The Pro Series Jointed Arm Packs – A Game Changer For Device Positioning
In the ever-evolving world of technology, our digital devices often become indispensable companions in the journey of life. Whether we’re exploring remote corners of the world or navigating through a hectic workday, maintaining optimal device positioning is crucial. Enter 67 Designs with their latest innovation – the Pro Series Jointed Arm Packs, a revolutionary device positioning system that caters to the needs of enterprises, fleet operators, and adventure explorers alike.
These packs, which cleverly incorporate carbon fiber arms, metal 20mm-20mm elbows, and a Nano arm, are designed to provide the ultimate flexibility in positioning your devices, including smartphones, tablets, and more. The arm extends from a 20mm ball, sold separately, and works in harmony with the elbow and Nano arm to deliver the perfect positioning for your device – specifically designed to lower your device below the dash.
What truly sets the Pro Series Jointed Arm Packs apart is their meticulous design and toothed internal components. Their latest CNC machined aluminum components increase rotational loading capacity and seamlessly blends with the matte black Gen 2 carbon fiber clamps. This ensures a consistent aesthetic, aligning perfectly with any previous investment in the Carbon Fiber Series®.
Beyond the aesthetics, the Pro Series Arm Packs offer practical benefits too. Lowering your device to a more suitable position not only optimizes airflow for device cooling, but also ensures optimal airflow for vehicle occupants. This dual function exemplifies the thoughtfulness of 67 Designs’ approach to product design.
The Nano arm, while minute in size, features a robust metal connection, ensuring reliability and longevity. And while the carbon fiber arms currently sport a matte black twill finish, they’re manufactured in small batches which may result in minor variations in the black twill pattern – a testament to the artisanal quality of these products.
The Pro Series Jointed Arm Packs is the epitome of 67 Designs’ innovative spirit, a testament to their industry-leading approach. They continue to push the boundaries, delivering optimal solutions for device positioning for vehicles, yachts and aircraft. Whether you’re a professional navigating through a workday or an adventurer exploring the wild, the Pro Series Jointed Arm Packs offer a perfect blend of aesthetics, practicality, and reliability. Experience the difference today!
**ABOUT 67 DESIGNS**
Since its inception in 2012, 67 Designs has been a leader in design and manufacturing, delivering numerous industry firsts. The company started with Jeep® specific bases for the overlanding and vehicle-based community, and has since expanded to offer innovative mounting solutions suitable for a wide range of vehicles, including Jeep®, Ford, Ram, Chevy, GMC, Land Rover, Toyotas, Vans, RVs, yachts, and aircraft.
Renowned for their quality and durability, 67 Designs’ products have been proven on some of the toughest trails in the US and around the world, earning the company a reputation as a preeminent provider of mounting solutions.
Today, 67 Designs offers a Carbon Fiber Series® of products that are sleek and stylish, yet rugged enough to withstand any adventure. With global sales and an online store, the company’s products are trusted by adventurers everywhere to help enable the best experiences, whether in the air, on the water, or on the ground.
When space in your rig or on your bike is at a premium, then a lightweight camp furniture set up is essential. Helinox camp furniture leads the way in this category and below is a quick look at what’s they have to offer. Next month we’ll be publishing a full TAP Trail Tested review.
The Helinox Chair One is the original lightweight, carry-anywhere outdoor chair. With an assembled weight of only 1lb 15oz and a load capacity of 320 lbs., its sleek design and iconic cyan blue and black frame strikes the perfect balance between strength, weight and comfort so you can recharge between adventures, wherever they may take you.
The Table One Hard Top is the perfect table camp table to couple with the Chair One. The Table One Hardtop provides superior stability and support while remaining exceptionally light and packable. With an assembled weight of 3lbs 8 oz and a load capacity of 110 lbs it’s the perfect addition to your Chair One camp chair.
The “Behind The Wheel” series is an up close and personal look at brands and their owners who are an authentic and passionate part of the exciting world of Overlanding. Today we’re sitting down with Justin Dowey, Founder of Grasshopper Trading that distributes 23 Zero, UC Gear and RacksBrax here in the US, and Expedition Superstore.
