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“Shock Value” is the game show where two off-road enthusiasts, Ian from Wheel Every Weekend and Braeden from Overland Outfitters, took on the challenge of blind testing various suspension systems on a stock third-gen Tacoma. Did they guess which suspension system was installed? More importantly, which shocks came out on top in a series of rugged tests? Buckle up as we dive into the adventure that unfolded! Introduction To Our Off-Road Aficionados And Their Ride Meet the Contestants and the Tac

Hey there, Tacoma enthusiasts! If you’ve ever wondered what goes into getting a perfect front-end alignment on your beloved truck, you’re in the right place. We recently had a Toyota Tacoma come into the shop for some front-end work and a fresh alignment. Today, we’re sharing a detailed walkthrough of the entire alignment process from start to finish. Whether you’re gearing up for some off-road adventures or just want to keep your daily drive smooth, we’ve got you covered. Let’s dive in! Reflec

As some of you know, we went on a road trip last September to head back to wear I (Braeden) grew up; Haida Gwaii.  Our amazing friends, Ollie and Hailey put together an awesome video (below) about the trip, and Tepui was generous enough to help out a bit!  Hope you enjoy it if you haven't seen it already!  View the full article

Is Now The Greatest Time In History For Wheels & Tires? Goodyear made the first air-filled truck tire in 1916; before that, tires were solid rubber. In 1931, DuPont invented... The post Why Unsprung Weight Matters When Upgrading Wheels & Tires appeared first on Trail4R.com - 5th Gen 4Runner Mods. View the full article

Traversing the rugged topography of the Ontario Highlands, the Bush Chicken is a 730-mile loop composed of 60% gravel and 40% pavement. This guide details the track from the dense forests of Haliburton to the Ottawa Valley, highlighting key discovery points and surface conditions. Prepare for a mix of scenic backroads and technical terrain through this diverse geological province.View the full article

As we move through December and barrel toward a frigid Winter, there are some things you need to consider when you’re traveling and camping by vehicle at this time of year. While you’re probably going to want to avoid high-country trips because of the prospect of high-elevation snow, there’s still a ton of great overland travel to do. It is, after all, “Desert Season,” so let’s get after it and catch up on how to overland during winter. I probably don’t need to tell you that staying dry

There's a particular flavor of sanctimonious bullshit that's infected the overlanding community, and honestly, I'm tired of pretending it's not ridiculous. You know the type - the adventure purists who've appointed themselves the Supreme Court of What Counts , complete with arbitrary rules, minimum requirements, and a smugness that could fuel a small power grid. According to these self-appointed judges, your week-long backcountry trip through the Rockies doesn't qualify. Your carefully...View th

From Africa’s Wild Heart to Canada’s Untamed Backroads Some stories begin with a spark. Ours began with a sunrise over the African savannah. In 2009, on two separate adventures through Malawi, Abbie and Sam crossed paths, two wanderers drawn to the same call of the wild. Africa had captured their hearts: its vast, untamed landscapes, its raw beauty, its vibrant, unshakable spirit. It was a place that taught them what adventure really meant, not just traveling far, but diving deep into the unkn

Lessons learned from a decade of rental experience When you send fully equipped vehicles into Colorado’s backcountry week after week, you learn what works — and what doesn’t — faster than just about anyone. This year, we’ve taken a close look at the ongoing overlanding gear evolution and how those changes affect what actually works in a real-world rental environment.  Every season brings a new wave of innovations in overlanding gear, but running a rental fleet means you don’t have the luxury of

A leveling kit is one of the most popular upgrades for Ford truck owners in St. Louis. It brings the front end up for a stronger stance, improves tire clearance, and reduces factory rake. But when installed incorrectly, leveling kits can create harsh ride quality, poor alignment, rubbing, and steering wander — especially on Missouri highways. Ford F-150 and Super Duty trucks respond differently to leveling, so choosing the correct parts

Many St. Louis Ford truck owners upgrade to lift kits for bigger tires, better trail performance, and a more commanding stance. But the wrong lift kit — or an incomplete one — can lead to steering wander, harsh ride quality, driveline vibrations, and unsafe towing behavior. Ford trucks require lift systems designed around platform-specific geometry. This guide covers how to lift your Ford F-150 or Super Duty correctly and avoid the commo

Steering problems are common among Ford truck owners in St. Louis, especially after adding larger tires or suspension lifts. Wandering on the highway, loose steering feel, and bump-induced shimmy are symptoms of worn components or incorrect geometry — but they are entirely fixable. This guide breaks down the most common steering causes for Ford F-150 and Super Duty trucks and the upgrades that restore stable, confident control.

Upgrading to larger tires transforms the look and capability of Ford trucks across St. Louis, but it also changes the final drive ratio. This leads to sluggish acceleration, excessive downshifting, and weakened towing performance. Regearing restores lost torque and optimizes your truck’s drivability. This guide explains why F-150 and Super Duty owners experience power loss with 35–37 inch tires, how differential gears solve the issue, and what gear r

Upgrading to larger tires transforms the look and capability of Ford trucks across St. Louis, but it also changes the final drive ratio. This leads to sluggish acceleration, excessive downshifting, and weakened towing performance. Regearing restores lost torque and optimizes your truck’s drivability. This guide explains why F-150 and Super Duty owners experience power loss with 35–37 inch tires, how differential gears solve the issue, and what gear r

Many Ford truck owners want both a secure bed cover and the ability to run a functional bed rack for hauling gear, rooftop tents, bikes, recovery tools, and overlanding equipment. The challenge is that not all bed covers and bed racks work together, and choosing the wrong combination leads to interference, leaks, and wasted money. This guide highlights the best bed covers, bed racks, and compatible systems for real-world use throughout St. Louis.

