Off-Road Recovery – Part Three

TAP Editor’s Note: The following is part three and the final installment of this series on off-road recovery. The author, Bob Wohlers, teaches government, corporate, and recreational off-roading as a full time profession. He is one of only a handful of fulltime 4WD trainers in the USA. Some of the content in this multi-part series comes from Bob’s book The Total Approach to Getting Unstuck Off Road – 4WD Self-Recovery & Vehicle-Assisted Recovery. While other authors of 4WD books try to cover the topic of recovery in a single chapter, Bob has the only complete book on the topic – 352 pages of step-by-step information.

This book can be easily purchased on Amazon by clicking HERE. Bob also has two other 4WD specific books available on Amazon, each designed to help protect people, vehicles, and the environment: (1) Raising Your 4WD vehicle Off Road & In-Field Tire Repair (2) Live Long to Wander – Basic Survival for Vehicle-Supported Adventures To learn more about Bob Wohler, visit his website www.DiscoverOffRoading.com.

It’s More than “Brewing a Cup of Tea”

The STOPA Stuck Assessment and Recovery Plan Checklist™

I’ve attended several one and two-day off-road courses and more than my share of off-road recovery clinics at overland and off-road events. During many of these training sessions the trainer talked about “Brewing a cup of tea” once a vehicle gets stuck in the backcountry. This catchphrase refers to the concept of taking a PAUSE to think about a specific stuck or mishap situation, rather than haphazardly reacting wrongly to a bad occurrence. Incredibly, brewing a cup of tea is often the only procedural advice given to attendees at these recovery courses and clinics – if any advice is given at all.

I totally agree with the notion of taking a breather after getting stuck off-road. It is good advice. If brewing a cup of tea – or just stopping and having lunch – gets a stuck off-roader to slow down and carefully consider their situation and options prior to reacting to a difficult recovery situation, I’m all for it. However, in my opinion there’s more to it that simply brewing a cup of tea. A LOT MORE. This is especially true when the stuck situation is intense, like a vehicle tip over on a narrow and challenging trail.

Even a less intense stuck situation can cause an inexperienced off-roader high anxiety when traveling alone in the remote backcountry. In both situations, adrenaline and anxiousness kicks in requiring MORE than a simple pause initiated by brewing a cup of tea. I’ve even seen drivers that get hopelessly stuck in the remote backcountry vomit as a result of their high anxiety. Arguments between partners can ensue when a vehicle gets stuck. “I told you not to go on that difficult trail!”

With adrenaline flowing and knees knocking, these off-roaders need a written step-by-step procedure to help them maturely assess their stuck situation and calmly develop a logical and safe recovery plan. It is my opinion that a written step-by-step recovery procedure needs to be in the glove box of every off-roader and overlander. Someone that’s stuck in the remote backcountry shouldn’t have to remember all the important recovery steps and considerations they need to make, in logical order, when the crap hits the fan. In an extreme recovery situation, even a seasoned off-roader may need a checklist to help guide their recovery efforts. Certainly, they need to do more to assess their situation than simply brewing a cup of tea.

Enter Off-Road Safety Academy’s STOPA Stuck Assessment and Recovery Plan Checklist™. STOPA is an acronym for Stop, Think, Observe, Plan, and then Act. After getting stuck, many off-roaders begin by ACTING – missing four very important steps.

I’ve never found in literature a well-formulated methodology to follow when someone gets stuck in the remote backcountry. I decided that off-roaders really need one – especially beginners. This is why I developed the STOPA Stuck Assessment and Recovery Plan Checklist™. One day, I assure you, you will need it.

The STOPA Stuck Assessment and Recovery Plan Checklist™ is included in my book: The Total Approach to Getting Unstuck Off Road – 4WD Self-Recovery and Vehicle Assisted Recovery. You may purchase my book from Amazon HERE.

Important Side Notes Regarding the STOPA Stuck Assessment and Recovery Plan Checklist™

Developed Specifically for the Inexperienced. The checklist is developed for off-roaders that don’t have much, if any, actual winching or general recovery experience. As the developer of the checklist, I acknowledge that seasoned recovery veterans will work through the STOPA Checklist steps in their minds. In fact, inexperienced off-roaders won’t need a checklist either once they gain some recovery experience. It is for this reason I continually encourage readers to gain actual experience by taking a 4WD course from a professional trainer. Experienced off-roaders rarely do any math to estimate the loads put on recovery equipment and vehicles when attempting to get a vehicle unstuck. Experience allows them to mentally estimate the loads involved. When stuck, experienced off-roaders will simply: A) Audit the situation, B) Carefully rig a recovery setup, and C) Give it a try. In most cases, their experience will serve them well and they will get a vehicle unstuck in only one attempt. However, even the most experienced recovery professional will tell you that it took a few missteps and/or failures to arrive at their experience level. The STOPA Checklist can help off-roaders without much recovery experience avoid dangerous mistakes while gaining valuable recovery experience.
The Primary Purpose of the STOPA Stuck Assessment and Recovery Plan Checklist™. The primary purpose of the checklist is to get those that haven’t performed many recoveries to simply think clearly about stuck situations in the remote backcountry. This is in sharp contrast to simply hooking up a winch or kinetic energy recovery rope or strap and start pulling on a stuck vehicle (like so many do). There are great forces at work with these types of recovery efforts. If these forces exceed the working load limit of recovery equipment and accessories, bad things can happen. Winches can begin to smoke or quit, shackles can deform or break, rope can fail, and straps can tear. How large are these forces? They are huge. For beginners, the word “huge” is ambiguous. As an educator, I feel compelled to provide beginners with real numbers – even though it’s an approximation. An actual load resistance number can exemplify and highlight the power of these forces to the uninitiated. To find an approximate resistance value, one only needs to do a very small amount of math on their smartphone.
Approximate Resistance Values. There are many variables related to the nature of an actual stuck situation.

