This was a great day of Jeeping in Anza Borrego. It was just by coincidence that we met up with this great group of folks. We started at Canyon Sin Nombre, headed past the Mud Caves, down Diablo Drop Off and finished at the end of Fish Creek Wash. The Mud Caves are a popular feature in Anza Borrego Desert State Park in San Diego County, California. The caves, located in the Carrizo Badlands, along the Arroyo Tapiado, were created by water flowing through a thick deposit of silt and are an example of pseudokarst topography. There are at least 22 caves, some up to 1,000 feet in length and 80 feet in height. Many of the caves are easily accessed.
Rolly Polly, Snapshot, Cricket Eater and Sabertooth's hike from Warner Springs to San Ysidro creek along the Pacific Crest Trail. A great 9.4 mile roundtrip overnight hike with perfect camp spots along the creek. Start GPS: 33.272844, -116.645376 Campsite GPS: 33.248345, -116.599330 Warner Springs; The Cupeño people were long time indigenous inhabitants of the Warner Springs area. The Cupeño / Cahuilla Agua Caliente rancheria village was located at the hot springs located here. The hot springs were "rediscovered" by Spanish explorers of upper Las Californias province in 1795. William Henshaw purchased the Warner Springs Ranch in 1911, and had Henshaw Dam completed by latter 1922 and its reservoir filled by 1924. In 1978 the reservoir level was lowered 40% due to danger from the Elsinore Fault Zone running beneath the dam. Several Warner Spring sites and buildings were designated California Historical Landmarks, & National Historic Landmarks.
Great day on the Palomar Truck Trail Rd to the High Point Truck Trail Rd. The Palomar Trail was pretty mild, but the High Point Trail had some fun side roads that needed to be explored. Amazing views all around! The beautiful forest and mountain meadows of Palomar Mountain State Park are in northern San Diego County, high atop the west side of Palomar Mountain. Large pine, fir and cedar trees make the park one of the few areas in southern California with a Sierra Nevada-like atmosphere. The park features camping, picnicking, hiking, and fishing (trout) in Doane Pond. Coniferous forests cover much of the 1,862 acres, in contrast to the dry lowlands surrounding the mountain. Elevation within the park averages 5,000 feet above sea level, making evenings cool even during the summer. A number of vista points offer spectacular panoramic views both westerly toward the ocean and inland toward the desert, particularly from Boucher Hill Summit, which has been listed in the Sierra Club's "Hundred Peaks Section" since first published in 1946. There, you'll also find the historic Boucher Hill Fire Lookout.
Roly-Poly and Sabertooth tackled a cold night on the Pacific Crest Trail North of Warner Springs. Nice elevation climb brought on some amazing views. Fresh deer and coyote tracks outside our camp the next morning! Start GPS: 33.329940, -116.640424 Campsite GPS: 33.352282, -116.608625 Our campsite was in a dried up river bed. If there is any possibility of rain, I would not recommend this site. There were other possible camp spots further East of the trail. Warner Springs; The Cupeño people were long time indigenous inhabitants of the Warner Springs area. The Cupeño / Cahuilla Agua Caliente rancheria village was located at the hot springs located here. The hot springs were "rediscovered" by Spanish explorers of upper Las Californias province in 1795. William Henshaw purchased the Warner Springs Ranch in 1911, and had Henshaw Dam completed by latter 1922 and its reservoir filled by 1924. In 1978 the reservoir level was lowered 40% due to danger from the Elsinore Fault Zone running beneath the dam. Several Warner Spring sites and buildings were designated California Historical Landmarks, & National Historic Landmarks.
Anna-Borrego Jeeping trip with a few good friends. We visited Fonts Point with amazing views, the Pumpkin Patch, 7 Palm Oasis and the Gas Dome. Excellent Adventure!
02 January 2016: A great first trip out with the San Diego Jeep Club. We explored the Pole Line Trail, some of Ocotillo Wells, the Crossover Trail and the Tierra Del Sol training area. There were all types of Jeeps there from bone stock, to highly modified with large tires and custom lift kits. Although it was day time, the dust was pretty thick on the pole line trail and those with light bars, led light and hid lights made being seen easy. If you ever get a chance to go out on a run with the San Diego Jeep Club, I would highly recommend it. I know I will be going out with this great group of folks again!
Our first off-road adventure in the Jeep with a good friend. Started on the West side of Otay Mountain and then head to the East side and headed straight up. Amazing views from the top.
16 January 2016: Exploring the Oriflamme Canyon Trail was the best way to spend the day. The Oriflamme Trail had elements of sand, mud, dirt, rock and both easy and moderately technical sections. Great views all day long. Here are the GPS coordinates we started at: 33.007467, -116.456492. Be on the lookout of the Mason Valley Truck Trail and you know you are in the right place. Go find your adventure! Oriflamme Canyon is a steep mountain canyon, in San Diego County, California that descends from its head in the Laguna Mountains,in an arc northwestward then northeastward to join Rodriquez Canyon at the northwest end of Mason Valley. This canyon was along the route of Native Americans across the mountains and desert between the Native American peoples of what is now mountain and coastal San Diego County, California and those on the Colorado River. It was later used by Spanish, Mexican and American travelers, including U. S. Army couriers and the San Antonio-San Diego Mail Line. The latter's passengers rode up and down the canyon on mules between Carrizo Creek Station and Lassitor's Ranch in Green Valley on the short route to San Diego.
Cleghorn Ridge Trail is located in the San Bernardino National Forest mountain range and is a point-to-point trail that has some amazing scenic views. The Cleghorn trail ( 2N47 ) can be accessed near Silverwood Lake on Highway 138 or off Interstate 15. This trail is great for all skill levels. There is a main trail that is easy for most vehicles and there are parallel detours off the main trail that offer a varied degree of challenges. Some of the detours have a very high degree of difficulty and should be assessed before being attempted. The San Bernardino National Forest is a federally managed forest encompassing 823,816 acres of which 677,982 acres are federal. The forest is made up of two main divisions, the San Bernardino Mountains on the easternmost of the Transverse Ranges, and the San Jacinto and Santa Rosa Mountains on the northernmost of the Peninsular Ranges. Elevations range from 2,000 to 11,499 feet. The forest includes five wilderness areas: San Gorgonio, Cucamonga, San Jacinto, Santa Rosa and Bighorn Mountain. Forest headquarters are located in the city of San Bernardino. There are district offices in Fontana, Idyllwild, and Skyforest.
30 January 2016: We set out on a day of overlanding, hiking (see "Off the Rails Hike" video) and camping. The off-roading was a blast, the hiking was ardous and 35+ mile an hour winds ended our camping trip. Truthfully, it was still an amazing adventure! Trail starts at Mortero Wash, takes you to the train tracks, head north on Dos Cabezas Rd for about 1/3 of mile (past the small train trestle bridge on your left and take a right to link up with the Jojoba Wash (not ladled). A few moderate technical spots along Jojoba, and Piepkorn Slot is pretty tight, so large SUV’s are not recommended.
30 January 2016: We set out on a day of hiking, off roading (see "Mortero wash to Jojoba Was" video) and camping. The offroading was a blast, the hiking was arduous and 35+ mile an hour winds ended our camping trip pretty quickly. Truthfully, it was still an amazing adventure! Goat Canyon Trestle has been called the highest wood trestle in the United States. It was constructed in 1932 after an earthquake collapsed one of the railroad tunnels in Goat Canyon and is 600 ft. in length and 180 ft. tall at its highest point. Due to the complete remoteness and volatile nature of the terrain, the Carrizo Gorge railroad is nothing short of an engineering marvel. Mortero Palms lies in the southernmost reaches of the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, not far from the old Dos Cabezos railroad siding. Thanks to Anza-Borrego’s open-camping policy, you can car camp or carry your overnight gear as near or far from the road end as you like and commune with nature without having to deal with reservations or fees. To get to Mortero Palms, drive east on I-8. Take the Highway S-2 exit at Ocotillo, and continue 4 miles to an unsigned dirt road on the left. Go south on this road and swing right after 1.1 miles. Continue west for another 4.6 miles, and turn left across the disused San Diego & Arizona Eastern railroad tracks on a paved crossover. Continue another 0.1 mile, then veer left, away from the tracks. Go another 1.6 miles, staying left at the next two junctions and then go right toward the Mortero Palms road end.
06 February 2016: We had wanted to take a trip up to Big Bear to hit some trails in the snow and we just happened to get connected with some guys on the JK Forum website that were making the trip. We met at the Big Bear Discovery Center, shook hands, discussed the days events, aired down our tires and headed out. What a great group of guys, most with some solid 4 wheeling experience. Everyone had the same goal, have fun, enjoy the day, and be safe. Our kind of group!
