Table of contents for January - February 2022 in TREAD

What’s the quickest way to change the look of your rig? If you said, “Roll it,” you might be right. However, we’ve got a much safer and attractive alternative: Swapping out your tired rims for a fresh set of brand-new rims not only updates the look of your ride, but the right set can also beef up its off-road capability. Even so, with so many great wheels out there, it can be hard to choose. That’s why we’ve gathered some of the latest rims on the market right here for you to check out. Which set do you have your eyes on? BLACK RHINO WHEELS/BARRICADE One of the key features of the Black Rhino Barricade wheel is the removable, high-density rockguard ring that’s attached to the outer lip of the…

My first camera was a Kodak 110 Instamatic, received for selling magazine subscriptions for a school fundraiser. It didn’t have a flash, zoom lens or any adjustments; simply point, press the button, and hope for the best. Color film was more expensive at the time, so I opted for black-and-white film (give me a break! I was only 9 years old). My financial predicament was not a deterrent, however, because while pouring through the pages of National Geographic, I realized that the masters of monochrome could create images of unparalleled beauty. They understood how to work with tonal qualities of a scene, how shadows played on a subject, how to manage contrast and how to capture rich textures in the natural world. In the darkroom, they painstakingly experimented under the…

As the fog was lifting early in the morning, I found myself running through a damp forest with two teammates I’d just met, all of us with a map, compass and GPS unit in hand. We were in search of our “chariot” for the day—a fully decked-out 2021 Land Rover Defender 110. Provided with some fuzzy navigation data, we managed to find our vehicle at the exact same time as another team arrived … from a totally different direction. We were in the lead pack, and the rest of the day was spent staying there. No, we weren’t in the jungles of Borneo in the Camel Trophy. Instead, we were in the lush, rolling hills of the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina at the Land Rover TReK 2021 competition. Our…

Nestled in the palisades of western Colorado, surrounded by a landscape of sculptured rocks, lies Gateway Canyons Resort. A hub for adventure and relaxation, this outdoor utopia served as our home base as we explored the stunning heart of “red rock country.” With miles upon miles of trails and various natural scenery to discover, we had a lot of ground to cover within just two short days. Thankfully, we were well equipped for travel in the new Yamaha Wolverine RMAX 1000. Serious Fun The Wolverine RMAX 1000 is Yamaha’s latest UTV that’s capable, comfortable and versatile. Powered by a twin-cylinder, 108hp, 1,000cc gas engine that can top speeds of 70 miles per hour, it’s a “serious” vehicle. The outdoor recreational industry has exploded in the past couple of years, with…

Picking the right tires for your ride is something that’s always on the minds of auto and truck aficionados and gearheads alike. With many using their trail rigs as everyday drivers, tire choice becomes more and more important. Fortunately, tire companies have been listening. Many of them have responded with more all-terrain tire options, as well as higher-performance all-terrain and mud-terrain tires. If you need to get traction in the dirt, gravel, snow and rain, you’ll want to choose an all-season tire that’ll handle all sorts of environments and weather. If you're fortunate enough to have nicer weather year-round, you can choose from myriad other features that’ll make your ride smooth and comfortable. Whatever your preference, you can find an option to fit your need. If you’re ready to change…

O1. KC HILITES/CYCLONE V2 LED—SINGLE LIGHT The Cyclone V2 Diffused LED is a 5-watt, multifunctional, compact, auxiliary LED lighting solution that delivers 600 lumens of bright light. Not only is it bright, it also features a replaceable colored lens option. This light is ideal for rock-crawling, in engine bays, as dome lights, inside wheels and more. MSRP: $31 kchilites.com O2. NEAPCO/PERFORMANCE U-JOINTS Neapco, a leading U.S.-based supplier of drivelines and driveline components to worldwide original-equipment manufacturers and related aftermarkets, recently completed a battery of tests on its line of universal joints (U-joints) that clearly demonstrate its superiority to its leading competitor. Neapco Performance Series U-Joints outclassed the competitor in all driveline series tested. Tests included measuring for ultimate strength and both low- and high-cycle fatigue. In several of…

What happens when one of the biggest off-road aftermarket accessory manufacturers teams up with one of the “baddest” builders in the country? Well, you get an amazing build in the form of this 2020 DeeZee Chevrolet Silverado 1500HD Z71 4x4, built by the one and only Yeti Norvell. While Yeti grew up as a West-Coaster, he’s really come into his own with his blue-collar, country-boy lifestyle. A true adventurist, Yeti grew up doing yearly cross-country road trips in pickup trucks with campers, as well as tons of off roading and outdoor activities. This led to his true calling and lifestyle as an off-road, outdoor adventurist, developed over the last eight years. He and his lady, Yolo, set off pretty regularly to live out of their vehicles for months at a…

Transformed from a utility cargo hauler, this 2018 Mercedes Benz 3500XD 4x4 Sprinter van found new life to transport its family to outdoor adventures over the last two years. We’ve seen this Sprinter go places and traverse terrain most people wouldn’t dream of taking such a vehicle. However, this 3500XD 4x4 Sprinter is a little different than most: It was built for off-road adventures with family and friends so that owner Brian Lau has no problem following the group down some trails most Sprinter owners would pass up. “BUILT TO BE A FAMILY ADVENTURE VAN, THIS 2018 MERCEDES BENZ 3500XD 4X4 SPRINTER HITS THE TRAILS READY TO TACKLE THE TERRAIN AND BRING SMILES TO HIS KIDS’ FACES.” As we’ve heard him say a few times, “Sure, I’ll give it a…

