2011 Trail Edition 4Runner

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4Runner Off Road, OFF-ROADING, OVERLAND RIG, OVERLANDING, vehicle supported adventure, off-road rig,

I’ve always loved Toyotas and over the past 30+ years there’s always been one in my driveway. I remember the first generation 4Runners hitting the market in the mid 80’s and I just thought to myself… “someday”. My first 4Runner was a 3rd generation two-wheel drive, 4 cylinder, manual transmission. My love for the outdoors led me away from paved roads where I found myself wondering what was beyond the obstacles and rocks that I would not dare attempt with my 2-wheel drive. Seeing a muffler and various vehicle parts on the road was enough to get me to realize that I was limited with what I had and to safely venture further on these off-beaten paths would definitely require a modified 4-wheel drive off-road capable vehicle.

When the 5th generation Trail Edition KDSS appeared on the market, I just had to have one and could finally afford it, so I traded in my 1998 4Runner for the 2011 Trail Edition. It delivered the smooth road ride I wanted for family trips and reduced the body roll that was sometimes a bit scary with my 3rd gen. Then I started to interact more with the off-road community both face-to-face and online and learned about the importance of both protecting the undercarriage and of having rocker panels. While there were not many aftermarket parts for 4Runners available at the time, I did find that ShrockWorks had the rock sliders I needed; my first modification!

Wanting more of the off-road experience, I took a run into Joshua Tree via Berdoo Canyon Road. While today I would consider it an easy route, back then my wife and I got a bit nervous on a few of the obstacles scraping the front stock bumper and undercarriage in this stock vehicle. Thinking about the possibility of causing serious damage, I began to search for off-road training and came across Badlands Off-Road Adventures 4WD Training School. Enrolling in the beginner’s class at Hungry Valley is where I learned a great deal about the fundamentals of driving off-road and the necessary equipment to be safe. After attending the Off-Road Expo in Pomona, the build was on!

With a bit research, I felt the Gobi Stealth Rack with all its available accessories fit my needs providing a mount for my Hi-Lift jack, a tool box, and a high point to fly a safety flag. But with front and rear bumpers and skid plates there wasn’t much to choose from back in 2012. Luckily I discovered a local small business, American Overland Expedition (AOE), who specialized in custom modifications for off-road enthusiasts. Working with them, I explained what I wanted and they delivered. The custom front bumper houses a Warn XP9000 winch with wireless control equipped with 3/8”x 80” synthetic winch line with safety thimble threaded through a Viking 100 Series Hawes Fairlead. A Rigid Industries 20” light bar is mounted on the front bumper.

The custom skid plate system is 3/8” aluminum protecting the engine transmission and Tcase. A ShrockWorks skid plate protects the gas tank. The rear bumper carries the spare, two 4 gallon Rotopax fuel containers, a Pull-Pal Winch Anchor 11000, and allows room for original tow hitch. It also provides multiple locations to mount antenna.

Having the KDSS suspension system limits the amount of lift you should add to the 4Runner, so it is equipped with an Icon Stage 2 suspension system providing 2 1/2” of lift. Tires are (LT285 70/R17) 33” Goodyear Wrangler mt/r Kevlar mounted on D558 Anza Fuel Wheels. Having 33” tires on a 5th gen, from my off-road experience, requires a body mount chop. When moving slowly down a steep slope where a turn is required, the front tire wedges itself against the front body mount. To continue to move forward you have to force the tire from this wedged position which will likely throw the alignment off. Been there, done that. AOE handled the body mount chop.

Other modifications include a Kodiak Dual Battery tray holding two PC 1200 Odyssey batteries with an IBS system controller. An IBS monitor display is installed in the interior. A 4×4 sPOD 6-relay source box is mounted in the engine compartment and a contour switch is installed at the bottom of the interiors center console.

For safety and recovery I carry all the standard equipment; fire extinguisher, VIAIR air compressor, ARB tire repair kit, ARB recovery kit, 7/8” x 30” Bubba Rope, extra water, first-aid kit, tools, etc.

