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The power solution experts at Overland Solar have a new special edition product that can keep you charged up in the backcountry while also supporting a great cause. The Safari Edition of the Bugout 130 Portable Solar Charger is the fifth version of Overland Solar’s popular folding solar panel. The exterior is covered in XPac laminate fabric that’s lighter weight but also stronger than the previous nylon version. The Maxion Gen III solar cells are known for their high efficiency, even under less than-optimal conditions. The BugOut 130 kit provides seven amps per hour, and when paired with the Overland Solar Charge Controller, it will rapidly charge any 12-volt battery system. You also get double-stitched lashing points and grommets so that you can secure the BugOut 130 however you see fit. Photo by Overland Solar Photo by Overland Solar Photo by Overland Solar Photo by Overland Solar The BugOut 130 Portable Solar Kit includes a panel with a Mini Anderson output, a 20-foot Mini Anderson to SB50 Anderson connection, an SB50 Anderson to SAE adaptor, and the option to add a Solar Controller Bundle. The panel is assembled and sewn in Boise, Idaho, and features Overland Solar’s two-year warranty. READ MORE: Storytelling Pavilion at Overland Expo PNW 2025 Each purchase of Bug Out Safari Edition helps support the Game Rangers Association of Africa. This group was founded in 1970 and provides gear, best practices, training, and common strategies for anti-poaching ranger groups in 26 countries. Specifically, $25 from each Bug Out Safari Edition will go towards the training of new rangers. Photo by Overland Solar Photo by Overland Solar Photo by Overland Solar Photo by Overland Solar Photo by Overland Solar You can find out more about the kit and the partnership with the Game Rangers Association Africa here. View the full article

Nearly Endless Customization – Seat Stitching, Colors & Materials Explained When it comes to protecting your factory seats, PRP is hands-down the biggest player in the game. These aren’t just... The post Custom PRP Seat Covers – Material Options & Stitching Explained appeared first on Trail4R.com - 5th Gen 4Runner Mods. View the full article

Embark on an unforgettable journey through French Guiana, where every mile brings you closer to raw, unfiltered adventure. Start in vibrant Cayenne, where markets, street food, and colonial charm set the tone. Then hit the road to uncover remote jungle settlements, winding rivers, and hidden trails deep within the Amazon rainforest. Experience the blend of cultures—Creole, Indigenous, and French—that give this region its unique identity. Whether you're navigating muddy tracks, spotting rare wildlife, or connecting with locals in off-grid communities, overlanding in French Guiana offers a rare opportunity to explore one of South America’s least-traveled and most captivating destinations. Oiapoque to Cayenne in French Guiana Oiapoque is the gateway to French Guiana, and here we pass through European immigration and customs before we continue on to the capital of Cayenne. Cayenne is full of colonial architecture that just has to be explored. The two most impressive are the town hall, built by the Jesuits in 1890, and St. Saviours Roman Catholic Cathedral. The city’s botanical gardens are also worth a look or just chill out on the main square with a beer, watch the world go by and try some of the fantastic street food. Depending on the timing of our Suriname visa applications, and when we can collect our passports, the order of the following destinations may change around. Cayenne to St. Laurent du Maroni Kourou is a real highlight of our journey, as we can visit the European Spaceport where we can take a tour of the site. A large percentage of the world’s satellites are launched from here aboard the famous Ariane rockets. More recently Russian Soyuz rockets have also used this facility and if we’re lucky we may even see a launch! Time allowing we will also visit Devil’s Island, prior home to one of France’s most notorious prisons. We may then return to Cayenne to collect our passports and spend another night in the vibrant city, before journeying west to St Laurent. Along the way we will stop head to an area on the coast which is a nesting site for 