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You’ve bought your dream Jeep or 4X4, added some seriously cool mods, and now you’re ready to off-road – right? Wrong! Much like there are rules for traveling on paved roads, there is also off-road etiquette. Make sure you know the basics before you put tires to the dirt. Do Your Research Before you hit the trails, know where you’re going and how to access the land you’re traveling on. Research the area and understand the route you’re taking; there may be areas where you travel that don’t support GPS or cell service, so you won’t be able to check your phone for directions. You’ll also need to know if the area charges for access and if there are any trail closures. Respect the Land There are signs marking the route for a reason – don’t go off-trail into vegetation that’s not meant for off-roading. Make sure your 4X4 crosses streams or water where designated and drive over obstacles (and not around them) to avoid making the trail wider than it’s intended to be. Additionally, don’t dump your trash on the trail, and be a good citizen by picking up any litter that you see along the way. Give Them Space Many off-road trails play host to other travelers like horse riders, hikers, and mountain/dirt bikes. Your 4X4 is bigger and louder than all of those, and you need to yield the right of way to them. Failing to do so can kick up dust and rock, creating unnecessary and hazardous conditions. If you see horses on the trail, the best practice is to pull to the side safely and turn off your noisy vehicle until they pass. Let Them Know Off-roading is always more fun in groups, but taking your 4X4 or Jeep on a group run presents more safety challenges for other travelers on the trail. If you’re the pack leader, make sure you inform oncoming traffic of how many are in your group – simply holding a number out the window using your fingers will let them know how to give you space. The last vehicle on the train will hold out a fist to let you know the parade is over. Follow the Rules of the Road The first rule is about hills: Any vehicles traveling up a hill have the right of way because they need to maintain the momentum required to get to the top. Second rule: Watch the space between you and the vehicle in front of you, like on a highway. Third: Don’t ever (ever) stop in the middle of a trail or an obstacle! Wait until you can safely pull over, off the trail, and out of the way. Finally, and probably most importantly: Don’t drink before or during off-roading (but you already knew that one.) Other Dos and Don’ts DO mind your dust: Just because you have cool mods on your 4X4 and some seriously rugged tires doesn’t mean you should show them off at another vehicle’s expense. Slow down as you pass other trail travelers to be respectful and safe. DON’T pack your ego: Staying safe while off-roading means you need to know your skills and how you’re limited about what you can’t yet do. Be the bigger person and skip that obstacle or difficult trail if you have any questions about your ability to ride them safely. DO know when to accept help: Being winched out of a trickly obstacle is no big deal; it happens to even the most seasoned off-roaders. If you’re tried to get over it a few times with no success, it’s time to call in the team – no shame in that game. DON’T leave anyone behind: Stop to help others on the trail that may be having problems with their 4X4 or Jeep, and never go ahead when someone in your group is stopped with their issues. Stick around until everything is resolved; it’s the right thing. Armed with the knowledge of off-road etiquette and a 4×4 equipped with all the right mods, you’ll be hitting the trains in no time! Don’t hesitate to reach out to our team when you’re ready to start your 4×4 adventures, and be sure to revisit this off-roading guide in the future. The post A Guide to Off-Road Etiquette appeared first on Axleboy Offroad - St Louis . View the full article

