Product Review

Every vehicle based travel enthusiast suffers from the same quintessential problem: WHAT DO WE DO WITH ALL OUR STUFF?!? More precisely, how do we keep it secure and how do we keep it safe. No one likes sifting through a rat’s nest of gear to find something. Worse, no one likes having their vehicle broken […]

Product Install

Product Review

Trailer Tech

Plug & Play Brake Controller Install: The REDARC Tow-Pro Elite

2020-03-13

As you know, one of the cornerstones of my overland adventure setup is my off-road camping trailer. Although not required by law due to its weight, it does have electric drum brakes. I like having trailer brakes because they are just as useful off-road as they are on-road. The LJ already has a brake controller […]

Product Review

Everyday Carry Review

2019-11-04

There are a number of products I take for granted because they are part of my everyday carry. Thankfully they are quality products that I can rely on day in and day out without having to worry about their quality. In this article I’ll give you a rundown of what I carry with me on […]

Product Review

[Product Review] The ARB Maximum Performance Portable Air Supply

2019-04-05

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, tire pressure management is an essential skill for every overland adventure enthusiast. It’s one of my ‘Ten Essentials‘ and I’ve even written a stand alone article on it. Needless to say, when looking ahead to the 2019 season I knew I needed to up my tire […]

Product Review

STOP!

2018-04-07

One of the overlooked areas on most modified vehicles whether they are cars or 4×4’s is brakes. A lot of people emphasis going fast, few emphasis handling, and even fewer stopping power. Given the heavy E load range tires, towing a trailer, and the fact that the Jeep is my daily driver, my brakes have […]

Product Review

[Product Review] L.T. Wright Knives Camp Kitchen & Bushcrafter HC Knife Review

2018-02-25

At Overland Expo East last year I had the pleasure of crossing paths with the crew at L.T. Wright Knives yet again. A perennial favorite at both overland and off-road shows in the Mid-Atlantic area I’ve spent more than a few minutes <cough> hours <cough> drooling over their knives. Checking out the LTWK booth at […]

Product Review

Beadlocks – Are they worth it?

2017-12-22

If you recall, at the beginning of the year I had a set of Coyote Enterprises Boltless Beadlocks installed when I got the new Cooper S/T Maxx tires mounted. Coyote Enterprises Boltless BeadlocksWhat do they do and are they worth it? Although beadlocks are common in the rock-crawling world, the question we are seeking to […]

Recovery

ECOA Recovery Guide – Warn Epic Recovery Kit Product Review

2017-11-17

A while back I penned an article on winching basics. I’d like to pick up where I left off with that article and take a more in-debth look at the winch accessory kit that I got from Warn when I got my 9.5xp winch. What’s in the bag?!? The Epic Recovery Kit is an all-in-one […]

[Product Review] Cooper Tire 15,000 mile Update

2017-09-11

Rocking 255/85R16 Cooper Discoverer S/T Maxx tireswhile exploring Jefferson National Forest in central Virginia In January of this year I got a set of Cooper® Discoverer S/T Maxx™ tires mounted on the LJ. In the last eight months I’ve logged over 15,000 miles of cross-country highways, around-town errands, and backroad overland adventures. Read on for the next […]

Recovery

[Product Review] Blue Ridge Overland Gear – The Strap Bag

2017-08-04

A while back I wrote the first of a series of articles on recovery gear. Eventually I’ll get around to the next articles in that series but in the meantime I wanted to address a question I have been asked a lot since I posted that article: “How do you store your recovery gear?” To […]

[Product Review] Blue Ridge Overland Gear – Got to Go Everyday Carry Kit Bag (and bonus custom bag review)

2017-06-23

Have you ever walked past a shelf and a product just jumps out at you as a “must have”? That’s what happened with the Blue Ridge Overland Gear “Got to Go” Everyday Carry Kit Bag. My new everyday carry bag.(Side pouch, dog hair, and patches not included) After discussing bag options with Matt at BROG […]

Phase 3

Product Review

[Review] Cooper Tire Discoverer S/T Maxx 3,000 mile update

2017-03-17

At the end of 2016 the LJ was in desperate need of some new tires. Truthfully it needed tires at the start of 2016, but I had to make due. When I set out on my quest to choose a new tire I started off by listing a few criteria and expectations. With those in […]

Overland Tech

Phase 3

Product Review

New Tires – A long time coming, but worth the wait

2017-01-27

Without going into too much detail, tires for the LJ have been a sore point for me for the last year or so. When I put together my plan the ultimate end game was to have the LJ rolling on a set of 33’s. The combination of the 1″ body lift and the 2″ JKS […]

Opinion/Educational/Humor

Product Review

In-Depth Look – AtoZ Fabrication

2017-01-25

AtoZ Fabrication came on board in 2015 as the first Corporate Partner of the annual “No Highways Tour.” The 2004 Wrangler Unlimited I drive is outfitted with a set of their heavy duty rocker guards, heavy front bumper with grill and winch hoops, and one of their heavy duty rear bumpers with swing-out tire carrier. […]

Phase 1

Product Review

Product Review: J.T. Brooks Automatic Tire Deflators “Pro”

2016-07-20

A little while ago I posted a review of my ViAir Onboard Air System. That was the first in a three part series on tire pressure management. This week I am going to review my new set of tire deflators from J.T. Brooks. So in this post I’ll talk about the basics of deflators, what […]

Phase 1

Product Review

Product Review: ViAir Corporation Ultra Duty Onboard Air System (P/N 20001)

2016-07-06

Not only is this a product review, but it is the first in a three part series on tire pressure management. In this article I will review the onboard air system that was installed last year, and in the next I will review a new set of tire deflators. These will serve as a segue […]

Product Review

JKS JSpec Lift Kit – 5,000 mile review

2016-04-04

It’s been 5,000 miles since I installed the JKS 2″ JSpec Lift Kit on the Wrangler. I know what you’re thinking. “But Dean, it’s only been a month.” True. In the last month I drove to and from Denver and back which alone was a 3,000 round trip. Fully loaded and towing a trailer. Barely […]