I take my rig out to Anza Borrego, Joshua Tree, Lucerne Valley, Mojave Road, and Death Valley, when the weather is bearable. Next year I hope to make my first trip to Moab.

I would consider myself a newbie to this sport having a little over three years of real off-road experience. Attending trade shows was very helpful in that they provided information that allowed me to make informed decisions regarding future mods. Having attended several off-road clinics keeps me in check making sure I don’t get into situations beyond my ability and has left me with understanding that building driver skills is far more important than the vehicle build.

Author and Photographer: Larry Perez
Check out American Overland Expedition custom body armor at aoe4x4industries.com

For more overland and off-road capable rigs, CHECK HERE

Custom built TCTeardrops 5×9 Trailer

By

Lori Palmer

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grant wilson TCTeardrop 1 the adventure portal

We all started somewhere. For me, it was in Saudi Arabia in the back of a Kia Sportage. Then onto a Kelty Palisades 4, then an Rei Kingdom 4 and a smaller 3 person tent for backpacking. But you know what? Tents suck. You may be all like, “I’ve been tent camping for years!” Sure you have. But did you tent camp, have a downpour, pack it up, then move 100 miles, unpack and sleep in it again? Yeah, if you did, you know how crappy it is. If you haven’t, then this article really isn’t for you.

Tent camping has its place. Base camps, Family camping, weekend at the lake, etc. Some of us need portability. For that there is the Roof top tent and trailers. Roof top tents are cool. You can pack em up wet, and open them back up with a dry inside. But once it’s up and deployed, it’s out. No moving. Part of the issue I had with mine (I have a Teupi Kukenam Sky, which I still do love for certain things) was getting set up and wanting to go somewhere, only to have to pack it all up and make the run if you forget something.

So in the end, after going through all the stages of gear preferences, I finally broke down and got a trailer. After checking a number of options, I settled on a TCTeardrop 5×9 trailer with the ground clearance option in order to match the ride height of my car with matching wheels and tires. During the build, Todd at TCTeardrops was more than accommodating with taking care of a few additions that I wanted such as extra wiring, extra items installed, a galley that wasn’t finished so I could customize it, among a number of other small things.

I opted for the Yakima roof rack, rhino rack foxwing with four tapered walls, a basket to put the trailer spare in, and used Bomber Products awning mounts for the ARB awning that is used as a changing room. There is also a misting system installed using the onboard water tank and pump to keep you cool on those warm days.

For those hot or cold nights, a climate right 2500 air conditioner/heater unit can be mounted and used to regulate the teardrop temperature very quickly. We had 70 degree temps in 97 degree heat and 68 degree temps in 28 degree cold. No matter what, you can be comfortable, which is important for the other half!

The trailer has been all over with me. The entire northeast, east coast and now settled in florida. I have over 30 nights in the trailer so far, all with a greats night rest. It goes anywhere the Outback can go and has served me well over the past year. It was a lot of hard work to get it where I have it now, but in the end it was worth it. It’s the perfect campsite basecamp and mobile platform, as well as the best beach trailer ever!

TCTeardrops 5×9 Ground Clearance Model- Specs

Front Box:
Better Built 60” Tool box
Blue Sea Battery Switch
Blue Sea 4 switch panel
110V Input plug
Onboard Battery Charger
110amp hour AGM battery and battery box
Blue Sea 10 circuit Distribution Block
Climate Right 2500 AC Unit
Honda EU2000I Generator
Camp Chef Triton L5 hot water heater
Two extension cords
Water hose
Misc fittings

Interior:
4 LED room lights
2 Dimmable LED reading lights
Storage net
Curtains
Memory Foam Bed
12v Ceiling Fan
12v/USB/voltmeter module

Galley:
15 Gallon water tank
12v Water Pump
Custom built cabinetry
Camp Chef Stove
12v and voltmeter
Edgestar 43t refrigerator
Misc supplies

Check out author Grant Wilson’s 2015 Subaru Outback conversion here and for everything Subaru, check his website offroadsubaru.com

What’s the best part of your overlanding kit? Tell us about it on our forum and TAP into Adventure!

