maxtrax : Page 2 of 4 : American Adventurist

July 29th, 2019September 2nd, 2019

Project Tundra: The Latest

Vehicle builds like Project Tundra never really end. Over time our needs change, and new products appear that sometimes fill needs we didn’t know we had. So just when you think you’ve planned out the perfect build – something is going to come along that’s going to change those plans. And that’s exactly what makes vehicle builds so fun; some new source of inspiration out there or a new adventure to prepare for.

Since the last Project Tundra update, we’ve been all over the Southwest enjoying vehicle-based travel in all seasons. Here’s what’s new:

ARMOR UP

Last year, Project Tundra was fitted with a pre-production set of front and rear bumpers from a SoCal company that’s no longer in business. I spent several days at this manufacture’s location working on the install and helping to 3D scan the truck to develop additional parts like skid plates and sliders. Or at least that was the plan, but plans change. In the end Project Tundra ended up with a great set of bumpers, but no skids or sliders.

The bumpers are home to some other outstanding parts, namely a bunch of Baja Designs lights, and a shiny new Warn Zeon 12-S Platinum winch. We’ll cover lighting later, but I want to spend some time talking about the Zeon 12-S Platinum winch.

The Zeon 12-S Platinum is a flagship winch from Warn, and as such it has a number of features that make it stand out. With a GVWR of 7,100 pounds, going with a 12,000-pound winch would allow for extra performance when it counted, as we were well over the heuristic of 1.5X vehicle weight for winch sizing. Compared to the solenoid-controlled winches that I’m used to, the Zeon 12-S Platinum is a winch from the 21^st century. Wire rope (which for the record is still totally awesome) is replaced with Spydura Pro Synthetic line, and the wired remote is replaced with a wireless remote that lets you completely control the winch. Literally the only control on the winch is the power switch. From the remote, you can spool or unspool the winch, engage or disengage the clutch, control up to two different accessories, and monitor battery voltage and winch temperature. This remote works great in the cab, or at the end of the line, making solo recovery work much easier and most importantly, safer. From deep sand in Utah, to deep snow in the Colorado Rockies, this winch has worked flawlessly, and come nowhere close to getting hot even after repeated long pulls with a fully loaded full size pickup. Consider me impressed.

SLIDERS

Project Tundra needed sliders, and after watching White Knuckle Off Road products sliders in action on a number of rigs that wheel hard, like Cris Mateski’s BlkWgn (pictured above), the choice of sliders to use was clear. I knew I had chosen well the minute the door opened on the freight truck that had delivered my sliders revealing one of the most impressive armor packaging jobs I’ve ever seen. White Knuckle packages their sliders on a custom-made pallet, and the foam padding that is the only protection that many other manufactures use a is supplemented with quilted moving blankets before the whole bundle is wrapped in cardboard. Even the delivery driver was impressed.

It was no surprise then, that the White Knuckle sliders contained in this package had a flawless finish, and while hunting for a scratch I took a few minutes to appreciate the beautiful welds (impeccable stack ‘o dimes) and overall quality and craftsmanship. Truly, seeing is believing, and you can really see the attention to detail in White Knuckle’s products. A friend and I were able to knock out in the install in a couple of hours and we ran into no issues in the process. The White Knuckle sliders utilize factory holes and require you to drill a few holes in the Tundra frame, and this the only place we deviated from the instructions only to use a stepper bit instead of several progressively larger HSS-style bits as the directions recommended. After applying several coats of spray paint to the exposed steel in the frame, bolting the sliders up was as easy as it gets.

With these beefy sliders installed, the first thing I did was pick up one side of the truck with a jack and the sliders handled this task with ease. I haven’t had the truck fully supported by the sliders on an obstacle on the trail (yet), but I have no doubt that they’ll handle whatever I throw at them. The top plates are strategically placed to serve as a more secure step, and I really appreciate this fact as I have two-year-old twins, whose little feet could easily slip between in the inner and outer rail when they’re climbing in or out of the truck. All said and done, White Knuckle Off-Road sliders are an outstanding product, and I’ll be using them on every project going forward. Every part of the experience, from packaging, to install, to use, tells the story of a small American company that really takes pride in their work and makes a great product that is extremely well thought out. If you’re in the market for rock sliders, you can’t go wrong with White Knuckle Off Road Products.

