The classic battle, and the immediate one (at least it should be) after you get your offroad chariot...what tire should I run? After nearly 65,000 miles on Goodyear Duratrac All-Terrains and now about 7,000 miles on Goodyear MT/R Mud-Terrains I've formed some opinions on these 2 excellent tires. Unfortunately, there is no clear winner for everyone. … [Read more...]
Shrockworks 4Runner Armor
One of the pillars of my 4Runner buildup has been to keep it practical enough to be a daily driver. In my opinion, there is nothing less practical than a 4Runner with a busted oil pan, transfer-case, or anything else that leaves it dead in the water. Some of the most important modifications I have done were adding armor to the 4runner to protect running … [Read more...]
Weekend Trip: Big Levels and Shoe Creek
While the long trips far from home I get to do a couple times a year are always awesome, a huge portion of this lifestyle (obsession?) for me is getting out for quick one-nighter weekend trips close to home. This past July I headed out on National Forest Land in Virginia with a couple local DC-Area friends for a quick overnight wheeling/camping trip. We considered this a … [Read more...]
Driving the Beach in Ocracoke, North Carolina
How do you feel about a huge stretch of beach nearly all to yourself that is open to 4x4's? If that sounds good, you should check out Ocracoke Island, North Carolina. This small barrier island (less than 10 square miles) is situated South of Hatteras Island on the Outer Banks and only accessible by ferry/boat. … [Read more...]
5th Gen 4Runner Trail Edition Build Intro
Like every knight needs a noble steed, every 4wd adventurer needs their knobby-tired stallion. There are all kinds of options out there for all kinds of budgets and tastes. I was looking for something that combined good looks, out-of-the-box capability, reliability, and enough practicality to be my everyday vehicle. Back in November of 2010, I kicked off my search. The 5th … [Read more...]
