Table of contents for September-October 2017 in TREAD

How do you define outdoor adventure? Is it taking off to your favorite camping spot for some well-deserved R&R? Or are you an explorer, always seeking new places and experiences to discover? Then again, you may be a thrill seeker, looking for your next adrenaline-fueled rush. Maybe it's a combination of a few of those—or something else entirely. Regardless of how your outdoor adventure is defined, the shared quality of those who seek adventure is the energetic spirit that pushes us out there to do things most others don’t. The vehicle you see on the cover is powered by this spirit for adventure. The ROAMBUILT Sprinter came to be as a passion project and is decked out for just about any activity one can get into. Best of all, it…

O1. ENGO MULTIFUNCTION SHOVEL SURVIVAL TOOL The MST Shovel is equipped to take on whatever you dish at it. It has a handle made of aircraft hardened aluminum and is equipped with an impressive list of tools including a stainless steel blade that chops and saws, paracord, whistle, knife, bottle opener, wire cutter, magnesium fire starter, hoe and measuring tool. ENGO's MST is perfect to take on your next off-road or outdoor adventure. It weighs just over two pounds and includes a durable storage bag. MSRP: $70 engoindustries.com O2. EXOTAC NANOSPARK Being able to start a fire is crucial in any survival or camping situation. The nano-SPARK easily generates sparks to do just that. Designed to function with the use of only one hand, all you need to do to…

Packing all the gear you need for a romp into the wild often times requires extra room that you wish you had access to. Jamming all of your supplies, sleeping gear, recreational equipment, automotive tools and spare parts, surplus fuel as well as your food, water and cooking utensils can tend to quickly eat up space in and on your vehicle. If you’re strategic about what you bring on your trip, are mindful about the size of the items you pack and your truck has a decent amount of storage space, you can usually get away with bringing everything you need. Just because you’re packing for a compact space, doesn’t mean that you need to skimp on the niceties of life. Trail Kitchens Located in Truckee, California, just a stone’s…

The Alpine Loop in the breathtaking San Juan Mountains is 75 miles of rugged dirt roads and trails that carve through canyons and mountain passes, following the footsteps of Native Americans who pioneered the trail on their way north from tribal summer camps. Imogene Pass overlooks Camp Bird Mine and the skeletal remains of mining towns and mills that once promised riches to thousands, offering serene wildflower-infused meadows mixed with terrifying sheer cliffs of crumbling rock. As the slowest Jeep, you fell behind and may have taken the wrong trail at Poughkeepsie Gulch, a infamously dangerous trail not recommended for even seasoned wheelers. When the dust settled, you’ve discovered you are alone, and the sun is stretching the last of its ruddy orange rays on the horizon. You’ve got to…

For many of us, choosing the right tire for our vehicle can get to be a bit confusing. Unless you work in the tire industry or love hanging out at your local tire shop, oftentimes figuring out which tire that is right for your ride and your intended use are relegated to recommendations from friends, by reading opinions on online forums or by an expensive and time consuming trial-and-error process. To clear the air and cut through the tire smoke cloud of confusion, we contacted experts from tire manufacturers to set the record straight. You might already know some of the answers to some of the questions, but some of the responses from our panel of tire experts might surprise you from some of the others. What are the differences…

You buy a pickup truck for versatility, right? You buy it for the ability to throw a ton of rocks in the back, the ability to haul motorcycles in the bed—and perhaps most frustratingly—the ability to help your friends move whatever they need at their whim. But as four-wheel-drive camping enthusiasts, we’ve got a few issues. For starters, we’re obsessed with these silly, heavy roof top tents, and we have a lot of gear to bolt onto our trucks, mainly so we can wave a flag to the world that we, in fact, actually go off-road. But the utility of a pickup truck is so practical that it counteracts a lot of that off-road showmanship, leaving us without a place to put our roof tents and other off-road gear. Leitner…

O1. PSC BIG BORE XD STEERING GEAR (JEEP JK) With JK steering gears being pushed to the point of failure due to the increased torque loads of larger tire sizes, larger axles and locking differentials, the time has come for a larger steering gear. The new PSC JK XD steering gear replaces the 70mm stock piston with a larger 80mm piston, giving it more turning torque to turn up to 37” tall tires without the need of cylinder assist. Anyone with a Jeep JK running bigger than factory tires will want this bolt on upgrade. MSRP: $895 pscmotorsports.com O2. ZONE OFFROAD COLORADO/ CANYON 1.25” LEVELING KIT Zone Offroad offers several lift options for the ‘17 Colorado/Canyon designed to improve the stance, performance and curb appeal of the new trucks. The…

“Fifty dollars and you give us passport.” No, I said firmly, explaining that the scooter lady down the street had offered a better deal. A one-way rental from Hue to Hoi An for $30 per person, and they’d even deliver our heavy luggage. I walked away—and he chased after us as expected. “Tirty U.S. dollhars per pershon,” he said in broken English—which was much better than my Vietnamese mind you. Now my interest was peaked, and I turned around to negotiate further. I didn’t care about the price, but there was no way in hell I was giving up our presumably valuable American passports as the deposit for a one-way rental on a 15-year-old scooter that had been around the sun a dozen times. I offered twenty bucks, and did…

