Table of contents for May - June 2021 in TREAD

Malleable Mindset How many times have you taken off for a trip, only to arrive at the destination and realize you forgot to pack an important item? Have you had to change your route on the fly when an originally chosen dirt road or trail wasn’t drivable? All too often, we’re faced with situations that require us to pivot. In the overlanding life, it’s a regular occurrence, and we learn to take changes and challenges in stride. After all, who really plans to crack a diff when out on the trail? No one. The perfect plan can be quickly altered at the snap of the fingers. Whether it’s plans for a trip (or for me, plans for a TREAD issue), I’m constantly planning and replanning ... to then adjust the…

Many of us have just ridden out one of the harshest winters in recent memory. The snow is mostly melted now, and the wet trails are finally drying up (although they’ve been left a bit worse for wear). What this situation calls for are highly capable wheels that can shrug off any potentially damaging blows the terrain tosses at them. Before you head out on the trails, treat your rig to a new set of wheels and tires. A quality set will keep you and your passengers safe and also give your ride a fresh new look. To get you started, here’s a selection of some of the hottest wheels out now. MAMBA WHEELS/M27 With a unique mesh-inspired design, the M27 was built to take on any road or trail.…

On a bookshelf in my office rests a National Geographic collection dating back to the 1950s. Every spine is yellow, with the exception of one, February 1981, which was orange to highlight the then-current energy crisis. While its carroty pigment renders it easy to pinpoint among a sea of yellow, if we fast forward to June 1985 and reveal its cover, we glimpse an image that changed the world … or at least mine: It’s Steve McCurry’s famous portrait of a nameless 12-year-old refugee who became known as the “Afghan Girl.” Her penetrating eyes, tattered scarf and dirt-smudged skin conveyed a life of struggle and pulled on the heartstrings of a generation. Friend Pablo Rey (who’s been traveling the globe for two decades in a Mitsubishi van with his wife,…

Overlanding is filled with unknowns. You never know when you might need to communicate with others. Therefore, a good communication system is a must for your safety. While you might have your cell phone with you, that device is only good if you have cellular service. And, if you’re looking to travel off the grid or to more remote areas, you’ll want another device. There are three main types of communication devices used in overland and off-road vehicles: Amateur Radio (sometimes referred to as “ham” radio), citizens band radio (CB) and general mobile radio service (GMRS). All three systems are still commonly used today, depending on your needs. As we continue to see a rise of the overlander population, it’s important to know the differences and decide which system is…

Since 1996, Ken Montes has designed, developed and mass-produced automotive components. His desire to create and invent products started at a young age and eventually led him to launch his own company, Agency 6. A passion for the outdoors and activities such as camping, snowboarding and hunting motivated him to start the company when he realized there was a lack of functional products in the marketplace for his lifestyle. His vision and goal are to create products with the user in mind. From the beginning, Agency 6 has created and manufactured American-made camping products such as shovels and tools, as well as off-road vehicle components, including recovery hitch blocks, fairleads and winch pull straps. “ ... AFTER USING HIS 2006 FORD E350 SUPER DUTY VAN FOR WORK-RELATED PROJECTS, KEN DECIDED…

“Community is something one chooses for oneself, through a process of self-discovery.”—Megan Garber, The Atlantic In 2019, Eric and Brittany Highland and their 2-year-old son, Caspian, found themselves deep in the Sierra Gorda mountain range of mainland Mexico, descending sharp switchbacks in the dark with a group of total strangers. Well, nearly total strangers. Eric met Chepo from Mexico City and A.P. from Querétaro on the online platform, “Overland Bound,” while planning the couple’s first international overland trip to mainland Mexico. The group of 10 spent the next three days together—camping, fixing a torn-up radiator, sharing delicious meals of grilled carne from the back of a group member’s Tacoma and touring an abandoned mission and cathedral in Bucareli. For Eric and Brittany, this weekend adventure brought back fond memories of…

Setting out to drive 40,000 miles from Alaska to Argentina wasn’t nearly as hard as I’d expected. All I had to do was jump into the driver’s seat and hit the road. I’d dreamed and planned for so long that leaving was actually anticlimactic. For the first few months, it felt like any other road trip. The biggest difference was that the trip felt longer, and Alaska was more epic than anywhere I’d previously ventured. As the weeks turned into months, I settled into my routines and optimized setting up camp, cooking and resupplying. Because of the abundance of gas stations, supermarkets and outdoor activities, moving from one stunning national park to another in western Canada and the United States was about as easy as overlanding gets ... anywhere on…