As a specific example, mud in one geographical location will be different than mud somewhere else. Adding to this variability, are many types of mud one can get stuck in. These different characteristics and types of mud will provide different resistance values. Point is, in the natural world it’s all but impossible to accurately calculate resistance values for any one stuck situation. The only way to arrive at a precise resistance value for any singular recovery effort is to measure the pull with a dynamometer (a device using for such measurements, particularly in the hoisting industry). Short of using this device, any resistance value calculated is purely approximate. In my humble opinion, the calculation of approximate resistance values in the STOPA Checklist serve four important purposes. They:

Can help the inexperienced off-roader understand the forces involved in practically all recovery efforts.
Can help the inexperienced off-roader avoid recovery missteps and failures.
Can help those that are nervous and running on adrenaline to focus on the recovery effort at hand. This will help them avoid exceeding the minimum tensile strength of recovery equipment and accessories.

4. Are of teaching value for those beginning to learn the dynamics of recovery and stuck extraction.

WreckMaster Resistance Numbers – The Best in the Industry. The resistance values in the Checklist come directly from WreckMaster, the preeminent North American tow truck training company. Their resistance values have been scientifically determined by quantitative methodology and validated by years of in-field experience.
Begin Recovery Efforts with Low-Energy Strategies. Working through a thoughtful stuck assessment will help you decide on an initial recovery effort that is both safe and involves the lowest energy tactic with the highest probability of success. In many cases, you can extract yourself from the majority of off-road stuck situations by simply:

Airing down your tires down further.
Making sure you are in 4WD. Perhaps even 4-low for extra torque.
Shoveling terrain away from around your tires and vehicle.

4. Building up terrain (such as stacking rocks in a deep hole).

5. Using low-impact traction aiding devices such as electronic traction control, lockers, a sway-bar release, or traction boards (e.g., MAXTRAX or Crux Offroad Bridging Ladders).

There is so much more to the topic of 4WD off-road recovery than we can outline on The Adventure Portal. If you really want to help yourself and others when stuck in the remote backcountry, begin by developing your knowledge on the topic. Once you have this knowledge, practice, practice, and then practice some more. Practice skills the right way – use what we call “best practices” when trying out new procedures. My book, The Total Approach to Getting Unstuck Off Road, is in a step-by-step format with lots of photos. Yes, it’s best to take recovery training from a recovery professional (see the website DiscoverOffRoading.com for my upcoming courses). However, if no training is available near where you live, my book can be used to practice at your home or on a local trail. Go out and train with some of your off-roading friends. Make a day of it, and always practice with new recovery equipment prior to needing it in the field under actual circumstances. Use my book and the STOPA Stuck Assessment and Recovery Plan Checklist™ to guide your practice. It’s an honor to help you feel more comfortable in the remote backcountry when things go bad. Never stop preparing for the worst.

STOPA Stuck Assessment and Recovery Plan Checklist™Download

Check out Off-Road Recovery Part One HERE

Check out Off-Road Recovery Part TWO HERE

Live Long to Wander: Basic Survival for Vehicle-Supported Adventures – $25.95 BUY HERE
Raising Your 4WD Vehicle Off-Road & In-Field Tire Repair – $44.95 BUY HERE
The Total Approach of Getting Unstuck Off Road – $59.95 BUY HERE

________________________________________________________

Off-Road Recovery – Part Two

Bob Wohlers

TAP Editor’s Note: The following is part two of a three-part series on off-road recovery. The author, Bob Wohlers, teaches government, corporate, and recreational off-roading as a full time profession. He is one of only a handful of fulltime 4WD trainers in the USA. Some of the content in this multi-part series comes from Bob’s book The Total Approach to Getting Unstuck Off Road – 4WD Self-Recovery & Vehicle-Assisted Recovery. While other authors of 4WD books try to cover the topic of recovery in a single chapter, Bob has the only complete book on the topic – 352 pages of step-by-step information.

There’s No Embarrassment in Getting Stuck Off-Road

If You…

As I tell my all of my students, “Off-Road long enough and you will get stuck in the remote backcountry.” Prepare for that day, then prepare some more – with knowledge, skills, and off-road recovery equipment that you should carry along on your journeys.” What can happen? Here’s some possibilities:

You get bogged down in deep, greasy, gumbo-like mud; one wheel from each axle begins to spin.

Hisssssss. You hear another tire leaking; you just had your second flat.

Your off-road trailer bounces off a large rock during a sharp turn and lands on its side.
Your 4WD truck is high-centered on a ridge perpendicular to the trail; wheels on both axles are off the ground with no traction.
While driving an icy route, your vehicle slips sideways, down into a deep rut on the side of the trail and almost tips over. Your wheels have no traction.
Snow from the middle of the trail has piled up under your vehicle and your forward motion is completely halted.
You’ve accidentally tipped your vehicle over on its side on a very narrow trail.

Your vehicle catches on fire in the remote backcountry.

You get the point. Someday, you will get stuck. It happens to everyone. Hopefully when it happens, no one gets hurt. There are thousands of ways off-roaders have their progress terminated or hampered when driving off road.

