Table of contents for July/August 2019 in TREAD

If you were to choose any of the new off-road vehicle offerings to take your next trip in, which one would you select? Surveying the available choices, it seems that we are now experiencing a golden age of off-road vehicles. We should count ourselves as lucky. There probably hasn’t been so many great vehicles to choose from at a single time than now. From the venerable Toyota Tacoma to a diesel-powered Chevy Colorado and the latest generation Jeep Wrangler, each vehicle has been developed to take us anywhere we want to go with unparalleled safety, capability and reliability that we haven’t experienced before. As if we weren’t spoiled enough, Jeep went ahead and finally dropped their highly anticipated pick-up truck, the model year ‘20 Jeep Gladiator. We get a first…

O1. CAULDRYN/COFFEE SMART MUG AND BLENDER COMBO The Cauldryn smart mug allows you to select beverage temperatures between room temperature through boiling and maintains it all day long. Its 10-hour battery life serves you the perfect temperature drink from the first sip to the last. Brew coffee, heat up soup, cook, even boil right in the bottle. Control the mug via built-in heating controls or over a smartphone app. Attach one of the optional accessories, like a blender that can chop ice, and turn it into a mobile smoothie/frozen drink machine. MSRP: $150 cauldryn.com O2. ADIDAS/TERREX FREE HIKER Rule number one about adventuring should be to take care of your feet. Don’t skimp on comfortable, protective footwear. Adidas Terrex Free Hikers are lightweight shoes built for ultra-comfort on…

Ed Hanna plans to cross America on dirt with his wife Michele and his trusty Tacoma this summer. He’s already done the Trans-America-Trail (TAT) on an adventure motorcycle, but wants to share its American treasures with his wife. A major back injury, recent retirement from the police force, sale of his house and a proven and well-sorted Tacoma have readied Hanna for the overland adventure of a lifetime. Devastation One night in the Fall of 2014 Hanna had a career-ending back injury while making an arrest as a police officer. He had been researching a big motorcycle adventure to South America, but this injury stopped those plans before they could get rolling down the road. “A MAJOR BACK INJURY, RECENT RETIREMENT FROM THE POLICE FORCE, SALE OF HIS HOUSE AND…

What do you do when you roll over your custom Jeep in an off-road competition in Spain and total it? Even worse, you’re planning to ship the Jeep overseas for another big adventure only three weeks later. If you’re Jose Gayoso, the owner of Roco 4x4 Spain, you go to your local dealer and buy a brand new ‘18 Jeep JKU Rubicon Recon. Three days later you stuff it into a shipping container headed for Miami—for the ultimate makeover. This Jeep is quite possibly the ultimate JKU. It has very little stock Jeep left from the factory, as everything has or will be upgraded. It was built in just two short weeks, and completed just a few hours before being stuffed into yet another container, this time headed for Honduras.…

Gone are the days when fly-fishing was limited to pursuing delicate trout with flimsy rods and small flies. Modern fly gear has made it possible for anglers to chase a myriad of freshwater and saltwater species of fish. Whether sharks, tarpon, giant trevally or muskie, the list of sport fish that can be caught on a fly includes almost anything that swims. One of the species growing in popularity among fly anglers is the northern pike. Known for its predatory instincts, penchant for large flies and savage eats, this toothy fish can be found across North America, Europe and Russia. From Saskatchewan to Sweden, pike have created a global sensation for fly fishers looking for vicious action on the fly. With a face only a mother could love, pike resemble…

Women are active listeners and doers. We take great pride in completing tasks for our families, friends, and significant others. But, what about ourselves? Why do certain things seem unattainable? Is it because we’re afraid of failing, not sure where to start, or feel shunned if we’re interested in a man’s area of focus? Over the last year, I found true happiness driving and working on my own 4x4 vehicle. It took me a while to get there. But, as I build up my own 4x4, I’m able to discover places most people will never experience. That is truly rewarding. Ladies, nothing will teach you more than owning and driving your own 4WD rig off road. Taking the helm of a 4x4 from time to time is good, but if…

Those of us who often venture to places where civilization has been left behind, or at least, has a hard time accessing, might take for granted the fact that once we’re “out there” we can be hard to reach. It’s this lack of connectivity that is actually one of the reasons I like to head into the hills far from the beeps and bops of social media app notifications and the rings of conference calls. To escape our connected, modern world for some true peace and quiet is an allure that is undeniable. As nice as it can be to leave the electronic world behind, it’s easy to forget that it is this same connectivity that we might need the most if we ever were to come across trouble while…