Who else is guilty of packing a much-too-old kitchen knife to use as your one and only slice-and-dice food prep tool while on outdoor adventures? I am, for sure! To add insult to embarrassment, said knife lives in a cardboard-and-duct tape sheath to boot. I finally realized it was time to upgrade my mobile food prep knife two trips ago. The knife had become way too blunt to even cut a banana through its peel, and the “sheath” had pretty much disintegrated into a tired wad of sticky duct tape (Eww, gross! is right). So, I made a trip to my local outdoor shop (the one whose name starts with “R” and ends with an “I”) and looked around for a compact knife that’s suitable for camping use. I wanted…

O1. BODY ARMOR 4X4/SKY RIDGE PIKE ANNEX ROOM Quickly and easily turn your Pike Roof Top Tent into a two-story backcountry “condo” with the Pike Annex Room. The Annex easily attaches to the Pike tent’s extended floor and provides extra space for cooking, storing camping gear or changing clothes. It encloses the rooftop tent’s ladder, providing a buffer between your sleeping quarters and the outdoors. MSRP: $210 bodyarmor4x4.com O2. KC HILITES/FLEX ERA 4 80W COMBO BEAM High intensity meets robust construction: The KC FLEX ERA 4 is the newest addition to KC’s all-new family of next-gen lighting. Featuring an awesome, 7,912 True-Lumens, the FLEX ERA 4 is built to keep pushing through the night. This kit comes with two 80W KC FLEX ERA 4 LED lights, two light…

John Kingston, better known on social media as “Roaming Lost,” has spent his time traveling for the majority of his life. Born in New York and raised in New Hampshire, the professional photographer traveled around the country after a stint attending a fine arts school in Boston. “‘WHILE WORKING FOR CLIENTS ON THE ROAD, I NEEDED SOMETHING I COULD GET SOME WORK DONE IN, OUT OF THE ELEMENTS, AND ALSO HAVE PLENTY OF ROOM FOR ALL MY GEAR.’” —JOHN KINGSTON In his earlier years, he took on odd jobs to get by while chasing after his photography dream job. His situation brought him to California, Idaho and places in between until he settled down back in California, which he currently calls home. This experience made him accustomed to a nomadic…

No matter if you’re adventuring in the remote wilderness or dashing across the country with your family, having a vehicle with long-range fuel capability is important. It minimizes fuel stops, and it’ll get you to your end destination more quickly. However, if you’re tired of constant fill-ups and want to expand your vehicle’s capacity, adding an extended-range fuel tank could be the perfect answer. Some vehicles, such as Toyota Tundras, have stock tanks ranging from 26.4 to 38 gallons, but many other automakers offer much less than that. Case in point: the 1991 right-hand-drive Mitsubishi Pajero my husband and I own. Our miniscule OE bladder offered 250 miles per tank—at best. Our 1994 Mitsubishi Delica Space Gear’s tank wasn’t much better ... not good when you’re spending remote nights in…

When life throws you a curve ball, what better way to smash it out of the park than to pivot your career to something you’ve always loved? That’s exactly what Scott and Shawnna Fisher decided one fateful day; a day that forever changed their lives in positive ways … for a couple of reasons. “TO KEEP THIS DIALED-IN 4RUNNER SAFE FROM DAMAGE AND DINGS, THERE’S FULL BODY ARMOR—TOP TO BOTTOM.” A Boomerang Back to Building Wrenching on vehicles and building custom projects was something Scott Fisher grew up doing. When he hit 16 years old, his parents handed him the keys to a 1995 Nissan 720 pickup. That launched him into the mini truck scene and paved the way toward working with friends to build show vehicles. Fisher tells us,…

There’s a scene in the 1985 blockbuster, Back to the Future, where Marty McFly (played by Michael J. Fox) spots a 1985 Toyota SR-5 4x4 pickup strapped to the back of a flatbed truck. It’s tricked out with tube bumpers, a roll cage, KC halogen lights, radial tires and the signature Toyota 4WD mud flaps. Marty’s eyes glaze over. “Check out that 4x4,” he says. “That is hot!” This 1985 Toyota Pickup was a dream truck for many 1980s kids—including Nathan Hayashi. Nathan purchased his first truck, a beat-up 1981 Toyota pickup, back in his college days to tackle the commute between Lethbridge, Alberta, and Fernie, British Columbia. “I bought it because of Back to the Future,” he says, laughing. “I thought, ‘A Toyota pickup; that’s a cool thing to…