Justin, great to chat with you. Let’s start with your background and why and how an Aussie is sitting here in the States talking about Overlanding to a Brit?
That’s a good Question Andy. My background has crisscrossed in and out of the overlanding industry for more than two decades. My Introduction to 4×4 touring, or overlanding, really started back in 1995. I was working for a tire store in Queensland, Australia when I was invited to be part of the course setup team in the Australian Safari Rally. This was once the harshest off-road stage race held at the time covering thousands of kilometers across the outback desert of central Australia. It departed from Alice Springs, Northern Territory and went through to Darwin, Northern Territory over 7 days requiring self-sufficiency and remote camping in parts of the Tamimi Track through Kalkarindji , Kathrine and eventually on to Darwin for the finish. I had no idea the impact this trip would have in shaping my career. Since then, I have been fortunate enough to work with many leading brands in the outdoor industry and be involved in manufacturing, wholesale, and retail. In 2014, one of those brands offered me an opportunity to set up operations for them in the US. So, my wife, 2-month-old son and two dogs packed up everything and moved to the other side of the planet. The job turned out to be short term, but we liked it so much we stayed and started 23 Zero.
As a passionate overlander yourself, what’s been your favorite trip you’ve taken? Also, what your current rig?
Death Valley is spectacular and visiting the ‘Racetrack’ is my favorite trip. Years ago, I watched a TV documentary about the ‘Racetrack’ with my Dad and the mystery of the moving rocks was very captivating. Yet, at the time, I hadn’t even travelled overseas so it was a location I never imagined I’d ever get to see in person.
My Current rig is a Ram 2500 aka: ‘Ramchop’. It’s built out with an AEV prospector kit, 40-inch tires, a custom flatbed and will accommodate two different camping configurations – the first is a Four wheel Camper‘Hawk’ and the other is a Bowen Customs canopy with a 23 Zero rooftop tent.
What’s been the greatest challenge for setting up a business in the US and what differences do you see between the Australian and the US overland markets?
The US is a younger overlanding market. The internet and social media are the primary sources of product information these days, yet the feedback is that people still like and want to touch and feel merchandise, especially when considering making a substantial and valuable product purchase. Getting products into stores has been the challenge as the US does not have a large network of stores compared to Australia. It is difficult for customers to receive professional and objective advice based on individual needs, and customers often make decisions based solely on flashy advertising and sometimes end up with a product that may not be the best fit.
23 Zero is now an established overland brand, so let’s talk about Expedition Superstore. I know you have some exciting news here that will WOW our reader!
Expedition Superstore was established as our archetype in the creation of a network of stores to display and stock the best brands that come with pedigree and reputation in the overland market. We want to provide the customer with expert information and advice and help them make the best choice based on their individual needs. Each store has a diverse mix of products able to outfit and build an overland rig from end to end, top to bottom.
That’s super exciting news Justin! Give us some ideas about the range of products we should expect to see in the Expedition Superstore stores and on-line?
Each store will keep and display all manner of overland gear and equipment such as recovery gear, roof top tents, awnings, and roof racks. There is a vast range of storage solutions from permanent to various containers, boxes, and tubs to organize and carry your gear. Camp kitchen gear to cook, eat and clean up with and shower and bathroom essentials. 12V electrical is important with charging systems, fridges, wiring, off-road lighting, brake controllers and GPS units. Then there’s the build components like bumpers, sliders, fenders, underbody protection, brake upgrades and suspension upgrade you might need to carry all that extra load. We also stock a variety of camper options like I have on my rig, ‘Ramchop’. All of which we can advise, supply, and install for you.
In addition to products are you intending to add initiatives like Training Courses and Tours? I suppose an overlanding one stop shop.
We plan to hold in store workshops and info nights, overland car shows and guided tours where it makes sense.
What’s the potential here Justin? 3 years down the line, what does Expedition Superstore Franchise look like?