photos: Grant Wilson

First Aid/ Recovery Preparedness

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Contributor

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Recently, I was approached by The Adventure Portal following a series of posts I had published on a Facebook page that I help run, called Overland Jeeps. The articles dealt with what I feel is the necessary safety, first-aid, recovery, and general preparedness gear for an overlanding adventure. Many of you have probably read loads of articles, looked at tons of pictures, and tried time and time again to come up with a solid list of necessary items to bring on a good overland trip. After quite a bit of due diligence and some trial and error, I took the info that I had read and put together a personalized load out pack. This article presents a taylored “conglomeration” of safety items that I carry on each adventure out into the wilderness in order to best prepare myself for the adversity, and obstacles that nature can throw at me. This article will cover the following topics: Recovery Gear, First Aid, Pioneer and Field Repair Tools. This is not a how to, for any of them, nor is it an end all, be all list of gear.

First, a bit of background info. I have done trips all over the United States from Pennsylvania, Colorado, and currently here in the Pacific Northwest, with countless cross-country trips in between. My current load out supports the area in which I live and do most of my current travels, the Pacific Northwest. Make sure to tailor your gear set to the area where you intend to take your rig.

It’s pretty commonly understood that a winch and it’s associated items are a must, so I’ll take some time to talk about some of the lesser mentioned items such as: chains, tow straps, and snatch straps. It is of the absolute utmost importance to know which is which, what they are made of, and how to apply each respectively.

Chains are a great way to give you some additional length to use to get to an anchor point, to use in addition to a Hi-Lift Jack for a manual winch, or as a last effort in a vehicle recovery. There are dangers associated with each of these. So, before using chains in any of these ways, make sure that they are rated to handle the load that you intend to use them on.
Tow straps are a great and quick way to pull a vehicle out of a sticky situation. They are simple to use and easy to deploy.
Snatch straps are what I use as a last resort when a vehicle is bogged down in mud or snow and I can’t get any forward momentum with other types of recovery gear. Snatch straps employ a large amount of kinetic energy. If a pull engages too much force, it can lead to injuries and damage to your vehicle or other equipment. So, handle with care!
Some other great tools to have are traction boards, traction ladders, or traction bags. Each have their own list of pros and cons, and if you intend to purchase them, do your research and choose what will suit your needs best.

My recovery gear includes:

48″ Hi-Lift Jack Extreme
Warn 9.5 cti Winch with Synthetic Rope Line
AEV Hi-Lift Jack Base
Warn Tree Saver Strap
Warn Snatch Strap
2 x 6′ Chains
4 x Warn Screw Pin Shackles
Warn Snatch Block
ARB Single Air Compressor with inflators assembly
ARB Tire Deflator
PB Blaster (to use on an unhappy Hi-Lift Jack)
Pair of Heavy Duty Leather Work Gloves
4 x Light Duty Ratchet Straps

Having all of this equipment is useless unless you have been trained on how to use it. Read owners manuals, take some classes, and work with trusted friends to better familiarize yourself with your recovery gear. I’ve seen people with plenty of gear, but no idea how to use it, resulting in injuries that made a bad situation exponentially worse. With that being said, if you come across a group out there that’s doing something unsafe, speak up. You just might save someone’s life.

My First-aid kits include:

halsing_safety_4 — The light brown bag contains Thoracic Needles to treat Tension Pneumothorax or a punctured lung. These can only be used by those who have specific training and certification to do so.

I carry a few types of First Aid kits in my Jeep at any given time. One is a medium size Trauma Kit that includes things like:

tourniquets
pressure dressings
gauze
splints
tape
combat gauze
scissors
a variety of other items to treat more serious life threatening injuries.

I also have a standard First Aid kit that includes but is not limited to:

bandaids
Neosporin
a sting kit
bite kit
burn cream
mole skin
disposable non-latex gloves
tweezers
safety pin
triangular bandage
antiseptic solution and wipes
cotton balls, swabs

This kit will more likely be your “go to” kit on the trail.

Then there’s one that I recently started put together, after my last trip, that consists of medications to treat:

diarrhea
headaches
muscle aches
nausea.

