I don’t enjoy writing critical reviews. I try to see the best in everyone and everything, and that extends to businesses that produce products designed to make my life more enjoyable. Unfortunately, sometimes a product doesn’t live up to the expectations, and it’d be irresponsible for me not to talk about it. So that’s what we’re going to do — break down the good and bad of the PLB-40 battery system from Dometic, and explain why it wasn’t a good fit for us.
Read MoreWe recently added some Goose Gear drawers to our Jeep Wrangler JL overland build, and immediately found need to organizer the organization. The drawers that come from Goose Gear are nice and spacious, but that can be a double edged sword. On the one hand, it means we can cram a lot of goodies in there. But at the same time, it can quickly turn into a mess of junk without good organization inside those drawers. Here are some hacks and DIY tips we’ve used to get our setup clean and tidy.
Read MoreAnyone who has ever gone car camping learns how much gear is needed to make a trip survivable. And if you want to go from survivable to enjoyable…well that takes more gear. Overlanders, who often traverse rough terrain with additional gear considerations quickly understands every nook and cranny that can be used to pack rat equipment.
Read MoreLast year I had a chance to meet Brad Self from Hi-Vis Overland at the Blue Ridge Overland Gear Rooftop Tent Rally. Brad and I instantly bonded, and it wasn’t over our shared love of overlanding and adventure… but because he has an orange Jeep decked out for adventure. I love seeing other orange Jeeps, and other overland equipped orange Jeeps are one of the rarest breeds.
Read MoreWhen I needed a heavy-duty and self-installed roof rack for my 2019 Jeep JL Wrangler, I turned to a Detroit-based company called Maximus-3. The product I got from them turned out to be fantastic, and I’ve been a fan of theirs ever since.
Read MoreDebating the best performance driving light is like debating politics. Everyone has an opinion, everyone knows their opinion is the correct one, and no one wants to stop talking long enough to consider something else. Knowing that, I’m not going to try and claim these are the best performance lights on the market, nor am I going to try and compare these lights to other options on the market. Instead, I’ll offer a preview of my experience with these lights, as well as some instructions for installing them into a Jeep JL.
Read MoreThis season, we’ve taken our Jeep to the beach, covered it in ocean spray, galloped through more mud holes than I could ever possibly count, ridden in deep sand and slop, and obtained our fair share of “trail marks” from overgrowth on the trail. The side of the Jeep has a number of deep “pinstripes” down the paint, including one hearty claw mark on the hood from a time I pulled over into a tree to clear the trail.
Read MoreI am constantly annoyed by “reviews” posted by people who have been using a piece of equipment for about 13 milliseconds. You’re not qualified to review something unless you’ve really put it through it’s paces and seen the good and bad of it. This is not a 13 millisecond review… this is a comprehensive review of the Area BFE Aluminum Hardshell Tent based on several different trips over this summer. I have used (and packed) the tent in multiple heavy rainstorms. I have knocked it on branches and trees along the trail. It’s been up mountains, to the beach, and everything in between. This is my independent review - I paid retail price for my tent and am not being compensated in any way for this review.
Read MoreHard shell rooftop tents, like mine from Area BFE and the guys at Spirit of 1876, have a number of advantages over soft-shell tents. High on that list of benefits is that you can attach roof rails across the top of tent tent, allowing you to attach additional gear and equipment to your rig.
Read More“Shit Happens”. Forrest Gump reminds us of that. And that’s a good summary of what happened to our rooftop tent. We recently ordered a new Area BFE Hardshell rooftop tent from our overland outfitting friends at the Spirit of 1876. In the process of shipping the tent to me. however, it was severely damaged by the freight company. Despite the damage, I highly recommend Mike and the crew at the Spirit of 1876, and would absolutely buy another tent from them.
Read MoreUntil now, most of the upgrades have been to support using a rooftop tent, with some “beginner” off-road modifications along the way. But last week, we took it up a few notches by finally installing a lift kit, upgraded drive shaft, larger tires, a steering stabilizer, and beefy rock sliders. If you are new to the concept of a lift kit on your Jeep, then you’re going to want to read on!
Read MoreI finally broke down and decided that it was time to install an onboard air system for my 2019 Jeep JL Rubicon. I normally air down (deflate) the tires to around 20psi when I’m on the local Virginia trails to improve traction, ride quality, and tire effectiveness; however, refilling the tires back to the 37psi recommended for my current setup was always a chore.
Read MoreTake one overland camping trip out in a downpour and you’ll understand the appeal of a roof-mounted awning. At least, that’s what it took before I appreciated that getting an awning for my setup was going to be high on the list for future upgrades.
Read MoreWe run a Maximus-3 Rhino Rack Pioneer Platform on our 2019 Jeep Wrangler, which is a fantastic rack setup…. cannot recommend it enough! For a quick background, the Pioneer Platform is a heavy duty rack that mounts onto the fiberglass roof of a Jeep by drilling through the roof, and then attaching supports that mount to the body frame of the Wrangler. While it’s a bit of work to install, the result is an incredibly versatile roof rack that can hold up to 900lbs static weight! It’s also incredibly low profile….. which is a problem if you want to mount a rooftop tent!
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