Let’s be honest. Getting stuck off road is often due to driver error. We all make errors, from the most experienced to the least. Errors can be due to a lack of off-road driving skills. You may misjudge the amount of momentum you need to climb a sandy dune or pick a poor line while traversing a rocky trail. Errors can be due to a lack of knowledge. It’s easier to get stuck when you don’t have a basic knowledge or understanding of your 4WD vehicle or the terrain you are traversing. Errors can also be due to a poor attitude, such as “showing off” in front of peers or performing vehicle maneuvers that defy common sense. I call this a “hold my beer, watch this” mentality. In my opinion, this type of attitude lacks maturity.

Regardless of the reason for getting stuck, it is a part of off-roading. So, if you aren’t thoughtless, cavalier, or alcohol-fueled, there is no real dishonor in getting stuck off road. You will make errors when off-roading or overlanding. Sometimes you get stuck even when you do everything right. There’s no embarrassment in getting stuck if you do all you can to mitigate potential difficulties. Here’s how to lessen backcountry difficulties:

Take Training from an Expert. Taking formal training from a professional off-road educator can reduce your chances of getting stuck in the remote backcountry. You don’t know what you don’t know. A knowledgeable off-road recovery trainer can teach you all the ways you can avoid getting stuck and what to do when you do.

Venture Within Your Personal Limitations and Abilities. Especially in remote and international settings, you need the proper knowledge, attitude, and skills to problem-solve and get unstuck. Avoid driving a remote trail or section of a trail solo that is beyond the capabilities of both you and your vehicle. If you are solo and reach an extremely challenging section of trail, think about your capabilities. If you decide to attempt the challenging section of trail, plan how you would recover should you get stuck, or the situation worsens.
Venture Within Your Vehicle’s Capabilities. Not all 4WD vehicles are created equal. Even 4WD vehicles designed from the factory to venture off road have limitations. You will probably get stuck if you push your vehicle beyond its capabilities.
Know Your Vehicle Intimately. Today’s off-road-specific 4WD vehicles are more complex than in the past. Many have traction-aiding features that should be mastered to get the most from a vehicle. Whether you purchase or build your 4WD, learn how your vehicle functions to avoid getting stuck. To keep from getting stuck, you also need to know intimately your vehicle’s, including lift clearance, articulation capability, and angles (approach, breakover, and departure).
Travel With Other Vehicles. Recovery efforts are almost always easier and more relaxed mentally when traveling with other vehicles into the remote backcountry. This is especially true when you also are traveling beyond your country of origin and within Third World countries. Having other vehicles along on a journey also widens your recovery options. Now you can use vehicle-assisted off-road recovery methods.
Have With You and Know How to Use Traction-Aiding Devices. Traction-aiding devices can be built into your vehicle (e.g., lockers, airing down tires, electronic traction control) or taken along with you when you are off-road (e.g., traction boards, shovel). Use as many traction-aiding devices as you have available to completely avoid getting stuck. When you do get stuck, use the same devices to methodically assist you in your recovery efforts.
Have the Correct Kit, Accessories, or Tools to Get Unstuck. It’s hard to carry every piece of recovery gear with you on every trip. If you’ve researched the trail prior to departure, you should have an idea as to the type of terrain you may need to traverse, helping you bring the right equipment. When with a group of vehicles, you can divide essential equipment between all the vehicles (e.g., not every vehicle may need a heavy Hi-Lift Jack).
Practice Recovery and Problem-Solving Skills at Home. Practice your skills at home prior to stressful situations in the remote backcountry. Recovery and problem-solving proficiencies are all perishable skills that should be practiced periodically when not under duress.
Research the Trail You Intend to Drive. Regarding knowledge of a particular trail, get as much accurate information from a qualified source as possible. Keep in mind that trails can change for the worse after one day of intense rainfall or earth movement. In reality, you can never have enough information about a trail. Have several maps that show the trail, as each may tell you something different about the surrounding area and the possible side routes. Before heading out to a trail, try to get current, up-to-date information from other off-roaders and local land-management officials. What’s the water level in streams you need to cross, are there wildfires in the area, what’s the trail’s difficulty rating, what is the typical temperature in the area at the time of use? Answering questions such as these and mining important information can help keep you from getting stuck on a really difficult trail, beyond your capabilities.
Solve Problems in a Methodical and Effective Manner. When stuck off road, follow an intelligent problem-solving checklist that results in a complete stuck assessment and an effective recovery plan. We will cover this topic in part three of this series in The Adventure Portal.
Try Low-Energy Methods of Recovery First. As often as possible, first try low-energy and/or saferrecovery techniques (e.g., shovel use, lowering tire pressures, use of traction boards) before trying other, more aggressive and higher energy methods (e.g., kinetic energy, winching) of getting unstuck.

Refuse to Get Frustrated During Off-Road Recovery Events. When you do get stuck, calm yourself. Stop, Think, Observe, Plan, and then Act.
Avoid Hurried Recovery Efforts Due to Peer Pressure. Don’t let others on a trail hurry your recovery efforts to get unstuck.
Safeguard the Environment During Off-Road Recovery Operations. Sometimes getting unstuck in the remote backcountry means disturbing the environment just a bit to get out and going again. A good driver minimizes this disruption as much as possible. In the end, however, you’ll need to do what is necessary to get home alive.
Use Common Sense. Most of the above points have to do with common sense. Same for the use of drugs or alcohol that may be contrary to safe driving. Use your common sense each and every time you get stuck off road.
Be Prepared with Survival Knowledge, Skills, and Kit. Should you not be able to recover and get unstuck if you are remote and solo in the backcountry, you need to have the knowledge, skills, and kit to remain comfortable for several hours, a couple of days, or even a week or two should an adventure or work-related incident go bad. The companion Off-Road & Overland Adventure Info Book Live Long to Wander – Basic Survival for Vehicle-Supported Adventures is a must-read for all vehicle-supported adventurers.