4 of the world’s most famous turtle species. Nothing can compare coming up close and personal to a giant leatherback turtle. April is normally the start of nesting time, where turtles make the journey up the beach to deposit their eggs in the warm sand. We’ll keep our fingers crossed for sightings. Founded in 1880, the penal town of St. Laurent du Maroni was inhabited almost entirely with guards or liberated prisoners from the nearby Transportation Camp. Here the famous writer Henri Charriere, who went on to write Papillon, spent some of his days before being moved to the ‘inescapable’ Iles du Salut prison. An informative optional tour takes us into the camp and gives us a snap shot of quite how hard life would have been here. Leaving French Guyana behind we take another ferry and cross into Suriname. Our 62 day Rio to Manaus overland adventure explores Brazil, French Guiana, Suriname and Guyana: RIO TO MANAUS VIA THE GUIANAS (62 DAYS) TROPICS OF SOUTH AMERICA Explore a landscape like no other with our 62-day tour across Brazil and through French Guiana, Suriname and Guyana. Starting in the bustling city of Rio, you will travel along the Atlantic coast and through the centre of Brazil into the tropical paradise that awaits. Travel south through unspoilt rainforest and into the vibrant metropolis that is Manaus, overlooking the Amazon river. This tour truly gives you the opportunity to explore the road less travelled and discover the outstanding landscapes and cultures of Latin America that many do not get to see. Or include French Guiana on an epic 27 week expedition across South America: CARTAGENA TO MANAUS INC. GUIANAS (29 WEEKS) TRANS SOUTH AMERICA Embark on the journey of a lifetime with an exploratory expedition which takes you throughout South America. Witness some of the most striking landscapes that this part of the world has to offer as you travel through dense rainforests, dry deserts and high altiplano. Experience the pristine coastlines and vibrant cities as you get a real feel of the sights, sounds and flavours of the true South America. View the full article

Embark on an unforgettable journey with Overlanding Tanzania: Where Nature, Culture, and Adventure Meet. This epic road trip takes you deep into Tanzania’s raw and breathtaking beauty—from the vast Serengeti plains and towering Mount Kilimanjaro to the shores of Lake Tanganyika and the spice-scented streets of Zanzibar. Along the way, connect with welcoming local communities, witness incredible wildlife in their natural habitat, and camp under star-studded skies. Whether you're a self-drive adventurer or joining an overland tour, Tanzania offers the perfect mix of rugged exploration and rich cultural encounters for those craving something real, wild, and truly transformative. Arusha and the Serengeti We depart Nairobi early in the morning and immediately find ourselves in hot savannah grasslands with acacia trees providing the only shade. Various game, usually zebra and giraffe can be seen as we head south and cross the border into Tanzania. We spend the night at Meserani Snake Park, on the route from Arusha to the Serengeti. Over the next 3 days you can take our optional Add-on to enjoy a safari into the Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater. These areas are one of the world's great wildlife hotspots, and you are sure to see a huge variety of different game species including Elephant, Lion, Cheetah, White Rhino, Buffalo, Hippo, Antelope, Crocodile and Pink Flamingos as well as vast herds of wildebeest roaming the plains. For those who don't want to add this safari experience onto the trip, there are options to visit the Snake Park, visit a local Masai Village to learn about their culture and way of life. You can also arrange day trips into the Serengeti or Ngorongoro Crater. Arusha to Marangu and Bagamoyo Beach After leaving Arusha we pass a number of small towns and villages along the way and, if the weather is clear, we may see the towering peak of Kilimanjaro. We will stop off for a couple of nights at the village of Marangu where you have the opportunity to climb to Kilimanjaro base camp, or take a walk through the lush surroundings passing through coffee plantations, rivers, waterfalls, caves and visiting a local blacksmith. Leaving Marangu, a day's drive