Table of contents for July/August 2023 in TREAD

“MANAGING A WHOLE FAMILY TAKES METICULOUS CARE AND A RELENTLESSLY POSITIVE ATTITUDE.” We all agree that the only thing better than hitting the trail for a nice long weekend is having the chance to do it with the people we love, right? For many of us, getting our husband, wife, kids, or even friends to tag along on an adventure is an opportunity that doesn’t come around often. Nonetheless, sharing our favorite thing with our favorite people — on the rare occasion that it happens — is a joy unlike any other. That’s equally true for the Borchert family. At least, mostly true, because Steven and Kelly don’t have to wish that their spouse or kids were with them — they already are. Two tricked-out 2021 Jeep Wrangler JLUs, each…

We know one of the major advantages of full-size rigs is the amount of gear you’re able to pack in – and on – them. But keeping all of that gear and all of your accessories organized can be a full-size challenge. That’s where the GoRhino Xtreme Rack System (XRS) comes in. Featuring GoRhino’s proprietary 4-CORE cross bar system, the Xtreme Rack is the first building block to not only the whole XRS system but also one of the most efficient gear storage solutions on the market. The Xtreme Rack is truck bed storage designed for Jeep JT as well as most mid-size and full-size trucks, including the Toyota Tundra and Tacoma, Ford F-150, Ram 1500, GMC Sierra, and more. With a wide variety of attachable accessories and mounting plates,…

The 2021 Ford Bronco First Edition is one of the most highly anticipated off-road vehicles coming from Ford in years. With its unique features and advanced engineering, it is built to withstand harsh conditions, while delivering a superior driving experience. We had the pleasure of talking to Jason Flowers, owner of Raging Bull Marketing, about the 2021 Ford Bronco First Edition build he completed before SEMA Show 2021. Not only does it look good, but it can hold its own on the trail, most recently seen at Bronco Safari 2023 in Moab. Flowers explains how it all started: “We got into modifying vehicles in the early 2000s as the import tuner scene was taking off. We have built best-of-show-winning imports, which lead us to display our vehicles at SEMA Show,…

Every year Jeep debuts a handful of concept cars at Easter Jeep Safari (EJS) in Moab. And, every year they have a few select media out to drive all the concepts off-road before they go on display to the public. This is a bold move that you don’t see from any other auto manufacturer. Not only are the concept vehicles running, driving, and properly off-road capable, but they get used in the environment they were built for, even before going on display at shows across the country. Of course, Moab in the spring can dish out some interesting weather, and this year it sure did. We saw a mix of snow, sleet, hail, a bit of rain, lots of wind, and even some perfect sunshine, all in the span of…

01. TENKARA ROD CO/ YARI ROD KIT Getting out on the water this summer? What about fishing from remote mountain streams? If you’re hiking, backpacking, kayaking – you name it – check out the newly updated Yari Rod Kit. The Japanese-made rod is lightweight and compact, designed for fishing light lines and light flies. Extended, it measures 360cm (11ft. 10in.), but it collapses down to just 53cm (20.8in) and it weighs in total 2.3oz – perfect for throwing in your pack. MSRP: $295 tenkararodco.com 02. KORA/YARDANG JERSEY Kora, a Himalyan-born outdoor activewear brand, incorporates yak wool into each of its designs. This quarter-zip is the perfect lightweight layering piece for the summer, made of 70% superfine merino and 30% premium yak wool, which both insulate and wick sweat fantastically well.…

If you’ve been interested in adding a trailer to your overlanding setup, meet Sprocket, the newest trailer from Off Grid Trailers (OGT). This new offering is modular, so you can start small and grow slowly as you add more accessories. Off Grid Trailers chose to build the Sprocket off the same chassis as their well-known Expedition trailer, as a lighter-weight and more affordable option. Its all-metal construction gives it extra structure, upping its off-road performance. We’ve known Off Grid Trailers for their quality craftsmanship and engineering, so we’re excited to see how this new trailer performs. The Sprocket comes with fewer standard features than the other Off Grid offerings, which is reflected in its price. “We have designed the trailer with modularity in mind, to make way for the after-market…

After nearly nine years on the market, the midsize Chevrolet Colorado pickup gets a revamp—and it’s a major one. The 2023 Colorado lineup boasts an exterior redesign, a more powerful engine, new technology, and significant updates throughout its new crew cab/short box body style. We took Chevy’s new Colorado Z71 and the first-ever Colorado Trail Boss out for a day of soggy, cold on- and off-road testing near La Jolla, California, to see if they’re setting the bar high for other manufacturers. Basic Statistics The all-new 2023 Colorado features five models: the WT (Work Truck) and LT for on-road use, and three off-roaders, the affordable Trail Boss, the fully loaded Z71, and their flagship ZR2. The Colorados include three different chassis: the standard chassis for WT, LT, and Z71 trim…