Fun fact: Lori and Andy from TAP are the “injured” couple on the cover.

Live Long to Wander: Basic Survival for Vehicle-Supported Adventures – $25.95 BUY HERE
Raising Your 4WD Vehicle Off-Road & In-Field Tire Repair – $44.95 BUY HERE
The Total Approach of Getting Unstuck Off Road – $59.95 BUY HERE

________________________________________________________

Guide to Off-Road Recovery – Part One

Bob Wohlers

TAP Editor’s Note: The following is part one of a three-part series on off-road recovery. The author, Bob Wohlers, teaches government, corporate, and recreational off-roading as a full time profession. He is one of only a handful of fulltime 4WD trainers in the USA. Some of the content in this multi-part series comes from Bob’s book The Total Approach to Getting Unstuck Off Road – 4WD Self-Recovery & Vehicle-Assisted Recovery. While other authors of 4WD books try to cover the topic of recovery in a single chapter, Bob has the only complete book on the topic – 352 pages of step-by-step information.

This book can be easily purchased on Amazon by clicking HERE. Bob also has two other 4WD specific books available on Amazon, each designed to help protect people, vehicles, and the environment: 1) Raising Your 4WD vehicle Off Road & In-Field Tire Repair 2) Live Long to Wander – Basic Survival for Vehicle-Supported Adventures To learn more about Bob Wohler, visit his website www.DiscoverOffRoading.com.

Off-Road Recovery:

Categories & Types

For this article series, it’s important to first define off-road recovery. Recovery is a generic term used by off-roaders to define how to get a 4WD vehicle going again once loss of traction or mechanical malfunction halts all vehicular motion. Recovery from being stuck means to get rolling again – to continue self-powered movement or to be towed by another functional vehicle.

As with most broad subjects, off-road recovery can be divided into smaller categories and situations. To intelligently examine the most common off-road recovery methods used to get unstuck, unbogged, and moving again, an easily remembered synopsis in chart form is helpful. The chart shown in this article summarizes the most common recovery methods.

Two Primary Categories of Off-Road Recovery

All off-road recovery efforts can be divided into two primary categories. An off-road backcountry recovery effort may:

Use another vehicle = Vehicle-Assisted Recovery, or
Not use another vehicle = Self-Recovery.

Self-recovery means getting unstuck (“recovered”) without the motive assistance of other vehicles. Vehicle-assisted recovery means getting unstuck (“recovered”) with the motive assistance of one or more unstuck, working vehicles. Of course, there are hybrid situations.

Six Types of Off-Road Recovery

Within these two primary recovery categories, there are essentially six very different types of off-road recovery. The following is an overview of the content in my entire book, The Total Approach to Getting Unstuck. Let’s briefly look at each type.

Field Repair Recovery

The act of field repair recovery does not necessarily require the motive power of another vehicle. It is essentially a form of self-recovery when viewed from the perspective of being solo and remote in the backcountry. Other vehicles may be present, and their occupants may even help or loan you tools and spare parts, but rarely do you need their actual vehicle to assist you (unless they have to tow you out – then it’s vehicle-assisted recovery).

The various aspects of extensive vehicle-specific powertrain and electrical repairs are beyond the scope of my book. Of course, it would be nice if we all could become certified vehicle repair technicians. For most recreational off-roaders however, this is not typically the case. Specific to field repair recovery, this book doescover the narrower, but very important topics of:

Fire extinguishing
The basics of in-field welding
Battery jumping by portable emergency units
In-field tire repairs

Since these are generic topics and not dependent on vehicle model specificity, off-roaders should have some experience in these four forms of field repair recoveries.

It should be noted here, however, the more repairs and maintenance you perform at home on your vehicle, the more you learn. Knowing how to perform some in-field repairs helps you become increasingly self-reliant in the field. This is especially true of suspension and power train maintenance and repairs. Further, unless necessary, avoid having aftermarket parts added to your vehicle by a mechanic. The more you personally do to your vehicle, the greater familiarity you have with it should something breakdown in the field.

Traction Recovery

Traction recovery can include engaging or using any traction-aiding strategy, equipment, or mechanical traction control system or device. Traction-aiding strategies include airing down tires, trail reconstruction or reconfiguration, solving a cross-axle traction problem, solving a high center, and moving a vehicle sideways on a trail to better traction. Traction-aiding equipment includes traction boards, mats, bridging ladders, snow chains, and even a simple shovel. Mechanical traction control systems (e.g., electronic traction control, downhill assist) or devices (e.g., sway bar release, differential lockers) can assist with traction recovery, but are best used to help you keep from getting stuck in the first place.

Since the act of traction recovery does not necessarily require the motive power of another vehicle, it is essentially a form of self-recovery when viewed from the perspective of being solo and remote in the backcountry. When you are stuck in the remote backcountry, using traction recovery strategies and equipment should be a major first consideration.

Powered Winch Recovery

Powered winch recovery uses vehicle-mounted electric or hydraulic powered winches; it can be used for either self-recovery OR vehicle-assisted recovery. If you have a functional winch attached to your vehicle, you can perform self-recovery. If your winch doesn’t work, it is attached to the wrong end of your vehicle, or you don’t have one and another vehicle does, then powered winch recovery is vehicle-assisted. Powered winch recovery is the only type of recovery present in each category – self-recovery AND vehicle-assisted. It is this fact that makes winching very special when stuck off road. The fact that powered winching can be for self-recovery and vehicle-assisted recovery emphasizes the reason why most off-roaders believe a winch is an essential piece of equipment.