It wasn’t something I had really thought about until I was on the sick end. I wish in retrospect that I had applied more effort into having this ready to go before my last trip. It would have not only helped me, but a few other people in the group. Luckily someone else had some over the counter medications to help me out with until I kicked it.

Please Note* This is by no means a full list of all items in my first aid kits, just some of my “staples”.

The bottom line when it comes to first-aid is: GET TRAINED.

I cannot stress this enough. Take basic classes too , they are available all over the place and can even be available for free. Having a person that has medical experience and training in your group is paramount. Do not pass over this topic lightly. It can turn a rather mild situation into a life threatening one in no time. Having the skills needed to treat injuries can be the key for either making it to safety or dying in the wilderness.

My Field Repair Kit:

halsing_safety_3 — My field repair kit can fix anything from punctured tires, broken hoses, to snapped belts.

This kit contains:

tire repair kit
epoxies
JB weld
wire
zip ties
duc tape
extra battery terminal connectors…and more.

It sits on my shelf until its time to head out. I have used almost all the components at one time or another and it’s something that has gotten me back home a couple of times. Seriously consider putting something like it together, if you haven’t already.

I keep these on hand at all times:

Gerber Midsize Axe for clearing fallen trees from trails and splitting fire wood.
Craftsman 2.5 lb Hammer for smashing just about everything including parts back into place.
26″ Crowbar for leverage to move rocks or trees and to slip in the pipe handle of a Hi-Lift Jack giving you some extra leverage against heavier loads
28″ Pinch Bar (one flat end, one point end)
24″ Gerber Gator Machete for clearing trail brush
Gerber collapsible Saw for limbing trees so they don’t smash out windows.
Krazy Beaver Shovel for fire pits, breaking ice, shoveling snow, and cutting roots.

Something I have added to my want list is a chain saw. Going out to Copper City wouldn’t have happened if a guy in our group hadn’t had a chainsaw. What an unbelievably valuable tool. It made clearing fallen trees from the trail a breeze. We cleared the trail for not only us, but for people who came after us. To do something that allowed other people, who may not be as well equipped, to get out and enjoy the beauty and historical sites in that area, was a great feeling.

Personal protection in the wilderness is an absolute must. There have been a few situations on the trail when I was glad this is a necessity to me. There is always the possibility of threats during an adventure. Questionable people, while not likely, may be encountered. Wildlife can also present a serious threat. I carry a Side-Arm (Pistol), because I live in a state that permits it. For those who do not, due to state law, or personal choice, there are options. Bear Spray, Mace, Pepper Spray, Tasers, the list goes on. As with anything discussed here, do the research, check your local laws and state regulations, and get trained. Wilderness classes are a great tool to help increase your situational awareness. They train you to be able to identify signs that there could be dangerous wildlife in your area.

Some of the other things that I didn’t discuss are a hygiene kit, my tools, wet weather jacket and pants, various layers of cold weather gear, wool blankets, fuses, 2x 2 gallon Roto Pax Fuel Cans, and the instruction manuals for everything that I have either installed or carry. I also keep AA, AAA, and CR123 Batteries on hand for my LED Lantern, Headlamp, and Flashlight. It’s a good idea to keep at least one set of extra batteries for devices that are used out on the trail.

I use the things in my load out pretty regularly and brush up on the use of items I don’t use as often. This helps ensure a safe overlanding venture. I hope that this was a good read for you, and I want to close by saying, please participate in training events. I really can’t stress this enough. My intent was to present an overview of some of the things I carry and why. My goal was to help. Thanks for reading, and thank you to The Adventure Portal for giving me the opportunity to give back to the overland community, who I have learned so much from! See you out on the trails!

Author and Photos: Andrew Halsing

What are some of your “staple” load out items? Share on our forum and TAP into Adventure!

Solo in the Sierra and Inyo National Forest

By

Andy Palmer

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Every time I leave the I-15 and start heading north along the I-395 into the Sierra, my mind is filled with the prospect of overland and outdoor adventure. Sure the initial area through Adelanto is boring with way too much traffic for the size of the road, but as soon as the highway breaks through that section, thoughts of Trona Pinnacles, Death Valley and the Sierra ricochet around my mind. Eventually, sagebrush desert gives way to the soaring Eastern Sierra and for me, this humble little road is the adventure artery away from, dare I say, “the madness of southern California”.

