TREADの January/February 2023 の目次

Who doesn’t like a set of new rollers for their rig? We sure do. Many aftermarket wheels can increase your rig’s performance potential while making your ride stand out from the crowd. Going with a larger tire fitment? A new set of wheels is a must. Spruce up your older ride or make your new ride shine even brighter with one of the latest wheels from some of our favorite brands. To jump start the search, we have gathered a group of the latest releases here for your convenience. You’re welcome. Fuel Off-Road / Unit The Fuel Off-Road Unit is a stunning blend of on-road style and off-road ruggedness. The Unit features both true beadlock and simulated beadlock that will endure anything you can throw at it on the trail,…

Aside from the campfire, the camp kitchen is often the other major center of activity at any given campsite. The preparation of food and the wonderful smells that cooking produces usually draw a hungry crowd, after all. For these and many other reasons, camp kitchens are fun to use and easy to enjoy. Assembling a useful, yet compact camp kitchen, however, can be a challenge. Piecing together different cooking products and tools to create the perfect camp kitchen can quickly become a rabbit hole that’s easy to slip deep into—not to mention a neverending money pit while you figure it out. Always having to balance the available space you have in your vehicle with the wants and needs of your camp kitchen can become overwhelming. Do you go for a…

I’ve been on a wide range of solo and group, supported and unsupported, adventure motorcycle rides around the globe. They each have had their own group dynamics and goals but, they all have a lot in common. For every tip to keep your group smiling, I’ll share an anecdote from a recent week-long, 900-plus mile loop in Idaho that I did with a group of five friends. Five of us were on motorcycles and one in an overland camper. I’m lucky enough to have a broad friend group, where some love traveling off road on four wheels and some on two. I love both, and I do both. While I love self-supported motorcycling for its minimalism, I’ve also come to love vehicle-supported riding. It offers the ability to carry much…

“As to the riding qualities of the Jeep, a chiropractor should be standard for each car” —Charles “Harry” Payne The Jeep is ubiquitous as America itself. It has been to battle, to camp, to the highest mountain and the lowest valley. It is a car fit for danger, adventure, and any rough road in between. In a story written by Colonel William F. Lee, the officer in charge of new developments for the U.S. Army, specifically, the development of the Jeep for World War II, he described it thusly: “Its a quarter-ton runt with a mechanical heart and a steel constitution; it has more speed than a backfield full of All-Americans; it can climb mountains; it can fly; it can swim; it can jitterbug across rough terrain at 50 miles…

“GETTING OUTDOORS WAS THE OBVIOUS COURSE OF ACTION FOR WILLEFORD AFTER THE WORLD SHUT DOWN IN 2020.” Why did Scott Willeford build his Jeep up? In a word, Covid. A longtime a fan of an outdoor lifestyle, Willeford’s final push to getting off the grid was global shutdown. After an inaugural overland trip in his stock 2018 Jeep JLU, the three-year build process commenced. Now, the Jeep, with Boreas XT overland trailer in tow, handles long trips and tough terrain with ease as Willeford explores the southwestern United States. Roots in the Outdoors Getting outdoors was the obvious course of action for Willeford after the world shut down in 2020. Growing up adventuring across the United States with his parents’ 37-foot motorhome, Willeford’s love for nature was fostered early. After…

O1. KC HILITES/FLEX ERA 3 DUAL MODE SAE FOG LIGHT The KC Flex Era 3 Dual Mode SAE Light is the world’s first dual mode, SAE fog light and high-powered off-road light in one compact package. Light up the roadways with this true SAE J583 fog beam light as your “low beam,” but then flip the switch the other way for an off-road spot beam as your “high beam” when you cross into the dirt. MSRP: starts at $230 kchilites.com O2. KAMMOK /OUTPOST The Outpost is the ultimate vehicle-mounted hammock stand for off-grid adventures. Lightweight, compact, and adjustable for any environment, the Outpost vehicle-mounted hammock stand allows you to take hammock camping into tree-less terrain. It has a light and compact aluminum frame, making setup and transport a one-person job.…