We want to find store owners who have a love of overlanding, who want to deliver a first-class customer experience and provide them with a systematic solution to do that. Based on the comparable market size in Australia there is no reason why there couldn’t be at least one or more stores per state population dependent. On a recent trip to Australia, I visited my hometown of Newcastle (which is within one hour drive of Sydney), and it has a population of approximately 700K residents and supports 6 stores worth mentioning.
Are you looking for any parameters for someone to qualify as a franchisee? Also, if someone’s reading this and feels like they’re a serious franchisee candidate, what’s the next step to find out more?
Obviously, there are some financial qualifications but more so it’s the desire to provide an industry leading service level and store presentation that’s second only to another Expedition Superstore. We are here to help build that and together, set the standard for what an overlanding store should be. To find out more reach out to us at franchise@expeditionsuperstore.com.
Let’s briefly talk about the category. Overlanding has obviously exponentially grown in the past 36 months. Have you seen demand come from areas outside of the core Overlander and do you see the category moving towards the middle ground of Vehicle Supported Adventure, where the consumer might be a fly fisherman, Mountain Biker or Surfer first, but support their passion with a nicely build rig or RTT?
In short yes, absolutely. It’s interesting that the build and gear selection is very similar for both. Each has a different reason for camping and the use of the vehicle as the base. Without going too far outside of the day-to-day requirement of a family to enjoy a 2-day camping trip is vehicle-based adventure as the amount of gear you require you could not carry. The vehicle choice is not a factor, utilizing it best is what it is all about.
Thanks for sitting down today for “Behind the Wheel“, Justin. Great to see 23 Zero booming and I’m excited to see the Expedition Superstore business grow and flourish!
The Rebelle Rally is an annual off-road navigational competition that traverses roughly 1500 miles across some of the most stunning scenery the western United States has to offer. One hundred percent of the competitors also just happen to be women.
The 2023 event will be taking place in October of this year, with team #101, calling themselves “Team Pony Express”, among the field of other talented rally competitors. Team #101 is comprised of Kristen Harbert and Avis Cook. This will be Avis’s second year competing in the rally as a navigator while Kristen is coming in as a first year rookie driver looking forward to showing she has the skills to be a serious contender for a podium spot.
A core rule and primary focus of the Rebelle Rally is that all navigation is done using map and compass skills without the aid of any electronic GPS devices to help the teams find their way throughout the 8 days of competition. Before teams are allowed to compete, GPS is disabled in their rally vehicle as well as any personal GPS enabled devices such as phones are taken away.
It is no small effort for a team to prepare for the rally. There are hefty entry fees and other related – expenses to be paid, driving and navigation skills to be honed, and vehicle preparations to complete. During the rally competition this October what you will observe from the outside is a team consisting of a driver, a navigator and their rally vehicle. The reality is there is a team behind the team consisting of many to get the driver, the navigator and their vehicle to the all-important point of toeing the starting line on day one of the competition.
During the rally teams typically navigate a wide variety of terrain that ranges from fast desert or forest roads to slower rocky, sandy, or muddy trails and washes, and even the huge sand dunes of Glamis, CA. To carry them through all the challenges they may encounter during competition, team #101 has chosen to compete in a 2022 Ford Bronco Badlands Sasquatch for the 2023 rally.
In preparing for the rally Avis and Kristen try to get together and practice their skills as often as possible, which usually ends up being at least monthly with increasing frequency at the event draws ever closer. In order to make the practice sessions as meaningful and realistic as possible, that means traveling to the same types of remote and lesser traveled routes that the rally itself passes through far from creature comforts.
Thankfully, the team can bring some creature comforts with them into remote areas in which they practice. Avis is married to Rob of @overland_V1.0 on Instagram and YouTube which gives her and her teammate access to his 2021 RAM 3500 flatbed build hauling a 2021 Four Wheel Camper Hawk on its back that was purpose built to reach destinations considered remote and serves well as a supporting member of the team behind the team.
In its support role the camper typically follows the team as deep into a practice area as it can in order to be used as a temporary and easily movable basecamp. With its top popped it affords the members of Team Pony Express a place to take a break from the sun and wind, put some sustenance in their bellies, and plot their next moves on the map.