Video Highlights from AMA Pro ATV Racing at High Point View the full article

Overlanding…. What is it? There are varying opinions and definitions of this popular term. Some believe its four wheeling across rugged terrain, miles from civilization and some believe it’s purely car camping. While both of those scenarios certainly fall into the definition of Overlanding, there’s a lot more to it then just that. You see, “Overlanding” can really mean something different to everyone. One of the best definitions that we’ve happened across is “Overlanding sees the journey as the purpose. Overlanding is about exploration, rather than conquering obstacles.” This is the definition that personally resinates with us the most because it’s how we like to approach the majority of our travel. So why are we talking about this? There are hundreds of articles and videos out there discussing this same thing. Well… Lately we’ve run into a lot of people who are interested in Overland Travel, but feel that they have to spend a small fortune to build a capable vehicle and have products X, Y & Z before they can even embark on their first trip. It really kills us to see how worked up everyone gets about having the right gear. So much, that they never even go on a trip. Listen, gear is great, but it’s also bad… Let me explain. Having the right gear can obviously make all of the difference between an alright trip and a fantastic trip. There’s nothing worse than waking up in a pool of water because your awning or tent leaked. Or shivering all night because you have the wrong temp sleeping bag. You won’t get any argument from us on that. However… Gear can also be a bad thing because you set in your mind that you have to have all of this “stuff” before you can do anything. The truth is, you probably won’t even use a third of all that gear on your first five trips. Ask us how we know. We, like many others before us, have fallen down the exact same rabbit hole a couple of times and had to claw our way back out of wonderland. It’s hard to do. Okay, then how do we go Overlanding without gear? Well that depends on what type of Overlanding you want to do and how you define it. If your definition aligns with ours, then there is a lot that you can do without any gear. Remember, it’s all about the journey and exploration. Have you ever been to the next town, county or state over? What makes their area different than yours? What is their heritage/culture? What hidden gems rural and urban are hiding there? All you need for that type of exploration is a vehicle to get you there and a lot of curiosity. Overnighting it? No problem. Hit a hotel, bed and breakfast, or a cabin in a state park. Still not one bit of gear needed. And guess what… You’re still Overlanding! Obviously when you mix car camping into the definition of Overlanding, things begin to change. Or do they? What does it take to car camp? For one to two people, not too much. Depending on the vehicle, you could just sleep inside with a pillow and a blanket. Need more room? Buy a small tent and ground pad and you’re golden. What about food? You’ve made ramen before right? How about Pop tarts? You laugh, but 9 times out of 10, we eat pop tarts for breakfast. It all comes down to how comfortable you want to be in relation to how much money you want to spend on the gear vs the travel. Believe it or not, you can be pretty darn comfortable for a reasonable amount of money. I guess what we’re trying to get across here is not to fall into the paralysis by analysis trap. You want to go Overlanding? Then go, but go within your means. Try to add gear only as there becomes a need for it, not because everyone is buying it right now. We don’t even want to begin to think about the amount of times we bought something because it was going to be “life changing” only to sell it the following year because we only used it one time. That would be depressing. Honestly, some of our greatest memories and trips only required a vehicle and some clothes. If we can give you one piece of advice when looking at gear, it would be: “Think about if it is a need or a want… How much does it cost and how many trips could I go on instead if I were to just spend that money on the trips themselves?” View the full article

It doesn’t matter if your 4×4 has been holed up in the garage all weekend or you’ve been out enjoying the frosty trails – spring weather is finally here! Your vehicle is an investment, and it’s essential to keep it well-maintained after every season of driving so you’re not stuck on the side of the trail when you go offroading this year. Check out the spring maintenance tips for your 4X4 below! Start With a Thorough Cleaning Whether you’re a DIY car washer or have it detailed by a professional, you can’t skip this step before going back on the road. Snow and freezing winter weather means salt, and that means residue that can damage the underside and body of your 4×4. Ensure your exterior cleaning job is comprehensive enough to get rid of that residue; it can eat away at the paint and eventually lead to corrosion. Don’t miss washing the undercarriage with a high-pressure hose. If your fenders are messy and gunked up, consider upgrading to a set of off-road fenders for your 4×4. When you’re done cleaning off the mess, head to your headlights. Well-lit trails and roadways are vital to staying safe, and if you can’t get your headlights clean to allow the light entirely through, it’s time for a replacement or even an upgrade to LED lights. Time for a Check-Up Now that your 4×4 vehicle is thoroughly clean, it’s time to get down to the nuts and bolts of maintenance. Undercarriage: Check for loose parts, hoses, damage, frayed wires, or anything else that could lead to severe problems when you’re out on an adventure. Tighten any bolts on gear, and make notes for when you bring in your Jeep for any modifications or repairs. Exterior parts: When you’re offroading in the mud, rain, or heavy wind, make sure you’re protected from the elements. Replace your wiper blades, check plastic windows, and replace broken or old parts. It will help keep you safer and less exposed and could prevent serious problems on the trail. Battery: Check that your 4×4’s battery is fully charged, properly attached, and free of corrosion. Ensure that your jumper cables work, and even think about picking up an extra battery to have on hand when you’re on the road. Belts and hoses: These are essential parts of keeping your 4×4 running smoothly. When belts and hoses aren’t working correctly or worn down, you’re at risk of breaking down or even ruining your engine altogether. Tires and brakes : Between climbing and stopping, traction is a big deal when it comes to keeping your 4×4 safe and in top shape. Tires should have plenty of tread, and brake pads need to be thick enough to help you stop safely. Oil and other fluids: This is a great time to change your oil, regardless of what your odometer says. Make sure you also replace the oil filter to keep things running well through spring. Top off wiper fluid, coolant, power steering, and brake fluids while you’re at it. Talk to Us About Mods Spring is a great time to make an appointment to upgrade your 4×4 with custom modifications to enjoy sunny spring and summer offroading. Are you ready to take on spring in your 4×4? Follow the checklist of maintenance tips above and get ready to hit the road! We’re your team if you need a fresh set of eyes or looking for modifications. Get in touch with our team today! The post How to Get Your 4×4 Ready for Spring appeared first on Axleboy Offroad - St Louis . View the full article

