Innholdsfortegnelse for May/June 2025 i TREAD

Some builds are meant to stay on the pavement. Others, like Brian Binkert’s Bink GX550, are made to go anywhere. The 2024 Lexus GX550 Overtrail started as a solid luxury off-roader but Brian had something bigger in mind—an overland machine capable of tackling Baja, Moab, and the rugged Southwest without breaking a sweat. Built for SEMA, real-world expeditions, and off-road photography adventures, this Lexus is more than just a showcase build. The Bink GX550 wasn’t built just to look good—it had to perform. The first step was dialing in the suspension to handle both rocky trails and long highway miles. A Fox Performance Elite 2.5-inch DSC Evo setup paired with Eibach rear coils gives the GX the clearance and ride quality needed for unpredictable terrain. Whether navigating technical rock climbs…

Mason Taylor is a lifetime addict of all things related to having a blast in the great outdoors. Whether it be in the desert or at the river, there’s never a bad day spent outside—especially if he’s surrounded by family and good friends. Hailing from San Diego, California, Mason constantly finds himself torn between which direction to head next. The SoCal area surrounds him with so many unbelievable dream locales to take full advantage of. Sometimes choosing which one to hit next can be a dilemma. One thing he never thinks twice about when it’s time to hit the road, however, is what vehicle to drive to get to where he’s going. Mason has been on a steady mission to build up his 2007 GMC Sierra since 2013. Creating an…

Big Idea Design has carved out a unique niche in the world of everyday carry (EDC) gear. While they might have started with pens, they’ve grown into much more than a pen company. Now offering a range of high-quality tools, knives, watches, backpacks, and accessories, Big Idea Design has become a go-to brand for people who need reliable, functional, and innovative gear in their everyday lives. A Brief History of Big Idea Design What started as a passion for designing some of the coolest pens for EDC has evolved into a full-fledged company that engineers products built to last. They’re known for their thoughtful, practical designs that blend form and function seamlessly. Their signature aesthetic and dedication to quality make them stand out, and their products are trusted by everyone…

Describing what Rich Manley is all about is difficult in the sense of knowing where to even begin. Those familiar with his name must feel the same way. While his gift of magic and illusion is simply amazing to witness, his lust for adventure is yet another huge contribution he bestows to his fans and followers. His travels and explorations of lands far and near are a treat to experience through the captivating photography and storytelling found on his social posts. It’s obvious that Rich spends a lot of time on planes for his long-range travels, but what about his trips much closer to home? Surely, Rich must have a reliable rig he depends on to get him from points A to B and beyond. While there are occasional peeks…

Tucked deep in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado, the Alpine Loop Scenic Byway is more than just a dirt road—it’s a rugged passage through some of the most breathtaking alpine terrain in the United States. Spanning over 60 miles, this backcountry route connects the historic mining towns of Silverton, Ouray, and Lake City, winding through steep passes, river crossings, and remnants of Colorado’s gold rush past. This loop isn’t for the casual driver. While portions of the route can be tackled by high-clearance vehicles, much of the trail requires a 4WD rig with solid off-road capability. The two highest points, Cinnamon Pass (12,640 feet) and Engineer Pass (12,800 feet), offer incredible panoramic views of jagged peaks, alpine lakes, and vast open valleys. The air gets thin at these elevations,…

For Connor Scalbom, his 2022 Toyota Tacoma isn’t just a truck—it’s his ticket to adventure. Living in Boulder, Colorado, meant that he needed a rig that could handle everything from daily commutes to deep backcountry trails. Instead of going for a flashy, over-the-top build, Connor took a practical approach by focusing on upgrades that would improve capability without sacrificing reliability. The result? A well-balanced Tacoma that’s as comfortable on the road as it is off of it. The heart of the build remains Toyota’s V6, but a few key upgrades help it breathe a little easier. An OTT tune sharpens throttle response, while a Borla Cat-Back Touring exhaust package provides more growl without being obnoxious. Out back, the factory E-Locker ensures traction when the trail gets tough. The suspension system…

The 2024 Toyota Tacoma has a solid suspension from the factory but we all know there is still much to be desired from stock components, especially when building your ideal overland rig. To help with this, we decided to go with the ICON Dynamics Stage 4 suspension system. The package includes new upper control arms, 2.5 bypass front coilovers, 2.5 bypass shocks in the rear and new rear coil springs. This should greatly increase the performance of our Tacoma. We only ran into one issue while installing the suspension kit and it was with the engineering on the stock suspension. The kit from ICON went on like a dream and I would highly recommend it.…