The Hawk popup camper is well equipped for rest with not only sizeable comfortable sleeping and dining areas, but also fans to help keep air moving when it is warm, a propane heater if it happens to be chilly, a small kitchen with a sizeable refrigerator to keep plenty of fresh food and drinks on hand, and even the ability to heat hot water from its water storage tank to wash dishes or even take a quick shower. Powering all those features is a 300ah lithium battery system that charges itself while parked in the sun using the 320 watts of solar on the roof, or the truck alternator while on the move. In a recent addition to the build, a Starlink satellite dish was flat mounted to roof allowing for highspeed connectivity to stay in touch just about anywhere, even when cell service is a distant dream as it often is in the areas in which rally practice takes place.
If you would like to learn more about the Rebelle Rally check out their website (https://www.rebellerally.com/) and if you happen to see the members of team #101 out preparing this summer be sure to say hello and wish them the all best as they aim for a top spot among a field of other tough competitors.
If you’re a Texas resident, you’ll be stoked to now have the ability to see Four Wheel Campers up close and personal with the addition of a new truck camper dealership in Fort Worth, Texas! Since 2016,CB Adventure Supplyhas been the best Southwest source for outdoor & overland gear. CB Adventure Supply owners Ryan and Libby, and their team, are now serving the Southwestern states. They will be managing new camper sales, installations, parts, and service work.
Not everything in Texas needs to be bigger. Having a smaller, nimble, rugged, lightweight camper enables Four Wheel Campers customers to explore challenging back-country terrain, mountains, and the gulf beaches. Four Wheel Campers and CB Adventure Supply invite you to the new camper showroom.
More About Four Wheel Campers:
Four Wheel Campers, founded in 1972, is the world’s leading producer of pop-up campers for trucks. The lightweight, low-profile, aluminum-based design, delivers the go-to camper to navigate challenging terrain.
The broad product line that includes varied camper options to fit most truck brands and models. Camper platforms include a Topper ($10,995+), Slide-in ($16,695+), and Flatbed ($36,695+) with the Norweld brand aluminum tray. Options include king size bed, solar, sink, stove, furnace, shower, refrigerator, and lithium batteries. View models at www.fourwheelcampers.com.
New features focus on delivering significant increases in solar power, power storage, and offering RedArc brand power management systems. Depending upon camper product, solar power now ranges from 160w to 500w, and lithium battery storage ranges from 135ah to 405ah.
The 23 Zero Armadillo A3 is a rugged, 14 GA, fully welded, Aluminum, 4-season, hard-shell roof-top-tent. It’s uniquely and aerodynamic styled with semi-textured, high-gloss, black, trail-hardened finish ready to deflect low hanging branches or high-speed roadways in all conditions.
The shell includes T-slot mounting rails ready for you to mount solar panels, racks, gear boxes, etc, so you can travel with additional gear that might otherwise be left at home.
It also includes our new, sustainable, ECO13B fabric which is 100% certified recycled 900D Polyester Oxford. It looks and feels exactly the same, but it is produced using recycled PET bottles. This fabric results in huge energy savings as well as significantly less petroleum and chemical use during fiber production to bring sustainability to our industry – it’s good for the environment while getting you out in the environment!
There is no change to our revolutionary LST™ (light suppression technology) feature with the introduction of ECO13B fabric. In fact, we have found it to have improved LST™ to better adhere to the fabric and even further reduce light penetration so your RTT will maintain up to 15% cooler temperatures inside the tent. There is almost zero light penetration until any windows are opened. You can sleep better than ever before in our roof-top tents.
Additionally, the Armadillo A3 includes a portable USB LED clip-on-pole light, two internal power supply pouches, two external hanging boot bags and a 2” Rebound Foam™ mattress with a removable quilted topper.
The Armadillo A3 can be purchased with a right or left side deployment option which allows for optimized placement on your choice of overland. It comes in two sizes, the A2 which is a 2-person tent, and the A3 which is a 3-person tent – see our website for all the dimensions, tech specs, etc.