Ford trucks have become some of the most popular platforms for overlanding in Missouri. Whether it's weekend trips through Mark Twain National Forest or long-distance travel across the Midwest, the F-150, F-250, and F-350 offer excellent payload, comfort, and off-road capability. The right upgrades make these trucks even more capable for self-supported travel.  This guide outlines the e

Ford truck owners across St. Louis love modifying their F-150, F-250, and F-350 models. But not every upgrade pays off. Some mods cause ride issues, interfere with daily use, or don’t work well with Missouri weather and terrain. This guide highlights the most common Ford truck upgrades owners regret — and better alternatives that deliver reliable performance. See our full overview

Did We Find The Best All-Around Mud Terrain Ever Made? We just tested a set of 37×12.5R17 Firestone Destination M/T2 tires on the 6G 4Runner, and these are the best... The post Firestone Destination M/T2 Review – The Best Mud Terrain On Wet Roads? appeared first on Trail4R.com - 5th Gen 4Runner Mods. View the full article

How Each Affects Performance, Fuel Economy & Capability If you’ve lifted your 4Runner and added bigger tires (or a bunch of weight), you’ve probably noticed a drop in performance. Sluggish... The post 4.56 Vs. 4.88 Gears For Your 4Runner – How To Choose appeared first on Trail4R.com - 5th Gen 4Runner Mods. View the full article

Not what it looks like . . . There are few things I loathe more than copycat products sold at cut-rate prices. As J.A. Richards wrote: "There is hardly anything in the world that some man cannot make a little worse and sell a little cheaper, and the people who consider price only are this man’s lawful prey.” Sadly, the practice is an unavoidable aspect of a free market for anything that cannot be patented. Sometimes the issue of ju

This article on safely driving the powder highway was written with the gracious help of Insp. Chad Badry, the Officer-In-Command for Kootenay Highway Patrol at the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, as part of collaboration for the Road Safety at Work Alliance. Badry has spent the last two decades of his career ensuring safe driving around many of Canada’s renowned ski spots, including Fernie, Nelson, Cranbrook, Golden, and more. He’s the sole RCMP member of the AAMVA (American Association of Motor

Mammoth Overland is no stranger to building backcountry shelters with a no-compromise philosophy. From their apocalypse-ready trailer to a camper that can literally handle the worst winter conditions you could imagine, no matter what project from Mammoth we’ve checked out, we’re impressed by the over-engineered designs that allow you to prepare for the worst. Their latest product, the SKL, brings that same philosophy to a whole new form of backcountry shelter. The SKL is dubbed a rooftop camper,

Mammoth Overland is no stranger to building backcountry shelters with a no-compromise philosophy. From their apocalypse-ready trailer to a camper that can literally handle the worst winter conditions you could imagine, no matter what project from Mammoth we’ve checked out, we’re impressed by the over-engineered designs that allow you to prepare for the worst. Their latest product, the SKL, brings that same philosophy to a whole new form of backcountry shelter. The SKL is dubbed a rooftop camper,

Crash Safety Tested Bumper With Lot Of Accessory Support If you’re looking to protect your 4Runner without sacrificing factory safety systems, the Ironman 4×4 Raid  winch bumper might be the... The post Ironman 4×4 Raid Front Winch Bumper For 5th Gen 4Runner – Review appeared first on Trail4R.com - 5th Gen 4Runner Mods. View the full article

Hitch Mounted Recovery Gear Made For Soft Shackles We all know the frustration of feeding a thick 7/8″ soft shackle through a standard D-ring hole on a hitch receiver recovery... The post Agency 6 (2″) Soft Shackle Hitch Receiver Recovery Block – Review appeared first on Trail4R.com - 5th Gen 4Runner Mods. View the full article

Stronger, More Configurable & More Customizable Tested on hundreds of vehicles over the years, Prinsu has become a household name for the overland space. There is a reason why Prinsu... The post Prinsu Pro Rack For 6th Gen 4Runner – Review appeared first on Trail4R.com - 5th Gen 4Runner Mods. View the full article

From Adventure Gear to Industry Insight: Tracy Wang on Jackery’s Entrepreneurial Philanthropy Overlanding evokes freedom—the ability to explore anywhere, powered by what you bring. At Climate Week NYC 2025, Tracy Wang, Jackery Global Brand Communications Head, shared how the company leverages technology and business expertise to advance sustainability and conservation—a model she calls entrepreneurial philanthropy. Conservation Through Innovation Wang emphasized that Jackery’s mi

The Verdict Up Front:   If you're tired of trash bags sliding down your spare or disintegrating after a season or two, the Blacksmith Camping 4WD Wheel Bag justifies its premium price. It's not flawless, but the Australian poly-cotton fabric and sleeve design solve the two most frustrating problems with wheel-mounted trash bags. Blacksmith Camping wheel bags are made from Aussie poly-cotton in their Adelaide workshop. Who Is Blacksmith Camping? Blacksmith Camping probably isn't on your radar...

The Verdict Up Front:   If you're tired of trash bags sliding down your spare or disintegrating after a season or two, the Blacksmith Camping 4WD Wheel Bag justifies its premium price. It's not flawless, but the Australian poly-cotton fabric and sleeve design solve the two most frustrating problems with wheel-mounted trash bags. Blacksmith Camping wheel bags are made from Aussie poly-cotton in their Adelaide workshop. Who Is Blacksmith Camping? Blacksmith Camping probably isn't on your radar...

Join the Trail Ambassador Program and turn your passion for overlanding into unforgettable adventures.View the full article