Quadratec Multi Tool Shovel

Who doesn't love gadgets and gizmos? Especially a new multi tool! Finding the hidden features that make up the multi tool is a little like Christmas morning.  And who doesn't secretly feel accomplished when they save the day by having your handy multi tool to cut that string or tighten that screw?

When the Quadratec Multi Function Trail Shovel was available in the Quadratec catalog it was an automatic, I must have this moment!

However I never got around to ordering until the day of the Quadratec Annual Tent Sale last Oct. If you have not yet been to a Quadratec Tent Sale put it on your calendars for this year. Amazing deals on a variety of 4x4 modifications!At the sale I had the opportunity to handle the Quadratec Multi Function Trail Shovel in person. Right away I noticed it had a lot of moving parts and I wanted to see which each feature was. Because you can't go wrong with having an extra multi tool, I handed the Quadratec Staff my money and ecstatically took my AWESOME shovel home.

Because I didn't have any trips planned where I could really test my shovel I decided to go for a walk in the woods and try it out along the way and test its "Survival Tool" qualities.

The shovel is lightweight, 2.2 lbs to be exact. Throw in a backpack and you won't even notice that you are carrying around a shovel, axe and saw all in one.

The actual head of the shovel is made from a high strength carbon steel and does well when digging dirt and mud.

The axe edge might not chop a whole winters worth of firewood but when testing it into some already chopped fire wood it worked fair and in a pinch will get the job done.

Other features on the shovel head include a ruler, saw blade and when the adjustable shovel head is locked into position can be used as a hoe.

The saw blade worked decently at removing smaller branches around the house while doing some light tree trimming.

The Handle is full of surprises!

All of the tools inside the handle are decent quality and would make a good secondary options.

Access to the individual compartments in the handle is hard to do swiftly as you have to twist to reach the tools inside.  It is a good idea to memorize which section the specific tools are in so you aren't twisting away looking for the screwdriver only to find the whistle and flint. Just a few twists and you can access the whistle, magnesium fire starter flint, straight and phillips screwdriver, double edged knife blade with straight and serrated edge, bottle opener and a silicone tourniquet all within the shovel handle.

Using materials from the trail including sticks, leaves and bark we made an attempt at making fire. With the whistle/flint tool one hand and the knife in the other we made several efforts at making fire as we struck the flint over and over. Sparks went flying everywhere but after some investigation it appears our leaves and bark were just damp enough to cause a big ol fire fail. However, later after the hike we made a second attempt using dryer lint and we could have roasted marshmallows!

The double edged knife is not one of the best knives on the market today but will get the job done.  The serrated edge provides an aggressive ripping tool for tough/thick materials or the straight edge for push or precision cuts.

Inside one of the handles you will also find a silicone tourniquet which I lost somewhere in the woods. Make sure to understand some basic first aid and when and when not to apply a tourniquet.

Overall I love my Quadratec Multi Function Trail Shovel! Its compact, lightweight design is appealing and the concept of having all the features tucked away in hidden compartments within the handle is genius. The quality of some of the tools are perfect for the weekend camping warrior or as an extra spare for your trail tool bag.  You won't be disappointed with your Quadratec shovel on steroids!

For product details or to order please visit www.quadratec.com

Quadratec LED Headlights

Stock lighting, to say that they are at times inadequate, is an understatement. Most of the time you feel as though you are driving with only one functioning light with the amount of illumination that they produce. Add in some bad weather, fog or glare situations and they feel as if a candle lit carriage ride would be brighter. Last fall we tried the Quadratec LED headlights in an effort to obtain better visibility in adverse conditions and night driving.

Right out of the box we could tell that the Quadratec LED headlights are more modern. With the new age of lighting brings a whole new different set up. No more giant bulbs to change! The Quadratec LED headlights are small and powerful Phillips® brand light emitting diodes (The fancy words for LED) all in a die-cast aluminum housings. Add in the crystal clear polycarbonate lenses for top notch preservation against impacts and the water tight epoxy seal keeps electronics protected.

Install was easy and was performed in a short time. As stated on the Quadratec website, the headlights are truly plug-n-play with no modifications needed. We couldn't wait to try them out!

