WARN Epic Gear Line

Warns Epic Line

About 2 years ago, I first saw Warn's epic shackles and was very impressed by the nontraditional styling. Upon handling I saw the weight rating of 9 ton and with a standard shackle of the same size rated typically for 4 ¾ ton I knew why they chose the word Epic for this product. With the increased weight rating I wanted to get a set of them right away and about 1 year later I was finally able to get myself a set.  Since the Warn Epic Line shackles arrived I have been using them and the rest of the Epic line on a regular basis.  So how did the Warn Epic Line do in the hands of Off Road Consulting? Below is our review on what we experienced and our thoughts of each product pertaining to the Warn Epic Line including the Shackle, Tree trunk protector, Snatch Block and Winch Hook.  Included is Warn’s information to show specifications.

Epic Line Shackle
Right away we noticed that there is a longer neck to these shackles which allows for a slightly larger bow for straps to fit in.  Sizes come in ¾” and ½”.  Off Road Consulting tested with the ¾”.
 We had heard that these shackles were prone to peeling coating and rusting. To determine if there was any truth to this we left our Warn Epic on the front of our Off Road Training vehicle to be used and abused daily on and off road.
Despite being dipped in mud on a regular basis, pulled and hooked to regularly, covered in bug debris from highway driving and the constant banging off the bumper, there is not a single chip.
Factor in being dropped regularly during winch hook ups, recoveries, and other demonstrations the coating, but more importantly the product holds up flawlessly.
Needles to say these are awesome shackles!
Not only are they stylish and nontraditional shape, they have a strong weight capacity, and as with other  WARN products, they are durable, reliable and dependable. With the weight ratings on these you have exactly what you need in a steel shackle.

Warn offers the following information:
     This forged steel clevis shackle provides a means for connecting the looped ends of cables, straps, and snatch blocks. The shackle's pin is threaded to allow easy removal. For maximum protection against wear and abrasion, the premium shackle uses Cerakote coating.

PN 92092 Epic Shackle - For 5,000 lb. (2268 kg) capacity winches and under. 1/2" (12.7mm) shackle with 5/8" (15.9mm) pin diameter.

PN 92093 Epic Shackle 3/4" - For 18,000 lb. (8165 kg) capacity winches and under. 3/4" (20mm) shackle with 7/8" (22mm) pin diameter

Warn Epic Tree Trunk Protector
Tree trunk protectors, they are not very complex but they serve a huge purpose.
Right away we could tell the Warn Epic Tree Trunk Protector is unique and with our 4”x 8’ tree trunk protector we took it to the woods.
We were a little skeptical with the steel rings as opposed to the loop ends in a normal tree protector.
The steel rings add a little weight but they actually help make hook up a lot smoother and the rings allow for an easy seat in winch hook, steel shackle, or soft shackle.
  Again the product is tough and has been abused to the rated weights and keeps asking for more all while doing its job.
  The red warning marker is always a wonderful add on for safety and shows you when the product needs replaced.

Warn offers the following information:
The WARN Epic Tree Trunk Protector is designed to help protect a live tree from damage during winching operations and self recovery situations. The strap is constructed of premium quality nylon with an encased red warning marker to indicate damaged webbing. Plus, end loops are reinforced with durable forged steel ring connectors and E-coated for premium protection against wear and abrasion.

PN 92096 4" x 8' (10cm x 2.4m) Rated to 30,000 lbs. (13607 kg)

PN 92095 2" x 8' (5cm x 2.4m) Rated to 14,400 lbs. (6531 kg)

PN 92094 1" x 8' (2.5cm x 2.4m) Rated to 7,200 lbs. (3265 kg)


Warn Epic Snatch Block
Our next product to test was the Warn Epic Snatch Block and with the 18,000lbs snatch block in hand we went to work. You won't hear the word beautiful often when it comes to recovery gear but this snatch block is constructed well and has beautiful styling but better than that, it works flawlessly.  This isn’t the light weight, light duty models of before, these are heavy duty and built tough.  With all these factors the outcome is easy and safer winching. The built in grease fitting help keeps the pulley spinning freely.  When you have these types of forces happening in a recovery you want a product that can take it and the Warn Epic Line is that product.

Used properly, the multi-purpose WARN Epic Snatch Block can double the pulling power of any winch or change your pulling direction without damaging the wire or synthetic rope. It also helps to reduce heat buildup and amp draw during recovery. Finished with E-coat and able to accept both wire and synthetic rope, the forged steel Epic Snatch Block is reliable, durable and ready for action.

