TREAD July - August 2020

We’re all in this together—a phrase I’ve heard many times over the last couple months. And while it may have been referring to acting socially responsible during the initial onset of the coronavirus, modeling this regularly isn’t a bad idea. In fact, the general population can learn a thing or two from the off-road and overland community who already do this so well. This community, for the most part, is welcoming and always willing to help. The big draw for me to find a deeper interest in the lifestyle was definitely the people—and the outdoors, of course. The community is one where most are friendly, down to earth, helpful, kind, and always willing to lend a hand. Just yesterday I was talking with Ali and Frank, taping for their podcast…

The right set of wheels can not only define your ride’s looks, but they can greatly improve driving performance as well. Lighter wheels decrease unsprung weight, which means greater fuel savings and longer range. Stronger wheels can shrug off the abuse that off-road terrain dishes out that many factory rollers just weren’t designed for. Smart engineering produces wheels that protect the tire bead for increased safety. Here’s a selection of timeless favorites as well as a few of the latest wheels from top makers that can really enhance your ride in more ways than one. Which set do you have your eye on? KMC/KM542 IMPACT KMC redefines performance on and off the asphalt with the KM542 wheel. The KM542 Impact is available for most modern off-road and street trucks and…

01. ARB/ZERO FRIDGE FREEZER Be the envy of the campsite with a new ARB Zero Dual-Zone Fridge Freezer, serving drinks AND ice cream at the same time! Whether you’re a weekend warrior or long-term remote traveler, ARB has the perfect solution to keep your food, drinks, and frozen goods sorted. It’s all about the convenience; customizing installations to suit individual configurations is a breeze with the new Zero range. MSRP: $1,426 [73QT DZ] arbusa.com 02. MIDLAND/MXTA26 6DB GAIN WHIP ANTENNA This 32-inch whip antenna quadruples signal output. When maximum range is your goal, the MXTA26 6dB gain whip antenna is the perfect choice. Great for off-roaders and adventurers, this long-range antenna is designed with a spring at the base and a coil at the center. The spring allows…

O1. YETI/ROADIE 24 The new Yeti Roadie 24 is a hard-sided personal cooler designed for easy hauling and comfortable carrying. Rotomolded construction makes it lighter weight at 12.8 pounds and extremely strong, while keeping contents cold for longer periods of time. A Quicklatch makes it easy to open and secure. The interior is 13 inches, which fits a 2-liter bottle of soda or a bottle of wine upright and up to 18 cans of beer. The cooler measures 17 1/2 × 16 1/2 × 15 1/4 inches. The small profile of the cooler allows it to be stored right behind the front seat of a vehicle for easy access on the road. Available in multiple colors and with an optional dry goods basket. MSRP: $199.99 yeti.com O2. CLAYMORE/3…

As we edge ever closer to the warm days of summer, being outdoors usually necessitates the carrying of certain tools and gear. For us, we always reach for a good pair of sunglasses, sunblock, and a trustworthy knife. Aside from saving our retinas and skin from the sun, we recognize that a good knife can take care of many of our other needs on the trail, including cutting, digging, and prying, and can be useful in our daily tasks as well, such as opening those Amazon packages. In this edition of Made The Cut, we look at popular pocketknives for outdoor and daily use. Which will you stick in your pocket? 01. SOG /TERMINUS XR Closed Length: 4.26 in. Open Length: 7.21 in. Blade Length: 2.95 in. Blade Material:…

Every successive generation of the Jeep Wrangler seems to take a leap forward, both in terms of capability and styling. Sure, we all have a favorite legacy model, but there’s no arguing that Jeep’s latest JL is packed full of the latest technology enhancements that previous generations lack. This is true of the newest Wranglers on the lot and of its scaled-down radio-controlled recreation, the SCX10 III Jeep Wrangler Rubicon JLU made by RC off-road experts Axial Racing. The JLU that you see here is actually a 1:10-scale radio-controlled version of its big brother. We don’t blame you if you had to do a double-take; it can be hard to tell at first glance. This officially licensed radio-controlled Jeep Wrangler Rubicon was created by Axial to tackle steep inclines and…