Trillions of sand particulates flew through the air as a rally rig careened over the sand dunes. Rugged and rocky landscapes were met with silty sand dunes large enough to swallow houses. The rig could barely stay upright, while dust splayed wildly until settling onto Saudi Arabia’s remote valley floor. There’s no looking back—only forward—to maintain focused momentum and determination. Elevation changes, along with winding tracks, tested competitors as they raced against each other during one of the most grueling and treacherous rallies in the world: the Dakar Rally. It’s one of the world’s most extreme off-road competitions, challenging man, machine and mental stamina. Dakar Rally History Formally known as the Paris–Dakar Rally, the Dakar Rally is an annual event that tests the strength of both seasoned off-road ralliers and…

01. MIDLAND ER10VP E+READY/ COMPACT EMERGENCY RADIO Don’t be caught off guard; be prepared at all times with the slim and compact ER10VP emergency radio. An essential piece of equipment when you’re hiking, overlanding or camping, the ER10VP will immediately alert you about incoming inclement weather. This versatile radio doubles as a flashlight with “high,” “low” and “SOS strobe” options in case of an emergency. MSRP: $20 midlandusa.com 02. UST/PACK A LONG CAMP TABLE The Pack a Long Camp Table is a lightweight, space-saving table that gives you a sturdy surface for mealtimes and other camp activities. Made of a strong aluminum alloy, it’s waterproof, weather resistant and supports up to 30 pounds. This useful table features a quick, simple setup, and it’s lightweight and easy to store.…

O1 FRAMESET FRAME Cutting-edge components that make up the frame include a FACT 11m carbon chassis and rear end, carbon shock extension, asymmetrical design, 29 Trail Geometry, SWAT Door integration and flip chip Head Tube/Bottom Bracket adjustment. FRAME REFINEMENTS The bike includes a threaded bottom bracket, a fully enclosed internal cable routing, 12x148mm dropouts, sealed cartridge bearing pivots, replaceable derailleur hanger and 130mm of travel. O2 SUSPENSION FRONT SUSPENSION Front dampening is handled by a Fox Float 34 Factory with GRIP2 dampers that feature Kashima Coating with the following specs: 15x110mm, 44mm offset, 140mm of travel. REAR SUSPENSION The rear is supported by a Fox Float DPS Factory rear shock with Rx Trail Tune and EVOL Air sleeve and a Kashima Coat that features a three-position adjustment with…

You might be familiar with this silver-and-orange-striped 2013 Lexus GX 460, because it graced the cover of the March/April 2020 issue of Tread. While outwardly this overland build doesn’t look all that different today than it did then, it’s actually seen some major upgrades since. Refinement and details matter, because they make a quality build foundation into a truly capable, reliable and comfortable overland adventure machine. Let’s dive into the details of how I “finished” this Lexus GX 460 build. Hopefully, some of these finishing touches and build philosophies will help inspire other builds to a better state of completion, thus providing years of adventure enjoyment to come. Basics First With any vehicle build, start with the basics. A quality foundation on which to build is critical. Make sure the…

Time started to slow as we sank into the Scottish Highlands. Etive Road, near Glencoe, gave us a splendid camping spot for the night. Instead of leaping off my bike—saddle sore, itching to stretch my legs—I emerged fresh after a couple of hundred truck miles. This was a strange sensation, if I’m honest, having previously spent five years on a motorcycle trip through the Americas. “DESPITE THE ONSET OF SUMMER, MOTHER NATURE HAD OTHER IDEAS: SINGLE-DIGIT CELSIUS TEMPERATURES BY DAY, GUSTING WINDS, AS WELL AS HEAVY DOWNPOURS ENSUING AT ALL HOURS.” I made eye contact with a pine marten. It studied me for a while, as if I were an artwork with a hidden meaning, and then scurried up a grassy bank. While Glencoe never failed to disappoint to date,…

Amy Lerner and her Massachusetts-based Dakar team manager, Sue Mead, have many things in common: their love for off-road competitions, all things automotive related ... and Rod Hall. Mead, a veteran off-road racer, journalist and Lerner’s good friend, was also trained by the late, legendary off-road racer. Hall, who passed in 2019, had a successful race career that spanned more than half a century. He amassed approximately 180 impressive race wins and completed an unprecedented 50 Baja 1000 competitions—the only person to ever do so. He won more races than others finished. Mark A. Smith, one of Mead’s mentors and the man who started Jeep Jamboree USA, introduced her to Hall. “I trained with Rod to be his co-driver in the 1996 Baja 1000,” Mead pointed out. “The training with…