Off-Road Archives - 国产吃瓜黑料 Online /tag/off-road/ Live Bravely Thu, 24 Apr 2025 15:35:04 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1 https://cdn.outsideonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/favicon-194x194-1.png Off-Road Archives - 国产吃瓜黑料 Online /tag/off-road/ 32 32 Craigslist Finds: Our Favorite 国产吃瓜黑料 Rig Classifieds this Month /outdoor-gear/cars-trucks/adventure-rig-classifieds/ Wed, 23 Apr 2025 23:00:38 +0000 /?p=2701427 Craigslist Finds: Our Favorite 国产吃瓜黑料 Rig Classifieds this Month

Everybody has a guilty pleasure. Mine is scrolling Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace for kitted-out trucks, vans, and campers.

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Craigslist Finds: Our Favorite 国产吃瓜黑料 Rig Classifieds this Month

I love gawking at cool 4x4s and campers, and I also love a good deal. I have a buddy who suffers from the same affliction, and we have a text thread going back several years that鈥檚 filled mainly with Craigslist links to cool vehicles we鈥檝e found online. This affinity for adventure rig classifieds is how I ended up with a 2006 Power Wagon a few years ago and how he scored a killer deal on an even rarer truck and camper. Mostly, though, surfing the web for adventure mobiles is just a fun way to pass the time when we鈥檙e bored.

So, in an attempt to do something useful with this goofy habit and put all that time spent scrolling to good work, I鈥檓 going to start highlighting some of the coolest rigs and best deals I鈥檝e found recently in an installment I鈥檓 calling 鈥淐raigslist Finds.鈥

Keep in mind that these things sell like hotcakes, so these exact listings may no longer be available by the time you鈥檙e reading this. The hope here is to provide some insight on what to look for and how to find a good deal on a rig.

Don’t miss: The Best Trailers, Campers, and Van Conversions of 2025


screenshot of a facebook marketplace listing for a 1998 toyota camroad aventure rig
(Photo: Courtesy Facebook)

There are all sorts of amazing rigs sold around the world that we never got in the United States, like the Mitsubishi Delica, 70-Series Landcruiser, and a whole host of JDM, or Japanese Domestic Market, campers sold only in Japan. Case in point, this 1998 Toyota Camroad 4WD.

The Camroad was based on a Toyota Toyoace truck chassis and sold by different Japanese manufacturers in the 鈥90s. This one, a Champ model, has a fiberglass camper affixed to the back of it and is about 16-feet-long and 6.5-feet-wide鈥攆or perspective, that鈥檚 shorter than many full-sized trucks and Sprinter vans on the market today. Japanese campers are renowned for their efficient use of space and excellent build quality, and this one certainly looks like it lives up to that.

interior of a 1998 toyota camroad 4wd
(Photo: Courtesy Facebook)

It has a pass-through cab, meaning you can access the camper portion of the vehicle without needing to go outside, and looks like it sleeps at least four (two above the cab and two on a convertible dinette). The seller鈥檚 description isn鈥檛 the most detailed, but from the looks of things, it鈥檚 very well-equipped with a shower and cassette toilet inside, a 20-gallon water tank, a microwave, and more.

Like all JDM vehicles, this one is right-hand drive, which may take a bit of getting used to but is legal to drive in the U.S. This rig has an automatic transmission, which makes things a bit easier, and is powered by Toyota鈥檚 legendary 3-liter diesel engine. It even has push-button four-wheel-drive.

Because it鈥檚 nearly 30 years old and was never sold in the U.S., it鈥檒l take the right kind of buyer to fully appreciate and enjoy this rig. But, if you鈥檙e into well-made, quirky adventure vehicles with four-wheel-drive capability and Toyota reliability, this could be a really cool choice.


a 2013 Sportsmobile, kitted up to be an adventure rig, found on Craiglist
(Photo: Courtesy Craigslist)

A Sportsmobile has always been an absolute dream rig in my mind. If you鈥檙e not familiar, the company has been making some of the most . The ones I鈥檝e always been most taken with are those built on the Ford E-Series platform鈥攖hey鈥檙e the old-school, boxy Ford van that was the predecessor to the modern-day Transit. Its truck-like, body-on-frame construction made it more suitable for off-road travel and all the modifications and accessories that go along with that, like suspension lifts, larger tires, steel bumpers, and winches.

These vans were never sold with four-wheel-drive from the factory, but a few companies, including Sportsmobile, , , and , converted them to four wheel drive, turning them into true adventure rigs. Sportsmobile is perhaps best known for their pop-top conversions, which allow for a ton of standing room and extra sleeping space when parked, but retain all the benefits of a low roof van on the highway.

inside of a 2013 Sportsmobile adventure rig
(Photo: Craigslist)

While cool, Sportsmobiles don鈥檛 come cheap鈥擣ord stopped selling E-Series cargo vans in 2014, so even and hold their value. You can sort of still buy from Field Van (formerly Sportsmobile West), who has created their own custom fiberglass body that fits on an E-Series cutaway chassis, but it鈥檒l cost you north of $200K.

screenshot of the original craigslist listing for a 2013 Sportsmobile
(Photo: Courtesy Craigslist)

All that to say, this particular Sportsmobile is actually a pretty good deal. It鈥檚 a 2013 (so one of the last years of the E-350) with a Quigley 4WD conversion, and it has the sought-after 6.8L, V-10 engine with only 40K original miles. Lots of folks think the diesel engines are the way to go in these vans, but the V-10 is nearly as powerful and costs significantly less to maintain鈥攜ou鈥檒l just be buying a lot of gas because the engine is not known for being efficient.

interior of a a 2013 Sportsmobile
(Photo: Courtesy Craigslist)

The seller says the van鈥檚 interior was updated in 2018 by Field Van (formerly Sportsmobile West) and now has a quartz countertop with an induction cooktop. There鈥檚 also 200 watts of solar panels on the roof and four AGM batteries. Should those run out, it also comes with a Yamaha generator.

It鈥檚 loaded with extras like an onboard air compressor, front and rear, heavy-duty bumpers, an outdoor shower, and one of the cleanest interiors I鈥檝e seen in a long time. I鈥檓 a big fan of the floorplan on this one, too, which gives you more seating in the back and space to walk though to the back of the van. All in all, it鈥檚 about as drool-worthy as it gets.


screenshot of an adventure rig classified on Craigslist for a Ford F-250 with camper
(Photo: Courtesy Craigslist)

This one is the most turnkey of the three vehicles, and a killer option for anyone looking for a true go-anywhere, haul-anything adventure rig. The Ford F-250 is a very popular truck for hauling a camper and doing serious work, and this particular one has two of the best options available for the model: the . The 7.3L V-8 puts out 430 horsepower and 475-pound-feet of torque and is a great alternative to a diesel engine, both for the lower maintenance costs associated with it and because regular unleaded is easier to find while traveling internationally. It鈥檚 also designed to be an exceptionally long-lived engine, so 76,000 miles shouldn鈥檛 scare anyone off.

The means the truck gets a slight lift, a locking rear differential, Ford鈥檚 Trail Control drive mode selector, a special rock crawling mode, and 35-inch tires. The seller also installed an onboard air compressor for quickly airing up those big tires.

interior of a ford f-250 taken for an adventure rig classified
(Photo: Courtesy Craigslist)

The model鈥檚 max payload is 4,210 pounds, which means it likely doesn鈥檛 even know that camper is in the bed. As for the camper, this Four Wheel Campers Hawk looks to be a fully loaded, front-dinette model. It sleeps four, and the seller says it has every option available, including an 85L Isotherm fridge, a Thetford cassette toilet, inside and outside showers, 230 watts of solar on top, and Victron charging components, among other things.

interior of a hawk truck camper attached to a Ford F-250
(Photo: Courtesy Craigslist)

If I were looking for a slightly used three-quarter-ton truck and slide-in camper combo, this rig has just about everything I鈥檇 be looking for. You鈥檙e getting a lot of value here, too, considering a new F-250 Tremor and a new, would be north of $40K.