06 February 2016: We had wanted to take a trip up to Big Bear to hit some trails in the snow and we just happened to get connected with some guys on the JK Forum website that were making the trip tackle the Gold Mountain Trail. We met at the Big Bear Discovery Center, shook hands, discussed the days events, aired down our tires and headed out. What a great group of guys, most with some solid 4 wheeling experience. Everyone had the same goal, have fun, enjoy the day, and be safe. Our kind of group!
At TrailRecon, we’re all about getting dirty and having fun as we hit the road on foot and four-wheels. Adventure is what we crave as we explore new trails all over Southern California and the Southwest. Looking to venture off the beaten path? Check out our travels and decide if the trails on our excursions are right for you. Along the way, we’ll review gear and equipment, show you some great locations, and, hopefully, provide a little entertainment. Enjoy the 4x4 videos and if you see us on the trail, say hey. This video is a just a glimpse at the fun we have been having with our Jeep Wrangler Unlimited since buying it 6 month ago. We have met some great people, explored tons of off road trails near by, and learned a lot about off roading. We are lucky to have some of the best 4x4 trails around, with wide open desert, ohv trails and mountains not too far off that provide plenty of mud and snow.
Finding a new trail to explore can sometimes be challenging. I admit I have done my share of scrolling around on google earth looking for dirt roads near by. Once and a while I find a new trail we can venture off onto, but most of the time the trails are gated or have signs saying private property. This week I found a great web site called dirtopia www.dirtopia.com . It list hundreds of trails by state and county with directions, pictures and difficulty ratings for most trails. The Main Divide Road leading up to Santiago Point caught my eye as it is only a short drive, so off we went. The first ¾ of a mile of the trail was concrete and honestly I was worried this wasn’t going to be a very good trail. Thankfully I was wrong and we soon hit the dirt! This trail had a great variety of packed dirt, rocky sections, and rutted out muddy sections. The scenery was constantly changing. One moment we were in a canyon, the next a mountain cliff and then in a canopy of pine trees…. The drive never got boring. The trail was narrow for the most part and we did encounter some fellow off-roaders, but we were always able to find a good passing spot. The Holy Jim Trail is located near the peak and we had to be cautious of blind spots for hikers making their way to and from the trail head. Santiago Peak was pretty spectacular with 180 degree views of Riverside County. The drive down the mountain along the Indian Truck Trail was just as great as the drive up. Except for a few off-road motorcycles, we pretty much had the 11 mile drive down all to ourselves. The trail ends behind a new housing neighborhood and if you didn’t know what you were looking for, finding the trail here wouldn’t be easy as it isn’t marked. This was a great adventure and if you are looking for an easy trail in the Riverside County area, I can now recommend this one. Don’t forget to comment and tell us what you thought of the trail and please subscribe, like and share.
Bee Canyon Truck Trail to San Jacinto Ridge Truck Trail with the San Diego Jeep Club. Hemet to Idyllwild. 27 Feb 2016 was a great outing on the Bee Canyon and San Jacinto Ridge Truck trails. We met up with the San Diego Jeep Club in Hemet and divided into two groups. One group, with the heavily modified Jeeps, was set to tackle a black diamond portion of the trail, while the rest of us were going to take the easy to moderate route. The trail was dusty almost the entire way, but the trail had some nice rutted out obstacles, a few rocky sections and a scenic water crossing. The trail climbed the mountain almost 2/3 of the trail and ended up in a cedar wooded area. There was still a hint of snow at the top from a few weeks prior. The waterfall is just past the midway point is a great place to stop for lunch if you venture off on this trail.
An amazing adventure weekend during the 54th Tierra Del Sol Desert Safari. The San Diego Jeep Club organized a weekend camping trip with several trail runs. We had a great trip to the Pumpkin Patch, Fonts Point, an adventurous Night Trail Run, a great run exploring Ocotillo Wells, and a cool trip out to an abandoned Naval Base along the Salton Sea. Great people, some capable Jeeps, and some awesome excursions equaled one epic weekend. 2016 Tierra Del Sol. Tierra Del Sol Four Wheel Club puts on a great event. With lots of vendors, raffle prizes, and a 4x4 obstacle playground. Normally they conduct organized trail runs, but this year due to state restrictions, they were not able to. They hope to be back in the organized trail run business next year, but they need everyone’s help in working with state and local legislations.
Jeep getting flex tested on Lift3K Metalcloak had at their Tierra Del Sol booth.
We met up with some great folks for a 4 day overland expedition down to Baja California Mexico. We had camped in La Bufadora and Punta Final, tackled several miles of the Baja 1000, ate some great foot, and overcame a few challenges along the way.
During our Baja Overland Expedition one of the member of our group gave us a demo of how the Deadman Off-Road Earth Anchor can help you get out of a sticky situation when you don't have a solid anchor point. He got his truck stuck on purpose just so we could see it in action.
In this episode of the San Diego Jeep Club build, the club gets together to install a 4.5" Icon Vehicle Dynamics Stage 5 lift kit suspension system on the project Jeep build. This modification is going to really improve the Jeep's off-road capabilities and increase the approach, breakover and departure angles. The team rips out both axles in preparation for installing Dynatracs Dana 60 axles and this made some of the lift kit install a little more challenging that it would normally have been as you will see in the video.
In this video we take a look at a heavily modified 2013 Jeep Wrangler JKU (Iron Man) that was recently display at SEMA 2018. The owner has been building up this Jeep for the last 5 years and while there are a still a few things he wants to do, it's fully capable to hit the trail or a night out on the town.
Is onboard CO2 the right solution for your off-road vehicle? In this video I give you a detailed, close up look of the Power Tank 10 lb Jeep Wrangler JK Package, discuss some of the pros and cons of CO2 and then I hit the trail for a little testing... how fast can you inflate a 37" tire?
I went and upgraded my tires to 37’s and now my Jeep Wrangler JK modification to-do list just got a whole lot longer. So in this video I’m going to share with you my plan for all the necessary upgrades I’ve got to do now.
In this video, I take you along as I check out how the new customizable MEK Magnet armor is made in the factory, show you all the different 16 piece magnet graphic options available and give you a few tips on installing and caring for it.
In this video my good friend Marco from @OVRLNDX joins me in the garage to show me how to build the custom LED light strips he has had in the rear of his Jeep for over 2 years. This setup consists of 3 connected LED flexible LED strips secured in an aluminum channel and uses a controller to allow dimming and wireless use. It is amazing just how simple and inexpensive this DIY project is and Marco shares a few soldering tips along the way.
I finally got rid of my faded banged up plastic bumpers and upgraded to the new released Poison Spyder Bruiser front and rear bumpers. I’m going to give you a detailed look and show you how the install went.
I have been very, very busy over the last 2 days and in this video I share all the new Jeep Wrangler upgrades I just installed. I was over at a good friends house and we had a garage party with the good folks from the San Diego Jeep Club. We tackled installing new Dynatrac ball joints, c-gussets, exhaust spacers, a HAM radio install and the previous day I install a new Teraflex tire carrier. Plus I give you a look at what's coming up next!
In this video I discuss some basic information about HAM radio use, then I show you the radio, mount and antenna I installed on my Jeep Wrangler and then head over to a good friends house to show you the install. As a bonus, I'm going to show you 2 other HAM radio setups from some friends Jeeps.
Well it's about time we got the XJ back in the garage for some upgrades. In this video, I show you a close up look of KC HiLites Gravity G34 driving LED cube lights, then I show you how to I installed them on the XJ and take them out on the trail and light them up. I also share with you some problems we are having the XJ and some upcoming videos I think you will really enjoy.
In this video my buddy Mike joins me in the garage to help me upgrade my draglink and tie rod to a Yeti XD No Drill Top Mount draglink and 1 ½ ton Yeti XD tie rod by Steer Smarts. We discuss why a high steer setup is beneficial and then, talk about the specs of the new links and then take you through the install process and share several tips and tricks along the way.
I've been in need of some extra storage in my Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon for a while now, with my 12 volt cooler, tools, recovery gear, camera gear and everything else I take with me out on the trail, I just don't have enough space. So in this video I show you the Vector OffRoad GGB storage shelf and share with you how easy it is to just bolt on.
I met up with the San Diego Jeep Club for our 2nd annual Woman's Off-Road Training event. I take you along with me as we watch a short portion of a hand signal class, visit with some of the ladies at the event and watch some very awesome Jeeps tackle a portion of Valley of the Moon trail. Good times!
