Table of contents for January - February 2021 in TREAD

This year has been a great challenge for us all. Perhaps “challenge” is an understatement. As we reflect back on the year, what have you faced and overcome? For me, I found 2020 to be a year of great growth, in my career and within myself. I suppose a lot of alone time will do that to you. It’s been officially a year of me completely taking over as editor and the positive response has been both rewarding and encouraging. I also have been a dog mom for a year now, and if that isn’t a reflection of yourself I really don’t know what is. Like with most things, we have our good days and more challenging ones, but most are full of licks, cuddles, and laughter. I also find…

01. ARB USA/ARB SUMMIT BUMPER FOR FORD RANGER The ARB Summit bumper for the ’19-and-up Ford Ranger continues the tradition of pioneering innovation with a relentless pursuit of quality. Features include press form cover straps, larger ARB foglights, surround, and a three-piece split pan grille with access doors for winch clutch operation. MSRP: $1,850 arbusa.com 02. WARN/ASCENT REAR BUMPER FOR ’20 FORD RANGER Warn’s Ascent bumpers have welded eyelets for shackles, ports for up to four 3-inch lights, and a resilient, state-of-the-art powdercoated finish. Ascent rear bumpers offer built-in steps for bed access, increased departure angles for off-road ability, and durable construction to handle the toughest trails. They also accommodate rear backup sensors. MSRP: $1,271 warn.com 03. MISHIMOTO/PERFORMANCE ALUMINUM RADIATOR FOR ’98-’07 TOYOTA LAND CRUISER This direct-fit…

01 PERFORMANCE ENGINE The Wolverine RMAX4 1000 Limited Edition delivers class-leading power and smooth performance, thanks to its new, powerful 999cc, DOHC, eight-valve, parallel twin engine. DRIVELINE RMAX4 is reliably motivated by way of an Ultramatic V-belt with all-wheel engine braking. The CVT system utilizes a new, centrifugal wet clutch purpose-built to withstand the power from the engine, and a constant tension belt system for tackling obstacles in high-rev range without fear of damaging the belt. The final drive includes On-Command three-way locking differential; 2WD, 4WD, and full diff-lock 4WD. 02 TECH ADVENTURE PRO Explore further with the Yamaha Adventure Pro integrated directly in the dash with removable and lockable housing. Adventure Pro comes with GPS mapping and navigation, online adventure planning, 115,000-plus pre-loaded trails and waypoints, the Yamaha-exclusive…

It’s not every day you see a Mitsubishi Montero hit the trails dressed to the nines in overlanding accessories and gear. However, if you live in the Bay Area of Northern California you may have seen this Montero on its way to its next adventure driven by owner Carlo Ramos. Originally purchased to pull a fishing boat for Delta Wood Bombers, the owner’s fishing lure business, the Montero took a turn toward a new purpose and became an all-out adventure camping mobile. Still used to fuel the owner’s passion to spend as much time outdoors as he can, the Montero has evolved over time and continues to evolve. “I BUILT THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE MY DAUGHTER AND I BOTH LOVE THE OUTDOORS ... I WANTED TO CONTINUE MAKING MEMORIES OUTDOORS IN…

Let’s face it. The popularity of overlanding has exploded in recent years—even more so during the current global pandemic. People are itching to travel and escape. For those who want to avoid airlines and crowds, they may look to the open road to find their solace. With many travel regulations in place, the best solution is simply to get in a vehicle and drive to the destination. Overlanders, off-roaders, vanlifers, and campers alike have found this lifestyle to be the answer for their wanderlust, and now more people are looking to follow suit. Not everyone owns a fully capable rig or one that is outfitted to the hilt with many of the accessories and aftermarket goodies you see on the vehicles that grace the pages of this magazine. There are…

There is a new apex predator in the off-road focused truck world. Sure the Raptor is a tried-and-true, super-capable machine, but the all-new ’21 Ram 1500 TRX has taken the factory high-speed off-road muscle truck concept to all-new heights of comfort and capability. I was one of the lucky few media who received an invite to Reno, Nevada, for an early drive experience of the Ram TRX. I drove it on the curvy roads around Lake Tahoe, the two-lane desert routes near Virginia City, Nevada, the big highway through Reno, and, most importantly, at the Wild West Motorsports Park. I jumped, drifted, crawled, and launched this monster truck. Of course, I did it all for you in the name of a good review and had no fun at all. We…

Suspension: King Suspension, Timbren Industries bumpstops, Camburg upper control arms Gears & Tuning: Nitro 4.88 ring-and-pinions Wheels: Black Rhino Stadium wheels Tires: Cooper Tire EVO MT 35s Bumpers: Relentless Fabrication and C4 Fabrications Sliders & Armor: Brute Force Fab and FJ Toyman Roof Rack: Prinsu Roof Rack Rooftop Tent: Autohome Magnolia Awning: ARB Awning Control System: Switch Pro Winch: Warn VR10S, Factory 55 Prolink Shackle mount Lights: Rigid Radiance Lightbar, Pods, Rock lights, and Baja Designs S2s Note from Editor: At times when life moves too quickly, mistakes happen. And we are not immune to them. We apologize to Nino Querubin and his sponsors for the misprint in the last issue. Nino (@trdngt) won both Best SUV and Best Equipped in the Super Fun Outdoors Virtual Adventure Vehicle Show back…