brings us to the coast and some welcome time on a beautiful Indian Ocean Beach at Bagamoyo before we continue to Dar Es Salaam. The truck will be based here for 4 nights while the group heads to Zanzibar. Zanzibar Island We leave the truck and tents behind this morning and take the ferry from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar for our included four night stay on the island. During our time there we'll visit the bustling streets of Stone Town and its famous spice markets, old slave forts and dungeons. We'll also spend 3 nights relaxing on Zanzibar's famous white beaches, where there are many options available locally to arrange scuba diving, snorkelling, and dolphin boat trips. Dar es Salaam to Malawi After meeting the Zanzibar ferry we begin our journey through the interesting and mountainous hinterland of Tanzania. In the afternoon, after negotiating some appalling roads, we pass through the peaceful Mikumi National Park. African safari travel is synonymous with wildlife, and in this national park we usually see Elephant, Giraffe, Zebra and Antelope from the roadside. Passing through lush mountainous landscape and plantations we finally leave Tanzania and enter Malawi. Oasis Overland Trips that Include Tanzania You can travel to Tanzania on many of our overland adventures including our classic 76 day Grand Adventurer. NAIROBI TO CAPE TOWN (76 DAYS) GRAND ADVENTURER Trek to see the mountain gorillas, swim with dolphins or relax on sandy tropical beaches. Add in a few adrenaline activities such as bungy jumping, white water rafting or quad biking along with stunning gameparks such as the Maasai Mara and Etosha will make this a trip to remember. For those short on time or wanting a taster of overlanding, have a look at our 14 day trip from Nairobi to Zanzibar: NAIROBI TO DAR ES SALAAM (14 DAYS) GAMEPARKS & ZANZIBAR On this overland tour you have the opportunity to get up close to the amazing wildlife in the Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater, home to Zebra and the migration site of 1.5 million Wildebeest. As well as sight-seeing, you can chill out on the beautiful white sandy beaches of Zanzibar and explore the history and culture of Stone Town. View the full article

The Ultimate St. Louis Guide to Picking the Best Rooftop Tent A rooftop tent is more than camping gear—it’s your mobile cabin, storm shelter, and sunrise lookout all in one. For overlanders rolling out of St. Louis every weekend, the choice is clear: Axleboy Offroad rooftop tents featuring the award-winning iKamper Skycamp 2.0 and 3.0 are the only rooftop tents trusted to handle Midwest weather, heavy use, and daily driving without turning your rig into a sloppy, leaky headache. These aren’t gimmick tents. They’re lab-tested, field-proven shelters that match perfectly with the real-world roads, forests, and wild Missouri weather. This guide covers why iKamper Skycamp tents beat every other style for local trips, how Axleboy fits them properly, and what every St. Louis explorer should know before bolting one on. Why the iKamper Skycamp Stands Alone for St. Louis Overlanders St. Louis weather doesn’t care if your rooftop tent looks fancy on social media. Spring rains, heavy winds, and surprise ice storms will expose a weak design fast. That’s why Axleboy Offroad installs only iKamper Skycamp 2.0 and 3.0 rooftop tents—nothing else meets the shop’s standards for guaranteed performance. These hard shell tents pack big benefits into a surprisingly compact shell: Setup in under 60 seconds – No wrestling with poles at dusk. King-size mattress comfort – Sleep well above wet, buggy ground. Aluminum honeycomb floor – Holds up to 900 lbs without flexing. Rugged clamshell design – Slices wind drag on I-70 and seals out Midwest storms. Quality materials – Waterproof fabric, rust-proof hardware, triple-layer insulation for cooler nights. Locals choosing an iKamper get a proven shelter that handles daily driving around Kirkwood just as easily as an overnight at Hawn State Park. It’s not an “all brands welcome” approach—Axleboy backs only the tents that earn it, no compromises. Hard Shell Design Means Real Comfort and Easy Travel Many St. Louis drivers new to rooftop camping think all RTTs work the same. They don’t. Soft shells can flap, leak, and wear out under