More Gear Reviews

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How Rugged Is the New Honda Passport? I Drove One Through the Jungle to Find Out. /outdoor-gear/cars-trucks/honda-passport-trailsport-review/ Wed, 23 Apr 2025 16:35:31 +0000 /?p=2701599 How Rugged Is the New Honda Passport? I Drove One Through the Jungle to Find Out.

Honda鈥檚 new mid-sized SUV is built for weekend warriors with off-road aspirations

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How Rugged Is the New Honda Passport? I Drove One Through the Jungle to Find Out.

I鈥檓 driving a brand-new through the jungle of Puerto Rico, and I have the vehicle at such an awkward angle that one of my tires is hanging in the air. The rock obstacle I鈥檓 traversing on this particular four-wheel-drive trail is steep and off-camber, forcing the nose of the SUV down and the back right wheel to completely abandon the ground. I鈥檓 a 鈥渇our tires on the ground鈥 kind of driver, so I panic about how expensive rolling this vehicle will be. It still has that new car smell. I also think about the location of the nearest hospital. Typically in this situation, reason would take over and I would let off the gas, roll backward, and attack the obstacle at a safer angle, but a voice coming through my walkie-talkie tells me to trust the vehicle and apply steady pressure to the gas.

Watch: Test Driving the 2026 Honda Passport Trailsport SUV

I do what I鈥檓 told, powering through the rock slab (and my discomfort) only to come down smooth and safe on the other side. This is the beauty of the new Honda Passport Trailsport: Like a finely tuned full-suspension mountain bike, it irons out difficult terrain, making off-road trails more approachable for the masses.

This little debacle is part of my two-day test drive of the 2026 Passport Trailsport in Puerto Rico, where I had the opportunity to drive the mid-sized SUV over a variety of terrain, from winding two-lane roads to deep sandy beaches to an off-road course through the jungle designed to show off the vehicle鈥檚 adventure prowess. Honda is hoping the Passport Trailsport will win over hardcore fans of the Toyota 4Runner and Jeep Cherokee, and to be honest, the car made a hell of a first impression. Its rugged exterior, comfortable ride, and user-friendly off-road capabilities certainly won me over.


2026 Honda Trailsport Passport Specifications

a white 2026 Honda Trailsport Passport on the beach in Puerto Rico, where we took it as part of our review
(Photo: Graham Averill)

Price: Starts at $48,450
Power: 285 horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 engine
Transmission: 10-speed automatic with paddle shifters
MPG: 18 city/23 highway


I am not a rabid off-road enthusiast. I don鈥檛 spend my weekends rock crawling through the desert, and my expendable income isn鈥檛 earmarked for after-market skid plates and suspension kits. But I do appreciate what a four-wheel-drive vehicle allows me to do. I鈥檝e driven open-aired ATVs on multi-day tours across Utah and Nevada, and spent countless nights camping out of the back of four-wheel-drive vehicles. I鈥檝e owned Jeep Cherokees, Toyota 4Runners, and Nissan Pathfinders. I currently drive an F-150 with an FX4 off-road package that includes a lift and enhanced suspension.

I鈥檝e liked all of these vehicles because they can get me deeper into the backcountry while carrying the gear I need. I like to camp deep in the forest away from the crowds, so I need a vehicle that can handle rough trails. But the truth is, I mostly use my truck for running errands on paved roads around town.

In short, I am the target audience for the new Honda Passport Trailsport鈥攕omeone who spends 90 percent of my drive time on paved roads, but occasionally wants an SUV that can handle snow, beach driving, and four-wheel-drive trails. Honda鈥檚 Trailsport development team says it was designed to be a daily driver that doubles as a gear hauler and off-road workhorse. Honda is touting the Passport Trailsport as their most capable off-road vehicle to date. It鈥檚 also damn pretty to look at and a super comfortable ride.

Off-Road Performance

Honda gave the Trailsport plenty of power with a standard V-6 engine and enhanced off-road capability with a new front and rear suspension system with increased lateral stiffness and forged-steel arms; the all-wheel-drive system also boasts 40 percent more torque than previous models. The Trailsport also has 8.4 inches of clearance, about a quarter inch more than the previous model, that鈥檚 maximized by a front overhang that is set back to increase clearance on steep terrain. The undercarriage has beefy protection from ground contact thanks to steel-armored plates protecting the fuel tank, transmission, and oil pan. Wide, 18-inch all-terrain tires (the biggest tires Honda has ever used on an SUV) and front and rear recovery hooks round out the standard off-road package.

I drove this vehicle across terrain that I normally would not attempt in any of the four-wheel-drive vehicles I have owned in the past, navigating a jungle course and trails through rock, off-camber angles, steep ascents and descents, and deep sand, all of which tested my own off-road skills. I think I was cantilevered with a wheel in the air more often during my two-hour jungle drive than in my entire adult life. And the Trailsport not only outperformed my expectations, but did so in total comfort, and with a user interface that is intuitive, even if you don鈥檛 have much experience driving off-road.

Simply use a button to choose which off-road mode you want (Trail, Sand, Snow, Mud), all of which calibrate the suspension and torque based on the conditions. For instance, if you鈥檙e in Trail Mode, which is the general four-wheel-drive setting, and you lose contact with the ground on one or more tires, 75 percent of the torque will be sent to the wheels that are still in contact with the ground; the system maintains 25 percent of potential torque on the airborne wheels, so there鈥檚 an immediate transfer of power once ground contact is regained. This is what allows you to carefully throttle through certain obstacles.

close-up of the grille of a a white 2026 Honda Trailsport Passport
(Photo: Graham Averill)

And while you鈥檙e in Trail Mode, the Trail Watch camera system is activated on the 12.5-inch touch screen, engaging four cameras so you have a complete view of what鈥檚 around your vehicle while you鈥檙e navigating the trail. This enhanced view gives uneasy drivers more confidence that they鈥檙e keeping their vehicle safely on the trail and allows them to see obstacles that might be hidden from their natural point of view. Gauges on the dash track your elevation, pitch, and rollover status on the driver display so you can keep an eye on key factors that keep you safe in rough terrain.

I also really liked the Downhill Descent feature: Click a button on super steep terrain and the Trailsport goes into 鈥渁utopilot,鈥 maintaining your speed on the downhill. A similar Brake Stop feature will keep you from sliding backwards on steep ascents.

None of this is ground-breaking technology, but the fact that it all comes standard in the Passport Trailsport is incredibly enticing, especially to a casual off-road enthusiast who isn鈥檛 quite sure what features he/she should add on to their purchase.

On-Road Comfort

That鈥檚 not to say the Trailsport is only an off-road workhorse. The truth is, most people that buy this SUV won鈥檛 test its limits the way I did in Puerto Rico. It is an easy, comfortable car to drive, whether you鈥檙e heading deep into the desert or taking kids to their Saturday soccer game. The cabin is plush, with synthetic leather seats that wipe clean, a panoramic roof that comes standard, and lots of easy-to-navigate tech with a large touchscreen as the infotainment hub. The seats are heated and there鈥檚 even a built-in wireless phone charger in the front console.

Cargo space is off the charts, too, thanks to the almost 84-cubic-feet of hauling space when the second row seats are folded down. That means you can fit two adult mountain bikes inside the vehicle. There鈥檚 also under-floor-storage that holds a spare, and is big enough for folded camping chairs or other camping gear even with the spare stored inside. Large side storage bins add dedicated spots for smaller items too. Even the cupholders between the two front seats are big鈥攍arge enough to fit 32-ounce Nalgene and Hydroflask bottles.

One of my favorite details is that every model of the Passport Trailsport comes standard with all-season rubber floor mats, which is typically my first purchase after I get a vehicle.