01. POLER/THE REVERSIBLE NAPSACK The Reversible Napsack has zippers at the shoulders so you can stick your arms out, and a cinch at the bottom so that you can open it up and stick your legs out. Hike it up to your waist, cinch it, and wear it like a puffy coat around the campfire, and then crawl right back into your tent without ever having to leave the warmth of your bag. MSRP: $130 poler.com 02. UST/TREKKER STOVE The Trekker Stove is lightweight and compact, making it the perfect camp kitchen accessory for both hikers and backpackers. The serrated pot supports provide a stable cooking surface for a wide variety of cookware, as well as easily collapses to take up less space in your pack. Works with…

A tropical humidity weighed heavy in the air as I made my way down a damp street in the predawn hour. The previous evening I’d learned of a fish market on the river, which might offer a unique opportunity to capture frames of life in Southeast Asia. In locales such as Kampot, Cambodia, fishermen work through the night and head for the barn around 0300 to sell their catch to restaurant owners and fish mongers. Dawn was breaking as I stepped over a rusty steel cable and entered another world. I made my way through a labyrinth of wicker baskets with men, women, and children separating squid, crustaceans, and fish I could not identify. After buying a bag of fish and sharing many smiles, I requested permission to raise my…

Exploring British Columbia (BC), Canada’s backcountry, can present itself with unique beauty like none other. White-capped mountains stand proud in the distance while gentle breezes brush across your cheek. Trail-side thistles protrude from the ground in an outstanding fashion while every shade of green appears as you travel through thick forests. The smell of fresh, unadulterated air seeps deep into your soul as you recharge your system from a world gone astray. As modern-day explorers, it’s our duty to respect Mother Nature. To do our part to maintain the world as we know it, especially in remote areas, simple things like leaving camp areas cleaner than when you found them and packing out refuse and waste can allow for future generations to enjoy beautiful backcountry areas. Exploring Beautiful BC Five…

For those of us who reside on the West Coast, we’ve been blessed with access to thousands of miles of backcountry two-tracks through some of America’s most unspoiled deserts, mountains, and grasslands. Open a map (remember those analogue paper maps?) from U.S. Forest Service (USFS) or Bureau of Land Management (BLM), or open the Gaia GPS app and we find an expansive web of trails beckoning us to adventures of discovery. Many westerners take this for granted, assuming that it has and will always be this way. But this is not the case, my friends. The reality is that those of us who like to play in the dirt are at war. An ongoing political campaign against those who hold a disdain for our form of recreation. They hide behind…

Expedition travel is a different universe than weekend four-wheeling. When you’re just out for a few days near home—camping, challenging a few trails—breaking down is no more than an inconvenience. But if you’ve embarked on a long journey far from familiar territory, perhaps in another country or on another continent, a breakdown can endanger the trip—or even your safety if you’re traveling solo and are tens or hundreds of miles from assistance. For journeys such as this, your priorities regarding vehicle modifications and accessories need to change, from an emphasis on maximum 4WD performance (and, let’s be honest, maximum looks) to reliability and durability. Herewith are five top ways to minimize your chances of an epic field repair if you’re planning an epic overland adventure. Big Tires Everyone loves the…

In overlanding circles the border town of Wadi Halfa is about as famous as they come. For decades it’s been the only land border crossing from Sudan into Egypt, and over decades it has gained a reputation for being one of the most convoluted and painful on the entire continent, maybe even in the entire world. I’ve managed to talk my way through Africa without a Carnet de Passages, an international customs document many say is mandatory to drive around Africa—until now. Try as I might, and after days researching, I can’t find a way around this. At $500 this will easily be the most expensive border crossing in all of Africa for me, although five times cheaper than getting one from my home country. In all my border crossings…

Looking for a way to make your ride stand out from the crowd and simultaneously perform better? You’ll want to look into investing in a set of high-performance wheels and tires. Getting the right wheel and tire package on your rig can greatly increase its capabilities as well as its looks. A rugged wheel can even keep you from getting stranded by shrugging off would-be damage that a lesser wheel may bend or break because of. We have gathered some of the newest wheel releases for you to eyeball. Which one fits your style? MAMBA WHEELS/M23 Mamba Wheels’ M23 is a unique six-spoke wheel built to handle any terrain and designed with a great look to match. It is offered in matte black with bronze face and gloss black with…

