Innholdsfortegnelse for January/February 2020 i TREAD

Change is good. Challenge makes us stronger. Never in a million years would one think going out to the middle of nowhere with people you barely know, just met, or simply chatted with online, would be a great idea. In fact, one that even created excitement. Well, the notion may seem outlandish to most, but to the like-minded, that’s normal. Once exposed, I realized I finally found a place where I belong. The silliness of the concept didn’t strike me as odd until someone said, “Kelly was madefor this. She just got done spending the weekend camping with strangers.” And you know what? That person was right. I wouldn’t have it any other way. When something just feels right, you know. And where that adventure lead me was here, writing…

O1. PLATYPUS/GRAVITYWORKS 4.0L SYSTEM Use gravity to your advantage when using this water filtering system. Gravityworks filters up to 1.75 liters a minute without any pumping. This high-capacity water filter is one of the easiest and quickest methods to filter water in the backcountry. The system has an 8-liter total filtered water capacity for any use you can think of including drinking, washing, cooking and cleaning. MSRP: $110 platy.com O2. TAKEYA/24 OZ ORIGINALS INSULATED WATER BOTTLE With a capacity of 24 ounces, the Takeya Originals bottle holds enough of your favorite beverage to keep you hydrated during any activity. It features a leak-proof Original Spout Lid for easy, controlled, one-handed drinking. Vehicle owners would also appreciate that the bottle fits in most cup holders as well. MSRP: $28…

This beautiful LX470 overland build showed up on our radar at the first-ever Toyo Trailpass event in Hood River, Oregon, this summer. It won our “Tread Editor’s Choice Award,” which earned it a place in this magazine. Chris Beavers built this ’05 Lexus LX470 over four months in early 2019. Owner Kevin Gordon reached out to his good friend Beavers to take his Land Cruiser to the next level. Beavers is a master Toyota mechanic, has a background in engineering and has been in the off-road industry for many years. His smart, detailed-oriented Overland builds, especially on the electrical front, are what earned him the job. “GORDON AND BEAVERS DESIGNED AND BUILT THIS LUXURY LAND CRUISER TO BE A COMFORTABLE DAILY DRIVER AND A BUG-OUT RIG THAT IS 24/7 READY…

Discovering who you are can happen on the road or when you least expect it. Planning an adventure trip can be rewarding and stressful at the same time, and things can quickly go awry when the unexpected happens. Case in point—our recent trip to Iceland. My husband, Andy, and I decided to do a nine-day Icelandic adventure trip. We planned to circumnavigate the country via a new ’19 Suzuki Jimny 4x4 as our transportation and our MSR Hubba Tour 3 ground tent as our shelter. We also brought along a condensed camp/mess kit. We planned this trip quickly, but packed supplies carefully. Although we didn’t know many areas to visit yet in this wild island nation, we knew the country was extremely scenic and beautiful. So, we packed up our…

First thing’s first A little prep goes a long way: Sounds obvious, but before disappearing into the hinterlands, tell someone where you’re headed, determine what’s nearby (firewood, water and local regulations) and gauge the distance to civilization on a detailed map. Uber-remote camping may warrant investing in a satellite communicator to send and receive texts with GPS coordinates worldwide (e.g. inReach). Tent TLC: Routinely protect your shelter with a waterproofing spray and air it out well after heavy rainfall to avoid moisture damage. Pack spare lanyard/guy lies, snow stakes and a repair kit. Ruck prep: All-terrain or winter tires on your 4WD’s sturdy wheels that work in conjunction with the suspension enhance capability through the technical terrain – making it safer. First aid: Keep it well stocked and in date…

Temperature Rating Temperature rating is a key factor for the winter as you’ll want a bag with a temperature rating lower than the coldest temperature that you think you’ll be in. It is often listed by the EN 13537 standard, which is decided through four parameters: upper limit, comfort, lower limit and extreme. Some manufacturers conduct their own tests and have their own standards for setting a temperature rating. The temperature rating should match your activity and type of camping you’ll be doing, such as backpacking through the woods, mountain climbing and car camping. Insulation Insulation, typically down or synthetic, is what keeps you warm at night. Both materials have pros and cons. Down insulation has a better warmth-to-weight ratio and packs lighter and smaller, but it is typically more…