Some time in the early ‘90s I was on the Fordyce Trail in the Northern Sierra Nevada with a friend. We had winched a tree off the trail and after stowing my gear and turning the key, the steering wheel went limp like a wet noodle. Crawling underneath we found the J-arm between the pitman arm and the knuckle had broken. This was not a spare part I would have thought to carry, and our weekend trail ride suddenly looked like a multi-day vehicle recovery. In this issue of Tread we are launching Backcountry Skills, a new column focused on tips and tricks of the overlanding trade. While some topics might touch on assembling a recovery kit, improving your bushcraft, or setting up your toy hauler, for this inaugural column…

I was recently invited to test out Toyota’s newest TRD-related offerings in the mountains and trails surrounding the Blue Ridge, Georgia, area. The collection of vehicles to try included a few SEMA Toyota/ Lexus vehicles, a trio of 2023 Tundra TRD Pros, and—the one that really caught my eye—the 2023 Sequoia TRD Pro. We cycled through driving all of the vehicles on the pavement and on some trails throughout northwestern Georgia until we reached the finish line at 2022 Destination Outdoor. The Goal Toyota/Lexus brought the keys to those pretty stout and respectable off-road vehicles to share the driving experience with others. Each of the vehicles has been showcased in some way or another professionally with media, but this time, the aim was to do something different— to use them…

Although pneumatic tires had been around for 56 years before they were successfully used on automobiles in 1911, early developers in the tire world, like Dunlop, Goodyear, and Michelin are still household names we easily recognize. However, there are many tire companies around the world that have long histories in the space that undeservedly roll under the radar. Nexen, established as Korea’s first tire company in 1956 under the name Heung-A and later Woosung Tire—is such a company. The company established a U.S. branch in 2005, and has since been enjoying around $2 billion in annual sales. Fast forward 18 years and our Ford F250 is in dire need of new rolling stock. The previous shoes, although immensely capable, rugged, and stalwart examples of the kind of tires a truck…

Just because the temperatures have dropped, there’s no reason to stop enjoying the outdoors. Cold weather can be a nuisance, but if you’re prepared it can also be relaxing with beautiful views and an overall enjoyable experience. Typically, there will be fewer people camping, fewer rigs on the trails, and fewer bugs to worry about. Once your vehicle is prepped and double-checked to ensure the fluids, battery, and engine are running properly to handle the frigid temperatures, you’ll be ready to brave the weather. You’ll also want to ensure you have outfitted your rig with proper tires, either dedicated cold-weather tires or even 3-peak mountain snowflake-rated tires for safety. While cold-weather camping isn’t for everyone there are those who are looking for year-round adventuring. We’ve selected a few products to…

01. CASCADE MOUNTAIN TECH / CARBON FIBER TREKKING POLES Light and easy to carry, the Cascade Mountain Tech Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles are ideal for anyone looking for increased stability and better endurance on any hike. Made with three sections and a quick locking mechanism, these poles collapse down small to easily stow in a pack. The Carbon Fiber construction is lightweight and naturally shock absorbing, providing a superior feel on the trail. Cork grips mold to the user’s hand over time, while the lower provides easy adjustability. MSRP: $65 cascademountaintech.com 02. SPORTIQUE / PRESCOTT FLEECE ZIP UP JACKET Softness and rugged style collide in this zip-up fleece jacket to create a piece that you’ll want to throw on time and time again. The cinch cord on the bottom hem,…

EXTERIOR LENGTH 20 ft. 2 in. EXTERIOR WIDTH 7 ft. 9.5 in. EXTERIOR HEIGHT 9 ft. 1.5 in. MAXIMUM TRAILER CAPACITY (GVWR) 4,300 lbs. GROUND CLEARANCE 12.04 in. NET CARRYING CAPACITY 900 lbs. O1 TECH DEVICE CHARGING. With a convertible table and USB ports/110V outlets all around, you can keep your devices charged on the road. SOLAR. Pre-installed wiring makes it easy to hook up solar panels to your trailer and extend the amount of time you can stay powered up off the grid. GRILL PORT. Get cooking faster. The trailer is equipped with a liquefied petroleum gas low-pressure grill port on the outside for quick and easy hook up of your grill. O2 PERFORMANCE LIFTED SUSPENSION. The X-Package Basecamp is lifted an additional 3-inches over the traditional model Basecamp…