My plastic fenders are tired, grayed out and falling off, so it's finally time to upgrade them. In this video I share with you why I chose to cut my plastic fenders, then show you the new aluminum Poison Spyder Crusher fenders in a standard size with everything provided and then I take you through my installation of them.
So another YouTube channel laid down the challenge and called me out and a few other Jeep YouTube channels to share our Jeep stories…. So challenge accepted!
I have been stockpiling a few items to install on the Jeep and in this video I decided to break out the camera and share show you these very easy modifications you can install. The items installed on my Jeep Wrangler in this video are Kargo Master hinge step, KC HiLites secure locking nuts, Teraflex front brake line anchors, and taking a look at 67 Designs Overland flashlight holder.
While I was at Overland Expo West 2018 I had the pleasure of meeting with Dave, the President of American Expedition Vehicles and talk to him about this amazing Jeep Wrangler build called Outpost II. This is a purpose build off-road overlanding rig and was my favorite Jeep of the entire expo.
In this video I spend the weekend at Overland Expo West 2018 taking you around and showing you some of the custom built overland rigs and meeting with owners along the way. We take a look at everything from an Earth Roamer to an old 1978 Chevrolet Panel van... so many awesome vehicles to check out!
I had the pleasure of meeting with Jason Koertge from Swell Runner and took a detailed look of his Toyota 4Runner and Turtleback trailer overland builds. Jason is a true gentleman and shares all kinds of details about his build, why he chose the modifications he has and his future plans.
This video is I take you on a quick tour of Overland Expo West 2018 and show you some highlights of the classes offered, show you several of the overland trailers on display and meet with a few vendors to see what new products they have.
While out camping with my good friend Marco from @OVRLNDX we realized it's been almost a year since we did the rig walk around of his 2015 Overland Jeep Wrangler build and decided to break out the camera and film all the new updates he's done over the last 12 months... a lot of changes have happened!
My son is home from college for the summer and it was nice to finally get in the garage and do some work the XJ. In this video we install a new stereo, speakers, plus a custom DIY ashtray auxiliary switch panel. We also try and hunt down the fuse for our cigarette lighter to see if we can get it working again. Lot's of electrical stuff in this video!
I decided to try something new in the world of Rig Walk Arounds, and I got a hold of the keys to this very nicely equipped overland purpose built Toyota 4Runner. Now I still meet with the owner and we take a close up look of his truck, but then I get behind the wheel and share my impression of driving out on the trail with you!
On this beautiful Saturday morning we headed up to the Holy Jim trail head for a much, much needed trail clean up day. This event was hosted by the good folks at Rebel Off-Road and with the help of all the volunteers over 5,200 lbs of trash was collected. Please consider volunteering your time this summer to help clean a trail near you!
I was admittedly a little skeptical about doing this install, but as you will see it's a very simple way to add a little responsiveness to your Jeep. In this video I give you a close up look of the BD Diesel Performance throttle sensitivity booster, show you how to install it and then we hit the road and I give you my impressions.
I was talking with my friend CPO over at the YouTube channel O3D Jeeps and we thought it would be cool to share with you guys some recommendations for tools to bring with you off-road.
Over the last couple years I have owned plenty of ice chest, then I purchased a Coleman 12 volt chiller to carry with me in my Jeep and recently I upgraded to a 40l Dometic Refrigerators. So I thought it would be informative to give you some of the pro and cons of each and show you how well they hold their temperature.
Have you installed larger tires on your Jeep? How about bumpers, fenders and a roof rack? The more weight you add to your Jeep Wrangler the hard the stock brakes have to work. In this video I install a Teraflex front and rear big brake kit on my 2015 Jeep Wrangler JKU and then take them out for a test drive and give you my impressions.
Have you ever taken a close up look of a Jeep Truck conversion? In this video we met with Rob to check out his very nice Jeep Wrangler that has the DV8 truck conversion. Rob has built this Jeep for adventure and has taken it to many amazing places. Let's meet with Rob and take a close up look of his build.
We had an amazing adventure through the desert and up into the mountains this weekend and while at camp in the morning I decided to take a few minutes and just do some quick filming around everyones Jeep camp setups. So in this video we are going to take a look at a some nice storage systems, refrigerators options, tables, water storage, roof top tents and more.
When you hear that a Jeep has rolled over you instantly think the worst. My son was recently cut off going down the highway and rolled the Jeep x2 and thankfully he walk away just fine. Our 1999 Jeep Cherokee XJ on the other hand has a lot of body damage that is going to be sorted out. This is just a quick video to show you the damage, more to follow on how we are going to bring her back to life.
So with a bigger lift, bigger tires and some harder wheeling in the future, it was time to upgrade my Jeep Wrangler JKU's driveshafts. I opted to install Adams Driveshafts 1350 Front and Rears. In this video I head over to my good friend Mike's shop (San Diego Off-Road and Custom) so we could use his lift and tap into his technical experience.
Halogen vs. LED vs. LED... which one is better? Spot, flood, fog beam patterns... how do they perform? In this video we take a look at some different light outputs and beam patterns. I admittedly had a little fun filming this and now have a new appreciation for how these different off-road lights perform.
I just returned from an amazing adventure with my son and 4 other great friends. We drove our Jeeps from San Diego, to Utah and then to Colorado to hit the trails, do some exploring and camping along the way. In this video I just want to share with you a quick sneak peak of all the great content that will be coming over the next few weeks.
We have been planning this trip to Utah and Colorado for several month and in this video I show you a brief look at some of the vehicle preparation we did and then my son, a few friends and I travel to Moab, UT to tackle the Top of the World trail. The off-roading in Moab is a amazing and this was a great trail to kick off this trip.
On day 2 of our Utah to Colorado adventure we met up with our good friends to complete Hell's Revenge trail in Moab. This trail is rated as difficult and has some very famous obstacles along the way like Hell's Gate, Tip-Challenge, The Escalator and a few hot tubs. This trail was a blast and while, we didn't attempt all the obstacles, we'll return in the future will a little less gear and give then a go.
On day 3 of our Utah to Colorado off-road adventure my son and I met with our good friends and ran the Poison Spider Mesa trail in Moab. This trail has been on my bucket list for a while and it was so awesome to finally get the opportunity to tackle it. Poison Spider did not disappoint!
We had an amazing 10 camping adventure and in this video I share with you some of the essential camping gear we took with us. From our food storage and cooking setup, tents and sleeping, lighting and electrical gear, water storage and chairs and tables. If there is something in the video you want to pick up for yourself, you can find it on the TrailRecon Amazon store.
In this video, my son, a couple good friends and I head an hour out of Moab to run the Elephant Hill Trail. This trail is a favorite of many folks and we were excited to explore it.
I have received several request to do an update on all the Jeep upgrades of done, and while I still have more to do, I thought I’d take a few minutes and bring you up to speed on where things are at. In this video we are only going to cover the outside of the Jeep and I’ll do and interior review soon.
In this video we leave Moab, UT and head to the beautiful mountain of Colorado to explore the Ophir Pass trail and tackle the famous Black Bear Pass. Ophir Pass is a short, easy and very scenic trail that you an run in just under 2 hours. Black Bear Pass is a longer and much more challenging trail with a steep hill decent, tight switchbacks and some very narrow sections of trail with sheer cliff to one side. Your technical driving skills will need to be at their best for this trail.
After just having completed the hair raising trek on Black Bear Pass, our crew headed to Telluride for lunch and then began the climb up Imogene Pass. Imogene is one of the most beautiful trails I have ever experienced and there were so many rustic old mines and camps to check out along the way. This is on of my favorite trails and a must visit if you are in the Ouray or Telluride Colorado area.
My wife finally got rid of her SUV and we got here a brand new 2018 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 2 Door JL in Hella Yella! I'll be doing a full detailed review in the coming weeks, but I just wanted to quickly introduce the Jeep to you and let you know what my guidance is for being able to modify HER Jeep! We will be having a lot of fun in this rig. I hope you all enjoy it!
I had a blast at Jeep Bash 2018 and there were over 300 Jeep in attendance of every make and model, new ones, old ones, Wrangler JL's, JK's, TJ's, Cherokees, Grand Cherokees, Jeepsters and many, many more. In this video I select my top 10 favorites.
4 days, 3 nights and a whole lot of off-road miles. My son, a few friends and I set out across the Anza-Borrego desert on our way to Sedona, AZ for what would be an epic overland adventure. in this video we explore the Arroyo Tapiado tapped mud caves, make our way down Diablo Drop-off, through Sandstone Canyon and setting in for the night at a secluded camp site.