Warmer-weather months are best for travelling, cruising and looking for adventure. As we enjoy the last transitional weeks of fall, it’s an opportunity to spend time on and off the road and be seen in your decked-out ride. A set of sharp-looking, strong and capable wheels can simultaneously help your rig stand out from the crowd and conquer new terrain. Let’s take a look at some of the latest wheels to hit the market. Which set would you choose? BLACK RHINO/SANDSTORM The Black Rhino Sandstorm RF wheel offers a rally-inspired sport wheel design to the Black Rhino wheels lineup. With a wide range of sizes and widths, the Sandstorm is compatible with a multitude of five-lug and six-lug trucks, SUV wheels and crossover wheels. The Ridge rotary forged wheel uses…

When one thinks of survival, a good bushcraft knife most likely comes to mind. Bushcraft, the art of wilderness survival, lends itself to camping, and the skills needed for both camping and survival lend themselves to a good bushcraft knife. Whether you’re out in the Alabama Hills or in the Appalachian Mountains, a good bushcraft knife can help you set up camp, start a fire and so much more. They are versatile and can be used for many tasks, such as wood carving. One can even attach it to a stick to form a spear. Bushcraft knives, needing to be sturdy, usually come with a full tang, meaning a strong, sharp blade that won’t easily break with heavy use. So check out these offerings of bushcraft knives and grab one…

We always thought crazy Icelandic 4x4s with an insane lift and massive balloon tires were a novelty—that they did exist but were rare. We were wrong. Almost immediately, we found ourselves staring at lifted Fords, tricked-out Land Cruisers, outfitted Rovers and even decked out Mitsubishis with super huge tires and internal quick inflation systems, some even with bull bars and snorkels. We met a pair of gents near an F road in Iceland’s interior (F roads are considered high clearance 4x4 roads) that had a great looking black Jeep CJ-7. This early 1980s rig has seen plenty of snow wheelin’ action. Although we could hardly speak to each other (they didn’t know much English and their accents were difficult to understand), they happily showed us photos of their rig tackling…

Picking the right tires for your ride is something that’s always on the minds auto and truck aficionados and gear-heads alike. With many using their trail rigs as everyday drivers, tire choice becomes more and more important. Fortunately, tire companies have been listening. Many of them have responded with more all-terrain tire options, as well as higher performance all-terrain and mud-terrain tires. If you need to get traction in the dirt, gravel, snow and rain, you’ll want to choose an all-season tire that’ll handle all sorts of environments and weather; if you are fortunate enough to have nicer weather year-round, you can choose from myriad other features that’ll make your ride smooth and comfortable. Whatever your preference, you can find an option to fit your need. Dig into this year’s…

THE VEHICLE IS OVER 1,000 POUNDS HEAVIER THAN STOCK Ensuring your vehicle is properly sprung for the amount of weight you carry is the most essential part of any after-market suspension setup for overlanders. High-performance off-road springs offering the last degree of available articulation might be great for a lightweight rock crawler, but for a build like my GX460 overland build where I’m carrying a lot of gear, they are not ideal. Things like heavy-duty front and rear bumpers, a winch, drawer system, roof rack, outdoor adventure gear, recovery gear and the ubiquitous 12V fridge filled with icy-cold craft beer are just a few of the things that come with me everywhere. The first thing to consider upgrading on any overland build is appropriate springs for the loaded weight of…

O1. WARN/TRANS4MER GRILLE GUARD FORD RANGER The third iteration of Warn Industries’ modular, versatile Trans4mer Mounting System is now available for the 2019 and newer Ford Ranger. They are constructed of heavy-gauge steel with a durable black powdercoated finish to protect against corrosion and work with all current WARN large and mid-frame winches. MSRP: $718.57 warn.com O2. FRONT RUNNER OUTFITTERS/SLIMLINE II JEEP JL The Jeep Wrangler JL Extreme Roof Rack Kit is shipped complete with foot rails, inner brackets, front bar RR mount and a Slimline II tray. Weighing a total of 86 pounds, the full kit allows for Jeep owners to open the windscreen and Freedom Panels without any interference. Enjoy the open freedoms of your Jeep without sacrificing weight or space for your friends to tag…