Our trip was supposed to be a 10-day affair with TAP taking both rigs and doing some serious off the grid exploring. However, like all well thought out plans, things change, so, after some re-arrangements I found myself setting off solo in the Beast with BlueDog as my wingman. Our agenda is fairly loose with the plan of exploring some easy to moderate backcountry trails as we work our way north to Lake Tahoe. We’re also equipped with gear and provisions to keep us away from civilization as long as possible.

Movie Flats Trailhead Sierra — Movie Flats Trailhead Alabama Hills CA

Day 1: Eastern Sierra

The previous week the temperatures had been perfect with highs of mid 80’s and lows of mid 40’s, but unfortunately as I set off, the forecast was calling for a heat wave with day time temps in the low 100’s and night time in the 80’s. With that in mind I figured I’d best gain altitude and stay as high as possible over night. Initially my plan was to camp the first night at Chimney Rock on the trail to Monache Meadows, however a 2 week man hunt 50 miles south of this area for a murdering survivalist, made me think again. I trust BlueDog in a knife fight, but apparently the guy has a semi automatic, so why take the risk. So, we keep going and eventually hit Lone Pine. Definitely too low for comfort in this heat, but we’ll have to suck it up as daylight is waning. The Alabama Hills and Movie Flats seems to be a great area to find some solitude, so we head down the trail to see what we can discover. This is not really a 4×4 trail, but it’s certainly a spectacular location and it’s easy to see why Hollywood has used it as a backdrop for several very famous movies. Pretty soon we find an amazing primitive campsite just off the trail, with an incredible view of the Sierra. We’d love to explore the maze of rounded boulders and weather ravaged gullies, but not this time. It’s been a long day fighting traffic and BlueDog and I are ready for some zz’s. As my head hits the pillow, I make a mental note to come back here again when the temperatures are more acceptable.

Primitive camp spot Alabama Hills 2 — Primitive camp spot Alabama Hills

Day 2: Heading into the White Mountain’s

We both wake early after an uncomfortable night of tossing and turning and trying to keep cool; impossible. BlueDog looks at me with that “what were you thinking?” look on his face. Today, we head north and get up high. The chosen location is the Ancient Bristlecone Pine forests and White Mountains, east of the 395 at Big Pine. With an altitude of 8500-11,500ft things should calm down a little.

Grandview campground Sierra — Grandview campground

An hour after breaking camp we exit the I-395 at Big Pine and head east on the I-168 toward Death Valley. We’ve no interest in becoming desert rats today, so keep rising and exit on White Mountain Road. The geography and temperatures have changed and at 8,500 ft. we pull into Grand View Campground. It’s not like us to set up in an organized environment, but primitive camping is limited in this area so this is a good option. The campsite is “dry” and most sites are large and shaded giving a sense of separation and privacy. If you drive around the campsite loop and take the small trail leading away from the bigger sites, it’s easy to find some very secluded little spots. This is what we did and we didn’t have any neighbors for the two days we camped. Grand view is very popular with star-gazers due to its altitude and lack of ambient light. I saw some pretty amazing telescopes and field equipment and these guys slept quietly all day only to rise at 2am to start their day.

BlueDog Sierra — Blue dog checking out the White Mountains

Blue and I spent two days exploring and hiking this area. The conditions were dry and dusty with daytime temperatures ranging from the mid 70’s to mid 80’s. Still hot, but certainly tolerable. I saw a few bow hunters and hikers, but all in all it was quiet and peaceful. White Mountain Road is easy and graded. I never used 4WD. However, the washboard surface will shake your teeth from your head, so I aired down to 20PSI to make it more comfortable. Due to the altitude of 8,500-11,500ft increasing the potential storm frequency, wet conditions could easily turn certain areas to mud. Also, snowstorms at this altitude could very easily catch you off guard, so always check the weather forecast and be prepared.

