Pacific Northwest Backroad Adventures

You’ve seen indoor carting and even some indoor motocross tracks, however this is the first indoor 4×4 course that I have heard of. I’m not sure if it is the first worldwide, but it probably is in Australia where this course is set up.

Just like in many of the indoor carting facilities, you pay for 30 minute sessions on the course, just this time, its well equipped (44 inch tires and 350 Chevy power) 4×4 buggies that you get to play with. It looks like a fun time whenever you visit Melbourne, Australia.

Maybe this concept will catch on in the United States.

Read more at Ragged Edge 4×4.

Four Wheeler magazine announced that Mopar will be releasing a bolt-in Dana 60 replacement axle for the new Jeep JK Wranglers. This upgrade will be very similar to the Jeep J8 export-only diesel powered JK (see Military Version of Jeep Wrangler Unlimited and will larger truck brakes. No price for the axle upgrade has been announced.

Read more at Mopar Performance Jeep Wrangler JK Dana 60.

Have you ever wondered what would happen to your Land Cruiser if a large land animal attacked your vehicle? I’ve never gave it much thought. The odds are pretty slim that I’ll be charged by a bison (the heaviest land animal in North America). It’s much more likely that’ll I hit a deer in a frontal impact (that’s one reason why I installed a ARB Bull Bar).

Anyway, I came across this story and pictures that shows thew results of a Land Cruiser being attacked by a Rhinoceros. It actually held up quite well. You just had to duck when the horn came through the window.

You can see the original story at Rhino Collides with Landcruiser. Now I wonder what a elephant could do.

I just came across a new release of a digital magazine from the folks at Difflock. The downloadable first edition is available HERE. The magazine is produced in the UK and gives us an European perspective on our sport. Of course, there is plenty of information on Land Rovers. Beyond that, there is great overland travel articles from areas in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. True overlanding indeed. Check it out.

Here’s a great short video from the Expedition Americas on how NOT to seat a tire bead out on the trail. Enjoy.

You’ve seen it on all the TV survival shows, people using their watch to find the points on a compass. Usually, its only a brief explanation and it’s always left me wondering (I can be a little slow sometimes). In case you’re like me, I found a good explanation on how this works on the Survival Topics site. From the article, it details the differences between the Northern and Southern hemisphere, as well as techniques to do the same even if you only know the time of say (ie; you only have a digital watch). This is excellent knowledge to have when your GPS batteries go dead and you realized that you left your compass elsewhere.

You can read the article at Using Time as a Compass.

The 2008 JPFreek Gear Guide issue has just been released and is available for download at www.jpfreek.com

In this issue, in addition to the 2008 Gear Guide that has reviews on jeep stuff, recovery gear, camping gear, outdoor clothing, etc., there are some great adventure travel articles including Planning Your Menu, Planning Your Shelter, Trail Winching Techniques and much more. It’s a excellent read even if you don’t drive a Jeep.

Many people make the mistake of traveling through winter conditions without proper preparations. How will you survive if your car is caught in a blizzard and there is nowhere else to go? Sitting there and freezing to death is not an option because here is what you do…

Read more at How to Make a Survival Heater for Your Car

I just finished reading a short article in the online edition of the National Geographic Adventure Magazine titled The Vanishing Vacation: Why You Need a Break and it got me thinking of some of the people I see all around me on a daily basis.

I see people who almost never take time away from work. At the most, they may only take an extended weekend. I don’t get it. What is behind this obsession to work so much and not take some time away?

In the United States, unlike in most developed countries around the world, vacation time is not guaranteed in most jobs. If it is made available, it’s rather limited or there are pressures in workplace that make you believe that you can’t take the time away from work. This is not healthy.
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Most of you with a c-clip rear axle knows what happens if you ever break a rear axle shaft. If you don’t know, just remember that most likely you’ll be leaving your vehicle near the location you broke your rear axle.

Now there is a tool that may help you limp off the trail and to a more accessible location. Its called the Broken Axle Tool (very fitting name indeed) and it’s available on the web from Off Road Trail Tools for $109.95.

I’ve never physically laid eyes on the tool or read a review on its use, but if the idea works as well as it sounds, this would be a great addition to your recovery gear. Now if I only had a full floating rear axle in my Land Cruiser.