Table of contents for July/August 2018 in TREAD

With camping and adventuring season in full swing, where have you travelled to so far? For many of us, the oncoming of the warm weather months means getting some well-deserved outdoor time and enjoying the simple pleasures of nature. For others, it’s an excuse to push themselves and their vehicles to the limit. Whichever type of adventure you choose to go on, now’s the time to get out there to do it. It’s no secret that Toyota-based off-road vehicles are the hot thing right now. In this issue, we get behind the wheel of not one, but three builds that very from a daily driver to an extended exploration rig. Check out articles on a Tundra, 80 Series Land Cruiser and a Tacoma sprinkled throughout this issue. Not to leave…

O1. NIXON/REGULUS The Regulus is an element-proof, dual chronograph watch that meets the demands of the outdoors including high-altitudes, harsh terrain, and underwater activities. It features an oversized digital display, LED backlight, 12- or 24-hour time, date, and auto calendar through 2099. Its 46mm custom injection molded, fiber reinforced polycarbonate case with stainless steel bezel has a minimal design and features a tough shock absorbing housing. MSRP: $150 nixon.com O2. NITE IZE/RADIANT 200 COLLAPSIBLE LANTERN + FLASHLIGHT This compact lantern and flashlight combo combines a powerful 200 lumens of brightness in an impressively compact and durable body. With high and low lantern modes, high + downlight lantern mode, and flashlight mode, this versatile light adjusts to your illumination needs. Its convenient carabiner handle lets you clip, carry or hang it…

The preparation and consumption of food is as social an event as any, whether you’re prepping to host a party for the big game in your own backyard or out in the middle of nowhere soaking in the great outdoors, cooking and eating is a pastime enjoyed by everyone—especially campers. One of the first things many people do after arriving at their chosen campground is to set up camp. What does that entail exactly? The first step to setting up camp is often getting a shelter set up before the sun sinks under the horizon. For most of us that means deploying a ground or roof-mounted tent. The next order of business is to get a fire going and making sure that the camp’s kitchen is ready for business. If…

If I could skip one country while traversing the west coast of Africa, it would be Nigeria. Overlanders speak of Nigeria only in whispers, and they don't often have encouraging things to say. Big, fast, loud and more than a little unpredictable, Nigeria is not on many bucket lists. I have recently heard a few reports of attacks on the roads involving fake police roadblocks and spike strips. Speaking of police roadblocks, Nigeria is famous for theirs, both in number and in unfriendliness and bribery; Nigeria apparently holds the record. Skirting Nigeria by land is currently impossible, as it means driving north around Lake Chad through Niger, Chad and Northern Cameroon—all of which are seriously off-limits due to Boko Haram. If I am to traverse the west coast of Africa,…

“THE WRANGLER’S LINEAGE SPANS OVER THIRTY YEARS AND FOUR GENERATIONS, WITH THE JK MODEL BEING ARGUABLY ONE OF THE BEST LOVED OF THEM ALL BY ITS DRIVERS.” By far one of the most popular vehicles to jump in and go where few people dare to tread is the venerable Jeep Wrangler. Its legendary performance off paved roads is known the world over. Even the name itself immediately sparks images of rugged off-road performance and a spirit of open road freedom. The Wrangler’s lineage spans over thirty years and four generations, with the JK model being arguably one of the best loved of them all by its drivers. The JK was introduced in 2006 and is still currently available this year in what is said to be its final year of…

Mayflies danced to the sound of the river. The golden twilight reflected off their fragile wings. Rising and falling, they looked puppet-like, as if controlled by invisible strings. Those that had served their purpose fell weak and spent, their destiny eminent. They were sure to become a meal for some epicurean trout. Overhead swallows performed aerial maneuvers in a dogfight with the less-qualified and not so aerodynamic insects. Standing on the edge of the river, I watched. All the while in hopes the spinner fall would cause the resident trout to commence happy hour. “Anything?” he whispered. One word revealed my fishing partner’s intentions were the same as mine. Smith and I were anticipating and hoping to be part of the cycle of life. “Not yet,” I replied. A random…

