TREAD September/October 2024

The summer is coming to an end, but more epic adventures are still ahead! The days are hot and the evening is cool, which means we can still enjoy an evening sitting around the campfire with friends and family sharing stories of our latest adventures. So far this year I have been able to spend lots of time on the river and have some great camping trips with friends around Idaho and Oregon. Where have your adventures taken you so far this year? Have you been staying close to home or getting out and exploring new places? Let us know—and send us your pictures and share your stories with us! Our September/October issue has a little of everything. You will find coverage from Terra Crew’s Speed Metal Event, adventures in…

01. HELLA/ BLADE LED LAMP The HELLA Blade LED auxiliary driving lamp offers an innovative LED position light available in white or amber. It provides options for individual, attention-grabbing vehicle styling, particularly for off-road use. Its compact design, coupled with a shallow mounting depth, ensure versatility and ease of installation. With six LED lights, high-output modules provide up to 8,500 lumens. The HELLA Blade includes two LED spotlights, two stone shields, mounting hardware and instructions. All models are equipped with a temperature control system, protecting against overheating and also regulating the light output in cold ambient temperatures—ideal for off-road vehicles, such as all-terrain vehicles, pickups, trucks, buggies, and quads. MSRP $569.99 myhellalights.com 02. RHINO-RACK/ SOFTSHELL ROOFTOP TENT Experience unbeatable adventure with the Rhino-Rack Softshell Rooftop Tent. Stay cool and comfortable with…

01. COAST/ XPH34R COAST XPH34R, built to be worn or held in your hand, peaks at 2075 lumens and features a dust-resistant and storm-proof aluminum body that rolls in its bracket for directional lighting. It also detaches to become a full-featured flashlight with a magnetic tail cap and built-in power indicator. The COAST-patented PURE BEAM optical system with TWIST FOCUS enables seamless transitions between ULTRA VIEW flood beam and BULLS-EYE spot beam. For versatility on the job, this rechargeable dual power flashlight runs on a COAST ZITHION-X rechargeable battery (charging cable included) but can also operate on disposable lithium or alkaline batteries (purchased separately)—creating a go-anywhere lighting solution. MSRP: $89.99 coastportland.com 02. JETBOIL/ GENESIS BASECAMP STOVE Jetboil’s dual-burner design functions as a standalone stove or couples with other JetLink-compatible stoves…

“EVEN THOUGH THE BUMPER IS A NEW CREATION AND THE LIGHTS AND WINCH ARE STATE-OF-THE-ART PRODUCTS, THE OVERALL STYLING STILL MEETS THAT OEM+ STYLE OF THE LATE ’90S/EARLY 2000S THAT I WAS WANTING TO ALSO CAPTURE DURING THE BUILD.” We all want to go further off the beaten trails to find those hidden spots that are exclusive only to those with the proper rigs to reach them. This is what daydreams are made of, but turning wishful thinking into a reality requires developing a plan and executing it in a timely fashion. Reaching a goal such as this can potentially turn into a long, expensive ordeal but it doesn’t have to, as Curtis Glenn of Chandler, Arizona has recently proven. “I originally bought this 4Runner so I could go camping,”…

“EQUIPPED WITH THE STANDARD 3.5L TWIN-TURBOCHARGED V-6 ENGINE AND A 10-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STRAIGHT FROM THE FACTORY, THE 2022 TUNDRA IS A GREAT OFF-ROADING PLATFORM STRAIGHT OUT OF THE GATE.” When it comes to overlanding and intermediate off-roading, the latest Toyota offerings are hard to beat. Not only do the options range from mid-size trucks and SUVs to larger-capacity vehicles for varying cargo and family size needs, but Toyota offers a great platform to build upon in all of its mid- to full-size vehicles in order to create respectable off-road machines, from mild to wild. For Leroy Do of Thornton, Colorado, it was the 2022 Toyota Tundra 4x4 that caught his eye. Revised and refreshed for 2022, the new third-generation Toyota Tundra addressed some of the “downfalls” of the previous…

“… THE OPTIMA TUNDRA IS PACKED FULL OF STATE-OF-THE-ART GOODIES, ENCOMPASSING EVERYTHING FROM THE GPS AND SWITCH PANEL IN THE TRUCK'S CABIN TO THE ELECTRONICALLY OPTIMIZED SUSPENSION SYSTEM DOWN BELOW.” OPTIMA Batteries has been a leading company in performance batteries since its inception in 1972. Producing batteries for marine, automotive, agriculture, and construction applications to name a few, the company and its leaders know what it takes to get just about any job done—and done right. So when the company set out to have a new 2023 Toyota Tundra Hybrid TRD Pro built to showcase the latest and greatest components available to the off-road and overlanding markets, the folks at OPTIMA turned to the best when it came to outfitting the build with the brands and components everyone is talking…