Hand Winch Recovery

This type of self-recovery can include the use of any hand winch, such as the Hi-Lift Jack, the More Power Puller, or in some cases a simple but stout come-along. As you’ll discover in my book, hand winching can be valuable even if you have a powered winch on your front bumper and want to winch your vehicle backwards.

Kinetic Energy Recovery

This is a vehicle-assisted recovery effort only, as it requires the motive power of a non-stuck vehicle. Kinetic energy recoveries use a stretchable (nylon) kinetic energy recovery rope (KERR), or kinetic energy recovery strap (KERS) between a stuck and a recovery vehicle.

Towing Recovery

This type of vehicle-assisted recovery is the extraction of a dysfunctional 4WD out of the backcountry by either a commercial tow truck or recreational 4WD vehicle. Vehicle-assisted battery jumps often come from tow trucks or other 4WD vehicles, so they are included in this type of recovery.

To be a more expert off-roader or overlander, you need to know how to safely and effectively perform all six types of recovery. Being capable in the remote backcountry gives you comfort and confidence as you tackle challenging terrain.

Knowing how to recover stuck vehicles is important not only for yourself, but also for those you might find on the trail that need a helping hand. As any seasoned overlander will tell you, you will use your recovery knowledge, skills, and equipment more on others than you will on yourself. I can tell you from first-hand experience, it’s a joy to help someone on their way when they are stuck and without hope in the remote backcountry. Think beyond yourself. Be a “lifter” not a “leaner.”

Total Recovery Approach to
Getting Unstuck Off Road™

Self-Recovery	Vehicle-Assisted Recovery
Field Repair Recovery * Fire Extinguishing * Portable Emergency Battery Jumps * In-Field Tire Repairs * In-Field Welding * Powertrain Repairs – Motor, Transmission, Transfer Case, Drive Shafts, Axle Assemblies, Steering and Suspension Components	Powered Winch Recovery (Winch is mounted on the recovery vehicle)
Traction Recovery * Engaging 4WD * Increasing Tire Traction – Using Traction Boards, Mats, Bridging Ladders – Using Snow Chains – Airing Down Tires – Trail Reconstruction or Reconfiguration – Solving a High Center – Moving a Vehicle Sideways on a Trail – Solving Cross-Axle Low Traction – Engaging Electronic Traction Control Systems – Engaging Lockers – Disengage Front Sway Bar	Kinetic Energy Recovery * Using Kinetic Energy Recovery Ropes (KERR) * Using Kinetic Energy Recovery Straps (KERS)
Powered Winch Recovery (Winch is mounted on the stuck vehicle) Hand Winch Recovery (Winch is used to recover stuck vehicle)	Towing Recovery * By Non-Commercial 4WD Vehicle * By Commercial Tow Truck * Vehicle-Assisted Battery Jumps

The Total Approach of Getting Unstuck Off Road – $59.95 BUY HERE
Live Long to Wander: Basic Survival for Vehicle-Supported Adventures – $25.95 BUY HERE
Raising Your 4WD Vehicle Off-Road & In-Field Tire Repair – $44.95 BUY HERE

Check out more Training Articles HERE:

________________________________________________________

TOOR – Under the Flag

Andy Palmer

Toor Knives, overland, over land, off-road, off-roading, vehicle supported adventure,

Today on “Behind the Wheel” we sit down with Connor Toor from Toor Knives, an up-and-coming knife brand out of our home town San Diego. Great to meet you Connor and firstly let me say you guys make beautiful knives. I personally love knives, so let’s jump in to find out a little about Toor.

What’s your background and what led to starting Toor Knives?

I started my manufacturing career in the skateboard industry, where I ran a few different types of machines and learned a little about process engineering. We built 7 and 8-ply skateboards using various types of woods, epoxies and CNC Machines. From that point on, I had the urge to create. However; soon after, I decided to join the Marine Corps where I served for eight years and saw first-hand the demand for good fixed blade duty knives. So, I began to tinker in my backyard with a forge and anvil, and made the first few Toor Knives ever (which I ultimately gave to friends that I was serving with). Needless to say, they all loved the blades and began sharing them with their friends and word of mouth demand began to grow. One thing led to another, and here we are seven years later, manufacturing hundreds of fixed blade knives a day, right here in San Diego!

Tell us about the company and the people involved.

The Company has never been a “Company” – it’s always been a passion and a hobby, and I strongly believe that all of the people involved feel the same exact way. Every day we get to come to work, be creative, and develop new products that our industry has never seen before. The experience we have pooled from all of our employees is truly incredible! From engineering to machining to photography or web development, we would be nowhere near where we are today without the amazing talent from our whole team. On top of this, over 70% of our staff are military veterans!

It’s been a crazy time these past 12 months, how has Covid affected the business?

Covid has not made running a business easy, that’s for sure! In March of 2019 we had to make the difficult decision to shut down the factory for a month. Most of us would work from home and some of us would still come in everyday and keep the lights on. We were fortunate enough to take on a few government orders deeming us as an essential California business, which allowed us to bring back our staff. From there, we fought hard and produced as many blades as we could, in order to make up for the lost time. We re-invested in infrastructure in the machine shop and added another six CNC machines to help with production. We were extremely fortunate to see that the more blades we produced, the more we sold! The entire team here in San Diego knows we owe all of this to our supporters. They have stuck with us the whole way, which allowed us to grow and become one of the largest knife manufacturers in California.

