TREAD January/February 2019

As we prepare to ring in the New Year, it’s a good time to take a moment to reflect upon the outgoing year, as well as think about what lies ahead. As for myself, I plan on finally re-outfitting my truck so that I can take it out for off-road adventures towards the beginning of the year. It’s been a decade since I built it; it deserves to be freshened up a bit. What plans do you have for your upcoming adventures? Is there a vehicle build that you intend on completing? Or is there a trip that you will finally find time to go on? The outdoors is a great place to both share with others and spend time with one’s self. It can be refreshing to find some…

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…

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. 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…

Food is a large part of our outdoor experience, wouldn’t you say? Preparing food at camp can be a fun activity, especially when one shares the resulting meal with their travelling companions. Having the proper tools for any activity, especially for preparing food, can go a long way. Although folding knives are usually associated with performing tasks other than cooking, there’s an entire selection of folders out there that count cooking as one of its primary uses. Let’s take a look at pocket-sized folding knives that can be used in any situation, but prefer to be chopping up your next meal. 01. KERSHAW/ BARGE Closed Length: 4.7” Open Length: 7.3” Blade Length: 2.6" Blade Material: 8Cr13mov Blade Thickness: 0.125” Handle Material: Glass-Filled Nylon, Steel Weight: 5.4 Ounces Msrp: $35 Kershaw.kaiusaltd.com…

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…