We love our new 2 door Jeep Wrangler JL Rubicon in the color Hella Yella and in this video I take a few minutes and give you a tour of the outside, inside, discuss a few of the specification and share with you some of the things I like and don't like on this new generation of Jeep.
In this second part of our Anza-borrego desert, Bradshaw Trail and Sedona Arizona trip, we set out after getting hammered by a thunderstorm to cross many miles of desert and then head North to Sedona. We encountered a lot of weather along the way and meant we were going to be getting muddy for many miles. We found some great camp spots along the way, encountered a few creepy crawlers, tackled some fun trails and just had a great adventure.
Bronco Peak trail is one of the most challenging in San Diego County and my son and I have been wanting to run this trail for a long time. In this video, we team up with the Flex Assault Jeep Group and spend a few hours tackling some rocks, ruts, steep decent and sharp turns. We may have experience little trail damage along the way, but in the end we all had a blast!
TrailRecon is a YouTube channel that my son and I started in 2015 to share our off-road adventures. Our channel started out with the simple goal of making memories while exploring trails in Southern California. We love off-roading and making videos just added to the fun. Our videos are all about getting dirty and having fun as we hit trails, reviewing the latest off-road gear, sharing tips and tricks we’ve learned from our adventures, and pointing out the way to breathtaking new trails for fellow off-roaders like you to explore.
Now that my wife has had her 2018 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon JL for a couple weeks no, it was time to finally add a few upgrades. Now while we are not starting off with a lift kit, big tires or a light bar, we are adding some very important upgrades that everyone should considers. Safety items and convince are a priority for my wife and I.
Our ten day adventure to Moab, UT through Ouray, CO was unforgettable. In this video I will share with you some of the planning that went into the trip, answer many of the questions you have been submitting, talk about the camping and trails and share with you what happened the last day in Colorado... which we didn't film.
Why does food at camp taste so much better than if it was cooked at home? In this video my good friend Marco from @OVRLNDX shares with us 3 tasty Mexican camp food recipes. Having some good when you are out camping really helps bring folks together and boost moral. I always enjoy Marco's creative and tasty camp foods and I'm honored he was willing to share these 3 dishes with you all.
Being out on the trail for multiple days can make it difficult to keep camera gear charged, laptops running and my fridge cool. I purchased the Goal Zero Yeti 400 with the Boulder 50 solar panel a few months ago and wanted to give you a close up look and share my opinion.
Meet Kate the Jeep and all mission 2016 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon JKU that has been built for overlanding and for hitting some of the toughest trails like the famous Rubicon. This Jeep was recently on display at SEMA 2018 and has an amazing story as to why it sits in it's current form. In this video I meet with the owner and we talk about the story behind the build and take a close up look of all the interesting modifications he has done to it.
When you install larger tires on your Jeep you will inevitably loose performance and the best way to get it back is to change out your gears with a new ring and pinion. In this video I share with you what I learned about selecting new gears, some basic gear ratio information and what new gears I chose for my Jeep.
What a transformation! Our 1999 Jeep Cherokee JX just spent the last 4 weeks in Ensenada Mexico at a Paint and Body shop getting all her dents and dings repaired and a whole new paint job. There was some extensive dent repair done and the new paint job came out great! Big thanks to Jorge Garcia for all the hard work!
I can’t believe it’s already been a year since I did the initial review of the Smittybilt Overland rooftop tent! I have been using it a ton, in fact I’ve spent almost and entire month camping in it in 2018. In this video I will share with you some of the things I like, some of the criticism I have and answer several questions you have submitted.
Are you trying to decide on what budget overland vehicle to buy? I think the Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo WJ might be one to consider if cash is tight. In this video I walk you around the 1999 WJ my son recently purchased and share with you what our plan going forward with this Jeep is.
Today in the garage I remove the plastic bumper from my wife's 2018 Jeep Wrangler JL, install a Warn winch plate, mount up a Smittybilt 9500 XRC winch and install a Mopar steel stubby bumper with LED lights. This is a very easy install you can do in your garage with some basic hand tools!
We had been planning this Mojave Road overland trip for several months and we would have never imagined we would get hit with a snow storm along the way. We spent 4 days and 3 nights along this historic trail exploring the interesting geological structures, historical landmarks and quickly man made relics.... it was truly and unforgettable adventure!
Finally we take my wife's 2018 Jeep Wrangler JL out and get it a little dirty along with my son 1999 Jeep Cherokee XJ. We ventured up from Pioneertown towards big bear along the Burns Canyon Trail. Since this was the first time we've had the JL off-road, I thought it was fitting to cover some basics that you might find helpful when going off-road for the first time.
There is so much work that has gone into making this 1973 bullnose Jeep Commando the ultimate adventure rig. Just about everything on this Slantback 6 has been gone through. ROAMR has been putting out some excellent custom 4x4 vehicles and I think you will really enjoy the walk around we do of this one.
Wheeling with Lite Brite, cooking with OVRLNDX and camping with good friends, no better way to spend a weekend! We had a blast wheeling and camping with several of our old friends and some new ones! In this video I take a moment and speak with everyone about their Jeep and find out what is there favorite piece of camping gear and what is something they no longer use. Additionally, I had the privilege of talking with the good folks from Lite Brite and my good buddy Marco from OVRLNDX good up some tasty dinner!
This is one of those upgrades we have put off for way too long. I this video, my son and I spend an afternoon installing some new rock sliders on our 1999 Jeep Cherokee XJ from Goliath Off-Road. This is a straight forward install that will add some much needed protection to our recent paint and body work.
I spent a few days cleaning up the garage and came across many pieces of gear I had previously installed on my Jeep Wrangler and have since removed for a variety of reasons. Sometimes you install something and realize later that you just don’t need it or you eventually outgrow the capability, this has been my case for a few items. In this video I share with you some of the Jeep mods I know longer have installed.
I have been wanting to build a rear drawer storage system for my Jeep Wrangler for a while now and I finally pulled the trigger. I have plans for a full storage system, but first I needed to build a secure platform for it to all be fastened to. In this video I'll show you how I built my platform, give you a quick look at the Dometic 30 Drawer fridge I'll be using and I've you all insight on the full system to come.
We had an amazing time at the 2019 American Adventurist Desert Rendezvous. My good friend Marco, a few close friends and I spent the weekend hanging out and socializing, taking a close up look of some well built overland vehicles, taking notes of what camping gear others are using and cooking up and enjoying some great camping food.
There are some Jeep builds that stand out above the rest and in this video we meet with the owner of Titan and take a close up look at the custom modifications he has done to make this a very capable trail rig and still have manners for driving around town.
Having a few of the right tools when you are out on the trail could make the difference of you or your buddy getting home or being stranded. In this video I’m going to share with you what I carry with me in my Jeep Wrangler just in case of a mechanical break down when we are hitting the trail.
When Baja is in your backyard, it's easy to take a couple trips down their every year. In this video, we meet up with some old and new friends and spend 4 days on the West and East side of Baja California doing a little camping, a bit of off-roading along the Baja 1000, eating some amazing food and sharing with you some of the camping gear we brought for this overland trip.
After over 40,000 miles and trekking across almost every terrain, it’s time to decide if I should buy another set of the BFG All Terrains or switch to something else. In this video I share with you my opinion about these tires on and off-road performance, how well they have held up and just a little general tire knowledge.
The 2020 Jeep Gladiator is the hottest new truck on the market and it’s going head to head with the mid-sized truck competition like the Toyota Tacoma, Chevy Colorado and new Ford Ranger. In this video I discuss some of the features, the newly released pricing and options, talk about some potential overland possibilities and share with you if I might buy one.
A lot of work has been done to the Jeep in the last 2 weeks and I wanted to take a moment and bring you up to date on what's been done and what is still left to do before I leave for the Jeep Dirt N Drive event, Easter Jeep Safari in Moab and Overland Expo West. We will talk about my new roof top tent, IVD suspension, tires, storages system and more.
I was invited out to the 2019 Jp Magazine Dirt N Drive 2019 event sponsored by Jeep. This event limits sign up to 100 folks and they keep the details about locations and trails pretty quiet until just right before, so I wasn’t really sure what I was in for. In this first part of the adventure, we started off in Farmington, NM to tackle the Skinny Canyon Trail… it was a blast! There were all kinds of Jeeps on this adventure, new, old, stock, custom, even a new Jeep Gladiator!
This trail is rated a 9 out of 10 and doing this trail with a rooftop tent is not advised, but with a great spotter, the new Icon suspension and Cooper tires I just installed, my Jeep just might make it up. Die Tryin trail is 1.2 miles of hard, technical boulders and is located in Montrose, CO and is hands down the most difficult rock crawling trail I've ever been on.