O1. DAYTONA/3 TON STEEL LOW PROFILE LONG REACH SERVICE JACK The 3 Ton Steel Low Profile Long Reach Service Jack has the widest lift range and longest frame of Daytona’s new 3 and 4 Ton floor jack lineup. Its dual piston hydraulic system, low-profile design can lift from 3¼ inches to 24¼ inches. A convenient foot pedal allows for smooth, fast, hassle-free pumping. It is also equipped with a rotating, removable jack saddle that adapts quickly to lift accessories while ball bearing rear swivel casters provide 360-degree mobility. MSRP: $190 harborfreight.com O2. FURY OFF ROAD TIRES/ COUNTRY HUNTER R/T Designed rugged for any terrain, Fury’s Country Hunter R/T offers the optimum blend of grippy off-road traction, durable construction, and aggressive styling, with decreased on-road noise and a longer lasting tread.…

Some prefer to carry a large fixed blade knife whenever possible for its strength and dependability, but for most of us, those opportunities are few and far between. Sometimes a pocketknife is all you can carry to get the job done. This is when blade choice is key. Different styles of blades exhibit varying characteristics, such as improved blade control or enhanced robustness. Which blade should you choose if you need a compact knife that can stand up to the abuse of hard use? Designed in the mid-1800’s by Lord Wharnecliffe, a British soldier and politician, Wharnecliffe-bladed pocketknives feature a straight edged blade that have a high arched spine which tapers to form a sharp point. This type of blade is thick and strong and is well-suited for whittling and…

“WITH SOME KEY MODIFICATIONS, HENWOOD HAS TURNED THIS BASIC HALF-TON PICKUP INTO A TRULY COMFORTABLE AND CAPABLE OVERLAND MACHINE, WHICH OFFERS NEEDED VERSATILITY TO HIS BUSY, ACTIVE LIFE.” Thomas Henwood purchased this ‘16 Toyota Tundra Double Cab SR5 4X4 new in June 2016. It serves as his daily driver, family camper and off-road adventuremobile. With some key modifications Henwood has turned this basic half-ton pickup into a truly comfortable and capable overland machine, which offers needed versatility to his busy, active life. Henwood has two young daughters, age 8 and age 5. Besides being a Dad, he’s also a motorcycle enthusiast, hunter and general outdoorsman. He’s one of the three brothers who run Main Line Overland (MLO), an off-road and overland vehicle outfitter shop, with locations in West Chester, Pennsylvania,…

A LOOK AT JKS’S NEW 3” JSPEC SUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR THE 2018 WRANGLER JL The newest reincarnation of the one and only Jeep Wrangler has already proven to be a worthy replacement for the outgoing Wrangler JK. With several suspension/drivetrain/chassis refinements, along with tweaked styling and modern amenities the new 2018 Wrangler JL is a step in the right direction as a comfortable on-road cruiser and off-road crawler. But what if you are looking for even more performance and capability? For that we turn to JKS Manufacturing out of Coldwater, MI. Their newly released 3” Jspec suspension system offers a quartet of components specially designed, tested, and manufactured specifically for the new JL to offer better all around performance and plenty of clearance for 37” tires.…

There’s nothing like kicking back after an extended drive through a hot and dusty trail and cracking open an ice cold drink in one hand and chomping on an ice cream cone in the other. The temperature is hovering around 100 degrees and you’re about 100 miles from civilization. How is it that you have access to icy drinks and your favorite frozen confections? If you haven’t noticed yet, the golden age of onboard refrigeration is now upon us. If you’re perfectly content with using an ice chest to keep your drinks cold and perishables from perishing, you’ve been missing out. Vehicle-mounted refrigeration is quickly transitioning from what was a nice amenity to a must-have necessary tool for multiday road trips and off-road excursions. As each successive generation of these…

Outfitting and upgrading your Jeep or truck with the latest aftermarket gear is so intrinsic to the off-roading hobby that it is almost part of our American culture. Seeing a stock truck on the road is an oddity these days, as everyone has come to realize the headlights are not powerful enough, there’s no sidelights, no trail lights, and the reverse light is not nearly bright enough to cut through the inky blackness of a moonless desert night. You must upgrade. However, one thing that is always troubling with today’s newest 4x4s is a lack of switches for auxiliary equipment. Ford offers an “upfitter” module to the dashboard, as does Jeep, Ram, and GM on their trucks. But if you didn’t order that accessory when you bought your rig, good…