PN 92097: Rated to 5,000 lbs. (2268 kg) winch capacity and under

PN 92188 Rated to 12,000 lbs. (5443 kg) winch capacity and under

PN 93195: Rated to 18,000 lbs. (8165 kg) winch capacity and under

Warn Epic Winch Hook
We tested the 18,000 lb. winch hook on our Toyota Tundra tow rig as it is a heavy vehicle and we wanted to have strength where needed.  The size of the throat of the hook is adequate for bigger tree savers and straps, something not found very commonly with winch hooks.  The auto closing clasp is a lot stronger than the winch hooks of old.  Common hooks have a very cheesy clasp to close the throat.  The epic winch hook has a beefy clasp that locks everything in securely.  We put the Warn Epic Winch Hook through its paces winching some serious loads and didn’t have a single issue.

Warn offers the following information:

     Made from ultra-strong forged steel, the WARN Epic Winch Hook with E-coat finish provides maximum protection and reliability against wear and abrasion.

PN 92090 (3/8") For 12,000 lb. (4536 kg) capacity winches and under. Note: will fit Spydura Ropes (PN: 87915 and 88468) and Spydura Pro (PN: 93120 and 96040)

PN 92091 (1/2") For 18,000 lb. (8165 kg) capacity winches and under. Note: Will only fit wire rope products, not Spydura or Spydura Pro.  We found it fit all of our synthetic rope and steel cables.

  
From real world recoveries to company winch training's and safety demonstrations, Off Road Consulting has put the Warn Epic Line through some real tests and the products have always come out on top. When you are out in the field and the trails call for a recovery, you want safe and reliable hook ups. With the Warn Epic Line you can be confident that when used properly no job is too tough for WARN.

Off Road Only U-Turn Steering

ORO Steering

Off Road Consulting has been a fan and using Off Road Only products for awhile.  We recently attended an event and had the opportunity to meet the folks at Off Road Only or ORO. Off Road Only was created to fulfill the unmet needs and safety issues that are encountered by off road enthusiasts out in the field. After discussing with ORO about the steering issues we have been having with our 2006 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon (LJ), lifted with 35" BFG A/T KO2s and stock drive train, they recommended we try their ORO U-Turn Steering. 

We had been searching for a steering set up for our LJ that could keep up with Off Road Consulting, which exposes its Jeep and all its components to the trails 4-5 days a week for 6 plus hours at a time. With a larger tire such as a 35, you are adding more weight and in return it takes a lot of force to get these tires to move.  Factor in a real world off road driving scenarios when you are in a situation of having larger tires against an obstacle. This punishes the factory steering and with a vehicle that is off road more than on the road.  On various trails there is a large amount of stress on the Jeep.

 The factory steering quickly revealed to us how it was not up to the tasks that I had asked of it. This began our search for a steering set up that could meet our needs.

When we began our search for the upgraded steering, like everyone else, we wanted a big, beefy, set up but within budget.

Over the years I have learned that if something breaks or wears out, you can be without your vehicle several days waiting on parts to arrive at your doorstep. When you rely on your vehicle as much as we do we can't be down for an extended period of time. 

Looking into steering one feature I looked for is having tie rod ends that are easily purchased from a regular auto parts store.  Why is this important? When you are in need of your vehicle whether work related or have a planned off road driving excursion, the last thing you want to do is wait for parts to arrive in the mail.  This also helps when away from home you can still hit the local parts store up for what you need.   If they are a regular sku at your local auto parts store, you can get yourself back up and on the trails in a more timely fashion instead of waiting on the mail or paying for overnight rates.

The first upgraded steering kit I purchased was a ream the knuckle one ton style.  This kit was tough and well built however for some reason it went through tie rod ends.  Compared to the factory setup it was an improvement but was not very tight when driving at speed and it felt like we always had to counter steer to stay between the lines while on the road.  Another noticeable issue was feeling the steering flop or steering dead spots when the steering goes from right to left.

I continued my search for steering that fit my needs.....Then I was shown the Off Road Only U-Turn Steering.  It had the features I wanted, heavy tie rod, auto part store tie rod ends, and a system that claimed to provide additional strength and improve responsiveness. 

The U-Turn™ features a Solid 1.25" heat treated chromoly steel drag link, includes Moog Problem Solver tie rod ends for the drag link and tie rod which allow for a wide range of alignment, easily adjust toe-in by spinning tie rod, black E-coated to prevent rust and a simple bolt-on installation for TJ Dana 30/44 front axles with or without ABS.