It's been a few months in the making, but with the help of my good friend Marco from @ovrlndx, we finally completed my rear drawer and fridge system for my Jeep Wrangler. Doing long overland style adventures requires carrying lots of gear and food and having this new cabinet system is really going to help stay organized. Please not this is not a full step by step DIY video, but just a brief overview of the work we did, materials used an a few challenge we encountered.
I have been considering vinyl wrapping my Jeep Wrangler for a long time, but I honestly just didn’t even know were to begin. Recently I ran into one of the partners with LV8 Design Group and he walked me through the process. Working with a graphic artist, understanding what it required, the simple and short time commitment and the very affordable cost made this an easy decision. I love the way the whole thing came out and now my Jeep has a complete personalized look. Something worth considering.
I was doing a gear check before I head out on a week long trip across the desert and to Flagstaff, AZ for Overland Expo West and I thought I'd bust out the camera and share with you all the gear I'll be packing in my Jeep Wrangler.
Overland Expo West is one of my favorite events! This year I set out with a group of great folks with an amazing mix vehicles (Jeeps, Toyotas, a Ford Raptor, and Chevy Z71) for 3 days to get to the expo the hard way... across the desert. In this videos I talk with a few of my friends on camera about their rigs, their camping gear and even a little bit of the food the were cooking up at camp along the way.
This was my third year attending Overland Expo West in Flagstaff, Arizona and each year it has grown larger and larger. There are always some amazing overland vehicles, trailers, gear, educational classes and great people at Expo West. In this video I take you around and show you what the event is like, look at a few products, rigs and meet with some fellow YouTube creators.
In this video I walk your around the Overland Expo West in Flagstaff Arizona to take a look at just some of the standout overland built vehicles. We will take a look at some of the expedition style rigs, full sized overland trucks, mid sized trucks, conversion vans, Toyotas, Land Rover Defenders, Jeep Wrangler, Ram Trucks and Jeep Gladiators. Be sure to stay until the end where I will choose my favorite vehicle of the event.
Are you looking for some advice on planning your next overland adventure? Well I had the pleasure to meet up with Ronny Dahl from Australia while he was visiting Overland Expo West 2019 in Flagstaff Arizona and we broke the camera out and had a great discussion about overland trip planning. In this video we cover topics like choosing the right people for a trip, the gear we pack, the food we bring, the routes we choose and discuss off-road vehicles.
Are you looking for new resources to help you find your next trail adventure? Well you are in luck! In this video I share with you 10 ways I find some of the most amazing trails to explore. We'll talk about a few basics, but I'll also give you some suggestions that you may not have heard of before.
I have ran 35 and 37" All Terrain and Mud Terrain tires on my Jeep over the years and have experienced different off-road performance results. In this video I share a few historical video clips with you showing a couple situation with the AT's and MT's. Now it's important to note there are many factors to consider with off-road tire performance comparison; tire pressure, vehicle weight, throttle control, tire placement.... none of which were attempted to be replicated here. This is not a scientific comparison video!
There are some amazing places to explore on the Eastern side the Sierra Nevada Mountains range. In this video my son and I with a few close friends set out to explore the Alabama Hills Recreation area and Coyote Flats. We had a blast out on some easy, moderate and even a little difficult trail, we found some amazing camps sites and of course cooked up some great food at camp.
I've been using this Roam Adventure Co. Rambler prototype roof top tent for 4 months now and in this video I share with you my thoughts on the tent, show you some of the features and discuss the pros and cons of a hard-shell vs. a soft-shell roof top tent.
I am so excited to share with you the my new 2020 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon. In this video I'm going to show you all the standard and optional features that came with this model... A good Jeep Gladiator review. No many of you have asked, did I sell my Jeep Wrangler and why didn't I buy the Gladiator Sport S model and I answer these questions and more in the video.
It was finally time for my 2020 Jeep Gladiators first time off-road. I wanted to get a feel for how she performed with stock tires and suspension before doing any modification, so I headed towards a family trail, Mica Gem Mine, which is rated easy to moderate. My good friend Josh joined me for the day, because it's always best to have someone with you on the trail, in his newly lifted Jeep Gladiator with 37" tires. It was a great day!
It's only been a few weeks since I brought home our 2020 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon and shortly after taking it out wheeling in stock form, it was time to begin doing some modifications. In this video I share with you a few of the things I have done already and discuss the plan of the overland build going forward. A bed rack, new tent and new wheels and tires are only the beginning.
There have been a lot of questions regarding the Jeep Gladiators off-road capabilities every since it was released and in the is video we decided to have a little fun and do an off-road comparison. We will take a look at how it stacks up agains a 2018 Jeep Wrangler 2 door. Wheel base, turning, departure angle and more.
This was the first multi-day trip that I would be taking my Jeep Gladiator on with my son and good friends Marco and Josh in their Jeep Wranglers. We headed North along the 395 highway towards Coyote Flats in search of new trails and camping sites. In part 1, we find some amazing places to spend the night, eat some great camp food, explore some trails just to see where they will lead and we run into a few challenges along the way.
After spending 2 amazing days exploring Coyote Flats just off of the 395 highway, my good friends Marco, Josh, my son Justin and I set off again in our Jeep Gladiator and Wranglers in search of some new and exciting camp sites. We have a true passion for overlanding and being able to find new trails that lead to some awesome campsites is something we all truly enjoy... oh and of course we love some good camp cooking!
Now there is the option to purchase a completelthy loaded out Jeep Wrangler purpose built for overlanding right from the dealer. I partnered with Redlands Jeep to design a Jeep using parts and gear I use and designed an off the show room, brand new 2019 Jeep Wrangler with the new TrailRecon Edition logo.
This Jeep Wrangler Unlimited JL was built for the Ultimate Adventure 2019 in Alaska. I was fortunate to have been invited on this trip and spend a week wheeling in this Jeep with Ryan. In this video, we take a close up look of all the modifications that have been done to this Jeep built by Smittybilt. It's not your typical build, it's running on 40" tires, has a body lift, coilers and much, much more!
I had a blast wheeling in Alaska on the Ultimate Adventure and Ryan and I on the last day of the trip had some in-depth conversations about transmissions, tires, terrains, vehicles and more. So we decided to turn on the camera and just see what came of it.... I hope you find some of this informative.
Having some extra storage and a place to mount some off-road lights is going to be extremely helpful. In this video, I visit my friends at Rebel Off-road and they install their new Halo 2.0 roof rack on my Jeep Gladiator. I'll talk you through the steps, show you how we wired it and answer a few common questions I get about roof racks.
After spending a great day at Jeep Bash 2019, 16 of us decided to head towards the Anza Borrego Desert to do a little camping. The next morning, I broke the camera out and walked around camp to take look at what gear, equipment and creative DIY things folks are using to outfit their Jeep Wranglers with camping gear for overlanding. And my buddy Marco cooked up something very tasty for breakfast!
It’s time to start adding some electical accessories to the Jeep Glaidaotr, but first I decided to build a custom hub using an sPOD system to keep all the wiring clean and organized. In this video, I install the sPOD Bantam with HD, wire up and ARB compressor and show you how I built a custom plate in one of the Leitner pods. Let’s run some wires!
I have been wanting to explore Slick Rock trail for a long time and finally my good friend Marco, Ali and I headed to Northern California to explore a few local trails with some good friends. We ventured off onto Sour Grass, Slick Rock and Deer Valley. We found some amazing camp sites, wheels our Jeeps hard, ate some great camp food and had a couple challenges along the way.
Join Marco and I as we travel along the Top of the World trail in Moab talking about some common questions viewers like you ask. We'll talk vehicles, trails, camping, food, life and more!
I wanted to add a little custom touch to my Jeep Gladiator, so I went back and visited my friends at LV8 Design Group to vinyl wrap the JT. I wrapped my Jeep Wrangler early last year (link below), but this time I wanted something a little more subtle. In this video I just set up the camera and let the time-lapse run, I thought it was pretty interesting to watch and I hope you do as well. If you'd like more information about what's involved in wrapping a Jeep, you can find out lots of details in the Jeep Wrangler vinyl wrap video or visit LV8 Design Group.
Previously on this adventure we met up with some good friends to take on some scenic and challenging forest trails, did a little camping and we even had to overcome a few challenges along the way. In this episode, we will put our rigs to the test even more, explore some more of the beauty California has to offer, search for another epic camp site, of course eat some good food and yes, even encounter some more challenges.
There has been so much exciting stuff happening lately, I just wanted to take a few minutes and give you and update. A few things we will talk about are some of the challenges I’ve been having with the Jeep Wrangler, we’ll talk about some recent trips I’ve been on, I’ll explain why there is an off-road trailer sitting in my garage, some exciting news about my wife’s JL, my upcoming trip to SEMA 2019 and what’s to come for the channel.