国产吃瓜黑料 Ready

Honda also created a new line of accessories that can be added at the factory or dealership, giving you a handful of packages that enhance certain aspects of the vehicle. There鈥檚 a Pet Package that includes seat covers and a separation barrier, and a Tow Package that adds a trailer hitch, hitch harness, and ball mount. My favorite is the Trailsport 国产吃瓜黑料 Package, which includes a platform roof rack, Molle storage panels in the trunk, a rear LED cargo light, and a cargo shelf that increases the hauling capacity in the trunk and can be converted into a picnic table with the screw-on legs that are stored next to the spare tire.

a white 2026 Honda Trailsport Passport parked on a grassy incline with a view of the coast behind it
(Photo: Graham Averill)

Another cool detail that won me over: There鈥檚 a garnish on the tail end of the roof that鈥檚 made of a resin material that allows you to lean skis or fly rods against the vehicle without scratching the body.

Final Thoughts on the Honda Passport Trailsport

Honda built the Trailsport to compete with the Toyota 4Runner, in hopes of gaining some die-hard 4Runner fans with its combination of off-road prowess and top-of-the-line styling. Normally, I鈥檇 say there is no chance that a new SUV would win the hearts of 4Runner devotees because of their cult-like enthusiasm for that rig (I say that as a card-carrying cult member myself). But I know that a lot of 4Runner fans are upset that Toyota has abandoned the V-6 for a 4-cylinder turbo engine, so I think there鈥檚 a window for Honda to pick up some ground in the mid-sized SUV category.

My two-day test drive of the Passport Trailsport was a winning experience, and if I were in the market for a new SUV, this would be at the top of my list. But the Trailsport is not perfect, at least not for my personal requirements. First and foremost, Honda is not producing a hybrid version of the Passport Trailsport. I want my vehicle to do three things: take me into the backcountry, carry my gear, and do as little environmental damage as possible. Hybrids and electric vehicles aren鈥檛 a silver bullet, but I do believe they鈥檙e a step in the right direction, and I think my next vehicle will be a hybrid (if not fully electric). That鈥檚 a personal preference, and I鈥檓 sure many will disagree with me in the comments.

Another thing to consider: the Passport Trailsport only has two rows of seats. This is less of an issue for me now that my kids are driving their own vehicles, but I know plenty of people who simply will not buy an SUV that doesn鈥檛 have third-row-seating. That鈥檚 a non-starter for them.

But the Honda Passport Trailsport is a badass vehicle. It will take you deep into the backcountry, handling a variety of terrain along the way. And with its superior cargo space and smart accessories, it will carry the gear you want to use once you reach your destination. And isn鈥檛 that exactly what we all want from an off-road vehicle?


More Gear Reviews

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When Did Overlanding Rigs Get Out of Control? /outdoor-gear/cars-trucks/opinion-luxurious-overlanding-campers-trailers/ Fri, 21 Mar 2025 12:00:58 +0000 /?p=2699047 When Did Overlanding Rigs Get Out of Control?

A plea to the overland industry: Focus on simplicity and durability, not luxury and overly complicated rigs.

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When Did Overlanding Rigs Get Out of Control?

Overlanding seems to have become all about creating the most ultra-luxurious or ultra-accessorized rig possible. If I鈥檝e learned one thing in all the camper and trailer testing I鈥檝e done, it鈥檚 simpler is better. Less stuff to break means more time having fun outside.

People spend stupid amounts of money building adventure rigs, and pour tons of their own time and energy into creating luxurious mobile dwellings for themselves. They鈥檙e effectively creating an AirBnB on wheels, and I fear they鈥檙e missing the point of why they got into it in the first place鈥攜ou know, to go camping.

Attend an Overland Expo show these days, or arrive at a popular dispersed camping area like Moab, Utah or Fruita, Colorado, and you鈥檒l see what I鈥檓 talking about. In a capitalist society that values consumption, and at a time where we鈥檙e constantly fed a barrage of content designed to make us want to buy things, it鈥檚 easy to get sucked into the whirlpool of wanting more.

The point of overlanding, to me at least, is to use a vehicle to better enable human-powered adventures and make camping a little easier and more comfortable. We鈥檝e now gotten to a point where ease and comfort have morphed into luxury and excess, and it鈥檚 time to take a hard look at that.

“The Most Advanced Systems and Premium Components Money Can Buy”

Before I go any further, I want to make clear that I鈥檓 guilty of this too鈥攈ell, I write about campers and trailers for a living. My wife and I ended up with our most recent adventure rig, a 19-foot Airstream trailer, because we kept seeking out more and more amenities in a camper. Like a lot of folks, we wanted something that would make boondocking more comfortable during longer trips鈥攁nd the Airstream had all the bells and whistles, like a three-burner stove, an oven, a toilet and shower with hot water, A/C, and more.

Watch: Bryan Rogala’s DIY Truck Camper

This weekend, my wife and I went camping with friends at a gorgeous, off the beaten path state park near White Sands National Park. The campground is pretty standard, consisting of a couple of paved loops with a few tent sites and some with water and electric hookups. Our neighbors were some folks camped in a built on an industrial, military truck chassis with huge, mud-terrain tires that was clearly purpose-built for off-road exploration.

There鈥檚 an abundance of awesome dispersed camping in the area, and we couldn鈥檛 help but wonder why anybody who owned a nearly half-million-dollar expedition rig designed to stay off the grid for extended periods of time鈥攃omplete with its own water-filtration system鈥攚ould stay on a paved campground loop in a state park, or use the campground bathroom when I can guarantee you the one inside that vehicle was nicer. But hey, at least they rode their dirt bikes to the bathroom each morning.

Redtail Skyloft Van parked at dusk at dispersed campsite
The Redtail Skyloft Van combines a rugged off-grid systems with luxuries like heated floors and bathroom, a lofted “penthouse,” and full galley kitchen. (Photo: Courtesy Redtail Overland)

When I see rigs like selling for over $530,000 fully kitted out with features like heated floors and a full bathroom, a 14KW lithium battery system, 70 gallons of water capacity, and 鈥渢he most advanced systems and premium components money can buy or skilled hands can craft,鈥 I can鈥檛 help but wonder what happens when one of those systems fails on the road.

Interior of Redtail Skyloft Van
The Skyloft Van moves the bedroom to the pop-top “penthouse,” leaving room for a “dining lounge” in the rear of the van. (Photo: Courtesy Redtail Overland)

I鈥檝e witnessed water tanks leaking and pumps failing in fancy Sprinter conversions, and stood in the booth of a major overland trailer manufacturer at Overland Expo West as customer after customer came up to complain about cabinets falling off the walls, tank sensors failing, suspension components breaking, and more.

Is There No Middle Ground?

Rather than make campers and trailers that are as high tech and comfortable as possible, I want to see more manufacturers focus on simplicity and durability鈥攁fter all, we already have the RV industry if we want cheaply-built 鈥渓uxurious鈥 rigs. It鈥檚 as if there鈥檚 no middle ground in the camper and trailer space these days鈥攜ou either have to spend huge sums of money in the overland space to get something that鈥檚 truly well-built and won鈥檛 rattle apart on you, or you have to buy a cheap RV and cross your fingers.

To me, 鈥渙verlanding鈥 has always been more akin to car camping than extended, off-road journeys. It鈥檚 about having a rig capable enough to reach remote campsites without worry, and one that provides at least a bit more comfort during your stay than a traditional tent setup (especially in bad weather). That way, you can stay longer, sleep and eat better, and have more fun doing the other activities鈥攍ike biking, hunting, fishing, etc.鈥攜ou鈥檝e traveled for in the first place.

The Skyloft Van is obviously an extreme example, but if you take a walk around an show, it feels like the whole industry is shifting towards luxury and complication and away from its sleeping-in-the-back-of-a-Land-Cruiser roots. Even traditional RV brands like have gotten into the overland game in recent years with the series of trailers.