 Needless to say I could not wait to bolt this on!

 From the old steering that my jeep had, the knuckles and pitman arm were reamed out which needed to be addressed.
 I put a new pitman arm on and used a larger bolt than supplied in the kit to use on the knuckles.
 The kit has you bolt a bracket to the knuckle and the tie rod and drag link attach to that.
Now I am not the best with steering geometry but this seemed to be completely different than what every other company runs.  How will this work?  I was anxious to test it.
This is a 100% bolt-on kit was relatively easy to install and it can be easily removed to return the vehicle back to stock if needed.

After getting everything bolted it was time for test drive number one- on the road.
Remember the counter steering I had to do with the old system? Not anymore. The jeep handled like it was stock and if I had to I could drive with one hand on the wheel. From having to focus and brace for any bumps on the road, to being able to drive and not having to worry about the road conditions was a huge. No more steering dead spot or flopping feeling as it completely eliminated this issue that is common with a lifted jeep.
This was all fine and good but the real question was how would it work on the trails? Time for test drive number two!
To the trails we went and while our LJ is lifted with 35s it rode and responded like a stock vehicle again. The tie rod proved how tough it is with tackling various off road terrains including those pesky stumps that like to bend tie rods. Not with the ORO steering as it bounced right back into place with no damage. Off Road Only claims that the U-Turn provide additional strength and improves responsiveness and it goes above and beyond this claim and with a vehicle that has more trail time than road time, we need all the strength we can get.

What about those tie rod ends that kept wearing out? With the Moog components of U-Turn it provides a more durable and extended life on the tie rod ends but yet if there is a wear out, I can simply visit my local auto parts store for a quick fix.

How about maintenance? With other steering setups we have had, because there was so much movement with the components it forced the grease out prematurely which in return left us greasing weekly with up to 3 pumps of grease. What can you expect with the ORO U-Turn?  The greaseable socket design allows new lubricant to flush contaminants from the assembly, reducing corrosion and wear.   The Moog ends have tighter tolerances and better grease flow.  We went from weekly steering maintenance to once a month and only using about half a pump of grease.

The ORO U-Turn steering has been a huge upgrade to the Off Road Consulting off road training vehicle. After seeing just what this steering set up is capable of doing, we would recommend this product to everyone. To the lifted daily driver that off roads a handful of times throughout the year to those who see the trails 4-5 days a week as we do at Off Road Consulting. The on and off road performance of the ORO U-Turn Steering stands above the other steering systems we have used in the past and has met Off Road Consulting's steering needs. Off Road Only did just what they said and fulfilled our unmet needs and provided the U-Turn , bringing Off Road Consulting's steering search needs to an end.

Warn's Wireless Remote Control System

Cutting the Cord with Warn's Wireless Remote Control System

 

By: Kyle Buchter

Photography By: 