THAT CAP AND THAT RACK

At the suggestion of someone who owns a Tundra nicknamed “Monster,” Project Tundra received a SnugTop Rebel truck cap last year. Monster’s owner also happens to be in the business of importing the best roof racks around, and so Project Tundra received a K9 roof rack and supporting accouterments from Equipt Expedition Outfitters. I chose the truck cap and roof rack path over a dedicated system such as a habitat, because I use my truck for so much more than adventure travel style trips, and as such I needed to be able to remove the truck cap with out using serious lifting equipment. In a matter of minutes, I can have the truck cap off so I can carry dirtbikes or snowbikes, or do other truck things. When the truck cap is on, it’s actually a very versatile option too.

The SnugTop Rebel truck cap seals very well against the elements, which means that sensitive equipment that doesn’t like dust or other elements can safely ride in the back, and it provides more than 6.5 feet of sleeping space that I can dive into when I’m travelling solo. The win-doors on the side allow for easy venting, and easy access to gear that’s not easily accessible from the back and the whole place locks up for easy to secure storage. I don’t understand why truck caps aren’t more popular in the adventure travel industry. I’d much rather have a securable, element-proof cover over my truck bed than a couple of bars to support an RTT and have to keep everything in tubs… But that’s just me.

Project Tundra’s K9 roof rack is just as awesome too. If you’ve never seen a Equipt’s Eazi-Awn K9 rack in person, you’ll notice that K9 racks are a cut above, starting with the tracks that the rack mounts into. Where some other companies use a light duty steel, Eezi-Awn uses a lightweight, beefcake aluminum extrusion, that actually looks like it could hold onto a roof rack. Where other companies use plastic towers, K9 racks have all alloy towers that link directly to the roof rack, which is a single piece – no bolts holding the works together here. The roof rack has numerous tracks that will accept M8 or M6 hex head screws so you can mount all kinds of things on the top, or on the sides, or just about anywhere you need to position your gear.

Standard loadout for Project Tundra’s K9 rack includes four MaxTrax, a shovel and Pulaski, and an Eezi-Awn Swift awning mounted on the passenger side. This leaves half of the rack for mounting whatever else needs to be carried, from inflated SUPs to firewood, to a saw, or a ladder, or any other big bulky thing – the K9 rack can securely and safely carry it. I will point out that I’m not going to carry a spare up there, mainly because you can tuck a 35-inch spare into the factory location on a Tundra, and I want to keep the center of mass as low in the truck as possible. I’ve carried all kinds of things on that rack, and I’ve never once found myself wanting for a mounting option. From quickly cam-strapping something around the bars, to taking the time to install eye bolts, the rack can be configured any way you want it – and that’s the real beauty of it. I’ve certainly used and abused the rack in the time that I’ve had it, and I haven’t even noticed so much as a bolt coming loose – and I’ve seen other racks fall apart or even fail on the trail.

ONWARD

In it’s current form, Project Tundra is an extremely versatile rig and I’m extremely happy with what I can do with it. From loading the truck up with toys and the family for long vacations to quick evening go-fast trips to the important places just to watch the sun set, Project Tundra does it all, and does it all well. This past winter, we took on record snowfalls in the Colorado Rockies, and then in the middle of summer took on the remnants of that same snow. We’ve hauled all kinds of tools and toys and enjoyed the deserts of the Southwest, and so many other great places.

I have to say that I feel incredibly fortunate to get to do the things that I do with Project Tundra. This whole process has created an awesome vehicle (pun intended) to get to spend time outside with good friend and family, and this whole processing of building this rig has introduced me to so many awesome folks and provided many memorable experiences that I am quite thankful for. I hope that these articles have been helpful in someway to you, whether that’s a serving of inspiration while you’re working through the daily grind or whether you’re looking into building a new rig or playing with your current setup!

Full Disclosure: Warn, White Knuckle Off-Road Products, Equipt Expedition Outfitters, and Snugtop provided equipment to the author at no cost for the purpose of this review on American Adventurist.

May 11th, 2019May 13th, 2019

10 Years Gone: Overland Expo, Then and Now

Enjoy the ride as we look back at TEN YEARS of Overland Expo! Lodestone Events has entered the game, and 2019 is shaping up to be even bigger than previous years so please stop by and say hi at the American Adventurist booth at site PS1. We’ll have a cold beer ready for you courtesy of Wanderlust Brewing in Flagstaff, bring your cup!