One flick of the switch and we noticed an immediate difference with our lighting. The Quadratec LED headlights produce a bright beam, not too bright that other vehicles are annoyed at you, but a nice range between blinding bright and factory dull. The Quadratec LED Headlights make driving at night/early morning enjoyable and safe again.  It doesn’t matter the weather conditions you have a consistent visibility. The lights have been on our 2006 LJ Wrangler for about 7 months now and we couldn't be happier. They have been through a few season/weather changes, snow, freezing rain, foggy conditions....The headlights never faltered or froze up in below freezing conditions.

In addition to impressive function, the Quadratec LED headlights are stylish giving you that upgraded look without coming off as tacky.

We wear the silver "Q" logo and hardware proudly in the center of our headlights but you can also purchase in a stealth version featuring a "blacked" out logo and satin black assembly hardware. 

Our Quadratec LED headlights were put to the test when Off Road Consulting had a night ride at Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area earlier this year. As we guided over 20 vehicles through the dark trails we could see better and farther when driving at night with our new lights. The LED lights eliminated shadows and provided a clear drive line at night where regular stock headlights produce shadows from dull light. The LED headlights make navigating through obstacles such as rocky sections more controllable during night driving as you can see the physical object or obstacle versus feeling your way through the situation.

Another situation where the Quadratec LED headlights excelled is with aiding in the watching out for wildlife. You can see the wildlife sooner and can react as needed to avoid coming into contact with the animal.

 

For daily drivers or your weekend warrior if you are thinking of upgrading your lighting consider the Quadratec LED headlights. Off Road Consulting highly recommends the Quadratec LED headlights for any vehicle to improve safety and visibility day or night, on or off road.

Check out www.quadratec.com for details or to order your set of Quadratec LED headlights.

Want to put your lights to the test? Interested in joining Off Road Consulting for one of our upcoming night rides?

Please visit www.offroad-consulting.com for info!!

J.T. Brooks Tire Deflators

Tire Deflators.  What you want in a deflator is a tool that can air your tires down.  Sounds pretty simple right?  Well believe it or not, it goes a little more in-depth than that.  Sure you can always go old school and use your house key to let the air out but this can take extra effort, time, and  isn't very accurate. On the market today there are various brands and styles of deflators and each work differently in their own way.

We purchased a set of The J.T. Brooks Automatic deflators and they immediately stood out from other deflators that we had used over the years. From their accuracy to their durability let's break down the J.T. Brooks deflators and see why they standout above the rest.

Easy to set.  Off Road Consulting airs down several hundred tires a year, and when we have a group or individual who are interested in purchasing the J.T. Brooks deflators they are easy to explain and demo on how to set.  The instructions say to:

 

 Deflate a tire to desired pressure

Then screw on J.T. Brooks deflator

Undo set screw and turn center till air leaks out

 Back off a hair and tighten set screw

Easy

Accurate. Nothing is perfect when it comes to psi on tires because there are way too many variables.... For instance temperature, weight of vehicle, type of valve stems, moisture in tire, tire balance beads...the list goes on.  What Off Road Consulting likes is that the J.T. Brooks are accurate to the point that you can actually just count exposed threads on one of the deflators and then make the rest match and they will all be within a psi or two.  Again, very simple to set.  The J.T. Brooks stay within a psi or two, unlike the competition that could fluctuate 5-10 psi.  It is nice to be able to trust the J.T.Brooks Automatic Deflators and know that they will stay where you want the psi.

They shut off.  Sounds pretty silly right?  Isn't that what they are supposed to do?  Most deflators are designed to shut off, however, there some other brands that have a habit of sticking. You will appreciate deflators that stop when they are supposed to. There is nothing more frustrating than attaching  deflators to your valve stems, walk away only to come back to find  your tire or tires are flat .  There are a few reasons why deflators stick such as temperature and dirt.  Off Road Consulting uses deflators 5-10 times a week and we need them to be reliable, especially when we use on a customer's vehicle.  Our J.T. Brooks deflators have seen many diverse vehicles with various wheel and tire setups. They have seen exposed to extreme heat and cold weather, rain and snow. Through it all there has never been an issue with J.T. Brooks deflators sticking. 