File Photo

August 15, 2016

We have heard many people give their opinion on using wireless winch remotes, some good and some bad. How will Warn's Wireless Remote system stack up?
First off, here is the part’s description from Warn Industries:
The Warn Wireless Remote Control System lets you remotely control your WARN truck/SUV winch from up to 50' away. The new system is plug-and-play: It simply plugs in where you'd normally attach your corded remote-- no wiring, no hassle. Will work with any five-wire WARN truck/SUV winch. Weatherproof transmitter has two large buttons making it easy to operate, even while wearing gloves. Two-color LED provides clear operator feedback. Easy plug-and-play installation. Sealed for protection against the elements. Activation sequence guards against accidental power-ups.
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Over the years, we have talked with many people who have mixed emotions about using wireless remotes. The things we’ve heard are that they are unsafe and do not allow you to be as ‘in tune’ with the winch as needed when in use. However, safety with these is all in the competence of the user, just like the winch it is attached to. You have to be aware of what you are doing and treat it like a regular remote.
For ourselves, we used an off-brand style wireless remote 10+ years ago that turned out to be a horrible design. But seeing this Warn Wireless Remote Control System gave us the itch to try a 'wire-free' system again.
There are quite a few reasons why the Warn Wireless System works well. When doing demonstrations, this product makes it easy to control the winch from a distance. I prefer to be near the attachment points when people are doing the rigging. Then, to put tension on the line, the wireless remote works perfect because I can put tension on from that spot. I am not winching a huge length of line so it works out well.
Even still, you have to be aware of your surroundings and a nice feature in this situation is the Warn Wireless Remote shuts off after two minutes of non-use. When you have a wired remote hanging back at the winch, you are not near your attachments and you either need a helper to work the remote, or you have to yell to those watching – both of which could be somewhat distracting. Plus, the wired remote is always 'live' which presents the chance for it to be accidentally picked up or activated by someone inadvertently stepping on the remote.
The next part of set up, if you are winching, is you should be in the drivers seat. Correct? What if you have a vehicle with a winch bumper and a large hood? The wired remote probably is just not long enough to reach into the cab to use. Sure you can buy a longer remote but then you have to find places to wrap the wire around so it doesn’t get caught in the tires, winch, etc. Warn’s Wireless System works well because you can have the flexibility to use without any fear of getting the wire caught.
One question we hear a lot - Does the wireless create more run on? Not with testing on our ti9.5, 8000lb, or a few others we tried. The amount of run on was the same. Now, this isn’t the Zeon Platinum Edition but it still works great with any five-wire Warn winch set up.
So the pros and cons of Warn's Wireless Remote Control System:
Pros:
Great for being near the rigging during winch set up. You do not have to walk back and forth as much.
Shuts off after 2 minutes. Wired remote is always live and can be picked up while you are away from winch or stepped on.
User can be in any position and control. Not leashed to the winch.
Cons:
Tends to lead user away from controlled view of the winch while in use (all relative to the competence of the user).
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This Warn Wireless Control System is a good asset to your winching tool bag, but only when used properly. Make sure you can always keep an eye on the winch when possible and always control the situation. Watch how your cable or rope is spooled and keep everything in good working order. Do not winch unless you can see the situation and make sure that everything is clear. Overall, this is a great product that definitely can help with making nearly every winching situation easier.

Off Road Consulting Woodland Adventure Oct 29th-30th 2016

Off Road Consulting is excited to present the first Woodland Adventure on October 29th and 30th!
What is the Off Road Consulting Woodland Adventure?
It is a mix of off road driving, geocaching, mapping/navigating, overlanding, time management and scavenger hunt all wrapped up into one big weekend! And the best part is you get to lay out your own adventure! This fun, family friendly event is perfect for stock or modified vehicles.

Things kick off Friday evening Oct 28th at a TBD location with check in for pre-registered participants.

At this time you will receive a packet with rules, GPS coordinates, paper maps and your Woodland Adventure Passport.

Use the maps and GPS to locate pre determined stops that you will have to log using your passport. As you log your passport you create points. Some points may be stamps, stickers, and some points may require you to take a picture at a specific location. All details will be in the packet and will explain exactly what you need to do!

This event will take place at Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area and Rausch Creek Off Road Park with areas in between including Weiser State Forest. The best part is you get to layout your own route using the GPS and paper maps! Clues will be provided that you can use to your advantage but you will need to plan your route using legal trails and roads to get to the items.

Saturday Oct 29th at 8:00am you can start your adventure! Following off road park and state forest rules, use the GPS and maps to find the various stops and start logging your points! Whichever team has the most points will win the top prizes! Thank you to our sponsors Quadratec and J.T. Brooks for donating outstanding prizes for our top 3 participants!

You will have Saturday and Sunday to collect as many points as you can and beginning at 3pm on Sunday you can start making your way to the final stop where you can begin submitting your passports.

You must submit your passport by 5pm on Sunday Oct 30th as this is when The Woodland Adventure officially ends.

Requirements:
You must be in a team of two vehicles
You will need to understand how to use a gps or a paper map to find and locate the stops
4X4 Vehicle with adequate seat belts for all passengers
This event is stock 4x4 friendly
Team name .....example Team El Dorado
Teams must pre register! When registering please provide your team name - you will be assigned a team number for the Woodland Adventure.
Registration for a team of two vehicles for this two day event is $350.00
Registration includes park entrance fee for two vehicles/two drivers for one day each at Rausch Creek and Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area
Passengers are welcome to join the teams for an extra cost of $20.00 each.

Waivers will need to be filled out for Off Road Consulting, LLC, Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area and Rausch Creek Off Road Park

All off road parks, state forest and road rules and laws do apply. Any breaking of any rules will result in the team no longer being in the event and will be asked to leave the Off Road Consulting Woodland Adventure with no refund. Rules broken on or off road are subject to appropriate disciplinary action via Off Road Park Officers or Law Enforcement.

Prizes will be awarded to the teams with the fastest time and most logged stops.

Pre-registration opens Tuesday August 16th! Please visit www.offroad-consulting.com!