Bristlecone Sierra — Ancient Bristlecone Pines

Walking amongst the ancient Bristlecone Pines made me feel young and somewhat small. Not in height or stature, but in purpose. To know that these Ancient Bristlecone trees have graced this earth for 4,000 years is truly humbling. The iconic twisted trunks with their gruesome limbs are a photographers dream, so I recommend visiting them at the golden hours of sunrise or sunset.

White Mountain Road the adventure portal — White Mountain Road

Top of Silver Canyon Trail sierra — Top of Silver Canyon Trail

Day 5: Moving on

After two mellow days it was time to move on, so after breaking camp Blue and I headed down towards the northern end of Bishop via Silver Canyon Trail. The trailhead at 10,500ft is well marked and a couple miles past the visitor center off White Mountain Road. Although a fairly short trail of around 10 miles, it takes you on a descent with very steep and loose switchbacks. I would not like to drive this in wet or icy conditions and it is not for those who are hesitant on narrow, ledge-like trails with exposed drops. The trail is actually so steep that the OEM brakes on the Taco were smoking and lost traction. Our Taco is heavy due to armor and gear, so as I gingerly made my way down in 4low. I made a mental note to upgrade my rotors, pads and brake lines. I’d already lost my brakes this year while towing a trailer down from Cerro Gordo Ghost Town in Death Valley and when you hit that spongy point it’s not fun! After about 6 miles the switchbacks ease off and there are a couple of creek crossings. This time of year they are very easy and great for cooling off my rotors and a bored dog. It would be fun to tackle these crossings after seasonal spring run-off.

Stream crossing on the Buttermilk Trail sierra — Stream crossing on the Buttermilk Trail

Day 6: Getting high in the eastern Sierra

Back on the I-395, Blue and I head out to explore the Buttermilk Trail and finish the day camping primitively in the Coyote Flats area. The Buttermilk Trail starts in typical sagebrush and boulder covered desert terrain and quickly changes as it climbs towards the Sierra foothills. The aspen groves are beautiful here. It is serene with a couple of creek crossings providing a cool down and fun for BlueDog as he hunts for fish for supper. As we explore this trail, we discover pristine primitive camp areas amongst the boulders and trees. This, however is not our planned stopping area, so will have to wait for another time. The trail was 16 miles long and certainly an area I would visit again. I only saw two other vehicles making this a peaceful but hot setting in August. I would imagine that as the fall beauty sets in, the trail would see more traffic due to it’s proximity to Bishop.

Climbing out of McGee Creek area sierra — Climbing out of McGee Creek area

Next stop is the Coyote Flats Trailhead in the SW side of Bishop. It’s 3pm and the temperatures are once again in the low hundreds in the valley. Definitely time to get up to a higher altitude. I’ve heard there are plenty of primitive spots up to 10,000 ft. That’s our plan for tonight. The heat of the day is beginning to weigh on both of us intrepid adventurers.

Coyote Creek Trail Sierra — Coyote Creek Trail

Once again, the trailhead starts in desert sand and I rise up the switchbacks, gaining altitude quickly. The trail is loose and steep and I can hear a vehicle struggling ahead of us. Eventually, I come across a Tundra 4×4 with road tires that has become stuck in sand. Their friends in a 2 door Wrangler are snatch strapping them out and tell me they don’t need extra help. I continue on wishing them luck and fun explorations. The lesson here is that a good set of all terrain tires are just as important as 4×4 transmission when it comes to maintaining traction on steep and loose trails.

Primitive Camp area 10,500ft Coyote Creek Trail sierra — Primitive Camp area at 10,500ft: Coyote Creek Trail

After an hour or so, I climb up to a meadow at around 10,500 ft. We’ve taken a right turn trail away from the more popular Funnel Lake and Coyote Flat Trail and have stumbled across the perfect setting for a peaceful night in the solitude of the Sierra. First things first, I throw a ball for BlueDog for the next 30 minutes before he collapses in a heap beaten into submission by the lack of oxygen. He’s young and fit, but being a sea level athlete has its limitations.

