TREAD May/June 2018

Spring is in the air, and summer is tailgating close behind it. Which trails and campsites have you visited so far this year? If you’re like us, we like to mix our experiences up between favorite spots that we’ve been going to for years and places that are unfamiliar and completely new to us. If your tires haven’t seen dirt yet, get to it! While we love everything about exploring the outdoors, the sights, the sounds, the smells, the adventure of it all, we do tend to gravitate to the vehicles that take us there and bring us back. In this issue, we check out not one, but two diesel-powered off-road trucks, which for us in the States is not as common as it should be. Chevrolet’s new for 2018…

01. ARB/LINX VEHICLE ACCESSORY INTERFACE Linx is a unique and revolutionary modern controller that declutters the dashboard and centralizes the command of a range of accessories such as driving lights, Air Lockers, dual batteries and air compressors. Built on an expandable platform, Linx will continue to evolve your on and off-road driving experience via its user friendly, Bluetooth enabled, touchscreen display. Find out more at whatislinx.com. MSRP: $695 arbusa.com 02. BDS SUSPENSION/HEAVY DUTY UPPER CONTROL ARMS BDS expands its listings of heavy duty upper control arms kits for popular IFS vehicles designed for improved strength, great looks and increased suspension travel on leveled and lifted trucks and SUVs. The arms are built from 1.5-inch OD x .120-wall tubing with an indexed ball joint cup to correct operating angle.…

Whether you’ve got yourself a new ride or are looking to refresh old reliable, the most dynamic way to do it is with some new shoes. New rims certainly add to the look of your truck, Jeep or SUV, but can also increase your vehicle’s on and off-road performance as well. Shod them with a quality set of tires and you’ll be conquering trails well past next season and beyond. We’ve gathered some of the newest wheels on the market to display here. Which design would you choose? FUEL OFF-ROAD/ VECTOR – D600 Fuel Off-Road prides themselves in their ability to provide off-road enthusiasts with the aesthetics and function they desire in a variety of fitments. The newly released Vector is an aggressive concave off-road wheel with a simulated beadlock…

01. UCO GEAR/STORMPROOF SWEETFIRE This is a new Stormproof version of UCO Gear’s popular and award winning Sweetfire Strikeable Fire Starter. Stormproof means that it will relight after being submerged in water. The advantage of the Sweetfire over a normal waterproof or stormproof match is that it includes tinder in the point. Light the point just like a match, and it will burn for 7 minutes to help you start a fire like the boss that you are. Always be prepared, especially when drenched! MSRP: $10 (for 20 pack) ucogear.com 02. MORAKNIV/MORA FISHING KNIFE MULTIPACK This Mora fishing knife set includes a 6.1-inch Fishing Comfort Fillet 155 knife, Fishing Comfort Scaler 098, and a fine (600) diamond sharpener from Morakniv. All Mora knives are made in Sweden and…

When our standard conveyance is a vehicle and not our feet, we tend to forget that weight is something we should be mindful of. Heavy loads can weigh down your vehicle making it unbalanced when roving over uneven terrain, especially when cargo weight is shifted around from the jostle of a rough ride. On top of that, extra weight leads to additional fuel burn, tire wear and mechanical wear and tear as well. The same is true when you’re hoofing it. When you park your ride and explore an area via boot, you want to keep your equipment as light as possible for the same reasons you want to keep your truck unburdened of excess weight. Less wear and tear on your body and a well-balanced pack will allow you…

BASED ON 2018 Yamaha XSR700 ENGINE Liquid-cooled, DOHC, 689cc Parallel Twin DRIVETRAIN Constant mesh 6-speed SUSPENSION Race Tech SEAT Custom vintage Yamaha Enduro -inspired leather seat TECH Facial recognition / Drone Mount 01 PERFORMANCE 01 Advics Monoblocks clamping 282mm front discs 02 Nissin rear breaks 03 Custom 25mm Compression / HFR Rebound Front Fork by Race Tech 04 G3-S Custom Rear Shocks by Race Tech 05 Custom Italian wheels with patented tubeless construction 02 ACCESSORIES 01 Custom leather 3/4 seat with under storage 02 Carbon fiber tank shroud 03 Modular rear carry rack 04 Aluminum bash guard 03 POWER 01 Liquid-cooled, DOHC, 689cc Parallel Twin Engine by Yamaha 02 Customized exhaust with carbon fiber by Yoshimura R&D 03 Constant mesh 6-speed; multiplate wet clutch 04 TECHNOLOGY 01 Facial recognition ignition…