Innholdsfortegnelse for May/June 2023 i TREAD

Many probably have not heard of a company called Egoé. We hadn’t either until we spied them at one of the Overland Expo shows. Their nifty Nestbox camping setup stopped us dead in our tracks. We had to learn more about Egoé and their Nestbox camping system. Who is Egoé and what are these colorful camp boxes all about? After speaking with Veronika Satinska, Egoé’s Canadian sales manager at the show, we learned Nestboxes come in four different models: Hiker, Camper, Roamer, and the Nestbox Supertramp (the most off-road sturdy of the bunch). Simple Installation, No Drilling Required An Egoé Nestbox camping system is simply secured with load-rated straps. No drilling or permanent installations required. The unit can also be removed when not needed, giving users the opportunity to haul…

Tony Ellison is a current-serving Royal Australian Navy veteran and part-time YouTube content creator running the Mighty Overlander channel. He recently joined 21 other JB74 Suzuki Jimnys to face one of the most grueling and isolated parts of the Australian outback: the Gunbarrel Highway. The expedition was hatched by Ellison’s good friend and owner of Wildtrak Leisure Australia, David Howie. It took Howie and his team nearly two years to plan this amazing and extremely challenging trip, which took the 22 Suzukis from Perth, Western Australia all the way to Yulara and Uluru in the Northern Territory via the Gunbarrel Highway, over nine days. The impetus of the trip: one man, one Jimny—as a self-sufficient off-grid micro-overlander. Jimnys on a Mission Twenty-two Jimnys, along with four support vehicles, started in…

“SLIDING AROUND ON THE FROZEN LAKE, BLASTING DOWN THE STRAIGHT AWAYS, AND JUMPING UP AND DOWN THE BIG EMBANKMENT ON THE ONE-MILE COURSE WAS ALL KINDS OF GOOD FUN. ” It’s the day after my first motorsports race ever. I still have a massive smile plastered across my face. That’s not the whole story, though, as I have frostbite on both cheeks, all my fingertips feel like needles are being put in them continuously, and my forearms and shoulders feel absolutely shredded. I’m heading home after a quick visit to Okoboji, Iowa. Yes, the town is as in the middle of nowhere as the name might imply. The landscape is very flat, snowy, and windy. On race day it was negative nine degrees with the wind chill. I was there…

“THE CONVERSION TO PORTAL AXLES LIFTS THE DRIVE SHAFT TO THE TOP END OF THE HUB USING A GEAR SYSTEM, WHICH RAISES THE AXLE AND SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASES GROUND CLEARANCE.” We may all love our lifted-up 4x4s, built to conquer any off-road challenge, but the truth is they can be cumbersome to drive for extended periods on the road. And while some more luxurious versions of our favorite off-roaders are certainly more comfortable and refined, they often sacrifice some of their off-road capabilities. So, is there a perfect middle ground, or are we destined to always compromise? For the German company LeTech, finding a solution was essential. Their team set out to take the already luxurious Geländewagen’s latest G63 generation, with independent front suspension (IFS), and make it even more effective…

O1. BULLETPROOF DIESEL / THIRD BRAKE LIGHT ANTENNA MOUNT With options to fit 35” and 37” tires, the third brake light antenna mount from Bulletproof Diesel gives users the ability to mount their comms antenna out of the way. Give yourself more room on the roof to mount accessories and move the antenna to the rear of the truck. The Third Brake light Antenna Mount is easy to install with few tools, instructions included. It comes with a 15-ft. Co-axial cable to run inside the cab above the headliner to reach your radio, wherever mounted. MSRP: $569.95 Bulletproofdiesel.com O2. TUFF COUNTRY SUSPENSION / 3.5” LIFT KIT WITH UPPER CONTROL ARMS Give your Gen 6 Bronco a 3.5” lift with Tuff Country’s 3.5” suspension lift kit. It is designed to make…

Sometime in the early 1980s, I was on one of my first four-wheel-drive trips with my new Toyota Hilux. Stopping at the trailhead, everyone started letting air out of their tires. Clueless as to why I asked one of the guys, “Whatcha doing?” With his two-word reply, “Airing down,” I asked the next dumb question… “Why?” His brief explanation, which included something about traction, began a multi-decade edification on the merits of reduced air pressure. What I’ve learned is that in the same way the Inuit use many words to describe snow, there are numerous variables when it comes to airing down. In this Backcountry Skills, we’re diving into the why, when, and how much when it comes to lowering the bar. TIP: THE APPROPRIATE TIRE PRESSURE WILL VARY DEPENDING…

At the top of the bucket list for every four-wheel driver, Fraser Island off Australia’s East Coast easily boasts the best beach driving in Australia. For decades many have referred to the island as paradise, and now that it has been re-named back to the Aboriginal name ‘K’gari’, it should be no surprise the name translates to ‘paradise’. K’gari is the world’s largest island made entirely from sand—27 cubic miles of the stuff. Much more than just sand, however, K’gari also boasts huge inland rainforests, unique wildlife, old-growth forests up to 1,000 years old, and more than 865 species of plants. This incredible island paradise was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1992, and most importantly for us, the entire island can be explored in your own four-wheel…