I'm very excited to introduce the new TrailRecon Edition Jeep Gladiator build! I've partnered with my friends at Redlands Jeep to custom build some off-road vehicles using the parts and gear I've used on my adventures. This is the first Gladiator and in this video I'm going to take you on a walk around of all the things we've added to make this the perfect adventure rig for it's soon to be new owner.
There are so many Jeep Gladiators at this years SEMA show and in this video I take you not a tour as we get up and close with a whole bunch of them. We'll look at some Gladiator overland builds, rock crawlers, show rigs and some that I would rate as Rocklander worthy! SEMA 2019 has been a great event and the quality of design that has gone into the Jeep Gladiators at the event was exciting.
There were so many amazing built trucks, jeeps, and custom off-road vehicles at this years SEMA 2019 that I had to take a day and just film as many as I could. This was the first year at SEMA that they had and Overland Experience section, so of course we had to dive in and see what cool overland rig builds where there.
Are you struggling to find the perfect gift for your overlander, off-roader or adventurer? Or perhaps someone is asking you want for Christmas or your Birthday and you just don't know what to suggest? In this video I share with you 10 items I think will be perfect for those looking to have some great adventures out on the trail and at camp.
Over the last few years the stock dana 44 axles on my 2015 Jeep Rubicon have hit some serious trails, carried the weights of tons of overlanding gear, managed the load of some larger wheels and tires and now have over 100k miles on them. While I have done a few upgrades to make them stonger like c-gussets, chromoly axles shafts, Dynatrac ball joints, and more, they are now showing signs of failure and I've had to make a few repairs. In this video I head over to Dynatrac to upgrade my front axles to the new ProRock 44.
There are some great Jeep Wrangler builds out there, but not too many of them allow you to be self sustained for day on end and explore some epic places. In this video we take a close up look of this 2018 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited that has been outfitted with all the right overlanding gear and talk with the owner to find out why he chose the modification he did.
A lot has been happening with the Jeep Gladiator build in just the last few weeks. When I was invited to SEMA and the LA Auto Show, I knew there were some things that needed to get done quickly, so in this video I’m going to catch you up on all the updated modifications (lift kit, tires, led lights, winch, roof rack, bed rack, rooftop tent, fridge and more), give you my opinions about what’s been installed, talk to you about some changes I’ll be making and what future projects are coming.
This wasn’t an easy decision by any means, but in this video I’ll explain while after less than a year, I decided to remove the custom vinyl wrap from my Jeep Wrangler. I’ll show you how well it’s held up after being out on the trail many times, out in the sun and other weather conditions, then I’ll show the process I went through to remove it and share with you my thoughts on if I’d ever wrap it again?
In this video my son and I have some upgrades to our 1999 Jeep Cherokee XJ that we've been wanting to get done for a while. We pull it back in the garage to replace the steering wheel, serpentine belt and we were going to beef up the differential cover until something unexpected happens, but more on that at the end of the video.
Well it's not quite Christmas, but I just couldn't wait to open this massive box that was just delivered. In this video I will unbox my new roof top tent that I'll be using over the next several months on some multi-day overlanding and day camping trips. This is the RoofNest Falcon and is one of the slimmest roof top tents on the market. Let's take a close up look of what's in the box, the outside and inside of the tent and I'll share my initial impressions.
My wife has had her HellaYella 2 door Jeep Wrangler JL for over a year now and she loves daily driving it and exploring new destinations out on the trails. While the JKUR is very capable in stock form, I’ve always wanted to add just a little lift and slightly larger tires to it to give it just a bit more capability, but still maintain good daily driving manners. In this video, I try a little experiment to see if she’s willing to allow me to install 35” tires and a 2.5” lift kit… we’ll see!
Happy New Year! In this video I recap 2019 and I share with you some exciting plans coming in 2020!
I've had this Rhino Rack Backbone with Pioneer Platform roof rack installed on my Jeep for over 2 years now. I've put it through some serious abuse on our adventures by mounting a roof top tent on top and wheeling some hard trails. In this video I'm going to share with you some general information about roof racks and then I'll tell you how well this roof rack has held up and if I'd buy it again.
After installing larger tires, a lift kit and adding several heavy accessories to my Jeep Gladiator, I began to notice a reduction in performance. I elected to swap out the ring and pinon gears to see if I could get some of that performance back. In the process I wanted to do a test to see how it would affect my gas mileage. We tried to be as fair as possible in our pre and post gas mileage test, but because this is real world, there are several factors that can affect the results.
Are you considering buying a used Jeep Wrangler? The 2007-2018 Wrangler JK/JKU is a great off-road vehicle, but there are a few Wrangler specific things you want to be on the look out for. In this video ,I'll share with you some of the common things I've experience with both stock and modified Jeeps that have several thousand miles on them. I'll talk about the 3.8 vs. 3.6 liter engines, tires, suspension, steering, interior and more.
For the last five years I’ve been building up my Jeep Wrangler to be able to take me on some awesome off-road and overlanding adventures. During this time the Jeep has gotten heavier and heavier and the performance has suffered, plus the weight has started to take a toll on the components. In this video I’ll share with you what the current weight is, some things I’ve done to lighten it up and what I’ll be doing going forward to get closure to GVWR.
It was time to get out and do some wheeling and camping with good friends and we purposefully left our agenda open ended so we could explore without too many time and distance restrictions. Well it turned out to be an expedition none of us will soon forget. We kicked it off at the Trona Pinnacles, camped for the night an then set off to explore Death Valley. We had a full sized AEV RAM truck, my Jeep Gladiator with a Patriot Campers X2 Trailer, a Jeep Wrangler with a trailer, a Toyota Tacoma and a well build Jeep Wrangler rock crawler on this overland trip. Good people, good food and awesome stops along the way… I think you will really enjoy joining us on this adventure.
In this Video I share with you some of the filming tips and tricks I've learned over the years to produce my adventure videos. I'll walk you though some of the preparation that happens before I set out, show you all my camera gear, take you out on the trail and show you a few helpful suggestions on getting some amazing video footage and then we'll head back to the office and I'll share with you some basic video editing techniques.
I recently install some new 35" tires and 17" rims on my wife 2018 Jeep Wrangler JL and after spending a week commuting to and from work, it's time to find out what she thinks about them. In this video we set out for and easy day on the Thomas Mountain Truck Trail, do a little exploring, soak in the scenery and talk about her new tires. I found it very interesting as to what she thought of the larger and heavier tires.
While I was in Johnson Valley, California, for King of the Hammers 2020, I met up with Nate from Dirt Lifestyle and we hit the dirt to explore some of the desert trails. I thought it would be fun to throw him the keys to the Jeep Gladiator, get his feedback on how it performs on the trail, and just chat about his passion for off-roading, fabrication, vehicle builds, YouTube, family, life, and more.
Over the years I have swapped out safety equipment, recovery gear and tools for items that are more practical. In this video I share with you what I'm currently using when I'm in either my Jeep Wrangler or Jeep Gladiator out on the trails.
In this video I share with you my thoughts about overlanding with an off-road trailer while we walk around and take a close up look of the Patriot Campers X2 trailer that I've been borrowing for a few months. There are some pro's and con's to setting out on an overland adventure with a trailer, and being able to comfortably pack all your camping gear, have plenty of onboard water, a large capacity battery setup, and just some of the convinces a trailer can offer are all very appealing. If you are thinking of buying or building an overland trailer for your off-road adventures, I think you will find this video informative.
I love the aroma of a nice cup of coffee early in the morning at camp, and over the years I've tried a few brewing methods that have worked well outdoors. In this video I share with you 5 ways I use to get my caffeine fix. While there are some out there that like to make a science project out of their coffee brew, for me, I like it to be simple, quick, light weight and easy to clean up.
My son just returned home from being stationed overseas for the last 2 years and the whole time has been saving his money and dreaming of getting and building a Jeep when he got home. It only took him 4 days to find the Jeep he wanted and in this video we take you one a tour of the good and bad things of this 2006 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon TJ…. Sorry we didn’t get and LJ, but we’ll explain why in the video!
I’m genuinely thankful that after all these years, my sons still enjoy exploring new trails with their old man. Some of our best memories have come from wheeling and camping trips in places just like this one. In this video we have a few laughs, learn some new off-road lessons in our Jeep Wranglers and some new memories formed as we explore the Rattlesnake Canyon Trail near Johnson Valley, just on the East side of the San Bernardino Forest.