Tor There are plenty of reasons to build a full-custom truck, but it’s always refreshing to see when someone does it for very personal reasons. It’s easy to fall into the trap of slapping together parts that don’t work well together, only to lose hope in the project out of pure frustration. It’s obvious when someone does their homework before building a rig, and already has the endgame figured out long before closing in on the finish line. These types of projects are always a treat to take an in-depth look at due to their thoroughness and ingenuity, which we will soon see here. We recently caught up with Central California native, Garrek Becker, and his majorly beefed up 2002 Toyota Tacoma. Now, getting the truck to this point didn’t…

Once a year, 100,000+ people from all over the world flock to a lakebed in the Southern California desert for an event that has changed industry, racing, and offroad culture. Often a culture will dictate and control it’s events, but in the case of The King of The Hammers, a single event has created a culture of its own and influenced the industry around it. Back in 2007 Dave Cole had a dream and with the help of Jeff Knoll, they invited roughly 50 of their rock crawling competitor friends out to Johnson Valley California for a “race”. 12 guys showed up and 18 years later, we have one of the largest offroad events and races in the world with classes of offroad vehicles specifically designed and built to tackle…

01. JETBOIL GENESIS BASECAMP SYSTEM The award-winning Genesis Basecamp System is the ultimate all-in-one backcountry cooking system, stowing neatly into itself and fitting snugly among your gear. The system’s 5-liter Jetboil FluxPot and 10-inch ceramic-coated nonstick fry pan give you everything you need to set a new benchmark for basecamp cooking. A beastly 10,000 BTU heating system boils water in just over three minutes—perfect for melting snow or making coffee. The system includes a carrying bag with pocket for regulator, is compatible with standard 16.4-ounce propane bottles, and weighs just 9.1 pounds. MSRP: $399.99 Jetboil.johnsonoutdoors.com 02. KAKADU OUTBACK SHOWER The Kakadu Outback Shower is a compact and portable shower system designed for outdoor use, providing hot water in seconds. It is lightweight and easy to use, making it an ideal…

The TREAD Edition Tacoma has reached its final form. The last time we checked in, the truck had just received a fresh wrap, the Body Armor 4x4 HiLine front bumper was installed alongside a WARN winch, and the NYTOP full carbon flares were locked into place. If you’re just tuning in, here’s a quick recap of everything that’s gone into this project. The first step was dialing in the suspension, wheels, and tires. A Stage 4 kit from ICON Vehicle Dynamics with 2.5 bypass shocks set the foundation, providing the performance needed for both on-road comfort and off-road capability. The truck sits on Dirty Life 9303 DT-1 17x9 wheels wrapped in Amp Terrain Attack RTs in 275/85R17—a combination that transformed the Tacoma’s handling and overall feel. With the suspension in…

For Andrew Cutler, off-roading isn’t just a weekend hobby—it’s a way of life. Living in Vernon, British Columbia, he needed a truck that could handle the diverse terrain of the Pacific Northwest while serving as a reliable basecamp for long-haul adventures. His 2020 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road, known as SCAIA, is more than just a build—it’s the result of years of trial, error, and fine-tuning to create the ultimate overland-ready Tacoma. Andrew’s approach to modifying his truck has been about functionality first. Under the hood, a YotaW-erx tune sharpens performance, optimizing throttle response and power delivery to compensate for the heavier build. To keep things moving smoothly, 5.29 Nitro Gears were installed in the front and rear differentials, ensuring the truck can turn 35-inch tires without sacrificing performance. A twin…

The final days of spring are approaching, and the last patches of snow and ice are melting off the higher elevations in the Pacific Northwest. Locals have begun the annual ritual of swapping out their ski boxes and snowboard racks for the rooftop tent, and the rising temperatures can only mean one thing – it’s about to be prime-time for overlanding! If the overland bug has bitten you in the recent past, or if like me, you find yourself fairly new to the scene, stick around. I’m about to download three critical insights I gained during my first year in this space, and it’s because of those insights that I can’t wait to get back out on the trails. Now I am well aware that some of you have likely…