The Black Hills of South Dakota are truly magnificent. Beautiful canyons, streams, lakes and waterfalls, there are so many things to discover there outside of the usual tourist hotspots. Spearfish Canyon is a great example of what make the hills so amazing. The canyon can be explored via HWY 14A or the myriad of back country roads that run all through the area. Either way you choose, I guarantee that you’ll discover a landscape that is unmatched by any other. Have you ever been to the Black Hills? What did you love most about it? View the full article

Building the Expedition Vehicle Outfitters Bronco (Part 1) The Team at Expedition Vehicle Outfitters in Michigan are no strangers to the New Ford Bronco Platform having built up some really great ones in the past. But as luck would have it we were able to get our hands on our very own shop Ford Bronco to use as a test vehicle and showcase to our clients the capabilities of a Ford Bronco after the Expedition Vehicle Outfitters treatment. From Bronco lift kit installation and Bronco suspension upgrades to Bronco skid plate installation, Bronco bumpers and even Bronco axle upgrades Expedition is your one stop shop. Let’s jump into some of the specs and long term plans for this New Ford Bronco. This is a 2022 Bronco Big Bend Model non-Sasquatch package. Now fortunately this is the truck we could get our hands on but it is very close to the package that makes for the best truck for us to convert to our Stage 5 Package. Sasquatch package trucks are great and have some really nice features, but in our Stage 5 Package we are removing most factory suspension and axle parts so it becomes a non-decider for what model is needed to start with. But first things first this little Bronco needs to grow up quickly, it needs a little more ground clearance and a little more off road capability. That is where the Expedition Vehicle Outfitters Stage 1 Package is a great fit. This Bronco will spend the first part of it’s life with a Stage 1 Package before it is disassembled for a full fitment of the Stage 5 Package. Being a non-Sasquatch model the Bronco has small tires and minimal off road ground clearance. The Expedition Vehicle Outfitters Stage 1 package will provide a 2” of suspension lift and 35” tires, you can choose all terrains or mud terrains. For this little build up we chose the New Milestar Patagonia X/T extreme all terrain tire, this is a blend between mud terrain and all terrain. Providing us great on road drivability and minimal noise, matched with ample traction off road and grip in the winter ice and snow this provides a great solution for daily duties. The Team at Expedition Vehicle Outfitters then wrapped the Milestar Patagonia X/T Tires around a set of the New TeraFlex Nomad Deluxe Wheels. Expedition Vehicle Outfitters is a TeraFlex Dealer and Installer with a great relationship with the company, we are very excited to be one of the first ones running these wheels on a Bronco. The huge draw to the TeraFlex Nomad wheels is the deflation valves integrated into the wheel allowing for quick air down at the trail head. The deflation valves allow for preset air down pressures all the way down to 10psi. Now if you had another wheel in mind for your Ford Bronco Expedition Vehicle Outfitters can always customize your Stage 1- Stage 5 Package to fit your needs and style. START YOUR VEHICLE BUILD TODAY Once the 2” suspension lift kit was installed onto the Bronco by the Team at Expedition Vehicle Outfitters the wheels and tires are fitted. Finally added to the Bronco were TeraFlex Rash Rings to protect the bead of the wheel from rocks and debris on the trail. The Stage 1 Package makes for a great Bronco with increased off road capabilities and refined on road driving characteristics, that being said the Team at Expedition Vehicle Outfitters will always curate the perfect package for your vehicle to match your needs. Let’s discuss your long term goals and match them with the Expedition Vehicle Outfitters Package that meets and exceeds them. Now be sure to follow along because this Bronco is no where near done. The Fall of 2022 brings on something very special for this Bronco, but before then it will experience a full disassembly and installation of the Expedition Vehicle Outfitters Stage 5 Package. After all you wouldn’t want to go racing a stock truck would you?