In this video my son and I begin to make some small improvement to his 2006 Jeep Wrangler TJ that he recently purchased. We just wanted to add some safety gear, the ability to self-recover and a convenient interior modification in this video…. More upgrades to come soon.
In this video I share with you something that I installed 3 years ago on my JKU and while it isn’t the most flashy or trendy modification I’ve added to my Jeep Wrangler, it is something that I have used over and over again. It’s very practical, extremely well built and something I have no regrets about installing. In this video, I review and install the Outback Adventure Products Tailgater Jeep Wrangler JL tailgate table.
Which Jeep do I prefer, the Wrangler or the Gladiator, are we still taking our Alaska overland trip, and what is my dream overland vehicle, those questions and more that you've submitted will be answered in this first episode of Garage Coffee where we just hang out and chat about all things off-road, overlanding, vehicles, life and more...
Join me as I spend some time in the garage knocking out some of the small projects I've been putting off or a while. With the current event in the world, many of us are stuck at home and hopefully there is one or two items that I tackle in this video that you may have been putting off and now is the time so when you are ready to head out on your next adventure, you'll be ready to go!
Is a full sized overland truck the best option, what was my scariest experience overlanding, what trail will I never do again, what was my most memorable experience in the military and what’s with the Van Halen Album on the wall…. All those questions you submitted and more we’ll talk in this video.
In preparation for adding larger wheels and tires to my sons 2006 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon TJ red 2 door, we knew the stock tailgate hinges and tire carrier were going to need to be strengthened up. So in this video, we spent a couple hours installing a MORryde tailgate hinge with a Rugged Ridge tire carrier. This was a fairly easy install, but it wasn’t without a couple challenges along the way….
It's only been a little over a month since my son purchased this 2006 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon TJ with the intentions of making it more capable on the trail and more self-sustainable for overlanding trips. In this video he and I install a Gobi roof rack with the ladders and wind deflectors and then mount a roof top tent on top... great father and son times in the garage!
It’s been a 5 year process of off-roading, upgrading, fixing, and swapping out components and a lot has changed in just the last 12 months. In this video I take you on a tour of my 2015 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon and we take an in-depth look at all the upgrades I’ve done in the past and recently.
If you'd like your off-road or overland vehicle showcased on TrailRecon, following the directions below. Looking for any vehicles that have a cool story. An Overland Jeep or Toyota build, a cool rock crawler, a fun sized truck an old classic off-road truck that has been in the family, maybe even stock rig with a great back ground.... anything goes and I'll select the ones that stand out.
In this video we take a look at some very well built off-road and overland vehicles submitted by folks like you. A truck with a massive cabin camper, a few Jeep Wrangler Build, a Jeep Cherokee, a couple Toyotas and a full sized overland build.
What makes a better vehicle for overlanding, a Land Rover Defender, a Jeep Wrangler, a Chevy Suburban or something else? In this video 7 owners take use on a close up tour of their vehicles that have been built to handle long distance travel and off-roading.
Why am I not running a dual battery system? Why don’t I have beadlocks on my Jeep anymore? What are the top 3 upgrades I’ve done to my Gladiator. Those questions answered and more on this episode of TrailRecon Garage Coffee.
There are so many great off-road and overland builds out there and in this video we take a close up look at a Toyota Hilux, an FJ Cruiser, a rock crawling Jeep Wrangler with a trailer, an overland built Toyota 4 Runner and more.
A classic Jeep build has been something I've wanted to do for a long time and after months of searching and looking at Wagoneer, Grand Wagoneer, Gladiator, J20 and more I finally I purchased a 1979 Jeep Cherokee Chief SJ. In this video I'll take you on a tour of what I am starting with, I didn't even wash it yet. This Cherokee has had some nice upgrades already done to it, but there are a few mechanical and cosmetic things that need to be addressed and we'll talk about the good and not so good in this video.
Do you enjoy checking out the custom modification people do to their off-road and overland vehicles? If so you will love this video! We take a look at 9 Jeep Wranglers that the owners have upgraded to meet their needs. We'll get up and close with a Jeep CJ, YJ, TJ, JK and JL and perhaps their will be a modification that you can apply to your vehicle build.
Are we still taking our overland expedition to Alaska this year, when will I finally be out on the trails filming again, what is up with E3 Overland, those topics and your questions are answered in this video.
In this video we take a close up look at some well build overland and off-road vehicle that are ready for any adventure. A fully outfitted classic Jeep J20 with just about everything an overlander could ask for, a Jeep Wrangler with an Ursa Minor top and lots of creature comforts, a Nissan Xterra, Toyota Tacoma, a hand built overland trailer and more.
In this video I take you with me as we walk around camp and look at a few new pieces of overland gear that you will be very interested in, new solar panel setup, new roof top tent, awning and more. Oh, and of course there will be some good chow cooking up while we are hanging out you won’t want to miss.
In this video we’ll take a look at shelter options you may want to consider when you are out on your overland or camping adventure. There are pros and cons of sleeping in the back of your vehicle, using a hammock, a ground tent or a hard or soft shell roof top tent and we’ll discuss each. Also, we have just publicly launched the E3 Overland Association where you will find educational information to help you plan and execute your next adventure, ensure you have the right gear and save a little money through some exclusive members only discounts. I want to make sure I mention that with the launch of E3 Overland, nothing here on TrailRecon is going to change. Often knowing what to do, where to go, and what to purchase can be overwhelming. There’s a lot of uncertainty, misinformation and limited resources to support an exceptional overland experience. E3 Overland eliminates all the guesswork in planning and accomplishing successful trips with friends and family, doing it in a safe, confident, and enjoyable way. Don't risk "burn out" or squander money. Instead, discover how this program can heighten your overlanding life and experience FOREVER. The E3 Overland Association empowers you to connect and share the most outstanding time spent with family and friends. Together, we'll enjoy the great outdoors through the most innovative and groundbreaking online and offline program GUARANTEED to transform your overland experiences. E3 empowers members to discover and explore what it means to make informed decisions while overlanding, so you can appreciate and grow more comfortable with the overland lifestyle.
In this adventure my good friends and I head to Prescott, Arizona to do some exploring, camping, check out some scenic and historical sites and of course, tackle a few trails. Prescott is a beautiful town in the Arizona mountains and the good folks from Centerforce Clutch were our guides during this extended weekend. And while we set off with a good plan, we had a couple challenges along the way that required some minor modifications to our agenda.... but that's what makes an adventure so much fun!
Buying an old classic Jeep like this 1979 Cherokee Chief SJ can be a big project and require many hours of work and possibly a ton of cash. Did I bite off more than I can chew with this project? In this video I'll share with you some of the things I've found wrong so far, some of the things I've sorted, upgraded and some of things that I never expected to find.
It’s finally time to take this Jeep Wrangler build to the next level and increase the ground clearance, ride quality and overall appearance. In this video we install a lift kit and new wheels and tires on my son 2006 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon TJ. We overcome a few challenges along the way, have a few laughs, and take transform the looks and capability of this Jeep TJ.
In this video we take a look at the 7 Jeeps that are in my driveway, (a Cherokee Chief, Jeep Wrangler TJ, Wrangler JK, Wrangler JL, a Gladiator, Cherokee XJ,Grand Cherokee WJ) and discuss some of the future plans for them, some pros and cons and I'll share with you which one I'm planning on selling soon.
In this adventure, my son and I set out to do some exploring in the mountains, test out his new Jeep Wrangler tires and suspension, do some camping and cook up some hearty meals.
There are many off-road vehicles that are well known for being extremely capable, but often the debate is made that Jeep and Toyota are the most capable off-road vehicles out there. Well, perhaps the Land Rover Discovery is equally as capable? In this video we take a close up look of a 2003 Overland Built Land Rover Discovery that has been slightly lifted, out fitted with some solid gear, a roof top tent, full storage and kitchen build and more.
We set off on a 7 day adventure from San Diego to Downieville in Northern California. Along the way we found some epic camping destinations to include one on the Rubicon Trail. This overland adventure was unforgettable and in this video we share some of the behind the scenes from the trip.
Having the ability to easily air up your tires after a long day on the trail is helpful, but having to lug around a bulky air compressor or installing one in a storage area that takes up space just isn't ideal. In this video, I install the Grimm Off-road dual ARB compressor and mount system on my wires 2018 Jeep Wrangler. This mounting system tucked the compressor away in a nice location, but allows for ease of use.
What would you take with you on a multi-day solo camping trip? When you are out in remote areas by yourself, it’s important to have some basic essentials and in this video I’ll pull out all the gear in my truck, explain why I brought it with me, show you my new sleeping setup, good a little chow and keep a close eye on the weather….
