Overland Expo East-2022 Saturday

https://youtu.be/JKpz-0-jNGw This year I made to Overland Expo as a family weekend. We had a great wether day, clear skies, and warm temperatures. In my video, I have Interviews with the following companies Bundutec USA https://bundutecusa.com Deckled https://decked.com WanderBox https://wanderbox.com Rhino Rack https://www.rhinorack.com/en-us/ GP Factor https://www.gp-factor.com ok4WD https://ok4wd.com Mountain State Overland https://www.mountainstateoverland.com Alu-Cab https://www.alu-cab.com Gazelle … Continue reading Overland Expo East-2022 Saturday

Sold the Gobi 2018 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Recon Edition

It's time to move on! After Expedition San Juan Mountains, I knew that it was time for me to sell the Wrangler. I need more space. When I bought this is 2018, I was more into "rock crawling" and just getting into "Overlanding". I build it for both, with the AEV Build. But the gear … Continue reading Sold the Gobi 2018 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Recon Edition

Overland Expo East 2021-Sunday

https://youtu.be/2hI5vkFM5GU Arrington, VA is the new location for Overland Expo East, it was in Asheville , NC before. Arrington is very remote part of Southern Virginia. Arrington is between Lynchburg and Charlottesville, where hotels are located, if you're not staying in a hotel, camping on sight is available. Food truck are on location for lunch, … Continue reading Overland Expo East 2021-Sunday

Expedition San Juan Mountains September 2021-Part 8-Red Mountain Mining Area

https://youtu.be/F9JnN7M3Fb4 Day 6 is a very easy day. Red Mountain Mining area is just East of US-550 13 miles south of Ouray. Literally right across the street from the trail head to Black Bear Pass trailhead. There a number of mines here with many structures, Yankee Girl Mine is the probable the most "famous" structure … Continue reading Expedition San Juan Mountains September 2021-Part 8-Red Mountain Mining Area

Expedition San Juan Mountains September 2021-Part 7-Poughkeepsie Gulch

https://youtu.be/yHvNKWs9xQE We start out day 5 of 4th expedition doing the most difficult trail in the Alpine loop. There are two obsticals om this trail that make it very difficult. A well build Jeep with lockers and winch are pretty much required. If the "the Wall" is wet, even with lockers it can difficult to … Continue reading Expedition San Juan Mountains September 2021-Part 7-Poughkeepsie Gulch

Expedition San Juan Mountains September 2021-Part 6-Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge RR and Exploring towns of Durango & Silverton

https://youtu.be/8V5uqvXOzxw As day 3 comes to close we arrive in Durango. We checked into the hotel, its a quick walk to the downtown area. The city has a "old western town" feel. The D&SNGRR this evening is moving engine's around for night maintenance and organization. It's fun to watch these operations. We have a nice … Continue reading Expedition San Juan Mountains September 2021-Part 6-Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge RR and Exploring towns of Durango & Silverton

Expedition San Juan Mountains September 2021-Part 5-Ophir Pass

https://youtu.be/ySRjjXrtiCk Day 4 is yet again anther Beautiful day, clear skies and great visibility. We start the day off heading South again on US-550, The Million Dollar Highway, 18 miles, on the west side of the road is the turn off and trail head to Ophir Pass. This is not one of the more popular … Continue reading Expedition San Juan Mountains September 2021-Part 5-Ophir Pass

Expedition San Juan Mountains September 2021-Part 4-Imogene Pass

https://youtu.be/76GKdKKZX28 After Lunch in Telluride, we work out way out of town to Tommy Boy Road. You are just driving up a normal road, passing houses, the the payment turns to dirt and your on your way over the mountain. Tommy Boy Road is a narrow dirt road, daily easy to drive. It's narrow and … Continue reading Expedition San Juan Mountains September 2021-Part 4-Imogene Pass

Expedition San Juan Mountains September 2021-Part 3-Black Bear Pass

https://youtu.be/H-vxnmKKMiU The day has come, we are doing Black Bear Pass! 13.4 miles down US-550, the Million Dollar highway is the turn off for Black Bear Pass trail head. The GPS will take you past the trail head, so when coming from theNorth, Ouray, keep an eye out on the right side of sth road … Continue reading Expedition San Juan Mountains September 2021-Part 3-Black Bear Pass