Looking into the knife category it seems saturated and certainly dominated by large brands. What makes Toor stand out from the crowd?

Yes, there certainly are a lot of knife companies in the industry, but most don’t have the real-world product experience we do, and that’s what I truly believe sets us apart from the rest of the market. We weren’t interested in making blades that people would just look at and enjoy on their mantle – instead, we wanted to make knives that our buddies from the Marine Corps and Special Operations community would actually wear. The development of fixed blades had been relatively weak prior to the Global War on Terrorism, and it left a huge whole in the market. Everybody was used to carrying small folding knives or pocketknives, because a strong fixed blade was never necessary. The only fixed blades on the market were large bulky “Hollywood” blades that weren’t very practical. While in Afghanistan, I really learned the value of having a strong blade on your gear, without taking up too much space. This idea of ‘Tactical Minimalism’ is huge for the Military and Law Enforcement communities, but no other knife companies were producing fixed blades, with this in mind. I figured that if this concept was true for the Tactical industry, it is just as true for the Outdoor industry, so we developed blades for both. To summarize, I’d say we stand out in a crowded marketplace because our blades are not only purpose-built, but they are made from the highest quality materials in the world and deliver tactical minimalism to the end-user. Additionally, all of our sheaths are also made, in-house, which is rare for a knife company.

I believe everything is made in the USA? That’s a big deal these days. Can you tell me a little about the manufacturing process and what’s the difference between Made in the US or simply overseas?

I decided to take on all manufacturing pretty early on, and had no idea what I was getting myself into! We bought every necessary machine and learned how to program them as well as taught ourselves how to finish, assemble and sharpen blades – not knowing how difficult it would prove to be. I always say that the reason I got into manufacturing was because I was naïve and figured it would be easier then try and plan the logistics behind having someone else produce the blades for us. Once we dove into the process, everything started to mean a hell of a lot more to us. As we hired more and more staff, we began to see how significant it was to provide American jobs and train people to make knives. Though it was the most difficult task we took on, it was the most rewarding, and today, we can proudly say that every part of our blades, down to the screws, are made right here in San Diego, CA!

In the current sea of marketing noise, what’s your tricks to stand out and how do you overcome the weapons promoting ban on social media?

We don’t necessarily consider our blades as weapons. They are tools, and should be treated as such. The operator handling the tool is the weapon, so our marketing has always revolved around promoting the use of our durable blades as tools. Whether the blade is cutting brush or whittling wood, to cutting zip cuffs off of a detainee or defending yourself, the blade is and always will be a tool. That being said, we still can’t buy an ad on social media, so we’ve relied on the organic growth our dedicated audience has provided us.

What do you have specific to the Overland Audience?

Our Outdoor Series of fixed blades and Axes are what we offer to the Overland audience. These blades are purposely built to tackle any heavy-duty tasks out on the trail or within the campsite. We designed them with a tip that’s blunter than usual and fatter blade edges, in order to withstand all the use and abuse that an Overlander or backpacker would put on it. Another issue we addressed was corrosion resistance (which we learned is a big problem in the Overlanding community), as gear likes to rust in wet environments. We added a durable corrosion resistant coating, and designed all of our handles to have multiple layers of epoxy sealed resin, so the wood is built to last a lifetime.

Any new products coming out for 2021 or 2022 that you can reveal to us?

The biggest news coming out of Toor Knives is that we have a full line of frame lock folding knives getting ready to drop, next month! Additionally, we are planning to expand our Outdoor Series, by 3 new shapes! We will be adding a fishing fillet knife, a hunting skinning blade, and an outdoorsman’s everyday carry pocket knife, all in the coming months.

Lastly, any funny knife or business stories to tell?

Haha, yeah, the first time I fired up my forge! Learning knife forging is not easy and learning how to build a forge is even more difficult. Initially, I built my forge out of brick and mortar and cast a concrete fire pot where the coal or coke would sit, and I could put my steel in. The first round of firing up the forge did not go well and it didn’t get to hot enough because I was not pushing air. So, I thought it would be a good idea to attach a blow dryer to a galvanized pipe and fed it into the bottom of the fire pot, in order to give the coal some more “forced air”. Well, I got what I asked for because the forge got to over 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit on my second try! The only problem was I left my first blade in there, and steel tends to melt at around 1500 degrees Fahrenheit… so, when I pulled that first blade out, half of it was gone. This was my introduction to knife making.

Thanks for sitting down with us Connor, and we wish you every success this year and beyond. Can’t wait to test the Toor Axe on our upcoming trips!

Check out Toor Knives HERE

_________________________________________________________

Hawk UTE Flatbed: Finding the perfect rig

Contributor

FWC, FWC Hawk UTE Flatebed, four wheel campers, pop up campers, overlanding campers, overland rigs, overlanding, off-roading, off-road, off road adventure, vehicle supported adventure,

For better or worse, I’ve gotten soft. I turned 50 last year and though I still ride my mountain bike like a 20 year old, albeit one with a gut and less hair, I’ve come to appreciate that enjoying the great outdoors doesn’t have to involve some level of suffering. As a young backpacker I tossed an emergency blanket on the ground, on top of which went my sleeping bag with nothing else between me and nature. I eventually graduated to a sleeping pad, inside a tent. Ten years later, at 30, I bought a Tacoma, installed a shell on the bed and built a plywood platform with gear storage below and an egg crate mattress topper on top. Oh, the luxury! A few years, one wife, and a kid later, we had a rooftop tent on top of an FJ Cruiser with a thick mattress and enough room to sit up and read at night. Then we accidentally bought a motorhome in 2017 and traveled as tourists for a couple of years, until the realization hit that motorhomes are for…other people. It did however, have a heater and a kitchen, a place to sit and eat in bad weather and a comfortable bed. Even electricity to power all the gadgets. If only something existed that offered these amenities and the ability to drive off-road?