Missouri’s constant rain and seasonal extremes. The Skycamp 2.0 and 3.0 are engineered as true hard shell rooftop tents, built to last for years of heavy trips and fast highway runs. The clamshell lid stays tight against wind noise and keeps the tent compact when not in use. No drag, no extra sway, and no big box hanging off your roof like a sail. Inside, the Skycamp layout matters more than Instagram shots: A king-size memory foam mattress rolls out over an extendable floor, so two adults and a child sleep comfortably. Large side windows and a sky view let in fresh air while mosquito-proof mesh keeps Missouri’s insects out. The ladder is rock solid and adjustable for rigs from a lifted Tacoma to a stock Bronco. This isn’t just camping—it’s the closest thing to an elevated hotel suite on wheels that a St. Louis adventurer can get without towing a trailer. Proper Fitment Protects Your Truck, Fuel, and Sleep Adding a rooftop tent is like adding another passenger. It changes weight balance, fuel use, and roof rack stress. Many owners rush install jobs at home or let big box stores bolt a tent on generic crossbars. That’s a shortcut that costs more later when leaks, squeaks, and broken mounts appear. Axleboy’s method is different: Checks rack strength and placement before install. Uses factory torque specs so bolts don’t loosen over washboard trails. Aligns the tent to avoid drag and uneven tire wear. Test-drives after mounting to check wind noise and structural stability. Most importantly, every install is covered by a 12-month/12,000-mile labor warranty—a promise almost no online tent reseller offers. And if anything rattles or shifts after that first big trail trip out past Cuivre River, the Axleboy crew fixes it right, no extra excuses. When considering rooftop camping, St. Louis locals find Axleboy in local searches for “overlanding near me” because they solve problems before they start. What to Know Before Adding a Skycamp to a Daily Driver A rooftop tent sounds great until someone ignores reality: weight ratings matter. A Skycamp 2.0 weighs around 150 lbs—light for a hard shell, but still something your truck or SUV needs to carry safely. The Axleboy team checks: Roof load limits (dynamic and static) Rack specs (some factory racks can’t handle RTT stress long-term) Bed rail or crossbar compatibility Ladder angle for lifted rigs They also discuss how a tent affects fuel economy and wind drag. An iKamper’s sleek design reduces these impacts compared to floppy soft shells, but owners should still plan a few less MPG on highway hauls out to Ozark National Scenic Riverways. These details separate a fun trip from a frustrating one. Many St. Louis overlanders learn this the hard way—Axleboy customers skip the headaches. St. Louis Locals Pick Axleboy for Rooftop Tent Installs Choosing a rooftop tent is one part gear, three parts expertise. The gear—an iKamper Skycamp 2.0 or 3.0—is locked in as the best. The difference is how it’s mounted and supported. Axleboy Offroad stands apart because the crew uses dealer-level tools and backwoods-level experience. They live this life: hunting, fishing, hiking, and off-roading in the same places customers do. They know what Missouri’s weather does to cheap seals and bad hardware. Every install is custom-matched to the vehicle: 4Runner rooftop tents with rack spacers to keep roof lines clean Jeep Wrangler tents mounted with low-profile brackets for tight trails Ford F-150 setups balanced to protect tailgate and roof strength Chevy Colorado and RAM 1500 mounts with easy ladder positioning Drivers searching “rooftop tent near me in St. Louis” find real local expertise, not just an e-commerce site. And repeat customers love knowing one crew handles it all—tent, racks, maintenance—under one roof. See why so many neighbors trust Axleboy Offroad before heading out to Missouri’s wild spaces. Why iKamper Skycamp 2.0 and 3.0 Beat Every Alternative St. Louis overlanders get serious about weatherproofing. Heavy spring rain at night can soak a cheap tent. Freezing winds whip through budget zippers. An iKamper Skycamp solves this: thick fabric, double stitching, tight seals, and high-grade metal parts that won’t rust after one wet winter. Inside, Skycamp’s premium foam mattress puts inflatable camping pads to shame. Families love that