In 2009 at the Yavapai Fairgrounds in Prescott, Arizona, an ambitious group of like minded travelers gathered for something new. Something called Overland Expo.

Before 2009, roof top tents, 4WD vans, off-road campers, Glamping, Overlanding, all of it was virtually unknown in North America. Yes, some of the gear was around, and car camping was hardly a new thing, but Yakima didn’t sell awnings yet, and Walmart wasn’t dabbling in 12 volt fridge/freezers. It was more of a “you need to know a guy” to get a roof top tent or 12 volt fridge back then.

Overland style gear and builds were quite rare in the mid to late 2000’s, and gathering them all in one place was unheard of. Even more exotic were the tales some of these people told, with many miles traveled by 4WD in Africa, Australia and other distant lands.

Legend says that around 900 people attended that first event along with a handful of pioneering companies: Equipt, Adventure Trailers (AT Overland), Land Rover, Baja Designs, ARB, Viking Offroad, Four Wheel Campers, Ursa Minor, KC Hilites, Autohome USA, Sportsmobile, Overland Journal, Aluminess, and Global Expedition Vehicles. These are the Plank Owners of Overlanding in America as we know it.

Organized and led by Jonathan and Roseann Hanson, that first Overland Expo was the catalyst for the Overland mania that is now mainstream. Today, this event draws top automakers, hundreds of outstanding companies, and tens of thousands of eager enthusiasts. Few dared to imagine back then that it would have grown to be the largest event of it’s kind in the Western Hemisphere, fueling a global, multi-million dollar Overland Industry.

Mark Twain said ““Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” I think if Mark Twain were here today he would be proud of the community that grew up around Overland Expo.

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]I still remember their second Overland Expo in 2010 at the Amado Territory Ranch in Arizona like it was yesterday. The entire Overland thing was still in it’s infancy and it was there that I met Jerry from Tembo Tusk, before anyone ever heard of a skottle. It was in Amado that I contracted the Snow Peak virus, a mishap that cost me more than a few dollars in “must have” glamping equipment over the next decade.

I shared midnight tequila with the late Al Walter and company in Amado, remembering favorite Baja trips while Al regaled us with his vast knowledge of obscure places and desert history. It was at Overland Expo that I got to hang out with people like Chris Marzonie, the Baja Taco himself. I had a beer with Scott Brady from Expedition Portal, and partied with the likes of Mario Donovan from Adventure Trailers and Paul May from Equipt before they were Overland Rock Stars.

All the coolest people were there, and it was there that I realized I wasn’t that weird, and I found many others just like me, eager to follow the paths less traveled while exploring the most remote places in the world.[/vc_column_text][vc_media_grid grid_id=”vc_gid:1557774108123-abc7103f-1d6e-3″ include=”9042,9036,9034″][/vc_column][vc_column][vc_column_text]Overland Expo was also my first look at many, many exotic 4WD’s and top-shelf vehicle builds. As a career military guy, “vehicle dependent expeditions” were nothing new to me but this new Overland thing was very, very different. I learned that I could eat well in the field, have hot coffee and cold beer, and above all I didn’t have to sleep on the ground unless I chose to. It was even possible to have a hot shower in camp.

So many things that I loved were blending together in one place: travel, 4WD’s, camping, cooking, training, gear, motorcycles, and the stories these activities produced. The Expo was blurring all the lines and I was all in.[/vc_column_text][vc_masonry_media_grid grid_id=”vc_gid:1557774108130-aa9ac40c-8be1-1″ include=”9098,9097,9095,9062,9094,9096,9054,9056,9092,9068,9067,9065,9066,9064,9063,9061,9046,9041,9045″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]More than just a trade show, the Hanson’s brought in concepts like education, hands-on training, environmental responsibility, community service, and film festivals making the event greater than the sum of it’s parts. Above all, I was fascinated by the quality of people that I met at the Expo, and I left that event personally inspired to become better educated and better traveled. This all came at a time in my life when I was suffering from some combat related survivor’s guilt as well as recovering from my own deployment injuries and really needed “something” to focus my own surplus energy on.

Attending that Overland Expo in Amado inspired me to found American Adventurist, and I started organizing my own Desert and Mountain Rendezvous events that same year.

Thank you Jonathan and Roseann for inspiring us.

