![]() For example, just like a good Fox suspension system on your mountain bike, my setup can be dial-adjusted to be more forgiving for technical rocky terrain or stiffer for flat, smooth driving-something that provides much better truck handling. This setup is significantly more durable than stock but comes with additional upgrades that the OME system didn’t have. I’ve kept the OME leaf springs, but recently swapped in Fox Factory Race Series Coil-Over Reservoir Shocks ($1,600 for the front $1,200 for the rear). My first build had an Old Man Emu suspension kit (leaf springs and shocks) that was significantly more durable than my stock setup and helped my truck put up with bumpy dirt roads and not sag under the weight of a rooftop tent and truck drawers. Better Handling: Fox Factory Race Series Coil-Over Reservoir Shocks and Total Chaos Upper Control Arms (Jakob Schiller) With regular wheels, you run the risk of the tire slipping off when it’s not at full pressure-a giant problem if you’re not near a tire shop. ![]() This technology is a big deal, because the few times I’ve been really stuck, airing down to a lower PSI got me right out. Almost more important, however, the wheel has small grooves in the bead channel (where the outer edge of the tire sits) that prevent the tire from slipping out when releasing a little air. The design and materials-an incredibly durable one-piece cast 356 aluminum-allow the wheel to put up with abuse from all the junk you might meet on even the hairiest of forest trails-boulders, branches, etc. I found that in the new Method Race Wheels Trail Series 701 (from $180 per wheel). Instead, I wanted a wheel with more off-road oomph. The lowriders here sport incredibly beautiful rims that stand out and add character but do nothing to improve performance. In Albuquerque, wheels are all about style. These are not street tires by any stretch, but the engineers made each tread a slightly different size-a trick that eliminates that annoying hum on the highway you get with many off-road tires. And thanks to something called a “mud-phobic bar,” grime and muck won’t stick to them, so they’re ready to bite again on the next rotation. They’re incredibly reliable in the mud and sand, because the lugs are spaced out just enough to dig in. The tires also have a smart tread pattern with larger biting edges that wrap around objects on the trail to increase your traction. (Mine ran $290 per tire for size LT285/70R17.) The KM3 has a 27 percent stronger sidewall than the previous version, so you’ll worry even less about one tearing on a sharp rock 50 miles down a dirt road. Right now, I’m using the brand-new BFGoodrich KM3, one of, if not the most, bombproof tires on the market. And because of that increased durability in the sidewall, shoulder, and tread, you’ll be less prone to flats out in the middle of nowhere. Plus, off-road tires are designed with stronger sidewalls and shoulder sections, so you can let some air out of them to get more traction and not worry about ruining the tire. First, they provide better traction through sand, dirt, mud, snow, and anything else you might encounter while driving off the grid. Quality off-road tires do a number of things. If you read Wes Siler’s column here at Outside, you know that he constantly hammers home that good tires are your first and most important off-road or overlanding upgrade. Better Traction: BFGoodrich KM3 Tires and Method Race Wheels (Jakob Schiller) But think of them more as items for the bucket list and pick one or two based on the qualities you really want more of from your rig. ![]() Of course, with a lot of things vehicle-related, these upgrades aren’t cheap. As such, I realized there was a better way to do things (there always is), and I’m currently going through upgrade 2.0 to get even more capability out of this old beast. ![]() Since then, I’ve been on many more trips (crazy treks through Baja, up and over scary Colorado passes, etc.), seen plenty more gear at Overland Expo, and asked for tons advice from experts like Walt Wagner, who owns Tactical Application Vehicles, an expedition-vehicle shop in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I made my first round of changes back in 2016. I have no interest in rock crawling through Moab, but I do want to feel confident driving unmaintained roads and want upgrades that will make backcountry camping more comfortable. The thing was bone stock for years, but I’ve recently started to explore the aftermarket options to see if I could make it more capable for long overlanding trips with my wife and our two kids. ![]() I’ve owned a 2005 four-door Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport for a decade, and it’s easily been the most reliable, adventure-worthy vehicle I’ve ever driven. ![]()
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