Expedition San Juan Mountains September 2021-Part 2-Engineer Pass & Golconda Mine & Boarding House

https://youtu.be/-2ROhVCV2Ac Day 1 on the trails! After we got settled in the house, we had a trail meeting. The original plan was to get Black Bear Pass complete first. This is a trail that we all want to do, and it's also a trail that is the most "Difficult" and we need perfect weather to … Continue reading Expedition San Juan Mountains September 2021-Part 2-Engineer Pass & Golconda Mine & Boarding House

Expedition San Juan Mountains September 2021-Part 1-The Drive Out

https://youtu.be/ZMkPj_sSa2Y After years of wanting to go back (was there for 2 days in 2015, see YouTube for those video's), months of studying maps, phone call & Emails with Chris Wood at AEV & Matt at FunTreks, and prepping the Jeeps, we are ready to leave. From Ohio we have 3 routes to Ouray. I-80, … Continue reading Expedition San Juan Mountains September 2021-Part 1-The Drive Out

Allegheny National Forest Part 2

https://youtu.be/QGjDn55NPVA Dee, his brother, Jay and I head back to Pennsylvania to finish the tracks that I made in the Allegheny National Forest. This is a quick 1 night camping trip. We spend the weekend cutting and moving a lot of downed trees again! This trip has moved a chain saw to the top of … Continue reading Allegheny National Forest Part 2

Fresh coat of Powder Coating

After 5 years of Ohio winters, I thought it was time to get my front AEV bumper striped and a fresh coat of Powder Coat applied.  Two year of these winters started to show rest on my AEV rear corner guards.   First step was to CAREFULLY remove the AEV  rear corner guards.  These are … Continue reading Fresh coat of Powder Coating

AEV Font Bumper modifications

The American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) JK/JKU Premium front bumper was designed for 4th Warn 9.5CTI winch back in the lat 2000’s.  Warm winches have not changed their designs that much and the AEV bumper fits most winches.  However with the development of etc Warn Zeon winches, the opening on the AEV bumper is tight. There … Continue reading AEV Font Bumper modifications

Bloomsburg, PA Airbnb and Fire Roads

https://youtu.be/qcSUoYntjq8 Not an overland or off road trip, just a weekend getaway with my wife, but I did take advantage of a few local fire roads, but then the biggest snowstorm to hit for the year is the same time we leave, and  It turns into an adventure.   I found this Airbnb on Instagram, … Continue reading Bloomsburg, PA Airbnb and Fire Roads

Hard Top Window Dome Light

Having a work station light was something I felt was a needed upgrade.  It all started with when I started overloading and doing meal prep and cooking.  I installed a “dome” light on my hard top rear window.  Just having another light when loading gear was a nice additive.  It wasn’t until I started camping … Continue reading Hard Top Window Dome Light

Rampart Range Road, Colorado

It’s a cool fall morning in Colorado, James and I get an early start to the day.  We get on County Road 38 in Castle Rock, Colorado which will join Forest Road 502.  Right at the forest service border the road turn from paved to dirt.  A-little way into the National Forest, we  find a … Continue reading Rampart Range Road, Colorado

Colorado Back Roads & Mofat Tunnel

After completing T-33 Crash Trail, James and we start the trek back to Castle Rock.  Continueing down Colorado 72, Peaks to Peaks Highway.  This is a paved road that winds through the mountains.  With the Aspen and other trees almost at peak for the fall foliage, the road is heavily trafficked.  The views are breathtaking.  … Continue reading Colorado Back Roads & Mofat Tunnel

T-33 Crash Site/Bunce School Road Crash Trail Colorado

https://youtu.be/ba-yPrl7MK0 We started the day in Castle Rock, Colorado.  I am out here is Colorado visiting my friends James and his wife Lauren.  James and I are out today exploring Northern Colorado.  The original plan was to head into Rocky Mountain National Park and do the Old Cal River Road.  Due to forest fires, most … Continue reading T-33 Crash Site/Bunce School Road Crash Trail Colorado

American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) Hi-Lift/Pull-Pal Mount

I remove my American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) Hi-Lift/Pull-Pal Mount when I’m not using it.  I didn’t always. My first one got bent when I forgot to take the Hi-Lift off the Jeep and took it through a car wash. One of the brushes got tangled in the Hi-Lift and pulled the bracket out of alignment. When … Continue reading American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) Hi-Lift/Pull-Pal Mount

Steering Stabilizer Replacement

When I had American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) install their 3.5” suspension, it included an upgraded steering stabilizer.  After 19,500 miles on the odometer the steering felt soft, but I didn’t notice any fluid leak, so I couldn’t tell if it was broken. As it turns out, the original boot on the shock had ripped and … Continue reading Steering Stabilizer Replacement