The trail in Moab, Utah are some of the best in the country, but they are also some of the toughest and the unique terrain, obstacles and slick rock climbs can be hard on an off-road vehicle. It doesn’t matter if you drive a Jeep, Toyota, Land Cruiser, or built out buggy, Moab is known for breaking many parts on all vehicles. In this video, I interview Milt from Dixie 4 Wheel Drive and ask him what are the top 10 most common breaks and repairs his shop does in Moab.
This is a 2018 Jeep Wrangler that has been built to handle any trail out there and the owner is about to set off on a serious off-road adventure that only few will ever experience. In this video, we meet with the owner and take a look at all the modifications that have been done to make this Jeep extremely capable. Suspension, 40” tires, upgraded axles, and more.
What’ more fun an easy or a challenging trail? Is the Ford Bronco really a competitor for the Jeep Wrangler, and is an Automatic or Manual transmission best for off-roading? Join me and Jim McGean from Dynatrac as we cruise along an easy trail and talk about those topics and more.
We set out to put as many miles on the dirt as we possibly could over 3 days and in this video we head out on the Rim Rocker trail traveling from Utah to Colorado, going from the heat of the desert, to the cool climate of the Mountains. We encounter some scenic views, find some epic camp spots, eat some great foot and have a memorable overland adventure!
Having spent a couple days on the road and out on the trails of Utah and Colorado, we now find ourselves in the middle of the Rim Rocker Trail heading East. We have put in a lot of miles, but still have over 100 dirt miles we need to put in for this leg and time is running short. Our goal, is to reach the end of the trail, find an awesome camping spot, keep all the vehicles running and everyone healthy for the remainder of this adventure.
I’ve got the keys to this brand new 2020 Toyota Tacoma that right after this video was filmed got stripped down and built back up into an off-road and overland rig for the E3 Association film crew. This vehicle will be built to keep up with us on our long multi-day adventures and stylish enough to be on display at events. In this video I show you what foundation we started with and then there will be an entire build series on this truck coming on E3 Overland.
Welcome to another episode of garage coffee! In this video we talk about some upcoming overland adventures, the 11 day road trip my wife and I just completed, and the status of all our current vehicles, some we've sold and one new one we just bought. Watch to find out what's going on with the Jeep Cherokee, Jeep Wrangler TJ, Jeep JKU, Jeep Gladiator, Jeep Cherokee Chief SJ and more!
Is the 2021 Jeep Wrangler Diesel the best platform for an overland build? In this video I take you on a tour of the specification and options of this brand new Jeep that I just took ownership of. We’ll explore some of the things I like and don’t like, look at this year models new features, discuss my initial impressions with the ecodiesel engine and talk about the overland build plan.
Having enough clean water when you are out on your overland or camping adventures is essential, but what’s the best method to store, filter and dispense it? Well I’ve been using carrying this LifeSaver Jerry Can in the back of my Jeep Gladiator that has a built in water filter and pressure pump for the last several month and I think this is a solution you may want to consider. In this video I’m going to give you my opinion on the pros and cons and at the end of the video I’ll give it a recon gear score.
I purchased this 2021 Jeep Wrangler Diesel with the goal to build it up to be self sustained while exploring all 50 states in America and beyond. In this video I share with you the work that has been done over the last two weeks, to include a roof rack, communications, rear storage and more.
Myself and 10 other friends setup an amazing overland camp site on the rim of the grand canyon as part of the E3 Overland Association's first event. In this video I take you on a tour of all the vehicles setups to look at some Jeep Wranglers, A Gladiator, a Toyota FJ, Dodge Power Wagon, Ford F150 and several overland trailers. This is a one take video, so just an unedited walk around… oh and the place we were camping at was epic!
It’s been over a year since I was last in Baja California Mexico and in this video, me and several of my good friends planned a 4 day overland adventure to go explore some of the Baja beaches, hit some off-road trails, find some memorable camping locations, cook up some good camp meals and just relax and enjoy the ocean sights and sounds.
Taking a 2020 Jeep Gladiator Sport from a bone stock foundation and turning into the ultimate adventure rig was the ultimate vision behind the owner of this truck. In this video we take a close up look of all the work, parts and labor that have carefully gone into building this truck, we'll talk with the oner and find out the why behind each modification and hear some of the future plans.
The Jeep Gladiator is the most capable midsize off-road truck you can buy. It's an excellent platform for overloading adventures and cross country road trips and there is a massive amount of aftermarket support for modifying and personalizing it. So why did I decide to sell my 2020 Jeep Gladiator? Well I'll explain why, talk about my experiences both pros and cons over the last 15 months, share with you the vehicle that's taking its place, plus I'll give you a little insight on the suspension comparison I just completed and answer a question I've been getting a lot regarding the Wrangler 392.
The Ram Power Wagon is the Heavy Duty Off-roader of the truck community and it’s heritage dates back to the 1940’s and is well known for its big, tough, trail dominating capabilities. This 2020 model is the 5th Generation of the modern Power Wagons and the off-road refinements and modern interior amenities make this a highly sought-after adventure vehicle for those looking for a full size truck, long range expedition rig and weekend trail adventure truck. I’ve had my eye on the Power Wagons for a while now, and I’m looking forward to, pushing this truck to its limits on the dirt, adding a few modification to fit my needs and sitting back and enjoying the ride on some long-range overland adventures. I think this platform has a whole lot of potential.
Rubicon Unlimited JL's and have 6 different manufactures lift kits to install and review. In this part 1 video, we'll take a close up look at each kits components, install them and then take some measurement to see how much lift they gained over stock. Lastly, we'll flex them out and see which kits articulated the best.
This is part two of this series where I have access to 6 bone stock 2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited JL's and have 6 different manufactures lift kits to install and review. In this part 2 video, we'll take these Jeeps out on the road and see how they handle, run them off-road on a variety of terrains and I'll pick the winners of this comparison.
I just installed a new Lift Kit, Wheels and Tires on my 2021 Jeep Wrangler Diesel and today I'm going to take it out for a shake down run and see if there are any clearance issues. I'll also share with you how well it is performing both on and off-road.
Happy New Year! In this edition of Coffee One-Take we'll talk about the pros and cons of a diesel vs. gas Jeep Wrangler, I'll give you a quick update on the Ram Power Wagon and Cherokee Chief and let you know what adventures goals I've set for 2021.
Welcome to TrailRecon where my goal is to inspire you to have some exciting adventures that will make memories to last a lifetime. My name is Brad and I’m just some retired military guy that enjoys sharing my adventures with you through video. On this channel in 2021, I’ll take you along with me, my family and some close friends begin a life long goal of wheeling and camping in all 50 states, we’ll be exploring some scenic and challenging off-road trails across the country, seek out those secluded camping spots, and enjoy some great camp food. I’ll spend some time here in the garage and give you some ideas on how to outfit your adventure vehicle, then I’ll take them out on the trials and put them to their paces. I’ll offer some recommendations on gear that might be of interest to you, and something I love doing, is sharing with you some other folk’s vehicle builds, because there is more than one way to build up an adventure rig, because my way may not exactly be the best way for you. If you’re looking for a little adventure inspiration and want to be entertained along the way, click that subscribe button and then check out the new subscriber playlist link below that I’ve created just for you to give you just a small taste of some of the exciting content you’ll enjoy here on TrailRecon. Welcome to the channel and safe travels.
Today my oldest son and I are out here on one of my favorite local easy trails, Black Mountain Truck Trail. This is an up and back that starts at around 1000 feet in elevation and winds it was up the mountain to just over 4000 feet and offers some great views which you’ll see here soon. The trail will only take you a couple hours depending on how often you stop to soak in the views, is rated as easy, but know that during and for several days after a rain that the rangers will close it to help preserve the conditions.
I've been patiently waiting while many products for my Ram Power Wagon HD 2500 have been on back order, but finally some new stuff has arrived. In this video I'll install an sPod Bantam, a frame mounted light bar and some brand new led Flex Era 4 lights from KC.
Finding a secure and organized way to store all your gear, food and nicknacks on your adventures is sometimes and evolving process to get it just right. In this video I'll share with you some things that have been working for me and some new things I'll be testing out. We'll cover roof racks, rear storage systems, hard and soft storage containers and I'll build a MOLLE rear seat back system.
Sprung weight, unsprung weight, GVWR, Payload, Curb Weight… it’s a lot of stuff to consider. In this video I talk all about vehicle weights, I’ll share with you the result from putting the Jeep Wrangler Diesel on the scale and some weights I obtained directly off a couple Wrangler and Gladiator door jam decals…. the results are a bit surprising!