For details please contact offroadinstruction@gmail.com.


Thank you for our Woodland Adventure Sponsors!

Quadratec   www.quadratec.com/
J.T. Brooks  www.jtbrooks.com/

Off Road Consulting and Quadratec at the Jeep Jamboree USA- Coal Mountain summer 2016

Coal Mountain Jeep Jamboree USA at Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area July 28th-30th

 The last weekend in July brought with it the 2nd Coal Mountain Jeep Jamboree of the year at Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area (AOAA). While the AOAA has been open just 2 years, this is the 5th year of the Jeep Jamboree taking place at this location.

This year Off Road Consulting along with Quadratec were asked to be trail leaders for a new trail group that would include green and blue rated trails. We spent the last few weeks laying out the route and grooming the trails with the end result being a 7 hour loop that consisted of several challenging obstacles such as "Fern Ridge" and a new trail that had been cut that we nicknamed "The Zika" trail.

Pre- Jeep Jamboree events kicked off Thursday July 28th in the evening but before this, Off Road Consulting had a private training class at AOAA.


While the Jeep Jamboree registration started at the AOAA event buildings at 5pm, the participants started forming a line around 4pm as the excitement was starting to build for the Coal Mountain Jeep Jamboree. Quadratec handed out goody bags filled with Quadratec catalogs, stickers, pen and key chains along with Quadratec travel mugs.

5pm rolled around and the crowds began the registration process of filling out waivers, checking out Jeep Jamboree gear and then the most important part of all...deciding which trail group they would sign up with.

There were several different trail groups all with various trail levels. Some of the group names coincided with the coal history in the area, names like Breaker Boys, Coal Crackers and Mud Mining were a few of the trail group names. The Quadratec and Off Road Consulting trail group was named "Kyle's Follies" after the lead trail guide, Kyle. Along with Kyle we had two other trail guides with our group, Jenn Watson and George Soto. We had a great team and excited to meet the participants who would choose Kyle's Follies" as their group.

Registration was wrapping up and it was time to head home and get some rest because the next day was the Coal Mountain Jeep Jamboree!

Friday Morning Quadratec and Off Road Consulting arrived early so we could prep our lead vehicle. There would be a driver's meeting at 8:30am to officially kick off the Coal Mountain Jeep Jamboree. Folks who had signed up with our group started rolling in and we began organizing the vehicles and answering questions such as airing down and 4lo vs. 4 hi.

The driver's meeting was given by Steve Risk, the Coal Mountain Jeep Jamboree coordinator. He made a few announcements, talked about ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­trail etiquette and things to remember on the trail such as keeping the vehicle behind you in site at all times, etc and then before wrapping up Quadratec had provided a few Quadratec hats and Shackles as give aways for the participants. Steve threw the items into the crowd....yes, even the shackles!  He just made sure they hit the ground first.

With the driver's meeting coming to a close, it was finally time for everyone to get seat belted in their vehicles and head out to the trails!

Kyle's Follies was headed to the western side of AOAA and not long after getting onto the trails we had our first trail repair on a YJ.......With the help of our trail ready trail guides, we discovered that the YJ had a few loose bolts which caused the driveshaft to fall out.....we managed to get the YJ repaired and we were able to continue on our route.

AOAA has 7,000 acres of various trail levels including easy green trails to serious red trails but it also has some beautiful views and scenic overlooks and while Jeep Jamborees are all about trails and terrain, they are also about the experience and the scenery you encounter.


After passing a few picturesque areas we started to enter the more technical areas in the Kyle's Follies Trail ride. We had planned the route so drivers had a chance to warm up a bit before taking on the challenging obstacles but with the rain the overnight; even the easier challenges quickly became difficult.

The first challenge was a tight, off camber uphill with rocky, loose and slippery terrain.  Even with mud terrains and front and rear lockers this hill was still challenging and felt like a rock staircase.
The challenges didn't stop there, our next task was an off camber area followed by a steep uphill and then immediate downhill surrounded by trees. This was definitely going to test the driver's skills! With the trail leader at the top of the hill to spot folks through just in case, everyone made it through with an increased heart rate and smiles on their faces.
Next up was a section called "The Dozer Cut" and it was a steep uphill with a large horizontal log in the middle and with the advice of Off Road Consulting to take the line to the left of the log, folks made it up the hill with no problem.