Brake Replacement

As you read in my 20,000 Mile Check / Inspection blog, my brakes were at the end of their life. I spent the next few weeks trying to figure out what I wanted to do. I had a few options: 1.) Replace with factory brakes, OR 2.) Go one step further and get the same … Continue reading Brake Replacement

American expedition Vehicles (AEV) Raised Air Intake-Snorkel

The vehicle “snorkel” or “raised air intake” is a dual purpose accessory for vehicles.  It was first widely used in North Africa during WWII with the British Royal Army.  They used them on their tanks and cars to get cleaner air from above the vehicle, avoiding sand and dust.  They are also used for deep water … Continue reading American expedition Vehicles (AEV) Raised Air Intake-Snorkel

Mid-Atlantic Back Country Discovery Route-Pennsylvania

The Mid-Atlantic Back Country Discovery Route (MABDR) is a 1,080 mile route, that starts in Damascus Virginia, and ends in Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania.  The Back Country Discovery Routes organization had taken the route and divided it into 9 sections.  My compadres and I decided to trek sections 6, 7, and 8 - a two day expedition beginning … Continue reading Mid-Atlantic Back Country Discovery Route-Pennsylvania

Midland USA GMRS MXT-400 Communications Radio

Midland Radio is Expedition Team Overland’s first sponsor.  They are outfitting the Expedition Team Overland’s Jeeps with all the communications gear the we need on the trail and at camp.  TJ and I chose the MXT-400 and Dee chose with the smaller MXT-275; we all have the 6DB Gain Whip Antenna’s with antenna cable; we … Continue reading Midland USA GMRS MXT-400 Communications Radio

Jeep 20,000 Mile Check/Inspection

The fist “major” inspection for the Jeep Wrangler JK/JKU is the 20,000 mile inspection.  I do routine maintenance at 5,000 tire miles for a 5-tire rotation, and I use the oil life “%” as the schedule to do oil changes.   As you can see below what you need to inspect, I used this opportunity … Continue reading Jeep 20,000 Mile Check/Inspection

New River Gorge 2020 Expedition

Dee and I set off for a 2 day Expedition into West Virginia and the New River Gorge National Park.   https://youtu.be/Fo6SdT3iOZ0 We got a mid-morning start from Akron.  We stoped for lunch at  a cool brewery,  the  Marietta Brewing Company right on the Ohio River in Marietta.  After crossing into West Virginia and following … Continue reading New River Gorge 2020 Expedition

Tailgate Table-Adventure Outback Table

This is my second tailgate table.  Having one makes life alot easier, from working with tools, making lunch to simply just a spot to put a drink down.  The first table I had was nice, it used “nut blinds” that went into the vents of the tailgate. It was fine, however when I went to … Continue reading Tailgate Table-Adventure Outback Table

Carpet Removal and Cleaning

One of the many unique features of the Jeep Wrangler is that you can very easily remove the carpet from the floor.   PRO TIP: The first time that you remove the carpet, you will need to cut the openings in the carpet where you have to get around seat bolts and brackets.  From the … Continue reading Carpet Removal and Cleaning

Garmin InReach Exploter+

I bought the Garmin InReach Exploter+ for two reasons, one as a backup GPS unit to track where I want to go and where I am, and also as a communication platform for when I am off grid with no cell coverage.  My wife was alway nervous when I was out of communication, this way … Continue reading Garmin InReach Exploter+

Winter and Hard Top Installing

Is that time of year, and the Jeep gains 140 pounds.  For most Jeeps installing the hard top is easy.  However with the American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) tire carrier/fuel caddy  makes the process just a little more complex.  Add the 3.5” lift and tires, I just need to lift it higher to clear the tire … Continue reading Winter and Hard Top Installing

Southern Ohio Expedition 2019

In the Fall of 2019 three of us decided to explored the hundreds of miles of “unmaintained County Roads” in Southeastern Ohio.  Hocking, Vinton and Ross counties have the most of these unmaintained County Roads.  “Nnmaintained County Roads” are road sthat are owned by the state/county, bu they state/county do not maintain them and are … Continue reading Southern Ohio Expedition 2019

American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) Heat Reduction Hood

Upgrading to the American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) Heat Reduction Hood was equal parts simple decision to equal parts difficult decision.  I'm very analytical, which is also an equal parts positive personal quality to equal parts negative personal quality. 50% Difficult: First, the JKU Recon edition comes with the non-vented, vented looking hood.  Also the “Rubicon” … Continue reading American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) Heat Reduction Hood