Summer is here and the heat is on. What better way to celebrate the busiest off-roading season but with a set of new wheels for your rig? Strong and stylish, a wider set of upgraded wheels can increase your vehicle’s grip on rough and slippery terrain while simultaneously enhancing its looks while cruising about town. Pinning down which wheels you want can be a challenge, but we’re here to help. Take a look at the selection presented here to see some of the latest in vehicle footwear available this season. RACELINE WHEELS/ 937 COMBAT Looking for a clean, yet strong looking wheel? Available in Bronze (shown) as well as Satin Black. Raceline’s 937 Combat rim features a muscular 5-spoke look and is available in 17x9 in both 5- and 6-lug…

01 CAMERA 01 1/2.3'' CMOS Sernsor 02 Effective Pixels: 12.35 MP 03 MP4/MOV (H.264/MPEG-4 AVC) format Videos 04 JPEG/DNG (RAW) format Photos 02 INTELLIGENT FLIGHT BATTERY 01 LiPo 3S rechargeable battery 02 Capacity: 3,830 mAh 03 Voltage: 11.4 V 03 PERFORMANCE 01 Intelligent flight modes including Active Track, Terrain Follow, Gesture Mode and more. 02 Maximum service ceiling level 16,400 feet (5000m) above sea level 03 Maximum range 4.3 miles 04 TECHNOLOGY 01 3-Axis Mechanical Gimbal 02 Home lock allows the Mavic to return to a predetermined point 03 Forward obstacle sensing When exploring unknown paths, there’s a lot to be said about getting a bird’s eye view of the terrain that lies ahead of you. Modern amenities such as GPS, electronically enhanced maps and terrain…

Meet the technical blanket, the more versatile sibling to the sleeping bag. Sleeping bags are great in offering warmth with its mummy-like construction, but lack the mobility and other options that a blanket provides. With a technical blanket you benefit from the features of a traditional sleeping bag, but without the restriction of a zipper and the often higher cost. There are a couple variations of technical blankets on the market. Aside from being used as traditional blankets, one type can be used to supplement your sleeping bag for additional warmth, while the other can be used as a mat for protection from the ground. Technical blankets feature many of the same advanced innovations as sleepings bags, utilizing modern materials that are often water-repellent, durable, and insulated—but with more flexibility.…

Remember that there will be a consequence for almost any modification you perform. When you are altering a vehicle from its stock form, you are doing it to improve its performance in a specified area. Adding larger tires can improve traction not only off-road but also on the highway, too—at the cost of decreased fuel economy. A more flexible suspension will work great on the trail but can increase body roll on the highway. Heavy-duty bumpers will protect more but will add weight and decrease aerodynamics, affecting handling and fuel economy. Brighter headlights can improve your visibility, but can wreck the visibility of oncoming drivers. You get the idea. Choose carefully when adding mods to your daily driver. We’ve seen several guys have to sell their rides and start over…

After a life of lowered cars and a passion for the import car world, Daniel Kruthanooch, better known as “Yogi”, entered a new stage of his life with his purchase of a ‘17 Toyota Tacoma. The days of slowing down for speed bumps, being pulled over for fix-it tickets and entering driveways at an extreme angle are now behind him. His prized Lexus GS has found a home parked in the garage, where the heavily modified car now sits quietly next to the Tacoma, which has become his daily driver and weekend getaway vehicle of choice. Inspired by his first off-roading adventure as a passenger, Yogi noticed the ease at which the trucks could tackle the terrain. The off-roader’s capabilties couldn’t be more contrasting when compared to his slammed sedan.…

“Hank the Tank” is Anthony Sicola’s ‘94 80 Series Land Cruiser. He purchased this Toyota off-road beast in stock form back in 2010 with intentions to build it up and drive it around the world on a grand overland adventure. Life got in the way a bit, but this vehicle has still seen lots of travels and has some more grand adventures in its near future. This 80 Series Toyota Land Cruiser came with the name “Hank the Tank” from its previous owner, and it just stuck. While Sicola is unsure of exactly how this Land Cruiser got its name, it is most likely from Will Farrell’s drunken alter ego character in the movie “Old School.” These days, this adventuremobile is usually just called “Hank.” Grand Plans Sicola and his…