What a rush! It was time to let the driver's calm down after what they had just drove through so we continued along on easy and more scenic green trails. The driver's needed their rest because next up was....Fern Ridge!
Fern Ridge was just that, a mountain ridge covered with ferns that made you feel like you were in a scene out of Jurassic Park more than in Pennsylvania. The rock gardens on Fern Ridge were impressive and we chose lines to avoid damage for the stock JKs but even with taking the less aggressive lines it was a challenge for all.

After Fern Ridge, it was time for much needed nourishment and we stopped for lunch along the trail.  As folks were discussing the trails and sharing stories we had to do another small trail repair but this time it was a different kind of repair. We didn't need bolts or tools for this but a needle, thread and duct tape....one of our trail guides found that they had ripped their pants a bit up the middle but no need to fear! Kyle's Follies group is prepared for whatever the trails have in store! After some sewing and placement of duct tape the shorts were as good as new and we were ready for the second half of our day!

We continued on various green and blue level trails but we had saved the best for last! There had been a new blue trail cut a few weeks ago and it was a perfect way to end our trail ride! The trail consisted of tight, twisty areas with large rock sections. As we started navigating our way through this rather technical trail....they came....the mosquitoes. Everywhere! It was a challenge to get the stock JKs through the terrain and after stacking rocks and re-positioning the vehicle s it was time to break out the Maxtrax.

Weighing 8lbs each, these aids provided the traction the vehicles needed to get through the slippery, rocky sections. Did I mention there were mosquitoes? After battling through the entire group made it through and those who had to fight the hardest to get through had the biggest smiles on their faces! It was quite an accomplishment! It was time to start making our way back to the AOAA parking lot and when asked "What was the name of that last trail we did?" The first thing that came to mind was "The Zika Trail"! Our trail guides worked hard and we got everybody through the day with no major damage and everyone able to drive their vehicles back on their own.

Day 1 of the Coal Mountain Jeep Jamboree was wrapping up but we still had one more day on the trails!

Saturday July 30th brought with it rain and foggy conditions along with a new group of participants on the Kyle's Follies trail ride.

 After a repeat of the driver's meeting we were quickly back out on the trails and like the day before we had to stop for an early trail repair which was a TJ whose 4lo wouldn’t stay engaged.  We knew exactly how to fix it and got it locked in for the rest of the day.

Driving to our first obstacle we came upon the Ho-BT trail ride who had a broken TJ in their group.  After some shuffling around of vehicles our group was able to continue on to the first challenge. We changed things up a little from the first day due to weather conditions and this let us run a second section of fern ridge.  It is just as technical as the section we ran on Friday but now there were two sections to tackle.  With team work of Off Road Consulting, Quadratec and the other trail guides we were able to get everyone through unscathed.

After lunch we continued on green trails for a while and ended up with another broken vehicle...a heavily modified TJ that  had broken a track bar bolt... ..after searching through everyone's tool bags  Off Road Consulting had a bolt that was  a perfect fit.  After finding the bolt it was a quick and easy fix and we were back moving down the trails.  We knew what was ahead .....Zika trail, which was such a challenge the day before and with heavy rain right over us we gave the drivers the option to drive Zika or take a bypass. Most of the stock JKs opted to take the bypass as they were growing tired from the day’s challenges. The rain was getting heavier and heavier and our Maxtrax's which were so useful yesterday getting folks through Zika quickly became essential rain gear for us trail guides.

We eventually got everyone who attempted the Zika trail through and it was time to head back to the parking lot and dry off as we were soaked from head to toe!

The trail riding part of the Coal Mountain Jeep Jamboree had come to an end but the Jamboree wasn't over yet! The closing ceremonies which included dinner at 6pm and after getting dried off we were on our way to Massers Restaurant in Paxinos, PA.

After dinner the Jeep Jamboree coordinator had a few things to announce and thanked everyone who made this event possible. Then it was time for the Quadratec Giveaways which included a 125 piece Mechanic Tool Set, ARB recovery bag, Quadratec hats, shovels and 3/4 inch shackles. The giveaways were handed out to folks who stood out on the trails, such as the folks who drove the farthest distance or who suffered the most damage on the trails. At one point Quadratec hats and t-shirts were being tossed around room!

The Coal Mountain Jeep Jamboree had come to an end. In the four wheeling community jeep clubs and groups are popping up everywhere but with the Jeep Jamboree you can expect a family friendly environment, professional trail guides that look after you and your vehicle and an experience that will last a lifetime. 

Off Road Consulting write up Smittybilt Overlander Tent

                                                           Smittybilt Overlander Tent

We had the opportunity to try out the Smittybilt Roof Top Tent and with being overland enthusiasts we were excited to test the product.