A change in seasons means a chance to catch more fish. Tufts of unruly hair jutted out from under a sweat-stained ball cap. A long, white beard hung down his chest, and minus the red suit, he resembled Santa Claus dressed in a t-shirt and Crocs. Although eccentric and considered an oddity by some, the old man possessed an uncanny knowledge of the river. He knew every fishing hole for miles, although like most fishermen he had a reputation for keeping this knowledge to himself. “If only there was a way to crack the code and get him to share his secrets,” I mused. The cold nights and frosty mornings confirmed fall had arrived and with the change in seasons came the opportunity to land a trophy fish. It was…

While a campfire may be the centerpiece of any campsite, the amount of actual usable light it emits can leave something to be desired. Sure, nothing beats the flickering light of a warm campfire, but when you need a serious light source to help you with chores around the campsite, look no further than a dedicated campsite lantern. Lanterns come in many shapes and sizes and are powered by everything from a varied array of burnable fuel, batteries and even solar energy. In this guide, we focus our attention on lanterns and light sources that feed on batteries or solar power. There are lanterns light and small enough that can hang to light up a tent’s interior and others that are powerful enough to illuminate the entire campsite. With all…

Regardless of the vehicle you drive or where you decide to explore, we’re all bound together by at least one universal overland truth—we all need to store stuff when we’re on the road or trail. It sounds easy, and while you can definitely throw your gear in a disused milk crate, we’re assuming that you’d like a bit more protection for the gear you’ve spent your hard-earned dollars on. HARD vs SOFT: Which Is Better? We could argue over this for days, but the truth is that there’s no right answer. Hard cases have their benefits just as much as soft bags have theirs. It really comes down to how you’re going to use it, and what you’re going to store inside. Soft bags offer little in terms of hard-knock…

Your stock rollers may be fine for pavement, but if you want to up the performance factor to take on more rugged terrain, not to mention earn some well-deserved style points, you’ll want to step up your game with some aftermarket wheels. The beadlock look can toughen up the appearance of your truck and a forged wheel can give your vehicle the perfect mix of lightened weight for fuel savings and increased strength to keep you moving along. If you’re headed for some serious trails, you might even opt for a true beadlock wheel. Here is a selection of head turning wheels that are currently at the top of our want list. AMERICAN RACING/AX202 ATX Series wheels are designed and engineered to meet the demands of off-road and outdoor enthusiasts.…

If you’re not going to go fast, why go at all? That’s what Honda’s Cota 300RR wants to know. Before you jump on one, just know that the “RR” suffix stands for “Race Ready” and that you can have one in any color you want, as long as that color is red. Based on their successful competition trial bikes, Honda’s Montesa Cota 300RR is the production version of its competition trial bikes that are raced by Honda factory riders. The latest Montesa Cota 300RR has an improved ECU mapping that increases engine response in the low and middle RPM ranges. Its notable engine response increase is also thanks to a new three-ring piston design, which improves engine durability. The lightened piston has a flatter top, which helps reduce vibration and…

“JUSTIN MONNIN IS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT BLEEDS LAND ROVER GREEN, WITH THE TRADITIONAL OVAL BADGE ON ALL HIS MANY VEHICLES.” The best 4x4 by far is the one you have in your driveway, but it is also a slogan adopted by passionate Land Rover owners around the world. For many, the image of a Land Rover quickly conjures up thoughts of adventure in far-flung lands, as it’s common to see Land Rovers on safari on the African continent or exploring the Australian Outback. Its legendary off-road performance and storied history certainly does have an alluring appeal to it. He Bleeds Green Justin Monnin is one of those people that bleeds Land Rover green, with the traditional oval badge on all his many vehicles. His passion for the brand…

Having enough headroom for an adult to fully stand up has been a dream of van life enthusiasts for many decades. Although there are a wide range of aftermarket modifications to accommodate those who did not want to stoop inside their vans, only VW had offered a factory option—until the Sprinter family of vans was released. Offered under the Mercedes-Benz, Dodge, and Freightliner nameplates over the years, the Sprinter van has been adopted worldwide to fill every conceivable role, from dedicated workhorses to custom-built recreational vehicles. The Sprinter 4x4 is a game changer, and widened even further the appeal of this formidable vehicle platform. ROAMBUILT The ROAMBUILT Sprinter takes the off-road van life to new heights. Cec Annett built this '15 4x4 Mercedes Sprinter as his personal family adventuremobile, which…

ABS (ACRYLONITRILE BUTADIENE STYRENE) A thermoplastic (meaning starts as a liquid that is then either extruded or used in injection molding) polymer that is durable thanks to the presence of polybutadiene and styrene that gives it a shiny appearance and impenetrable surface. Typically can be used between -4° and 176° F. POLYPROPYLENE Another thermoplastic, polypropylene is the world’s second most widely produced synthetic plastic due to its low cost and wide variety of applications from clothing, to rope, to storage boxes. It’s a relatively sturdy plastic that is resistant to impact and freezing. Polypropylene is degraded by UV light and oxidation presentted as small cracks that will get worse over time and exposure. To limit UV damage and oxidations, additives such as Carbon Black (a byproduct of combustion) and anti-oxidants…