[/vc_column_text][vc_media_grid grid_id=”vc_gid:1557774108155-db63c481-078e-1″ include=”9075,9076,9077″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_media_grid element_width=”6″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1557774108159-9512a648-87f3-10″ include=”9044,9057″][vc_media_grid element_width=”6″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1557774108162-9b88b2d2-e723-3″ include=”9040,9052″][vc_column_text]Fast forward a bit as Overland Expo grew. And grew. The American Adventurist crew attended every year in Mormon Lake and then at Fort Tuthill. When they added Overland Expo East at Taylor Ranch, we expanded too with our first Appalachian Rendezvous in North Carolina. We attended Overland Expo East at the Biltmore and then at the Reeb Ranch. We met thousands of amazing people and became involved in land stewardship and access issues.

I am unaware of any other events that have inspired such a fast growing, diverse, and dedicated following as Overland Expo.[/vc_column_text][vc_media_grid grid_id=”vc_gid:1557774108165-918ed293-5e06-0″ include=”9091,9086,9090″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Looking back now on 10 years of events we have nothing but good memories – Underwater Expo, Snowverland Expo and Mudderland Expo included. For those of you who were there well… if you know, you know!

Challenging weather, the tyrannies of time and distance to travel to these events, in our experience it was all worth it to attend these grand family reunions. The one family reunion that you don’t have to dread going to each year. Where else in the world can you learn so much, see so much, and do so much in one weekend?[/vc_column_text][vc_masonry_media_grid grid_id=”vc_gid:1557774108168-f602e6c7-a740-6″ include=”9058,6362,9069,7070,9060,9050,9051,9070,9049,9052,9059,9055,9043,9054,9085,6597,6578,6589,6566,6560,6562,6559,6543,6508,6492,6479,3790,3762,3767,1679,1676,1677,1650,1699,1688,1638,3855,3854,3840,3838,3848,3835,3825,3817″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]So what did we learn along the way at Overland Expo? Too much to list really, but here’s a few salient points that may be of help to anyone attending for their first time:

The 7P’s aka Proper Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance. Always be prepared for the wind, the wet, and the cold. Or blazing heat. Or monsoons and mud. There are no guarantees when it comes to weather, and there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad gear.
Site Selection. Just in case weather happens, select a camp site that provides for good, rapid water runoff and wind-blocking protection if at all possible. Tent and vehicle placement to take advantage of prevailing wind conditions is critical to maintain a stable structure. Arrive early for best results.
Meal Planning. Plan your meals carefully in advance to save time and preparation, you’re going to be on your feet a lot at an Expo and being prepared with easy meal plans pays off.
Be prepared to have FUN. We’ve made so many great friends at Overland Expo, and every year brings a wild bazaar of the latest goods and services sprinkled with happy hours with friends old and new. Bucket list trips and new business partnerships take root here every year.
Bring some walking around money. You don’t know it yet, but there’s something shiny there that you need that you’ve never seen before. Trust us when we say shiny squirrels abound.

[/vc_column_text][vc_media_grid grid_id=”vc_gid:1557774108218-de3af5f0-cee8-9″ include=”7347,7399,7343″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_masonry_media_grid element_width=”3″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1557774108223-77a3125c-8be6-8″ include=”7440,7439,7437,7433,7428,7429,7423,7418,7420,7397,7391,7372,7353,7349,7340,7335,7345,7997,7954,7580,7456,7333,7426,7443,7377″][vc_column_text]Today, the Hanson’s have handed over the keys, and Overland Expo West 2019 marks the first year with Lodestone Events at the helm. We’re confident that it’s in good hands, and we look forward to seeing what they do to take it to the next level. With well over 10,000 like-minded enthusiasts headed to Overland Expo West, it’s guaranteed to be a show for the record books. Again.

So stop by and have a beer with us at Overland Expo West 2019 courtesy of Wanderlust Brewing in Flagstaff. Grab some swag from us, trade some patches, grab a raffle ticket to win a set of Falken Wildpeak tires at 3pm on Saturday, we’d love to hear your story and how this community of interest impacts YOU.

See you out there!

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Event photos used with the express permission of Overland Expo and Exploring Overland.

Additional photo credits and thank you to: Chris Collard, Chad de Alva, Richard Soohoo, Chris Griggers, Bryon Dorr, Chazz Layne, David Croyle, Bosque Bill, Adventure Trio, Mike Petrucci and Gary Haynes.

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