“EVENTUALLY, AFTER ELEVEN CHALLENGING MONTHS, HE FINALLY COMPLETED HIS POWER WAGON FOR HIS ADVENTURE DOCUSERIES “DIVERGENT PATHWAYS” TO BE AIRED ON AMAZON PRIME.” In 2021, Jeff Coxen started his quest to build a more capable version of his 2015 4th gen Ram 2500 Cummins to accommodate his needs for filming in remote areas. Leaning on his 20-year experience designing and customizing off-road capable rigs in the car sales industry, he eventually decided on a 2021 Ram 2500 Power Wagon. However, the path to that decision was a bit longer than one would think. Jeff dabbled with some other capable vehicles before his needs and desires took him back to Ram. Jeff was anxious to get his build started for his next film project, but the pandemic proved the process challenging…

In 1973, an Australian outback farmer by the name of John ‘Goog’ Denton came up with the idea to cut a track directly north from his cattle station in South Australia towards the middle of Australia through rough Aussie scrub and sand dunes. With an idea like that It would be easy to assume Goog was a bit crazy, though probably not the case. Most likely, he was an ambitious guy who loved a good challenge, and from all accounts, he faced that challenge with a huge smile and plenty of laughs. The record states he took on this task in search of better grazing land for his cattle, though it’s more likely he was just looking to have some fun and adventure. Years of Aussie sun probably had cooked…

Hurdling through aspen forests and sun-kissed hillsides, ralliers kept on the straight and narrow as time-speed-distance (TSD) competitions intensified. It was Day Three of the 2022 summer Alcan 5000 Rally and teams were heading from Smithers, British Columbia, to Watson Lake, Yukon Territory. Would we hit a bear or miss a moose? Would we escape gazillions of bugs that followed us with intentional fury? Time would tell as sleep deprivation seared deeply into our competitive souls. This is the Alcan 5000 Rally: the summer iteration. The 2022 Alcan 5000 Rally Folks were settling into the new norm: wake up, pack up, check the car. Then travel precisely 27 mph for 0.64 miles, change speeds to 34 mph for 1.29 miles, turn right and switch to 43 mph for 5.32 miles,…

After a cross country flight, I landed to the hustle and bustle of Newark airport just outside New York City. After a good night’s sleep in a local hotel, I hopped in a brand new fully built Land Rover Defender 110 with my teammates Jeff Glucker of the Hooniverse and Tommy Mica of The Fast Lane (TFL). We met last year on the Land Rover TReK event, taking home the media-wave win, and were back to defend our title. Land Rover TReK 2022 was a different animal and in a much different setting than the last few TReK events, which were all held at the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina. The style of competition completely changed. It started at Jaguar and Land Rover headquarters in Mahwah, New Jersey, with stops…

“AFTER SEEING A FRIEND BUILD A PORSCHE CAYENNE IN DECEMBER 2019, MIKE TOOK AN INTEREST IN THE JUXTAPOSITION OF A LUXURY BRAND TACKLING THE TRAILS AND BOULDER CRAWLING” In an outdoor sport littered with Toyotas, Land Cruisers, and Jeeps, it is refreshing to see a builder step back from the usual and delve into the unusual. The motivation for Charlotte’s Mike Ngo to go this route and build up a 2008 Porsche Cayenne is less about originality and more from a business standpoint. Mike is the owner of Eurowise, a company that specializes in European cars, with the skills and knowledge to do anything from simple maintenance all the way up to full-blown customizations similar to what you see on these pages. But Mike’s passion for European cars started when…