the extended floor means kids or dogs have space to stretch. The window awnings open up fresh airflow even during rain—huge for muggy Missouri summer nights. Axleboy only trusts Skycamp because the shop tested other brands on local trails for years. They failed—Skycamp didn’t. That’s why they stand behind it with a performance guarantee. About Axleboy Offroad Axleboy Offroad is St. Louis’ trusted shop for custom rooftop tents, lift kits, and serious offroad upgrades. From local daily drivers to overlanding rigs ready for Ozark adventures, Axleboy builds vehicles that drive better than stock and survive real trails. Factory-trained mechanics, dealer-level tools, and honest advice make sure every upgrade works right the first time. Every install is backed by a 12-month/12,000-mile labor warranty, so customers get peace of mind from garage to backcountry and back again. 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< All Ram Upgrades What is Death Wobble? If you’ve ever felt your RAM’s steering wheel shake so violently that it feels like the truck might tear itself apart — congratulations, you’ve met Death Wobble . It’s more common than you think in solid front axle RAM 2500 and 3500 trucks, especially if you’ve added a lift kit, bigger tires, or rack up lots of highway miles. Once it starts, it can make your truck feel downright unsafe and nearly impossible to steer until you come to a full stop. Note: Death wobble is mainly an issue on solid axle RAM trucks — that means the RAM 2500 and 3500. If you own a RAM 1500, you might have steering vibration or wheel shake, but you won’t get true death wobble because the 1500 uses an independent front suspension (IFS) At Axleboy Offroad , we’ve fixed more RAM Death Wobble cases than we can count — and we’re here to break down what causes it and how to fix it right the first time. Why Do RAM Trucks Get Death Wobble? Death Wobble happens when worn or weak front-end parts can’t keep your axle centered and your steering tight at speed. A bump or pothole sets off the wobble — and loose parts amplify it. Top Causes in RAM Trucks: ✅ Worn track bar bushings or brackets ✅ Loose or worn tie rods, drag links, or ball joints ✅ Weak or failing steering stabilizer ✅ Improper caster angle after a lift kit ✅ Out-of-spec alignment Signs You Might Have Death Wobble Coming Don’t wait until your truck shakes like a shopping cart — look for these warning signs: Loose steering feel: More play than normal in the wheel Vibration at highway speeds: Subtle at first, violent later Uneven tire wear: Feathering or cupping on front tires Knocking sounds: When hitting bumps or turning How We Fix RAM Death Wobble at Axleboy Every RAM is a little different, so there’s no single magic part that fixes Death Wobble forever. Instead, we take a full-system approach: ✅ 1. Inspect & Diagnose We put your truck on the lift and check: Track bar bushings and mounts for wear Tie rod and drag link ends for slop Ball joints for play Steering stabilizer for leaks or damage Caster angle and alignment specs This pinpoints exactly what’s loose or worn. ✅ 2. Upgrade Weak Links We don’t patch problems — we solve them for good. Depending on what we find, we’ll recommend:  Heavy-duty track bar (with stronger bushings or heim joints) Upgraded tie rods and drag links — beefier than stock Premium ball joints (Carli, Synergy, Dynatrac — parts we trust) Dual or high-performance steering stabilizers Steering box braces for extra rigidity ✅ 3. Align & Road Test Once the hardware is solid, we do a precision alignment — not a quickie toe-and-go. Correct caster angle is crucial on a lifted RAM. We dial it in for stability at highway speeds and smooth handling on trails. Finally, we road-test your truck to make sure it drives straight, tracks true, and won’t shake apart on your next trip down I-70. Why Axleboy Offroad Gets It Right Some shops just throw parts at Death Wobble. We don’t. We find the root cause, fix it properly, and back our work. It’s how we keep RAM owners in St. Louis and beyond rolling safe and worry-free. Ready to Say Goodbye to Death Wobble? If your RAM has Death Wobble — or you feel it starting — don’t wait for it to get worse. Let’s get it dialed in right, the first time. Request a Death Wobble Inspection at Axleboy Offroad > View the full article