I had been familiar with Four Wheel Campers for a number of years and felt like one of their pop-up campers might offer the right combination of luxury and capability, when paired with the right truck. My wife, Melissa, wasn’t so sure. Luckily, I’m stubborn! We visited a dealer where we were able to step inside a camper to get a better feel for the size, layout and features. Eventually Melissa agreed we could order one, “only for weekend trips”. I wasted no time forking over a deposit.

I already owned a Ford F150 SuperCrew with a short bed, so we purchased a reasonably optioned Four Wheel Campers Raven from Denny at the Jackson Hole dealer. We picked it up at the end of September and camped at the base of Shadow Mountain with the entire Teton Range dominating the horizon. Mother Nature must have sensed that I needed a win and sent a couple of inches of snow and sub-freezing temperatures our first night. I fired up the heater and much to my delight, it kept us warm and cozy all night. This was vehicle supported adventure at it’s best!

Over the next fifteen months, we drove over 30,000 miles and spent almost 100 nights in the Raven, including multiple week-long trips and a month in the Pacific Northwest. That motorhome? It sat unused and unloved in our driveway. The ability to access remote overland campsites, where we were more likely to hear coyotes yipping or rivers dancing than noisy neighbors with generators had sealed our fate. We were committed to the Four Wheel Campers lifestyle. There was one problem though; the Raven was too small for a family of three plus dog, mountain bikes, camping, photography and hiking gear. We needed more living area and additional storage space, both of which are offered by the Hawk UTE flatbed camper. The new, larger camper mandated a new, larger truck.

The 2021 Ford F250 Tremor was my undisputed platform of choice for several reasons, including familiarity, reliability, aesthetics and aftermarket support. I placed an order for the truck in September, anticipating a March delivery. However, when I reached out to Denny I was shocked to learn that camper deliveries were thirteen months out. In a stroke of good luck, Denny called in December to advise that he’d had a cancellation on a flatbed order and that if we could make a deposit, we’d have our camper in March! Without hesitation we ordered the camper and a Norweld Deluxe Weekender tray.

We took delivery of the truck two months early, in January. The Norweld tray arrived in February and we had it installed by the incredible crew at Boulder Vehicle Outfitters. Then, in March, our Hawk UTE Flatbed was delivered to Bozeman and I made the long drive to Montana for the camper installation.

An F250 Tremor is quite off-road capable right off the dealer lot. With 35” tires, a small lift, locking rear differential and limited slip front, relocated breather tube, high clearance running boards and several electronic offroad modes, it delivers significant overland performance enhancements in a relatively affordable package. We tend to stray far off the beaten path, often blindly driving dirt roads in search of the best campsites or trailheads. For most people, the stock Tremor would be sufficient. We’re not most people and we’ve planned a number of upgrades and modifications to improve capability and add functionality.

First, we’re addressing suspension by installing a Carli Suspension Pintop system which features custom tuned King remote reservoir shocks. This will increase our ride height, provide more ground clearance and better approach/departure angles, while also allowing for the fitment of up to 37” tires. Carli systems balance on and offroad performance while being known for reliability and durability. At around the same time we’ll install a set of Method Race Wheels and Nitto Ridge Grappler tires. Over the years I’ve run many brands of tires and the Nitto’s have outperformed them all.

Later this spring we’ll install a full suite of KC HiLiTES auxiliary lighting. Traveling backroads and country highways at night can be nerve wracking, as wildlife have a habit of making questionable roadside decisions. Additionally, we fill our days with mountain biking and hiking, which commonly leads to searching for a campsite after the sun’s down. We’ll mount a pair of Flex Era 4’s on the A-pillars for use as “ditch lights” and a combination of either Flex Era 4 spots and floods on the bumper to improve long distance and peripheral lighting.

Even the best drivers benefit from a properly armored offroad rig. I am not the best driver, which makes it that much more important to protect our rig with an offroad bumper, skid plates and rock sliders. The bumper will house a winch and we’ll attach a set of MAXTRAX recovery boards to the rear rack of the camper. We typically travel solo and the ability to self-rescue is critical. Off-road driving is eminently more comfortable when tires are aired down, but unless the trail ends at a gas station you’ll need to be able to air up when you return to pavement. For this we’ll install an ARB air compressor.

We ordered a well optioned Hawk UTE Flatbed and because these campers are so well sorted from the factory there are very few upgrades necessary. In retrospect, our time with the Raven was a trial run. We learned what worked, what didn’t, and what options we couldn’t live without, one of which was hot water. I am admittedly soft, and having the ability to splash warm water on my delicate face will be welcome. I’m actually most excited about not having to boil water to clean greasy dishes. Our Raven had dual 6 volt batteries but it was not equipped with solar. We never ran out of juice, but we came dangerously close multiple times. For that reason, we opted to install two solar panels on the roof of our Hawk UTE Flatbed to continuously feed the batteries. Other notable options include a 130 liter refrigerator, outside shower, side and rear facing LED flood lights, the requisite heater, an insulative thermal pack and dual roof vents with one reversible fan. Though Four Wheel Campers flatbed models offer substantial storage, there’s always room for more. We’ve installed multiple storage pouches from 4XLand4XSea and an Overland Gear Guy kitchen organizer. These attach to the velcro at the bottom of the thermal pack, making it easy to add storage right where we need it. We’re installing a 1,500 watt inverter to power one of the outlets that we’ll use to run small appliances and electronics. At some point we may also install a second reversible fan. We need all the cooling power we can get on those warm desert nights!