OVERALL LENGTH 121 inches OVERALL WIDTH 47 inches OVERALL HEIGHT 46 inches FUEL CAPACITY 12 gallons EST. DRY WEIGHT 477 pounds 1 PERFORMANCE ENGINE The Switchback PRO-S is powered by Liberty engines that feature class-leading power-to-weight ratios. It sets a new benchmark for ultimate performance. BRAKES The AXYS Radial disc brake will bring your sled to a stop. DRIVE The Switchback PRO-S uses a chaincase drive system with a P-85 drive clutch. 2 SUSPENSION/FRAME SUSPENSION The AXYS front suspension gives riders balanced control, while the PRO-XC rear suspension is lighter and stronger to give better performance and control. Pitch is controlled by the front torque arm, which also increases travel and improves rail profile. CHASSIS The AXYS chassis design delivers the rider balanced control through right rider positioning and centralized…

If you’re in the market for a handheld GPS or inReach upgrade, or want to get into the game of security when in remote surroundings, check out Garmin’s GPSMAP 66i handheld unit. It’s a backcountry tool that combines GPS capability with navigation, along with two-way satellite communication with worldwide coverage in a single product. Does it live up to its hotly anticipated expectation? Is it worth its $599.99 price tag? We examined the pros and cons of this unit as we took it to Iceland on a cross-country camping excursion. KEEPS YOU SATELLITE CONNECTED Same as Garmin’s other inReach units, the Garmin 66i operates on the Iridium satellite network. With a paid subscription, this device allows you to send and receive text messages and emails from virtually anywhere around the…

When most people think of Kansas, they don’t quite think of beautiful terrain and challenging trails; usually it is more of a Wizard of Oz-type of joke or tornado reference. However, those who have spent time in Jonathine Salas’s home state of Kansas know what it really has to offer—vast, open terrain with a variety of scenic options complementing a beautiful sunset basically every single night. While there may not be any mountains, oceans or large forests nearby, Salas could drive you a few hours in any direction from his home in Wichita, Kansas, and lead you to believe you have changed states. Don’t believe us? Come through town and hit him up. You will be in for a treat. With a strong passion for all things automotive, Salas’s interests…

For nearly a decade, my partner and I combined our childhood love for diving and photography—but it was time to hang up the fins and take pictures of the world above the waterline. We decided to embark on a bike trip from Antarctica to the Arctic. We sold our country cottage, pared down possessions to a few boxes and packed what we thought we’d need for such as adventure. We’ve lived a few trips, but this one took the prize—a life-changing, two-wheeled, four-year journey ensued. After some searching, I found Pearl, a factory-lowered ‘01 BMW F650 GS on eBay. I chose her because her color matched my helmet, much to Jason’s exasperation. He soon utilized Pearl as the pack mule and reserved his ‘08 BMW F800 GS for “tech” as…

One of the best benefits of having a fully dialed-in rig is that it can take you just about anywhere you want to go to do just about anything you want to do. With so many activities at your disposal, there’s bound to be a prodigious amount of gear that you and your truck will need to haul around to get it all done with. Winter sleeping bags are a big investment. Consider the time of year you’ll be using the sleeping bag the most to get your money’s worth. A traditional sleeping bag works well for the spring, summer and fall seasons, but a winter sleeping bag is specialized for the weather and activities in much colder weather. It is much nicer to be warmer than colder, as you…

In 1977, Bert Garrison Sr. ordered this beautiful Alpine White ’78 Jeep J20 from Hinkle’s Jeep Sales in Pickens, South Carolina—at the time, the largest Jeep dealer in the world. The order was for a long wheelbase, three-quarter ton, no frills work truck. The plan was for it to be used in a small home-hauling business before eventually getting a slide-in truck camper. Keeping It in the Family Bert Garrison Sr.’s son, Bert, got the keys to this family work horse when he got his driver’s license in 1977. Those early years for the younger Garrison were filled with fond memories in the J20, like going on his first date to the drive-in to see Star Wars. The truck was then used to drive between Greer, South Carolina, and The…

Storage space is a valued commodity when considering any vehicle-based activity. Having limited amounts of it means that one must be smart about what to pack. Items used for activities such as exploring, camping, tailgating or even the occasional bonfire gathering can quickly take up precious cargo space much quicker than anticipated. This is why we recommend investing in well-designed, compact equipment whenever possible. Compact and lightweight items can help you fit more into the confines of your vehicle’s storage holds as well as keep the overall weight of your haul down. We had the opportunity to use GSI Outdoors’ Glacier Stainless Base Camper Medium set of compact cookware on a recent outing. While we used the pots and pan on a camping stove, the robust set can also be…