Pocketknives are an obsession of ours and we can’t seem to have enough. Folding knives are compact and useful tools as well as practical works of art. As one year ends and another one begins, there’s a flurry of new releases from knife makers. The collection of pocketknives that you see here are ones that caught our eye. Some are great for daily duty while others are suited for specialized uses. Regardless of which one you choose, you’ll have yourself a knife that can get the job done. 01. CRKT /RAZELCLIFFE COMPACT CLOSED LENGTH: 3.33” OPEN LENGTH: 5.25” BLADE LENGTH: 2.09" BLADE MATERIAL: 2Cr13 HANDLE MATERIAL: Stainless steel WEIGHT: 3.3 oz. MSRP: $40 crkt.com 02. GERBER /QUADRANT BAMBOO CLOSED LENGTH: 4” OPEN LENGTH: 6.75” BLADE LENGTH: 2.7" BLADE…

While purists complain about the modern looks, creature comforts, and electronic nannies of the new Land Rover Defender, there is a shop in Buffalo, New York, working hard to unlock the off-road potential of this new machine. Lucky8 Off Road has not only managed to squeeze 35-inch mud-terrains on 18-inch wheels under the big-motored new Defender, the first in the world to do so, but also upgraded the truck’s look and capabilities to help it meet the expectation of its nameplate. “LUCKY8 SET OUT TO BUILD A NEW DEFENDER THAT NOT ONLY WORKS BETTER OFF-ROAD THAN STOCK, BUT ALSO LOOKS BETTER, WHILE RETAINING ALL THE MODERN COMFORTS THAT YOU EXPECT OUT OF A LAND ROVER.” Lucky8 set out to build a new Defender that not only works better off-road than…

This ’05 Subaru Legacy GT Wagon has quite a story, and isn’t at all what it looks like at first glance. The ’05 GT Wagon is a sought-after model because it is the only year Subaru made a manual turbo wagon in Legacy trim for the U.S. market. Jonny Walker bought this superclean example in 2008. Initially, he planned to do some basic bolt-on mods in a street-style build that he could daily drive and take to car shows. As you can see, Walker’s plans changed drastically! Phase One: RHD Walker enjoyed his manual turbo wagon for about nine years before a crazy opportunity presented itself that led the car down the path you see today. In 2017 Walker found a full ’06 Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) right-hand-drive Legacy GT…

There’s no question that the off-road and overlanding industry is on a record trajectory. Look around your neighborhood and you’re bound to see at least a couple of off-road capable trucks, jeeps, and SUVs, if not more. As one may begin their search for a new set of tires, or to upgrade from stock, he/she may find there are many different options to choose from. The importance of having the proper set of tires equipped on your ride can’t be stressed enough. This is true of virtually all vehicles, but none more so than on off-road trucks, Jeeps, and SUVs. Combining a heavy load with uncivilized terrain can be a recipe for disaster if your vehicle can’t grip the ground. Depending on the season’s conditions and what type of usage…

Breaking into a new hobby or profession, especially when it’s out of the ordinary, can be a challenge. Sometimes you don’t know your life is changing until something or someone “reality checks” you and it switches your path forever. Amber Turner, a Suzuki Samurai owner, off-road-enthusiast-turned-welder, and King of the Hammers (KOH) racer, is familiar with life-altering changes. She’s forged a path toward career success via purchasing and working on her own 4x4. Turner’s metamorphosis started when she bought her ’88 Suzuki Samurai in 2012 and started modifying it. “Buying my Samurai was hands-down the best $500 I’ve ever spent,” she says. “Initially it was just a dream of being a modest off-roader that snowballed into an extremely rewarding career and a fiery passion for four-wheeling and the outdoors.” Outdoor…

After father Dennis Wolf died in 2014, his family knew they’d keep his cherished ’69 Ford Bronco. Wolf bought this Bronco new in 1968 and cherished it so much he even kept a carbon copy of the original order slip. Therefore, old iron has many stories to tell—this one included. Although Wolf’s Bronco sat for nearly 25 years (it was last registered in 1995), it was brought back to life by his family. As they slowly restored it, they had every intention to “just get it running again.” Little did they know this 51-year-old 4x4 would captivate many lives as it motored its way through the California and Nevada deserts during the 2020 Rebelle Rally. This Bronco stood out so much we jumped at the chance to feature this unique…

“BEING AN AVID OUTDOORSMAN WITH FUEL COURSING THROUGH HIS VEINS, IT ONLY SEEMS RIGHT THAT HE BUILD A TRUCK THAT COULD KEEP BOTH OF HIS ADDICTIONS FED.” For some, building and outfitting a truck to explore parts unknown is the definition of learning as you go. You may be familiar with the scenario: you buy and install a part on your vehicle only to find out that it wasn’t what you wanted after all. It happens to the best of us. For others, however, the learning curve is much less steep. Those who have been around the block a few times may still fall into the same predicament but their experience saves them from making many alterations to their original plans. Meet Derrick Oursler. He’s the owner of the fine…