10,800ft Coyote Creek Trail sierra — Elevation 10,800ft: Coyote Creek Trail

The next hour involves setting up camp and cooking up a typical and classic camp meal of sausages and beans. The temperature drops rapidly and even in August I need a light, puffy jacket to keep warm. A no fire ban is in effect, so again as daylights slips away, we hit the sack and pass quickly into dreams of the day. Chasing ground squirrels for BlueDog and lost brakes and stream crossings for me.

Day 7: Hanging out

We spend the next day and night in the Coyote Creek and Coyote Flats area. I truly recommend it as a fantastic region for light overlanding in this beautiful and peaceful Eastern Sierra terrain. Potential primitive camp spots are everywhere and the scenery is beautiful.

10,500ft Coyote Creek Trail sierra — Elevation: 10,500 ft Coyote Creek Trail

Over the next 2 days I had planned to camp and explore the June Lake and Mono Lake area, however once again plans changed. A forest fire had erupted causing smoke pollution and road closures, so we re-grouped and decided to cut out this portion of the trip and drive up I-395 to the Lake Tahoe region.

With any adventure it’s important to be flexible and go with the flow. Although my mid summer trip to the Sierra proved hotter than desired and my journey ended up not taking me to all the places I had wanted to go, it was still a great experience. Sure, I did less challenging trails due to being solo and I’m not going to deny that being in the middle of nowhere alone can be a little daunting at times. This said, the bottom line is that I got to experience the beauty and solitude of the Sierra and can’t wait to go back again in the Fall.

Overlanding: The rise of the machines.

By

Andy Palmer

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“Shackleton went on expeditions, we’re just car camping” – Call it what you like, an expedition, an overland adventure or vehicle assisted adventure, in all reality, the majority of us are basically just car camping. Here at TAP, we’ve noticed a trend as our little industry grows and gets more mainstream attention. We seem to be spending an increasingly amount of time explaining and sometimes justifying, what we do and why we have so much gear. We’re constantly explaining our snorkels, or should I say dorkels and our local Four Wheel Club (Jeepers) wink at each other as they introduce us as “overlanders”. Friends also joke about borrowing our $500 carbon fiber lightweight hammer (actually it cost $20, it’s a standard hammer and came from Home Depot). Hikers scowl at us as we slowly destroy the planet, passing them at 10mph on a designated trail. On social media, traditional rivalries continue unabated between Toyota and Jeep fans and Earth Roamer owners must be dicks, because they’re rich! Roof top tents and trailers are amazing or pointless, as what’s wrong with simply sleeping on the ground in a $100 tent? On and on it goes!

Despite all this, we couldn’t be happier! Yes, we probably have too much gear. Some of it essential, some of it unnecessary and some of it simply frivolous. All of it enjoyed to the full. It doesn’t make us better drivers and it doesn’t make us better campers or adventurers. However, I’m not going to lie, for us, gear is part of the fun of being an overland adventurer. Recently, we’ve also noticed that most four wheel drive magazines and traditional outdoor lifestyle magazines are jumping on the overland band wagon and apparently us adventure car campers are now “on trend”.

TAP will keep on doing our thing. We’ll keep having “adventurous car camping trips “, we’ll keep testing out gear and probably sometimes spend too much money on gear we may not need. So, our advice is this. Buy what you can afford and what makes sense to you and don’t worry about others. Learn how to drive on difficult trails, but also enjoy fire roads where you never engage your 4×4. Plan and dream your adventures and revel in your backcountry car camping. Finally, remember what we all have in common, an A##HOLE and an OPINION.

Enjoy your Expedition and TAP into Adventure!

Rock Crawling in Johnson Valley

By

Lori Palmer

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I looked up behind me after I had gotten out of my jeep and thought, “There is no way in hell that I would drive down that thing.”, while at the same time loving the fact that I just had. I was in Johnson Valley, CA at Cougar Buttes on the Bullfrog Trail with I4WDTA Master Trainer Tom Severin and a group of enthusiasts who had signed up for this rock crawling class. Wimpy? I don’t think so. My rig is expensive and off-road, 4WD training classes have given me a good, solid foundation in smart and safe off-roading. I believe that practice is necessary in order to build skill and knowledge provides a safe foundation to go on.