While I fully support the notion of an RV being built for off-pavement use, I sometimes wonder what the point is of spending $120K on a trailer with features like a pass-thru slide out kitchen, on-demand hot water, ducted heating, and a tablet that remotely controls every system on the trailer. When you zoom out a bit, the whole point of a trailer, especially an 鈥渙verland鈥 trailer, is to go camping and spend time outside.

While all those luxuries will make you more comfortable, I鈥檇 bet a lot of money you still won鈥檛 be as comfortable as you would in a nice Airbnb or fancy hotel room somewhere.

Let鈥檚 say . You could book 480 nights in an Airbnb for the price of that $120K camper. If you camp a lot, say 50 nights a year, it鈥檇 take you 9.6 years of Airbnb stays to break even. That鈥檚 a lot of vacations.

Keep It Simple (and Functional)

My point isn鈥檛 to chastise anyone for having a lot of money to spend on a camper, or to suggest we should all just toughen up and sleep in a bivvy; it鈥檚 to remind folks, and the overland industry at large, that the goal of this hobby is to get outside and go camping, and that oftentimes unnecessary luxuries can get in the way of that. You can make camping extremely comfortable while still keeping things simple, after all.

Rather than overcomplicated rigs with fancy systems and every amenity under the sun, I鈥檇 like to see the overland industry and camper manufacturers focus on building simple, durable rigs with an emphasis on reliability and quality.

Give me an insulated box鈥攚ith some lights, a heater, a basic hand-pump sink, and a Goal Zero for charging things鈥攖hat鈥檚 able to withstand washboard roads and light off-roading than a luxury apartment on wheels with leather-wrapped dinette cushions and a washer and dryer (seriously). After all, nobody will care how warm the in-floor hydronic radiant heat system keeps their feet in the morning if it quits working after a year or needs constant maintenance to keep running.

I鈥檇 rather have a rig that鈥檚 easy to deal with, requires minimal maintenance, and enables my other hobbies and passions versus an overcomplicated Airbnb on wheels that in itself becomes an all-consuming hobby to maintain.


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Scout, Four Wheel, and Supertramp Campers Release New Rigs that Set the Bar for Truck Campers /outdoor-gear/cars-trucks/scout-fourwheel-supertramp-campers-preview/ Fri, 28 Feb 2025 21:15:11 +0000 /?p=2697817 Scout, Four Wheel, and Supertramp Campers Release New Rigs that Set the Bar for Truck Campers

Three new models add even more appeal to one of the most popular type of campers

The post Scout, Four Wheel, and Supertramp Campers Release New Rigs that Set the Bar for Truck Campers appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

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Scout, Four Wheel, and Supertramp Campers Release New Rigs that Set the Bar for Truck Campers

Truck campers are some of the most popular rigs for outdoorsy folks, for good reason. They鈥檙e designed to slide into or sit on top of just about any truck bed, are relatively simple, and can go anywhere a pickup can haul them.

So far this year we鈥檝e seen the release of three new truck camper models from established manufacturers that have us even more excited about the category than usual. Those include the new series from Four Wheel Campers, Scout Campers鈥 , and Supertramp Campers鈥 new . While we haven鈥檛 had a chance to test these new campers just yet, here鈥檚 a quick breakdown of each.

Also check out: Our Favorite Campers and Trailers of 2024


Four Wheel Campers CampOut camper on truck bed
(Photo: Courtesy Four Wheel Campers)

(from $25,995)

The CampOut is the first new model from Four Wheel Campers since they launched the in 2019. Instead of preset interiors, the CampOut is completely modular, allowing customers to take an 脿 la carte approach to designing their own interior and only adding 鈥渕odules鈥 they think they鈥檒l need, rather than being stuck with things they don鈥檛 want.

Taking a cue from some of the newer camper companies on the market, like and , Four Wheels has also updated the look of the interiors: all the cabinetry is now made from extruded aluminum framing with black composite paneling and has bamboo countertops. It鈥檚 much more overlandy and modern feeling than their old interiors.

Four Wheel Campers CampOut camper interior
The build of the CampOut is completely modular, allowing you to choose the components that best work for you. (Photo: Courtesy Four Wheel Campers)

Standard features include a power module with one lithium battery, a modern 12v power system with USB outlets, a DC port for a Starlink Mini, lighting throughout, a queen-sized bed, exterior L track, a utility module with internal and external storage, and more. That gives you a great starting point that鈥檒l work right out of the gate, but you then have the option of adding additional accessories, like a Truma furnace or portable two-burner stove, and additional modules to outfit the camper to your liking.

What鈥檚 cool about this approach is that you can mix and match different modules and layouts, creating what鈥檚 close to a custom camper. Already have a stove and a fridge? No problem, just use the ones you鈥檝e got. Need more floorspace? Keep the open layout of the standard model.

My take: Four Wheel Campers is a legendary truck camper manufacturer whose products have stood the test of time, but the propels them into the modern era and will appeal to a lot of younger buyers. If I were buying a model from Four Wheel Campers, this is the one I鈥檇 buy, probably opting to keep it as simple and lightweight as possible.


Scout Campers Pop Up camper
(Photo: Courtesy Scout Campers)

(from $29,990)

In many ways, the CampOut is an answer to Scout鈥檚 Pop Up series of campers, the first of which launched last summer. Originally known for their very popular, made from composite panels, Scout entered the pop-up game last year with their Yoho Pop-Up, and just launched its bigger brother, the Olympic Pop Up, on February 19.

Scout carried over the modular mindset of their hard-sided campers for the popup versions and kept the focus on simplicity and usability. The Olympic Pop Up is designed to fit full-sized trucks, like the Ford F-150 or Toyota Tundra, with a 5.5-foot-plus, and will very likely be their most popular model based on the number of those trucks on the road.

Scout Campers Pop Up interior
Scout Campers’ new Pop Up features panoramic windows, multiple color schemes available, bamboo countertops, and resin-reinforced, recycled paper chemistry. (Photo: Courtesy Scout Campers)

Given their history with hard-sided campers, they chose to team up with the pop-up experts at when it came to designing the tent walls. They came up with their own, patent-pending lift mechanism for the pop-top, as well, which looks to be located on the sides of the camper versus the front and back like most other pop-ups. I鈥檒l be curious to see how this works in practice.

The interior looks gorgeous, with panoramic windows, multiple color schemes available, bamboo countertops, and resin-reinforced, recycled paper cabinetry. Notable standard features include two solar panels and a 127-amp hour lithium battery, USB charge ports throughout, a dinette that converts to a bed for sleeping up to four people, and more.

My take: Scout has infused all of the simplicity and quality people love about their hard-sided campers into these pop-up versions. Buy a hard-sided version if you want to save a bit of money or plan to camp in bad (or cold) weather often. Buy the pop-up if you value fuel efficiency and maneuverability, want to park in a garage, or prefer the look.


Supertramp Campers Flagship HT camper

(from $65,975)

The latest launch comes from Golden, Colorado-based . Their Flagship LT (Lift Top), introduced in 2021, has long been one of my favorite slide-ins for its roomy interior, gorgeous design, high-end components, and durable composite construction. The new Flagship HT (Hard Top) takes everything people love about the LT and replaces the soft-sided pop-top with a hard-top.

Interior of Supertramp Campers Flagship HT model
The Flagship HT camper features more storage cabinets and a Molle gear wall that give the camper a total of 38 cubic feet of storage. (Photo: Courtesy Supertramp Campers)

The base of the camper is the same as the LT, but adding hard sides means the HT is better insulated since the 2-inch thick composite walls now extend all the way to the ceiling. Those walls also allowed Supertramp to add more storage to the HT, including cabinets and a Molle gear wall that give the camper a total of 38 cubic feet of storage. There鈥檚 also a storage compartment under the queen-sized bed, which is an incredibly rare feature in a hard-sided camper.