We’re based in Moab, and many of our adventures take place within a couple hours drive but we also embark on several longer trips each year. We usually escape the desert heat in summer for a few weeks in cooler climes of the Pacific Northwest or northern Rockies.

In winter, we head the other direction to the Sonoran Desert where snow and sub-freezing temperatures are rare. Wherever we go, we seek out the most beautiful trails to mountain bike and hike, staying at remote, off-grid campsites with breathtaking views. We’re confident the F250 and Four Wheel Campers Hawk UTE Flatbed will provide the perfect platform for family adventures on which we’ll create lifelong memories.

________________________________________________________

Check out more of Bret’s amazing work at https://www.bretedge.com

For more Pop Up Camper stories, CHECK HERE

Walkabout Series RTT by 23ZERO

Andy Palmer

Many Roof Top Tents look similar, but when you get up close, they’re certainly not all made equal. Here’s a look at the impressive expedition ready Walkabout Series by 23Zero.

Featured Product: Sponsored Content

_________________________________________________________

23Zero:

Walkabout Series

23 ZERO ROOF TOP TENT WITH LIGHT SUPPRESSION TECHNOLOGY

The Walkabout™ series of roof top tents are year-round tents allowing you to live the roof top tent lifestyle any time of year, in any climate. Our RTT’s are built with a durable and waterproof polycotton material that comes equipped with our revolutionary Light Suppression Technology.

What Is Light Suppression Technology (LST)?

The 280GSM Ripstop Poly cotton Canvas with Light Suppression Technology® blocks over 90% of sunlight so you can enjoy a great night’s sleep and wake when you decide – not as soon as the sun rises. The material also keeps the tent up to 20% cooler, providing you with a cool oasis for midday relaxation on a hot afternoon.

Made to last for years

The Walkabout™ series tents are easy to mount and set up while camping and can deploy to the left or right side of a vehicle. The base is constructed with an alloy frame and all metal moving parts, reducing weight without sacrificing strength and durability. The Walkabout roof top tent comes with a 3” thick Sleep Comfort Rebound Mattress providing you with an incredibly comfortable sleep wherever your travels take you. The insulation foam bonded into base also helps to reduce condensation and insulate the tent from the cold.

The extension over the telescoping ladder keeps you covered when exiting the tent while still leaving room for the optional annex. The extension hoop is attached to the tent and utilizes a lever lock to adjust and attach to the snow pole to keep tension with minimal pooling, even in heavy rain.

The attention to detail is what really makes a difference, with features such as reinforced stitching or “bar tacks” at key points such as the fly attachment points and the double layer window toggles. The attachments that go into the seam joints are the same waterproof material as the tent body keeping the tent fully waterproof and eliminating any water ingress points.

The hinge point outer cover has been enlarged and reinforced and an internal cover added as well to keep out the weather and bugs. The front and rear doors that cover the zipper are weighted to reduce them flapping about when unzipped. Select models offer you a choice of annex height to match your vehicle’s mounting position. You can even view the cosmos in all its glory by unclipping the rain fly and staring through the sky view windows before drifting off to sleep.

Features

High quality 280GSM Ripstop polycotton canvas

Four sizes available 56”(double bed) , 62” (queen bed), 78” (Cal king bed) & 87” (super huge)

3” Thick Sleep Comfort Rebound Mattress with a cotton top and waterproof base to provide maximum sleeping comfort, insulate the tent from the cold and eliminate the need for a condensation mat

Skyview panels allowing you to control the light that comes in and stargaze at night

Built for quick and easy set up and pack down

All metal moving parts delivers strength and durability while keeping weight down

Annex and Accessories shown are optional extras and not included with tent

2 Year Warranty

WALKABOUT SERIES: MSRP $1,649 – $2,199

Contact (855) 875-7755 info@23zero.com

_______________________________________________________

Featured Product: Sponsored Content

1...495051...103 Page 50 of 103

The Adventure Portal

Off-Road Recovery – Part Three

It’s More than “Brewing a Cup of Tea”

Check out Off-Road Recovery Part One HERE

Check out Off-Road Recovery Part TWO HERE

Off-Road Recovery – Part Two

There’s No Embarrassment in Getting Stuck Off-Road

Guide to Off-Road Recovery – Part One

Off-Road Recovery:

Check out more Training Articles HERE:

TOOR – Under the Flag

Check out Toor Knives HERE

Hawk UTE Flatbed: Finding the perfect rig

Check out more of Bret’s amazing work at https://www.bretedge.com

For more Pop Up Camper stories, CHECK HERE

Walkabout Series RTT by 23ZERO

23Zero:

Walkabout Series

23 ZERO ROOF TOP TENT WITH LIGHT SUPPRESSION TECHNOLOGY

What Is Light Suppression Technology (LST)?

Made to last for years

Features

WALKABOUT SERIES: MSRP $1,649 – $2,199

EVEN MORE NEWS

The XT12HR Off-Grid Extreme Travel Trailer

Overland Gear for Every Adventure

An Overland Adventure Tour In Costa Rica

POPULAR CATEGORY