Table of contents for September/October 2024 in TREAD

“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,”…

When it comes to building a company that is as tough and rugged as the products it manufacturers, walking the walk becomes an absolute key part of doing business. This isn’t to say that presenting sentiments along the lines of “more is more” or “bigger is better” at the forefront is of utmost importance. Staying true to the reliable innovation and ingenuity that was placed at the core from the beginning is what’s important, and the team at Motobilt gets that. Dan DuBose , Motobilt president and CEO, along with his talented crew of designers and fabricators, has perfected the art of developing off-road Jeep components that are built for performance and longevity. Every component Motobilt manufacturers is tested off-road to not only meet but to exceed its own elevated…

“THE POWER WAGON IS EASILY THE MOST CAPABLE HD TRUCK OFF THE LOT WITH FEATURES LIKE FRONT AND REAR LOCKERS, A FACTORY WARN WINCH AS WELL AS DISCONNECTING SWAY BARS. COUPLE THAT WITH SOME UPGRADED SUSPENSION COMPONENTS, AND IT’S A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH.” Cheeseburgers, Budweiser, bald eagles, and my RAM Power Wagon—they all have an overriding theme that is unapologetically American. While my RAM was technically made in Mexico, my approach to the aftermarket is very patriotic. The Made in USA theme with this truck wasn’t intentional but more a result of my pursuit to find ultra high quality products for the fifth-gen RAM platform. The core of this build is centered around a few products that are essential parts of the build. These are from American brands…

My entire body tenses up as I walk towards the cool water. I feel bolts of lightning shoot up my spine as I wade knee deep into the crystal clear water and I sense something is very wrong. Lush green ferns draping out over the water provide plenty of shade from the scorching midday sun, and enormous lily pads on the surface of the water complete the somehow familiar scene. Despite never having set foot here in my life, I have an overwhelming sense of déjà vu. My entire being is telling me I need to get out of Dodge, and I need to go now. This isolated riverbank in Northern Australia is eerily identical to the scene in Crocodile Dundee where Linda Kozlowski attempted to fill her water bottle…

“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…

Without a doubt, the most common knife in the world is a kitchen knife. Even the most basic kitchen will have at least a chef’s knife, four steak knives, and a few butter knives. Watch a typical horror movie or thriller and when the ill-prepared homeowners or apartment dwellers hear a bump in the night, the first thing they run for is the chef’s knife on the knife block. As a knife collector or connoisseur, I’m hoping that your kitchen knives of choice aren’t those plastic handled set of Faberware blades you bought at Walmart when you got your first apartment or as a gift from a cheap uncle on your wedding day. There is a plethora of knives that serve almost dual purposes when it comes to food prep…

On June 8, 2024, the highly anticipated Rodeo X Rigs Vol. 10 was held in Vallejo, California. The fog hung overhead as hundreds of rigs descended on Mare Island for Rodeo X Rigs—the second the San Francisco Bay Area has ever seen. It was a full-scale takeover of the island that was home to the first naval base on the West Coast, which operated for nearly 150 years. Today, this historic location welcomes a parade of rigs and enthusiasts to its shores. Not Your Dad’s Meet A quick look around will tell you this isn’t your dad’s truck meet. In addition to all the vendors, food, music, raffles, a kids’ area, and even a BMX stunt show entertained attendees. Heavy hitters like King Shocks and Tacoma Beast were hard to…

“… 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…

“THIS IS OUR FEATURE BUILD FOR THIS YEAR, AND IT WILL BE MAKING ITS DEBUT AT THE 2024 SEMA SHOW IN THE BODY ARMOR 4X4 BOOTH IN WEST HALL IN LAS VEGAS.” As we all know, for many years the Toyota Tacoma has been an amazing platform for building an ideal adventure rig, and with the release of the new 2024 generation, we had to put our own twist on it. Introducing the 2024 TREAD Edition Toyota Tacoma! This will be our feature build this year, with the finished product making its debut at the 2024 SEMA Show in the Body Armor 4x4 booth in West Hall in the Las Vegas Convention Center. We have a lot of great plans for the build and can’t wait to bring you a…

Speed Metal is an automotive event dreamed up by Terra Crew partner James Holguin and his team. Their vision was to have an event that ANY automotive enthusiast would be stoked to attend and participate in. Well, their vision has become a reality—and then some. The event, held in Adelanto, California, Stadium and Event Center, consists of three categories: off-road, drift, and mini-moto. The venue also hosts a vendor area, food, and a “Hard Park” truck show filled with nicely built prerunners, drift cars, and other vehicles. The off-road category was completely open for anyone to participate in. The guys at Terra Crew set up different classes so just about anyone could have some time on their 5-mile course. These classes consisted of Sketchy Dudes (No cage class, stock), Bro-runner…

“EACH MODEL WAS ON DISPLAY, ALLOWING PEOPLE TO GET A HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE. THEY INSPECTED THE FEATURES, TESTED THE EQUIPMENT, AND VISUALIZED THEIR NEXT ADVENTURE.” The grand opening party for Off Grid Trailers took place on May 11 in Centennial, Colorado. Enthusiasts and locals gathered to celebrate and check out the new facility. The event was a blend of innovation, community, and outdoor spirit. Once the doors opened, attendees had the opportunity to explore the new trailers and all other gear they needed to get in the backcountry. Each model was on display, allowing people to get a hands-on experience. They inspected the features, tested the equipment, and visualized their next adventure. The trailers stood out with their practical designs and robust build, ready for any off-grid challenge. Food trucks provided…