It鈥檒l fit in any full-sized truck with a 6.5-foot or 8-foot bed, and surprisingly, the HT only weighs 50 pounds more than the pop-up LT. It has a dry weight of 1,400 pounds to 1,750 pounds depending on options, which is all thanks to the camper鈥檚 vacuum-infused, one-piece composite construction. That makes for a lightweight, yet extremely durable rig. I鈥檓 a big fan of composite campers for the aforementioned benefits, and the fact that there鈥檚 no wood to rot over time.

Interior of Supertramp Campers Flagship HT model
Six large windows and 6’6” of interior standing height make the Flagship HT model feel big, bright, and airy inside. (Photo: Courtesy Supertramp Campers)

I really like that Supertramp kept the interior as open and airy as possible by including six large windows. You still get 360-degree views when you want them, and with 6鈥6鈥 of interior standing height, it looks a lot brighter and more open than other hard-sided campers on the market.

My take: makes a premium product that comes with a premium price tag. In my book, their Flagship LT has been one of the best pop-up truck campers available since its launch, and I have no doubt the Flagship HT will be a big hit for anyone who wants the benefits of hard walls.

I’m excited about each of these new campers and hope to spend some time in them later this year for proper testing.

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The Most Popular All-Terrain Tire Just Got Better /outdoor-gear/cars-trucks/bfgoodrich-ko3-all-terrain-tire/ Thu, 02 Jan 2025 11:00:25 +0000 /?p=2692674 The Most Popular All-Terrain Tire Just Got Better

Meet the BFGoodrich KO3. Here鈥檚 what you need to know.

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The Most Popular All-Terrain Tire Just Got Better

Next time you drive anywhere鈥攖o work, school, your local ski area鈥攃heck the tires on the vehicles around you and more than likely you鈥檒l see a set of BFGoodrich KO2 all-terrains (ATs) rolling by. Long loved for their performance and looks, the KO2 is the most ubiquitous all-terrain tire on the market, and for good reason.

Made to perform well in all conditions the KO2 has helped thousands of drivers plow through snow, mud, and sand on the way to their next adventures. Here at 国产吃瓜黑料 we鈥檝e hammered home many times that a quality tire is the most important upgrade you can make for off-road performance, and we鈥檝e always rated the KO2 as a good investment.

After 10 years of KO2 popularity, BFG , which moves the tire forward in several ways. I鈥檝e been testing the tires for months on my 2024 Tundra in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and also had the chance to drive them during an off-road adventure in Alaska. I鈥檝e been impressed with the performance over thousands of miles of pavement and every off-road condition imaginable. Whether tearing up muddy roads, crawling up high-clearance 4×4 routes, trying to park my car in deep snow banks, or cruising freeways at 75 mph, the KO3 has always felt like a good choice.

To learn how the BFG engineers took an already top-performing tire like the KO2 and made it even better, I sat down with two people who were instrumental in the design and launch of the BFGoodrich KO3鈥擝randon Sturgis, BFG鈥檚 global product manager, and Jon Jewell, one of the company鈥檚 product design and industrialization engineers. Sturgis and Jewell started the conversation by listing all the spots where they wanted to see improvement: wear, road noise, and performance on gravel, snow, mud, and wet spots.

Improved Durability

Better wear was a key focus for two reasons. First, the BFGoodrich KO3s are expensive so buyers want their investment to last. Second, KO3 buyers use the tires hard and don鈥檛 want them to fail because of uneven or fast wear. BFG made the KO3 15 percent more durable than the KO2 by using a new rubber compound and packing the lugs closer together to create a denser contact patch where they meet the road. The rubber compound is formulated for supposed to be better at absorbing the contact from the road, which creates less wear, and the denser contact patch reduces the stress on the individual lugs.

The KO3 comes with the same 50,000-mile warranty as the KO2, but thanks to the more durable build, the KO3 is rated for today鈥檚 increasingly powerful trucks and SUVs that put extra wear on tires鈥攍ike my Tundra.

With the explosion of overlanding in the U.S. and across the world, BFG saw that the KO2s were spending increased time on rough dirt roads. For the KO3s they wanted to cut down on what鈥檚 called 鈥渃hip and tear,鈥 where parts of the lugs get sliced by the gravel and eventually tear away, reducing the tire鈥檚 effectiveness and longevity. BFG鈥檚 new KO3 rubber compound allows for increased elastic deformation in the lugs so that they can conform to gravel in the road instead of getting shredded. The lug pattern is also designed so that no one individual lug takes a particular beating鈥攁ll the grouped lugs on each section of the tire work together to absorb the impact.

Sidewall durability is important on an all-terrain tire because sidewall punctures are pretty much impossible to repair. To ensure drivers don鈥檛 get stranded with the KO3, BFG built an extra-burly sidewall into the tire that uses technology from their Baja T/A KR line of tires that are used on high-powered, off-road race vehicles.

BFGoodrich KO3 tread closeup
(Photo: Drew Martin)

More Versatile Performance

Those of us who love to ski, or just enjoy exploring in winter, will be happy to hear that the KO3 improves snow traction thanks to a new sipe design. Sipes are the slits in the lugs that open as the tire makes contact with the ground, allowing the lug to bite into the snow. The sipes on the KO3 go the full depth of the lug, creating a large bite. Inside the sipe there鈥檚 an egg carton-like structure that keeps the two sides of the lug from deforming when it hits the road, enabling a better bite and more even wear that allows the lugs to last longer.

鈥淲e wanted to make sure we created a tire that performed just as well in the Texas summer as it does in the Canadian winter,鈥 Jewell said.

BFG makes a tire called the KM3 that鈥檚 designed specifically to excel in mud, but the multiple-use KO3 does amazingly well鈥攕omething I saw as we powered through puddles in Alaska. That鈥檚 thanks to a more aggressive lug pattern on the side of the tire and mud-phobic bars between the lugs that help release the suction that builds up when mud gets pushed in between the lugs so that it can fall out and the lugs can go back to biting into new mud down the road.

To ensure the KO3s stay planted on wet pavement, the lug pattern was designed to push water out of the way when the rubber meets the road. The new rubber compound, along with the sipes, also help create grip so that you can cruise down the freeway safely, rain or shine.

BFGoodrich KO3 tires churning through mud
(Photo: Drew Martin)

Reduced Road Noise

Since most drivers spend the majority of their time on pavement and don鈥檛 want to listen to a constant hum, BFG engineers created a pattern where not all the lugs hit at the same time, designed lugs that give off variable pitches, which creates a less ferocious noise, and tuned some lugs to cancel each other鈥檚 noise out. In my testing, I found the tires are louder than a regular street tire, but not by much.

All of this engineering takes time, of course, and Sturgis said BFG first started developing the KO3 back in 2015. The KO03 also builds on the 10-year run of the KO2, and the 15 year run of the original KO before that.

BFG tested the KO3 for years before launching. The ultimate test comes when they sling their tires on buggies and trucks running the Score Baja 500 and the Baja 1000鈥攖wo of the world鈥檚 most famous off-road races. They鈥檝e had a lot of success: Over the years BFG-equipped vehicles have won 35 Baja 500s and 343 Baja 1000s. The KO3s were used on the Baja Challenge 1000-winning buggies that won the 2022 San Felipe 250 and the 2023 Baja 1000. 2021, 2022, and 2023 Baja 1000 races.

I didn鈥檛 get to ask Jewell and Sturgis about when BFG plans to launch the KO4, or whatever iteration of the all-terrain tire they have up their sleeves next. They both, however, hinted that, as product people, they鈥檙e always watching how the current product is performing, then weighing that with the development of vehicles and how people want to adventure.

鈥淚 can tell you that ideation never stops, and at BFG we think there is no reason to not apply what we鈥檝e learned as soon as we can,鈥 Jewell said.