The right set of wheels can instantly turn a mundane everyday driver into a head-turning looker. They can also increase the wheeling capability of your rig and give it the surefootedness that you seek. Wheel aftermarket manufacturers design and make wheels to suit any taste and function. Take a look at some of the latest models to hit the market. Do you see your future set in this collection? DV8 OFFROAD/887 These wheels are perfect for your new Colorado or Canyon. The DV8 Offroad 887 wheel was made specifically for the 2nd Gen Colorado/Canyon. With its +20mm offset, this 17x9 wheel strikes a balance between the OEM offset (+33) and a typical aftermarket offset (0). This puts the tire in the deepest and widest part of the wheel well, allowing…

At the end of World War II, Willys Overland emerged as a major player in the U.S. automobile industry. Having produced more than 600,000 vehicles specifically for the war effort, its role as a peace-time manufacturer would need to expand. In 1947, the first Jeep “utility” truck rolled out of its Toledo, Ohio, facility and the rest, we will say, is history. The Willys pickup was phased out in the 1960s and replaced by the full-size Gladiator, which claimed numerous “J” designations and enjoyed a 26-year tenure. The mid-size Comanche, introduced in 1982, ended production in 1994 and the seven-slot brand would be bedless for more than a quarter century. Jeep has since hung a few carrots in front of pickup devotees with their annual batch of concept vehicles. The…

There’s a reason so many people call California home. From the proximity to the ocean to the year-round great weather, but for Florida transplant Rafael Rubio, living in California provided an opportunity to satisfy his urge to travel and explore. Several failed attempts at road trips, due to overpriced hotel, lead him to discover the growing overland movement, and he hasn’t looked back since. The economic downturn forced his previous employer in Miami to go out of business in 2011, it was then that Rubio began a search for a new job. The search brought him to the annual SEMA tradeshow in which he was able to land a position at TSW Tires in California. Rubio and his then-girlfriend (now his wife) packed up their belongings and headed west. The…

What’s your ideal way to camp? Are you minimalistic, preferring to camp with only what you carry on your back? Or are you on the other side of the spectrum, opting to roll into the campsite with every civilized convenience possible? If you or your better half sides with the latter group, the folks at Black Series Campers have your backs. Perhaps someone in your household can’t live without indoor plumbing or an actual mattress to sleep on, yet they don’t want to be left behind from any outdoor adventures. Black Series Campers sees no reason why you can’t have it all. They offer a wide selection of travel trailers that can bring the modern conveniences and comforts of home to the great outdoors. The Australia-based company drew from over…

O1. BOSS AUDIO SYSTEMS/ BAB8 If you are tight on space but want big audio power with thumping bass, BOSS Audio’s BAB8 is a great solution. The all-in-one slim-fit combined amplifier and subwoofer unit allows for installation where most other amps and subs simply won’t fit, such as the tight confines of a pick-up truck, Jeep or SUV. BAB8 includes a variable low-pass filter, RCA inputs, bass boost, auto power on with Smart Sense, remote subwoofer control, and a single voice coil configuration. MSRP: $120 bossaudio.com O2. DMOS COLLECTIVE/THE STEALTH SHOVEL The Stealth Shovel is the original award-winning DMOS shovel. Getting outside is awesome, but sometimes stuff happens — you get stuck. The Stealth is a compact do-it-all shovel that lasts. Made from lightweight and durable T6-6061 aircraft…

If you live in a city where rideshare electric scooters seem to have popped up on every corner out of nowhere, you probably fall into one of two categories: you’re either a fan of them or you find them a real nuisance. Electric scooters are conveyances that can get you to and from a location with ease and expediency. Just hop on and hop off, it’s just that easy. Unlike riding a bike, stepping onto the scooter’s pad and stepping off take very little balance and coordination. As long as you know how to stand, you’re good. This bodes well for someone as uncoordinated as this author. For some time now, electric scooters have been relegated to the realm of paved roads and sidewalks. Needing a smooth surface to run…

After long hours on the road and finally reaching your destination, the last thing you want to do is take the time to set up camp and prepare a full meal. Luckily, you no longer have to settle on soggy sandwiches, hot dogs on a stick, or even s’mores for dessert. For those looking for a quick and easy meal, yet want something with more flavor, look no further than packaged camp food. Over the past decade, the number of options for packaged camp food has increased significantly to include gourmet meal options for breakfast, lunch, dinner and even dessert. Meals now include many types of food from Asian-centric to vegan, gluten-free, and even Paleo diet options. Many simply require adding hot water and take less than 10 minutes to…

Sometimes it doesn’t matter if you venture into the depths of the unknown or are just wheeling around in a local park; the chance of getting bogged down in slippery terrain always exists. The cause of your vehicle’s loss of traction could be due to baby powder–like fine sand or thick, soul sucking mud. It doesn’t really matter which, getting stuck is a universal bummer. In years past, jamming something like a tree branch or even a floor mat under a spinning wheel could give the tire just enough traction to get your truck moving again. While this method is still used in emergency cases, there are much better tools for the job nowadays. If you plan on taking your rig off paved roads, it’s a good idea to be…