Deflate easily. Again, sounds like they are just doing their job right? Tire deflators are supposed to DEFLATE! But not with all types.  We have used some brands that you have to tap, unscrew and rescrew multiple times for them to start...who has time for that?  With J.T.Brooks Automatic Tire Deflators if you happen to have  an issue such as dirt, weather, etc. that causes the deflators to not automatically start deflating, just pull back on the activation knob and they start going to work.  This also works if you want to let just a little more deflation. Simply pull and hold plunger and it decreases the air manually.

Stop quickly.  When you are working with multiple vehicle types, weights, etc. not all of them use the same pressure.  It is good practice to watch the tire bulge as they are airing down.  If you need to stop quickly just push in the plunger and the J.T.Brooks deflators will stop. 

Pro series.  Need to have psi flexibility? With the J.T.Brooks Pro Series they allow you to set the pressure by using a precision laser engraved PSI scale. (See picture below) instead of going through the setup process again for each vehicle you are airing down. This works extremely well when you have a group of mixed vehicles and need to adjust differently to meet the air pressure needs of each individual vehicle or vehicles with low profile tires or heavy trucks.

Off Road Consulting has been using J.T. Brooks deflators for a few years and we have been very impressed with their durabililty, precision, and dependable design. Made in the USA, we recommend this product to our customers and other avenues in the off road industry. Next time you need to air down and reach for that key, consider investing in a set of J.T. Brooks Automatic Tire Deflators....they are faster and more accurate than that key!

www.offroad-consulting.com

www.jtbrooks.com

Snow Driving in a different view by Off Road Consulting

Driving in the snow

Pack this. Use this. Drive this way. Just google search snow driving tips and your page will be flooded with various tips and suggestions on what to bring along on your snowy, 4x4 adventure. With all these snow driving tips available on the internet and magazine write ups, Off Road Consulting decided to take a different approach to snow driving tips and hit on topics that are not talked about very much.
Instead of focusing on how to prepare your vehicle for snow, lets instead look at the snow and decide how to prep your vehicle.....confused? Your probably thinking snow is snow, what difference does it make. Its cold and wet and you want to go play in it!
Lets breakdown various snow situations and things to consider for how to prepare your vehicle for on and off road snow driving.
First things first, put some gloves on and grab a handfull of the snow that has blanketed your backyard.
 Ask yourself a few questions about the snow you will be spending time with.... Does the snow pack?  Can you make a snow ball in your hand easily?  This means it is a dense, heavy, wet snow.  If it doesn’t pack,

it is a light and fluffy snow.
Next, determine approximately how many inches of snow you will be driving through on the trails. Is there drifting? Is it less than 4 inches or more of a significant snowfall with 10 plus inches?
  Now what does all this mean when it comes to snow driving?
Here are a four scenarios to consider for snow driving on and off road.

Your snowfall is 4 inches and its light/fluffy:
Snow falls with small accumilations such as 8 inches or less with light/fluffy snow is the easiest snow to pass through. For the most part whether you are going to work or playing on some easy snow covered dirt roads, it usually doesn't matter if you air down or not.
However If you are going to be off road for an extended period of time, airing down wouldn’t hurt.
What about 4low vs 4high?
On Road (Going to work, school, etc) Less than 8 inches consider driving on road in 4 hi, this allows the vehicle to move faster all while keeping traction.
Off Road (Off Road Parks, legal dirt roads, etc)  If you are going to be off road driving 4 low is a good option as it will keep your vehicle at lower speed with better power and control for off road conditions.


Your snowfall is 10 inches and its light/fluffy:
Accumilations of the light/fluffy snow consisting of 8 inches or higher you have to consider a slightly different approach to exploring those trails or driving to work.
The light/fluffy snow is the easiest snow to pass through and keep in mind....the taller and skinnier the tires, the better they cut through the snow.

 With light/fluffy snow and more than 8 inches of accumilation your tires are best used aired up a little more than your normal off roading air pressure. For example, if you use 40 psi for regular, on road pressure and 15 psi for off road pressure, consider  using 25-28 psi for this snow driving scenario off road and normal pressure on road.
Think of it this way, you wont have the heavy push in front of the tires that you would if aired down very low.   If you do decide to air down to lower pressures this will keep a wider base of tire pushing the full load of the snow. Basically the tire will bulge and push the snow instead of cutting through it with aired up tires. Keep in mind!!
What about 4low vs 4high?
On Road (Going to work, school, etc) Begin driving on road in 4 hi, this allows the vehicle to moves faster all while keeping traction. Feel the vehicle out....does it feel like the vehicle is struggling to push through when you give it gas? If so consider putting the vehicle in 4low, this will allow the extra power to push through.
Off Road (Off Road Parks, legal dirt roads, etc) If you are going to be off road driving 4 low is a good option as it will keep your vehicle at lower speed with better power and control for off road conditions.
 Conditions can change quickly with the weather and temperature changes.....You may need to air down more as your day progresses. Stay aware of your surroundings whether on or off road and how your vehicle is performing.