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3 Easy Fixes to Make Your Crossover Vehicle More Off-Road Capable /outdoor-gear/cars-trucks/rav4-off-road-modifications/ Mon, 30 Dec 2024 13:00:21 +0000 /?p=2692321 3 Easy Fixes to Make Your Crossover Vehicle More Off-Road Capable

With a few simple modifications, your CUV is all the rig you need to adventure off the beaten path

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3 Easy Fixes to Make Your Crossover Vehicle More Off-Road Capable

Despite being the of vehicles in the U.S., crossovers like the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CRV get , especially in the off road and overland communities. They鈥檙e regarded as a poor compromise between a sedan and an SUV that tend to do nothing particularly well, and are often ridiculed for without actually possessing that capability.

Here鈥檚 the thing, though: crossovers are popular for good reason. They meet the needs of most people incredibly well, are fuel efficient and comfortable, and with modern all-wheel-drive systems and traction control, I鈥檇 argue they鈥檙e able to get most of us pretty much anywhere we actually want to go.

My wife and I own a 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, which happens to be the in the U.S. and is one of the best-selling vehicles in the country year after year. It has been a phenomenal car for us, but we wanted to make it perform a bit better off-road, so we made some modifications.

Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
The author’s modified RAV4 Hybrid. With three easy DYI hacks, he made his little crossover vehicle off-road capable enough for 90 percent of his adventures. (Photo: Bryan Rogala)

How 鈥淥ff-Road鈥 Are You Really Getting?

Before I dive into what we did to our RAV4, let鈥檚 take a second to talk about what 鈥渙ff-road鈥 and 鈥渙ff-road capability鈥 really mean. For some folks, off-road capability might mean their vehicle needs to come equipped with large tires, front and rear locking differentials, a winch, and the ability to safely navigate a .

If that鈥檚 what you need out of a vehicle, then yeah, a crossover isn鈥檛 for you.

The thing about those types of trails is that you have to seek them out鈥攖here are not many of them, and most folks are not running trails in Moab very often. To most people, 鈥渙ff-road鈥 really just means driving off pavement, usually to get to a trailhead or campsite鈥攁nd for that, a crossover is more than enough, especially with a few simple modifications.

What Not to Do

There鈥檚 been a trend of people similarly to how one might modify a four-wheel-drive truck or SUV like a 4Runner: adding big, knobby tires, lift kits, rock sliders, heavy duty front bumpers, winches, and more.

Bolting all that stuff to your car might make it look cool, but it also affects the ride and your fuel economy. Here鈥檚 what I did to modify my crossover to make it more capable without ruining the way it drives.

Tires

Closeup of all-terrain tire tread
The best way to make your crossover vehicle more capable off-road is to upgrade from the stock tires to a set of all-terrain tires specifically designed for crossovers. (Photo: Bryan Rogala)

The number one thing I recommend to anyone looking to give their crossover more capability is upgrading the tires. The first thing we did to our RAV4 when we bought it was swap the stock tires with a set of 聽They鈥檙e an all-terrain tire specifically designed for lighter duty vehicles like crossovers. So, unlike fitting a traditional all-terrain tire designed for a truck or heavier SUV, these won鈥檛 ruin a crossover鈥檚 fuel economy or create an unnecessarily harsh ride.

What they will do is give your rig a lot more traction on dirt roads and slippery surfaces, like mud and snow, than the highway tires that are stock on crossovers, thanks to a more aggressive tread pattern. They鈥檙e also severe-snow rated, and while not as good as a true winter tire, we鈥檝e found them to work very well in the snow. We just put another set on the RAV4 after over 50,000 trouble-free miles on the first set. We鈥檝e taken the RAV4 on many adventures along dirt roads and haven鈥檛 had a flat yet.

If you want to use your crossover to get to a remote trailhead or gain some confidence in slippery terrain, I highly recommend investing in aftermarket all-terrain tires specifically designed for crossovers.

Recovery Points and Gear

Next, we added a receiver hitch. We don鈥檛 plan to do any towing with the RAV4, but we do want to be able to use a hitch-mounted bike rack and, more importantly, add a proper recovery point in case we get stuck.

You might think that requires a trip to the dealership, but if you鈥檙e even mildly handy, you can easily add an aftermarket hitch yourself with聽a socket set. I went with a because it鈥檚 one of the lowest profile hitches on the market for crossovers, but still uses a 2-inch receiver (it also costs hundreds less than the ).

Most trucks and SUVs use a 2-inch receiver, so in our case, the bike rack and cargo rack we use on our Tundra fits the RAV4 without issue or adapters. Torklift is also a brand I鈥檝e used in the past for things like truck camper tie-downs, hitches for travel trailers, and more, and I鈥檝e always been impressed with the quality of their products.

The Ecohitch doesn鈥檛 require drilling, and, it took me about an hour to mount it. As for the actual recovery point, we carry a ($47) and a ($75) in our car. The shackle receiver slots into the RAV4鈥檚 hitch and provides a secure attachment point for the recovery rope.

We also got another, dedicated set of ($180) for the RAV4. Rather than mounting a set of the larger MaxTrax to the roof of the car like we do on the truck, we opted for the Minis and a carry bag. They鈥檙e a better size for the RAV4, and the carry bag lets us toss them in the back if we know we might be in a situation where we鈥檒l need them, like a camping trip or heading up to the ski area for the day.

厂耻蝉辫别苍蝉颈辞苍听

Closeup of Koni suspension
Most people don’t need to actually lift their crossover. Adding shocks like Koni should work just fine for most to improve the ride off-road. (Photo: Bryan Rogala)

One of our only complaints about the RAV4 has been the ride on rougher dirt roads. Ours is a Hybrid XLE model, so presumably Toyota meant for this thing to spend the majority of its time on pavement, and they specced the shocks accordingly. It rides nicely on the highway, but it鈥檚 uncomfortably stiff on dirt roads, and any sort of pothole or larger dip feels like聽you鈥檙e riding a pogo stick. Some online research revealed this as a common complaint, and I noticed Toyota specs different shocks on its Woodlands and TRD Off Road RAV4 models.

When I looked for a suitable upgrade, everything I came across was part of a and specifically designed to give the vehicle more clearance. I wasn鈥檛 interested in lifting the RAV4 since there are a lot of vehicle with independent suspension and limited suspension travel. We鈥檝e also found the RAV4 to have ample clearance for what we do.

That鈥檚 when I found . I came across the brand while researching suspension options for our new camper van (more on that in an upcoming article), and realized they make . Koni is based in Holland, and while they鈥檙e somewhat of a new name in the U.S. overland market, they made a name for themselves in the heavy truck off-road racing world long ago.

Their line of Special Active shocks features what Koni calls 鈥淔SD鈥 or Frequency Selective Damping. In a nutshell, the shocks use low damping forces when the vehicle is traveling in a high frequency environment, like on long stretches of smooth road, but use high damping forces when traveling in a low frequency area like a road with a lot of bumps or sharp corners. It鈥檚 a simple design that doesn鈥檛 require any adjustment on the part of the driver, but works wonders to smooth out the ride on rougher roads.

These shocks have made a massive difference in how the car handles on rougher dirt roads. Washboard is significantly more comfortable, as are larger bumps and potholes on pavement. On-road driving feels about the same, with perhaps less body roll than before鈥攐ur RAV4 hasn鈥檛 turned into a desert racing machine, but getting to the trailhead is now a lot more pleasant.

Less Is More聽

The list of modifications we made isn鈥檛 long, and it might not seem like much of an adventure rig 鈥渂uild,鈥 but that鈥檚 the point. As the old saying goes鈥攊f it ain鈥檛 broke, don鈥檛 fix it. A crossover like our RAV4 is already great at doing a lot of things, like daily driving duties, light dirt road touring, road trips, and more.

The only other modification I鈥檓 considering is adding a front skid plate from for more protection from rocks and other obstacles you鈥檙e likely to encounter off-road. I think adding skid plates is a much better idea than adding a lift for more clearance, and LP 国产吃瓜黑料 is a great source for things like skid plates, bumper guards, wheels, and tires for crossovers.