I’m going to give you a brief recap of the class and encourage any of you who are considering taking your off-roading skills to a new level to find an I4WDTA trainer in your area and sign up for a day of fun.

After signing in and checking all the vehicles for safety items (fire extinguishers, recovery straps, etc.) we met a BLM Ranger who reviewed some outdoor safety rules: no shooting, no glass, stay (non-alcoholically) hydrated, pack your crap out with you, and, “Say hello to my little friend….”. We were educated on the nature of creatures in this rocky, desert environment. He warned us to check under our vehicles when re-entering, after being parked for any length of time, for snakes or scorpions, who may have taken refuge in the shade of a tire.

BLM_snake rock driving class — A Rosie Boa, one of the many creatures to be found out in Johnson Valley.

Gentlemen and lady, start your engines. — Gentlemen (and lady), start your engines.

After our discussion on how to safely co-exist with the spiders, snakes and scorpions in the area, we headed out to Cougar Buttes for some warm up exercises. Tom had three co-instructors who stationed themselves at different points on an obstacle course. One by one, they guided us over each obstacle. They spotted us when we asked for help or were headed for trouble, giving us feedback on the amount throttle to apply and our tire placement. We drove this course three times going one direction, then three times in the opposite direction, in order to get a feel for going up and down obstacles.

Rock_class_The_adventure_Portal_2 — One of our first warm ups

Rock_class_The_adventure_Portal_1 — Same obstacle, opposite direction.

After the first round, the instructors encouraged us to pick our own lines (most of us had required spotting the first time around). We came out of this exercise with feedback based on what the instructors had seen. We were told to always stop as soon as our wheels started to spin. This was contrary to my instinct, which was to pump up the throttle to “get over” whatever my wheels were spinning on. I got a loud, “Stop! you will break something! Back up and choose another line.” We were also told how to steady the amount of throttle by using left foot braking while slowly accelerating, which was counter-intuitive at first, but works well. Going slow, slow, slow reduces the amount of bounce and helps with traction control. We were in 4WD low, first gear most of the day. Oh, and no diff locks. According to Tom, using diff locks is cheating when you are trying to improve your rock crawling skills. Good point.

Some things that were heavily emphasized, were the importance of recon; getting out of your vehicle and scouting your line. Picking a safe line. Ideally, one that allows all your wheels to have traction, your carriage to have adequate clearance and a line that keeps you on camber as much as possible. Also emphasized was the importance of placing your tires on top of rocks when needed, in order to reduce the chance of undercarriage damage.

untitled-4 (2) — Place your tires on top of rocks in order to protect the undercarriage of your vehicle.

Some other words of wisdom: If a front wheel keeps climbing (you are angling at more than 30 degrees)…back up and pick another line. Use rock rails to pivot around a rock. Always scout ahead planning for the next portion of the trail. One thing that I found difficult (and still do) , is wheel cheat (here is a useful diagram/information on wheel cheat). When you pick a line and need to turn around an obstacle, it’s important to modify your turn to allow the back wheels to also go over the obstacle. Use wheel cheat to pull your back wheel up over a rock, rather than pitch the tire between a rock and your rim.

Wheel cheat miscalculations had me back up a few time to get around this pile while navigating a ledge on driver side. — Wheel cheat miscalculations had me backing up a few time to get around this pile while navigating a ledge on driver side.

What a rush! TAP is a big proponent of Off-Road 4WD training courses and highly recommend them to those of you who are somewhat new to the sport as well as the salty old dogs…a bit of a refresher never hurts because as soon as you think you’ve got it wired, mother nature provides something to smack the undercarriage of your rig….just to keep you humble.

rock class The adventure portal — Trainer, Tom Severin, navigating a challenging obstacle at Bull Frog in Johnson Valley.

So, get out there, be safe, stay on designated trails and TAP into adventure! The wheel cheat sheet (ha!) comes from www. rubicon-trail.com a good source of info if the Rubicon is on your bucket list….it’s on mine.

Author, Editor, Photos: Lori Palmer

The Adventure Portal