When former British paratrooper Andy Ellis decided to walk 50 miles across the Bolivian Salar de Uyuni salt flat, he didn’t imagine doing so while fighting altitude sickness, heat exhaustion, painful blisters on his feet or in temperatures of -12 degrees with windchill. He also didn’t imagine his blood oxygen levels dipping low enough to compromise the mission. All Ellis could think about was disappointing his regiment if he didn’t finish. He just had to crack on, one mile at a time. “SPANNING 10,582 SQUARE KILOMETERS ACROSS THE HIGH PLATEAU OF BOLIVIA, THE SALAR DE UYUNI IS THE LARGEST SALT FLAT IN THE WORLD. IT’S A HARSH, BARREN WORLD. AT NEARLY 12,000 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL (3,656 METERS), NIGHTS REMAIN COLD THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, OFTEN DROPPING BELOW 0 DEGREES.” Finding…

If we rolled back the calendar to fall 1962, we’d find Kaiser-Willys releasing a vehicle that would change the future of backcountry travel. Designed by the famous Brooks Stevens, it was large and had an automatic transmission and single-speed transfer case. Equipped with the new Tornado inline 230 six-cylinder, it was also powerful—propelled down the road by 140 hp. The defined body lines and ample glass rendered it easily recognizable, but a little-known (and dirty) secret was hidden beneath: an independent front suspension. Our granddaddies loved the Wagoneer, because it drove down the road like a car but tackled the backcountry like their Willys wagons. Hands down, it was ahead of its time. As much as America loved the timeless “Waggy,” the platform remained basically unchanged for 30 years, and…

Having power while off the grid or when you’re away from a typical power source can make all the difference in the world. Power can help provide lighting in the evening, charging for devices, and keep food and other perishables from going bad when using a compact fridge/ freezer. With more and more people relying on external power when they travel by vehicle, a host of companies has come out with portable power solutions for most scenarios. As an alternative to loud, oversized and expensive generators, portable power stations are versatile, convenient and deliver peace-of-mind performance without the risk of draining your vehicle’s battery. Whether you’re looking to spend a weekend or a month on the road, there are options for most situations; multiple sizes and options are available on…

O1 PERFORMANCE RIDING MODES. The Makka features two riding modes, one with extended range and one with balanced performance. BATTERY & CHARGING. The 48V battery is easily removable and can be charged when it’s installed in the bike or separately and outside of the bike. Charge the battery with a standard 110V/220V outlet. Zero to 80 percent charge can be accomplished in about two hours and 0 to 100 percent charge in three hours. O2 DRIVETRAIN HUB MOTOR. The Makka offers a state-of-the-art hub motor and a universally trusted electronic braking system. As a result, the bike is as fun to ride as it is safe. The electric motor features an interior permanent magnet and is capable of putting down 60Nm of torque to the wheel. EBS BRAKES. The moped’s…

Living a life receiving steady paychecks and owning a house with a white picket fence is the ideal happy life for some. The security of well-known surroundings and money in the bank envelop them as they lead their lives in familiarity. But, for others, living on the road offers random happenings, unexpected challenges and meaningful moments beyond their wildest imagination. Andrew Muse is one of these. He’s proof that letting loose from the everyday grind can be more fulfilling. Progression of Vehicles “It started with a $200 VW Golf a co-worker sent me. Then, a Chevy Astro van for which I built a platform for a small bed and storage and a Nissan Titan with a 1976 truck camper that I bought for $500,” Muse said. What followed was a…

We often hear how a vehicle is purpose-built, and this 2013 FJ Cruiser is no different. It certainly was a well-thought-out purchase and evolved over time into the rig you see today. It’s capable, fun, dependable and stands out in a crowd. In fact, the same could be said about its owner, Frank Martinez. One half of the podcast, “Rigged For Dirt” (“RFD”), Frank demonstrates a breadth of knowledge most would envy. He’s an entertaining storyteller, capturing your attention in a way that makes you eager to pull up a chair around the campfire to hear his stories. Laughter often accompanies those stories, and conversations with Frank are no different. Time in his company is always well spent and enjoyable. Much like Frank, his 2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser, affectionately named…

After years of development, the AT Overland Aterra XL Camper has finally been “released into the wild.” The world got its first look at this flatbed camper system at Overland Expo West. Of course, I had to dive deeper, so I took the AT Overland display build out for an adventure with its creator, Mario Donovan, in some remote and rugged Arizona terrain. AT Overland started way back in 2001, making off-road-capable overland trailers and a variety of other hard goods for overland rigs (such as jerry can holders). Over the years, the company has gone through a few transformations and is probably best known today for its full line of pop-top truck topper campers—Habitat, Summit and Atlas. Based in Prescott, Arizona, AT Overland is a well-respected overland industry manufacturer…