The improved ride, along with better tires and a dedicated recovery point in the form of a hitch, have significantly improved the capability of our little RAV4. It鈥檚 not鈥攁nd never will be鈥攁 Jeep Wrangler or a Toyota Tacoma, but for 90 percent of the driving we do, it works just fine.

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Discover a Wilder Way to Visit Las Vegas /health/training-performance/discover-a-wilder-way-to-visit-las-vegas-2/ Thu, 24 Oct 2024 17:18:02 +0000 /?p=2682356 Discover a Wilder Way to Visit Las Vegas

Detour off the Strip and into the Mojave Desert on this bucket-list adventure from EAGLERIDER and Yamaha

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Discover a Wilder Way to Visit Las Vegas

If you want to experience the real wild side of Sin City, venture into the Mojave Desert. Its mix of rugged peaks and desolate valleys invite endless exploration. And , the world鈥檚 largest motorcycle rental and tour company, can take you there. This master in everything motorcycle travel is teaming up with Yamaha to outfit an exclusive guided tour designed to showcase the best parts of Las Vegas鈥攖hat is, the natural splendor of the stunning deserts that lie beyond the always-on city.

Happening October 27鈥29, this will provide both first-time and experienced riders with an unparalleled taste of freedom, along with the comforts of relaxing hotel nights on the edge of Death Valley National Park.

Yamaha T茅n茅r茅 700
The Yamaha T茅n茅r茅 700 is a lightweight, no compromise adventure bike with outstanding reliability. (Photo: EAGLERIDER)

鈥淲e鈥檝e crafted this EAGLERIDER EXCLUSIVE to deliver an adrenaline-pumping tour experience that reveals the untamed beauty surrounding Las Vegas,鈥 says EAGLERIDER CEO Sebastian Schoepe.

Along the way, participants will encounter the Mojave鈥檚 wildlife, feel the openness of desert riding, bond with fellow adventurers, and learn new techniques from expert guides. A blend of excitement and beginner accessibility, this multiday experience invites riders on a unique opportunity to detour the Strip on Yamaha鈥檚 cutting-edge adventure (ADV) bikes and utility terrain vehicles (UTVs). If you鈥檝e never ridden a Yamaha before, you鈥檙e in for a treat; its fleet of 2024 bikes and side-by-sides is designed for comfort, safety, and performance to offer unparalleled full-throttle fun.

鈥淩iders will experience the perfect mix of on-road touring and off-road thrills,鈥 Schoepe says, 鈥渨hile exploring the Mojave on Yamaha鈥檚 latest rally raid鈥搒tyle adventure bike, the . On day three, they鈥檒l have the chance to cross the desert in state-of-the-art Yamaha UTVs, an unforgettable ride to check off the bucket list.鈥

Riding bikes through the Mojave Desert
This multiday experience invites riders on a unique opportunity to detour the Strip on Yamaha鈥檚 cutting-edge adventure (ADV) bikes. (Photo: EAGLERIDER)

This carefully curated itinerary is the ultimate complement to a Vegas getaway (or an excuse to start planning one). During the tour, riders will cover up to 500 miles of diverse terrain, including approximately 100 miles of exhilarating dirt trails. Here鈥檚 a teaser of what you can expect each day:

馃浉 Day 1

  • Venture into the heart of the Mojave Desert.
  • Visit , a geothermal cave system, and the Area 51 Alien Center.
  • Unwind at the Ranch at Death Valley.

馃彍 Day 2

  • Ride through the colorful hills of .
  • Take in the extraordinary overlook of Badwater Basin from .
  • End the day in the charming town of Pahrump, Nevada.

馃 Day 3

  • Cap off your Mojave expedition with an adrenaline-fueled UTV tour.
  • Check out the historic .
  • Visit to the renowned Seven Magic Mountains art installation.
  • Take a keepsake photo at the iconic Las Vegas welcome sign.

If you want to join this grand on- and off-road tour, reserve your spot now. Space is limited to 15 participants, and it鈥檚 priced to fill. This exclusive guided tour starts from $1,676 and will leave you with memories and skills that last a lifetime. (Price is per person, with motorcycle rental and hotel stay included.)

There are other opportunities to experience the outdoorsy side of Vegas with EAGLERIDER. You can book an exciting off-road side-by-side experience into the wilds of the Mojave Desert year-round. This is the perfect way to fill your adventure void if you can鈥檛 make the three-day Yamaha tour or if you don鈥檛 have a motorcycle license yet.

EagleRider
Encounter the Mojave鈥檚 wildlife, feel the openness of desert riding, bond with fellow adventurers, and learn new techniques from expert guides. (Photo: EAGLERIDER)

is the world鈥檚 largest motorsport experience company, offering a diverse range of motorcycle and off-road adventure rentals and tours from over 200 locations across six continents. Since its founding in 1992, EAGLERIDER has provided exceptional, high-quality adventure experiences for enthusiasts worldwide.

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I Never Leave Home Without These Survival Tools in My Car. Neither Should You. /outdoor-adventure/exploration-survival/survival-tools-for-your-car/ Mon, 14 Oct 2024 08:00:13 +0000 /?p=2684586 I Never Leave Home Without These Survival Tools in My Car. Neither Should You.

This painstakingly-assembled kit is for anyone who likes to keep driving when the pavement ends

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I Never Leave Home Without These Survival Tools in My Car. Neither Should You.

Check out the above photo of a rental car stuck in sand.聽I did that. I did that during a trip to Baja, Mexico. Normally I would have driven my fully-equipped truck鈥攂ut we had guests and needed rear seats. We had planned a casual outing to a new restaurant that was accessed by a dirt road, and I beached the rental. And, because I was totally unprepared, I ended up relying on the old frayed and knotted orange cargo strap in the bottom of the photo, which I tied to a fragile suspension arm, in order to get out. My equipment was inadequate and unsafe, and the situation could have gone from bad to worse, very quickly.

I’ve learned to expect the unexpected when navigating unpaved roads. That’s why I have painstakingly assembled a kit of survival tools for anyone who like to drive when the pavement ends.

One of those people is my brother-in-law, Ian. He drives to the cabin our family shares in northern Montana, and travels around the Mountain West in his stock Ford Ranger pickup truck. The biggest challenge he regularly tackles is the drive to Bridger Bowl to go snowboarding. And while he doesn’t deliberately bite off as much risk as my wife and I do, that doesn鈥檛 mean he should be unprepared. So, I loaded his truck up with the exact supplies I’ve listed below, and showed him how to use them. No matter where you live, or how you drive, you can benefit from the same stuff. Let me show you how:

Traction boards for off-road driving
The studs on Tred Pros are designed to prevent wheel spin, which will help increase the life of your traction boards. (Photo: ARB)

Traction Boards

Unlike improvised solutions鈥攌itty litter, floor mats, etc鈥攖raction boards are designed to work both quickly and reliably. Just shove them under your driven wheels, and they鈥檒l dig into even the slipperiest of surfaces while locking into the lugs on your tires聽to facilitate perfect traction between the two. Then you can just drive out of any obstacle.

The teeth on ARB鈥檚 Tred Pro boards have been specifically designed to prevent wheelspin that can quickly melt and deform even quality nylon traction boards. Wheelspin will cost you money, and if you鈥檙e on a long trip, it will also break your tools, thus eliminating the ones you may need聽to use the next time you get stuck. Since preventing it makes them beginner-proof, they鈥檙e the right choice for most normal drivers.

I last used mine down in Mexico, to dig my truck out of a sand pit on a remote beach when dropping tire pressures and excavating with a shovel proved inadequate. Ian hasn鈥檛 used his yet, but with winter approaching, carrying a set will give him peace of mind while navigating icy access roads to the ski hill, or even driving through unplowed side streets after a heavy snow. Heck, I used them to extract a college kid and his Subaru from the street in front of my house last winter.