“SINCE SOFFE IS NO STRANGER TO A WRENCH, HAVING COMPLETED SEVERAL PRIOR BUILDS, WORK BEGAN IMMEDIATELY AND BY HIMSELF. IT TOOK ABOUT 18 MONTHS TO COMPLETE, AND ALL OF THE WORK WAS DONE IN YOUR STANDARD THREE-CAR GARAGE IN THE MIDDLE OF SUBURBIA.” Building something that screams “different” and “unique” was on the forefront of Pat Soffe’s mind when he conceived of this rig. His 2001 Jeep XJ had seen better days, and the decision of building a newer Jeep—and expensive proposal—became out of the question. Pat says: “The first deterrent of building a new JL was the price of a new JL. Purchasing a brand-new stock-condition vehicle that would need so much additional money invested to match the capabilities of our old Jeep was just too cost prohibitive.” Instead,…

“For 80 years, the Jeep brand has been indelibly linked to freedom, adventure, authenticity and passion,” said Christian Meunier, the Jeep brand Chief Executive Officer. “These core brand values are embodied in the DNA of every Jeep brand vehicle. Throughout our storied history, Jeep brand vehicle owners have learned that ‘Go Anywhere, Do Anything’ is a way of life, not just a slogan.” The words Jeep and off-roading are usually spoken in the same sentence—at least for those who seek paths less traveled. Folks are familiar with Jeep’s Wrangler Rubicon line-up, which includes the 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine delivering 285 hp and 260 lb.-ft. of torque and the 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder showcasing 270 hp and 295 lb.-ft. of torque. Those pursuing higher horsepower choose the 392, which debuted in…

01. KAMMOK / URSA SLEEP SYSTEM The complete sleep system for the inexperienced camper looking to for that comfortable experience and good night’s rest or for the experienced camper looking to upgrade the system they currently use, the Ursa Sleep System from Kammok provides a restful night in an easy to set up package. It includes a self-inflating base pad, memory foam topper, insulated camp comforter, and an adjustable oversized pillow with variable thickness. Currently available to pre-order on Kickstarter, this sleep setup is designed to provide the best sleep outside. MSRP: $599 kammok.com 02. SEA TO SUMMIT / HYDRAULIC PACKING CUBE SET These lightweight and field-ready Hydraulic Packing Cubes are water-resistant and keep your gear dust-free, organized and protected in transit and on off-road adventures. A completely welded construction,…

MOTOR: 1000-watt hub TRAVEL: 203mm BRAKES: 2-piston hydralic disc TOP SPEED: 35 mph TIRES: 24x4.5-inch Vee Huntsman O1 PERFORMANCE This 2-speed bike features a powerful, heavy duty 1000-watt hub motor with a twist throttle for that extra boost of speed. That should give you up to 35mph of speed, depending on what your load is and if you’re towing any gear. The bike features an elevated frame with an Inverted Mechanical Coil Fork giving the bike 203mm of travel in the front and a Mechanical Coil shock in the rear for 100mm of travel there. 2-piston hydraulic disc brakes give the bike’s rider extra control. O2 WHEELS The Lynx eBike’s wheels give it that rugged off-road look, but they also elevate the bike’s terrain chops. Size 24x 4.5-inch Vee Huntsman…

“LIKE SO MANY OF US, CHRIS HAD DREAMED OF A JEEP SINCE HIGH SCHOOL.” Building a dream overlanding vehicle, operating a successful content creation business, and growing a social media community all at once are only possible with the right person at the helm. When it comes to this 2008 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited X and Nomad Overland, that person is Chris Keller. Chris goes by Nomad Overland online, and he’s made quite a few friends while building his brand on Instagram, Facebook, and other social platforms. While it’s true that it takes one person with the determination and skills needed to have it all, we’ve all probably also heard the phrase “It takes a village to raise a child.” It’s in part thanks to the contributions of a truly massive…

“THIS LAND CRUISER IS WHAT THE MONTESALVOS ARE CALLING THEIR ‘BIGGEST BUILD YET,’ AND ‘THE BADDEST FJ IN THE WORLD.’” We all know the best part of turning 17 (or 16, depending on where you are in the world) is getting your driver’s license. But when your dad is Justin Montesalvo of the famous Australian Patriot Campers, getting your license means a whole lot more than just getting behind the wheel to drive. The 45 Series Land Cruiser FJ49 you see on these pages is the result of the hard work of twin teens Ashton and Christian Montesalvo, who used their savings from working in Dad’s shop to buy the FJ49 just months before their 17th birthday. Inside the Patriot Campers Garage You’re probably familiar with some of the most…

“THE BREAKOVER ANGLE PROVED ITS WORTH AS WE TESTED THE TELLURIDE’S HILL-START ASSIST AND DOWNHILL BRAKING CONTROL SYSTEMS ON A STEEP AND POINTED MAN-MADE HILL.” A decked-out lifted 4x4 with big steel bumpers, underbody skid plates, and a roof rack carrying every accessory under the sun isn’t necessarily everyone’s idea of the perfect adventure companion. An ever-growing segment of the population wants a capable all-wheel-drive SUV that can tackle light-duty dirt and gravel tracks so they can explore in confidence. This is where the new 2023 Kia Telluride X-Line and X-Pro trim levels step in. The 2023 Kia Telluride X-Line and X-Pro packages showcase a plethora of updates and off-pavement features that have us singing their praises. Our time driving both editions during Kia’s first drive event in San Antonio…

Many people opt out of using a roof top tent in favor of a ground tent and utilizing a roof rack for extra storage. Pelican, known for their air-tight storage cases, released their Vehicle Cargo Cases for those looking to free up space inside and stay organized. Cases come in multiple sizes and fit on top of SUVs and truck cabs or in a truck bed, making it easy to store more gear and keep it free from the elements or excess dirt and dust. We mounted a pair of cases to the top of our 2010 Lexus GX460 to see if this storage solution satisfied our needs. It is nice to free up room in the cargo area, especially to give the dog more room to stretch out and…