There is nothing more relaxing than jumping into your Jeep and getting away from the hustle and bustle of daily life..... However this doesn't mean you have to rough it out in the woods during this "Relaxation time". Smittybilt recognizes that you don’t have to leave all of your creature comforts at home and with their new line of Overlander gear; it can make your outdoor experience even more enjoyable.

A few things from Smittybilt.......
Smittybilt Overlander Tent is designed to mount easily on your stock roof rack system or on an aftermarket rack/crossbar system and weighing in at only 118 lbs the Smittybilt Overlander Tent is the perfect weight.  Generally, most OE roof racks will have a capacity of 100-200 lbs while vehicle is in motion (dynamic rating). However, when the vehicle is parked and you are utilizing your Smittybilt Overlander Tent, you are applying a static load which is easier to support and most rack systems can generally handle this static load with ease. Always check with the manufacturer of your vehicle and your roof rack system to determine the applicable weight limitations as they vary from vehicle to vehicle. If you need a roof rack system or more carrying capacity you may check with your local supplier for Smittybilt, Thule, or Yakima racks to suit your needs.
Check local and state laws regarding roof mounted load capacities. Many states have a limit of 165lbs while vehicle is in motion, and therefore most vehicle manufactures will build their roof racks to meet that limit. The Smittybilt Overlander Tent weights only 118 lbs, so it can be mounted to most rack systems.

After a long day of overlanding you are tired and the last thing you want to do is spend hours setting up camp.  With the Smittybilt’s OVERLANDER ROOF TOP TENT set up camp in minutes with waterproof construction, mesh windows for ventilation, and a wide aluminum ladder as standard features.

Now that they have said their side of it we will tell you what we have found....... First off the prices for these are right around the $900 mark.  We got our Smittybilt Overlander roof top tent from Quadratec (part number is 92023.3000) The certain application didn’t matter because we had other plans for ours.....  A pull behind custom built off road trailer where the tent can be removed from location to location is what we had in mind.  The traditional mounting is to have it as an overhang off of whatever roof rack you mount it on but with our custom build we wanted it to lay on our oak rail system.  The universal mounting set up bolted on nicely with the supplied.

After mounting the tent we could quickly open it up and finish the rest of install.  First the telescoping ladder, constructed from a quality, heavy duty aluminum that extends up to 6.5' and hold up to 265 lbs. The tent has four side windows with screens and awnings along a waterproof rainfly which when removed has two sun roofs to view the sky or let more air in.  Inside the tent, there is 90" x 53" mattress made from 2” thick, high density foam with removable cover. Another feature is the LED light strip inside the tent that is perfect for reading or reviewing your itinerary for the next day. There is just quality everywhere with the Smittybilt Overlander Roof Top Tent.

Now for the real test......We attached it to our custom trailer and took it for a test ride to see how it performed under certain conditions.  The trail we drove on was very bumpy and rocky.  It shook everything that was part of the set up and there were even areas so rocky that it broke ¼” bolts off the wooden support system but..... The tent stayed together, not even a loose nut.  Same set up was was tested at 70 mph and not one thing blew open or came loose.

Next we wanted to go to a remote area to set it up and see how easy it is for quick set......Ready set go.....from parking the jeep, , getting the cover off, and fully opening the tent.....6 minutes  was fully set up. Needless to say we really like the speed of the set up of Smittybilt Overland Roof Top Tent.

Inside the mattress is comfortable; the windows are placed nicely to allow airflow and viewing of the environment around you.  The sunroof is nice for those cool days of relaxing in the shade watching the birds in the trees.  The LED lights which is a neat feature provides just the right amount of light and another useful feature is the  cigarette lighter extension that allows you the ability to plug in anything you have...cell phone, radio...etc  We were impressed also by it coming with a shoe bag and individual bags for the supports and such.

We have taken our Smittybilt Overland Roof Top tent through some pretty rough terrain and for a tent on a custom built trailer, but it holds up great.  While had to beef up a few things on the trailer, no modifications to the tent were needed. 

The same things would apply if mounted to the roof of your vehicle as it makes remote camping easy and gives a few of the comforts from home all while treading lightly.  You would have to watch it going through tight areas with trees but won’t notice the added weight very much.
After your long day out on the trails and setting up camp it is nice to know that at the end of the day you can relax and enjoy a comfortable night’s sleep.....oh and that family of bear snooping through your camping area.... you can relax as you are 6ft above the ground and out of the way with no chance of becoming snacks for the bear.