ARB’s Weekender Kit is an easy solution for more challenging vehicle recoveries. (Photo: ARB)

Recovery Strap or Rope and Shackles (With Appropriate Recovery Points)

If Ian ever slides off the road into a snow-filled ditch, or if he comes across another driver who who has and needs help, those traction boards might not be enough. In this case, he will need another vehicle to pull himself out.

This requires a device to connect two cars together in a way that’s safe and won’t cause damage (two heavy vehicles pulling on each other creates extreme tension.聽The solution is an elastic recovery strap or rope, paired with two shackles. The stretch reduces momentary load spikes that may damage vehicles, and, once you begin towing, will also help pull the stuck car free as the strap contracts back to its original length.

There鈥檚 a big caveat here: you can only connect the shackles to recovery points on a vehicle designed to support these forces. You can鈥檛 use the little screw-in tow eyelets provided on economy cars; they can shatter or pull free, producing potentially lethal shrapnel. Any quality 4×4 will include at least front recovery points. On Ian鈥檚 Ranger, and most other stock vehicles, you鈥檙e left using the two-inch tow receiver. Inserting a shackle mount into that will prevent the pin from bending under high forces.

ARB鈥檚 Weekender Kit includes that strap and two quality Crosby 3/4-inch shackles, all appropriately rated for the weight of most common vehicles, and houses all that in a convenient sheath. One of these is easy to throw in the back of any vehicle.

A portable air compressor for tires
We included lots of ARB gear in this article. The brand is Australia’s largest 4×4 accessory maker and makes bomber gear at good prices. (Photo: ARB)

A Quality Air Compressor and Tire Repair Kit

Driving up to the family cabin involves a couple hundred miles of lonely two-lane roads through the rolling prairie. Should Ian get a flat, he could simply swap on his full-sized spare. But what if a board full of nails or an unexpected pothole, causes two flats at once? Roadside assistance can take hours to arrive. And that鈥檇 be time wasted, because repairing your own punctures takes mere minutes if you鈥檙e armed with the right tools鈥攕pecifically an air compressor.

is a good compromise between inflation speed and price. One of these should last you a lifetime, and can easily be moved between different vehicles as you buy a new car, or go camping with friends.

I like the Boulder Tools Tire Repair Kit over the ARB one it mimics. Not only is it a bit more affordable, but it includes stuff like a pair of needle-nose pliers, extra valve cores, and a valve tool, so you have everything you need to fix a flat tire inside one box.

Additionally, an air compressor can help you reduce your tire pressure, which is key to tackling both deep snow and tricky off-road obstacles. Driving on these surfaces requires roughly half the pressure of what’s required to safely drive on pavement.聽The problem there is easy to spot: you鈥檒l have to reinflate your tires back to the correct pressure when you return to asphalt. Compared to cheap emergency air compressors, a good one will reduce the time it takes to perform that chore, and won鈥檛 burn out under the stress.

A comfortable headlamp
Integrating the light body into the strap makes this thing much more comfortable than clunkier headlamps.

A Quality Flashlight or Headlamp

Doing any of the above after dark can get both tricky and dangerous. Wearing a headlamp won鈥檛 just give you the ability to see what you鈥檙e doing, but can also indicate your presence to any passing drivers.

I鈥檝e been using nothing but the Biolite Headlamp 330 for years now. It鈥檚 affordable, light, comfortable, and provides all the light anyone could ever need for tasks both near and far, along with several nights of life on a fully-charged battery.

A Rand McNally road atlas
These things are still a vital backup, and also a great way to plan trips adjacent to your computer and phone. (Photo: Rand McNally)

Paper Maps

I know this can seem redundant in the age of smartphones, but a nationwide road atlas costs less than $30 and can save a lot of time and hassle. Stick one under your seat, and forget it’s there until you find yourself in an area without cell reception, or a power outage or natural disaster knocks out cell networks.

A few summers ago, we warned one of Ian鈥檚 friends (an engineer who worked on Google Maps) that they wouldn鈥檛 have cell signal for a large portion of the drive up to the cabin. They brushed us off in disbelief, but felt pretty bashful when they finally showed up to the cabin several hours behind schedule. A simple paper map could have prevented that entirely.

A marine fire extinguisher
A marine or RV fire extinguisher will work across the different types of fires you may encounter in a vehicle or while camping. (Photo: First Alert)

A Fire Extinguisher

Fires happen unexpectedly, and quickly grow out of control. Keeping an affordable marine fire extinguisher in your vehicle will give you the ability to fight both flammable liquid and electrical fires at once, so you鈥檒l be ready if a fire occurs in a vehicle, home, or anywhere else.

Spare Clothing and Footwear

I like to keep a full set of spare outdoor clothing in my vehicles at all times. That includes everything from a warm hat and rain shell to long underwear, merino socks, and a pair of comfortable hiking boots. While I鈥檓 unlikely to need a full outfit change unexpectedly, keeping every item of a complete layering system in my trunk means I鈥檒l have whatever it is I need, whether it be a clean pair of undies or a warm puffy jacket. And that prepares me for small emergencies like an upset stomach, on up to spending the night in the back seat during a blizzard.

I don’t think Ian is going to listen to me on this one, but luckily we’re close enough to the same size that he can borrow my stuff when we’re traveling together.

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The Off-Road Antidote: Bronco Off-Roadeo Nevada /video/the-off-road-antidote-bronco-off-roadeo-nevada/ Mon, 30 Sep 2024 20:22:52 +0000 /?post_type=video&p=2683482 The Off-Road Antidote: Bronco Off-Roadeo Nevada

Firefighter James Lawless tackles the rugged terrain of Bronco Off-Roadeo Nevada before climbing with Bronco Ambassador Maiza Lima

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The Off-Road Antidote: Bronco Off-Roadeo Nevada

Outdoor adventures haven鈥檛 come easy for James Lawless, a career firefighter who discovers that being a Ford Bronco owner provides free access to the action-packed Bronco Off-Roadeo experiences located across the country. So a trip to provides a timely escape. Lawless tackles the rugged terrain outside of Las Vegas, then teams up with Bronco Ambassador , who leads him up his first rock climbing route. Watch the rest of 国产吃瓜黑料鈥檚 three-part series with Ford, profiling unique, overworked individuals who find outdoor adventures as the antidote for their unhealthy work lives.

 


is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan, committed to helping build a better world, where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams. The company鈥檚 Ford+ plan for growth and value creation combines existing strengths, new capabilities and always-on relationships with customers to enrich experiences for customers and deepen their loyalty.聽

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The Off-Road Antidote: Bronco Off-Roadeo Texas /video/the-off-road-antidote-bronco-off-roadeo-texas/ Mon, 30 Sep 2024 18:36:51 +0000 /?post_type=video&p=2683475 The Off-Road Antidote: Bronco Off-Roadeo Texas

Overworked and under-adventured, Giovanni McEastland escapes to Bronco Off-Roadeo Texas to tackle the rocky Texas hill country and then go paddling with Bronco Ambassador Rodolfo Rojas

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The Off-Road Antidote: Bronco Off-Roadeo Texas

Starved for an outdoor adventure, Giovanni McEastland takes a much-needed escape to . There, the stressed-out office coordinator gains new perspective on his overall work-life balance鈥攆irst off-roading through the rocky hill country west of Austin, then teaming up with professional athlete and Bronco Ambassador, , who guides McEastland through his first standup paddleboarding experience. Watch all of 国产吃瓜黑料鈥檚 three-part series with Ford, profiling unique, overworked individuals who find outdoor adventures as the antidote for their unhealthy work lives.


is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan, committed to helping build a better world, where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams. The company鈥檚 Ford+ plan for growth and value creation combines existing strengths, new capabilities and always-on relationships with customers to enrich experiences for customers and deepen their loyalty.聽

The post The Off-Road Antidote: Bronco Off-Roadeo Texas appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

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