel has improved appearance and visibility. Instrumentation includes LCD readouts for speedometer, odometer, twin tripmeter, hour meter, clock, fuel level, driving range and drive mode. LED indicators show transmission position and 2WD/4WD and differential-locked 4WD. LED LIGHTING A new, low-draw and bright LED taillight…

When you imagine Costa Rica, you’ll likely picture white sand beaches, fun surf waves and exotic rainforest. My last experience there fifteen years ago encompassed all of that, as well as lots of whitewater kayaking. What you probably didn’t imagine is how jaw-dropping and perfect the Costa Rican backroads are for adventure motorcycling. In late May, my friend Nick Schoeps and I landed in San Jose for seven days of guided adventure motorcycle touring with Silver-steed Adventures. We’d planned to slide in just before monsoon season, but mother nature had other plans. Silversteed Adventures Silversteed Adventures is a two-man operation with about seven motorcycles. The company started in 2014, offering motorcycle rentals and guided tours throughout Costa Rica and Panama. Silversteed has some awesome itineraries to choose from and can…

The sound of tree limbs clawing across paint and sheet metal filled the truck with a sound that was both deafening and nerve-racking. The overgrowth along the narrow trail slapped the windows with a vengeance. Mud splattered across the windshield as the tires spun their way through the soft earth. Its rockers were rusted, the paint severely scratched. The windshield looked like a spider web, but when in 4WD, the truck never failed to travel where the air was fresh and the streams flowed clear. The state of Michigan would have said the boy driver was too young for such exploits and driving without a license was illegal, but the boy’s father thought it was important for his son to experience the outdoors—I followed my fatherly instinct. Much like their…