21st Annual All Breeds PA Jeep Show

                                                                  PA Jeep Show 2016

The third weekend in July, folks in the off road community set aside some time to attend the All Breeds PA JEEP show in York, PA and Off Road Consulting had their plates full for this year's show.
 July 16th and 17th 2016 was the  21st annual PA Jeep show and what once started out as a small jeep club with the 1st show taking place at the Big Boppers Drive- In located in York, PA has turned into one of the largest jeep shows on the East Coast.

With this show taking place in the heart of the summer, the weather is traditionally always HOT! This year was no exception with temps in the 90's and humidity levels through the roof. The show offered folks a relief from the heat with a misting tent and coolers filled with cool water.

Over 80 vendors were on display at the 21st annual PA Jeep show...Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area, Factor 55, JKS, Topless 4 Tatas and Rausch Creek Off Road Park and the list goes on. Off Road Consulting was included in the vendors and we were busy promoting our various training classes and guided rides.

Quadratec, the premier sponsor for the PA show, was there with their all familiar big white tent which always mean one thing...blow out deals on their scratch and dent items!

On display in the show and shine field were over  550 registered  jeeps , from stock to extremely modified, you could spend hours walking up and down the rows of the registered show and shine jeeps. The show field is broken down into different classes from TJs, YJs, JKs, XJs, Willys and even a class for the new renegades and cherokee trailhawks.

In addition to the show field and vendors the Quadratec sponsored obstacle course allows registered participants and vendors to do what jeeps do best.....drive off road!

Pa Jeeps and Off Road Consulting performed a few demos over the weekend that included Hi-lift safety, Closed link system winching using Factor 55, Maxtrax traction aid ramps demos and a demo on how synthetic line reacts when it is cut.

Stetler Dealership from York, PA once again donated two jeeps for the weekend so folks could take the ultimate test drive out on the obstacle course. This year they brought a 4 door JK and a Renegade Trailhawk which accumulated a lot of criticism from the spectators but soon proved itself out on the obstacle course....

Off Road Consulting was entrusted with overseeing the dealership demo rides by riding in the passenger seat and offered those who took the jeeps out for a test drive some off road driving tips that included vehicle features such as the traction control that was equipped on both the JK and the Renegade trailhawk.

The obstacle course was busy all weekend with registered participants, vendors and competitive rock crawler buggys. There was a rhythm to the flow of the jeeps as the vehicles took turns on the obstacles that included hill climbs, off camber areas and various size rocks with an added obstacle of several jersey walls stacked together. During one of the Stetler demo rides, one of the show participants became high centered on an obstacle and after many failed attempts of driving out of the situation the next thing was to hook up a tow strap and give the JK a little help......So who was the recovery vehicle for the JK?? Another JK? The XJ with the "Hummer Recovery Unit" sticker? Or was it one of the rock crawler buggys? Nope, nope and nope....the Renegade Trailhawk was ready to go with its red tow point in check, the Renegade gave a little tug and safety recovered the JK and the obstacle course was back into its rhythm again.

Renegade Trailhawk- 1
Not a real Jeep crowd -0

Everybody loves free stuff and if you love pens, stickers and other goodys vendor row is the place to go! At the Quadratec booth you could pick up catalogs and key chains or head over to Jeep and pick up  a 75th anniversary poster.
At the Off Road Consulting table, folks were able to pick up stickers and coupons for guided rides at Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area.

Back out on the obstacle course the Renegade Trailhawk was ready to put those naysayers to rest by tackling the intimidating rocks and jersey wall obstacle. The crowds gathered to see what this so called jeep was going to do out on this obstacle. With Off Road Consulting spotting, the Renegade Trailhawk navigated through the obstacle without one scrape or bang and proved once and for all  it could handle aggressive terrain.
Click on the link below to watch the Renegade vs The Jersey Wall

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VCKm5S64JE&feature=youtu.be

Renegade Trailhawk 2
Not a real Jeep crowd 0

The 21st annual All Breeds PA Jeep Show wraps the event up with a huge raffle with products that make off road enthusiast drool. From winches, tires to gift cards and apparel 100% of the raffle proceeds  went to the York County Veterans Affairs who are committed to helping veterans and their families.

Another successful PA Jeep show had come to an end.  A huge thank you to all of the PA Jeeps representatives for putting this fun and family friendly show together year after year. What are you doing the 3rd weekend in July? Make sure in  2017 you make plans to attend the 22nd annual All Breeds PA Jeep show in York, PA!

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