Adding a 12V auxiliary battery setup to the Jeep was never a question of “should we” - it was always a question of “where should we?” The problem that comes up is that these batteries can be large and bulky, so placement in your overland rig can be tricky. In this post, we’ll walk you step-by-step through installing a 12V power system into a Jeep Wrangler JL using Kick Ass Products USA’s 170ah AGM slim battery and their DCDC charger with MPPT controller. These instructions also outline how to build a module to hold everything that is compatible with the Goose Gear drawers that many of us regard as a “must have” overland accessory. Feel free to modify and adapt these directions for your own setup, and send us a link or some pictures to your build.
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We all started somewhere, and that somewhere probably involved hauling bags of ice, a mediocre cooler, and carrying several dozen spare AA batteries in a ziplock bag (…”which of these are the good ones?”). And then you saw it — either at your campsite or on the Internet — you saw someone who pulled out their electric fridge, popped an ice cold beverage, flipped a switch for some extra lighting, and voila. Now here you are… ready to join the big leagues by incorporating an auxiliary electrical system into your vehicle to power your fridge, electronics, camp kitchen, or whatever. The world of 12V in-vehicle power is complex and a little intimidating, so buckle up, grab that ice cold beverage, and let’s dig into how we solved our electrical woes with the help of Kick Ass Products USA.
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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.
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We 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.
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Anyone 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.
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Last 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.
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When 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.
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Debating 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.
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We recently joined John from Fury Training Concepts and Dean from East Coast Overland Adventures for a weekend expedition to hunt for fall foliage in the Blue Ridge Mountains of southwest Virginia. The trip, which was limited to 10 vehicles, as organized and sold through Blue Ridge Overland Gear — if you are interested in doing a trip like this, keep an eye on their website for future offerings.
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This 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.
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I 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.
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The western portions of Virginia and West Virginia have lots of great offerings for off-road trails, including some great places to plan a little overland getaway.
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Hard 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.
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“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.
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Until 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!
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