“THE LARGEST STRENGTH ... IS ITS MASSIVE GROUND CLEARANCE AND LOW CENTER OF GRAVITY. THIS OF COURSE IS BECAUSE OF THE PORTAL AXLES, ADJUSTABLE AIR-RIDE SUSPENSION, AND MASSIVE TIRES.” The now famous LC79 4x4 ‘Black Truck’ just wasn’t enough. Justin Montesalvo, director of Patriot Campers, had to go bigger and more extreme and show the world what his team was truly capable of. The love for Toyota Land Cruisers is strong at Patriot, so taking a LC79 and turning it into a 6x6 on portals was the next evolution of the Supertourer program. The team at Patriot calls this monster the Mega6x6. It’s rolling on 37-inch BFG KM3 mud-terrains, has up to 8 inches of lift, and has a fully functional six-wheel drive system. The build debuted at the Melbourne…

I’ve ridden an adventure motorcycle for tens of thousands of miles, with over a third of that off pavement, and a good portion of that on terrain above my skill level and not necessarily suited for a heavy adv bike loaded with gear. I enjoy challenges and choose to put myself in those situations. Somehow on a guided trip, on a middle-weight adv moto, and on a long, completely paved day of riding, I experienced one of the single toughest days I’ve had on two wheels. The Mountain First The day started early in Ushuaia, Argentina, — the town at the end of the road — with chilly temps, fog, and torrential downpours. That transitioned into a big, steep mountain pass (Garibaldi Pass) that had snow on the shoulders and…

Before heading to Easter Jeep Safari this year, I did a final walkaround of my car hauler, an 18-foot Big Tex with my Expedicion de las Americas CJ-7 atop. As I inspected the tie downs, lights, electrical connections, tires, and safety chains, I thought of the dozens of towing accidents I’ve seen over the years and wondered what factors led up to having someone’s possessions strewn across the highway. In this Backcountry Skills, we’ll be exploring the equipment and discussing techniques of safely hauling our precious cargo, and how to avoid being the purveyor of the next Interstate yard sale. I have five trailers ranging from a small box unit for dump runs to a 26-foot toy hauler and tandem-axle sailboat trailer. But my first experience with toys on the…

Making the decision to ford a large river is never easy. When pushing the limits, I always slow down and try to use my brain, so I don’t become an internet meme, stranded on the roof of my rapidly sinking Jeep. Before charging in, I assess not only the depth but also the flow rate of the river and what the riverbed might be like. A crossing with a firm gravel bottom is an entirely different challenge than one with bottomless mud. Any large boulders or deep holes are also nice to know about in the hopes I can avoid driving directly into them. The most straightforward way to be certain about all of this is simply to walk across the river before driving in. If this was any ordinary…

“WEIGHTLESSNESS LASTED MUCH LONGER THAN ANTICIPATED, BUT WHEN THE TRUCK CAME BACK TO TERRA FIRM, THE LANDING WAS SO SMOOTH AND CONTROLLED THAT THE GRIN ON MY FACE JUST GOT BIGGER.” It’s the morning of day three and I’m bombing down a deep sandy gully that follows some power lines across the desert as far as the eye can see. The truck I’m piloting is doing the deep sandy rut dance and I’m staying loose and letting it do its thing. A sharper-than-expected corner comes up quickly and the rear tires come out of the rut as I toss the truck aggressively into the corner and stay on the gas. I’ve got it in 4WD, with all the electronic nannies turned off, and Baja mode engaged. The backend swings out…

“SACKETT WAS TIRED OF HEARING HIS FRIENDS COMPLAIN WHEN THE JEEP COULDN’T KEEP UP WITH THE TRUCKS ON WASHBOARD TRAILS. ALL SIGNS POINTED IN THE DIRECTION OF HIM GETTING A TRUCK.” Some say Jeep owners will always remain Jeep owners, they simply upgrade to newer vehicles over the years. And while that may be true for many, some flip the script when their needs change. Of course, we know that once a Jeeper, always a Jeeper, even if one adds another horse to their stable. That is certainly the case with Jon Sackett. While his off-road roots are deep with Jeep, he didn’t stray too far when his needs changed. While he still owns a Jurassic Park Jeep replica, his daily driver shifted over to another vehicle in the Mopar…