We have gone over light/fluffy snow....but what about the heavier snows?

Your snowfall is 3 inches and its heavy/wet:
Snowfalls with small accumilations snow such as 8 inches or less  with heavy/wet  is the easiest snow to pass through.  For the most part whether you are going to work or playing on some easy snow covered dirt roads, it usually doesn't matter if you air down or not.
 However If you are going to be off road snow driving for an extended period of time, airing down wouldn’t hurt.
What about 4low vs 4high?
On Road (Work, school, etc) Less than 8 inches consider driving on road in 4 hi, this allows the vehicle to movesfaster all while keeping traction.
Off Road (Off Road Park, legal dirt roads, etc) If you are going to be off road driving 4 low is a good option as it will keep your vehicle at lower speed with better power and control for off road conditions.

Your snowfall is 12 inches and its heavy/wet:
Heavy, deep, packable snow or good snowman making snow, causes your tires to respond very differently.
The density of the snow can acutally be used in your favor if you air down lower and let the tires pack the snow under the tires off road.  This will raise the vehicle to "Float" on the top portion of the snow. This also works well with ice layers as well due to the ability to disperse the weight with aired down tires.
For on road snow driving you may air down a little but as it gets plowed or gets to be less snow you may need to go back to your regular street pressure.  Keep in mind if your out in the deep stuff on or off road, go for the bigger foot print with less air pressure.

What about 4low vs 4high?

On Road (Going to work, school, etc) Begin driving on road in 4 hi, this allows the vehicle to move faster all while keeping traction. Feel the vehicle out....does it feel like the vehicle is struggling to push through when you give it gas? If so consider putting the vehicle in 4low, this will allow the power needed to push through.
Off Road (Off Road Parks, legal dirt roads, etc) If you are going to be off road driving 4 low is a good option as it will keep your vehicle at lower speed with better power and control for off road conditions.
 Conditions can change quickly with the weather and temperature changes.....You may need to air down more as your day progresses. Stay aware of your surroundings whether on or off road and how your vehicle is performing.

As you can see, if you to read the snow, you may want to have just below street pressure in certain snow conditions such as light/fluffy snow and lower pressure in other situations such as heavy wet snow.  Start high and work lower till it makes it easier to push through.
Reading the snow also plays a factor with 4 low verus 4 high, do you need to maintain speed but yet keep traction for on road driving or are you in need of lower speed and more power for off road conditions?
No matter what type of snow falls, an important factor to be cautious of is the amount of force it takes to get your vehicle moving.  To push through snow with your vehicle may seem easy depending on your set up but it takes a lot of work for the vehicle.
How much work does it take? Do this test on or off road....let off the gas when driving in freshly fallen, unpacked snow.

 The faster the vehicle stops, the more load on the vehicle it is causing.  It is especially taxing on your transmission and you could potentially see your transmission temps rise quickly from the extra load.  Keep in mind that this could also cause your engine temps to rise. This is why in heavy snow storms you will see a rise in vehicle fires from people playing or pushing their vehicle to hard.
Ways to solve this problem is to regear (if you put larger tires on your vehicle) but even with this upgrade you still have to be careful and watchful to avoid damage to your vehicle.  Be cautious of your tire pressures and the amount of push the snow is causing.
There are many variables like tire tread, weight of vehicle, engine size, transmission, ect, that can change how the vehicle handles snow.  Feel the snow situation first before playing hard! Keep in mind, tire chains and locking differentials can also help in certain situations.

While it is fun to play on and off road in the snow, there are risks with snow driving and educating yourself is key. Learn how to properly prepare your vehicle and yourself for off road snow driving before hitting the trails so that you keep you and your vehicle safe.
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