Category Archives: Buy (or don’t) this Stuff

Product Review: Trasharoo

March 28, 2014 scottmcnamara Leave a comment

One of my BIGGEST pet peeves of people in the offroad community is the laziness. Note that this is also a very small minority of us, but it does happen. These people toss out beer cans, napkins, and all kinds of trash in the woods.

And, I want to pick it up when I see it. But there is honestly nothing nastier than someone’s lunch bag or old stinky, sticky beer can from weeks ago being placed into your Jeep.

Enter the Trasharoo.

Taking the Trasharoo on a camping trip in 2013. We fit our inflatable boat in there!

The Trasharoo is a large, durable, canvas bag that is designed to be slung over the rear OUTSIDE tire on the back of the Jeep. Emphasis on “outside” as now all the stinky, nasty trash can be kept out of the cabin. Continue reading Product Review: Trasharoo →

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Product Review: Rampage Products’ Jerry Can Toolbox

January 5, 2014 scottmcnamara Leave a comment

It is critical that on trail runs you bring ample tools with you.

On our recent trip to Moab, a brake caliper bolt somehow wiggled free, causing my caliper to slide down and grind along the inside of the rim.

Luckily I had my tools with me, and I fixed it in about 10 minutes.

But having a huge, noisy toolbox in the back of the Jeep also leaves a lot to be desired. So what is the best storage option for tools on the trail?

I believe it is the Rampage Jerry Can tool box.

Continue reading Product Review: Rampage Products’ Jerry Can Toolbox →

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Product Review: Evo RockStar Rear Skids

December 10, 2013 scottmcnamara 5 Comments

So, confession time.

I am one of those people that always say how “THAT is the best mod I have ever put on my rig.” Only problem is that I often say that about many different mods.

However – if I had to truly choose a single mod that has really delivered benefits, and could possibly be one – if not the – best mod on my Jeep, I would say the Evo Rockstars are it.

This, along with some new differential covers, were the preparatory mods I installed before my last run on the Rubicon. Continue reading Product Review: Evo RockStar Rear Skids →

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Product Review: Warn Synthetic Winching Gloves

December 8, 2013 scottmcnamara Leave a comment

As a vegan jeeper, there are some things that are just damn near impossible to find that are both animal free, and of good quality.

The vegan community often calls this conundrum “accidentally vegan,” which means they are vegan not out of principle, but because they are cheap.

These gloves are not accidentally vegan, nor are they cheap. They are a valuable item in my trail bag, and I am even ordering additional pairs just to keep on hand (no pun intended).

When using steel winch lines, these gloves help protect against steel barbs that can pierce your hand and really cause trouble when out on the trails. Even with synthetic lines, these reduce the chance of friction burns, and can make handling the lines easier and safer. Continue reading Product Review: Warn Synthetic Winching Gloves →

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Food Review: Field Roast Frankfurters

November 26, 2013 scottmcnamara Leave a comment

When I was a kid, I never really liked hot dogs. Even then, I knew what they were made of and it really grossed me out.

Fast forward a shit ton of years, and I am loving them all over again. Why? Because now I know what is in my hot dog…but more importantly I know what is NOT.

Vegan hot dogs are plagued with balancing two distinct needs of people: make your product as close as a match to the meat version (for the ex-meatheads like me) but not so close as to freak out people that don’t like meat.

Many of the brands out there are rubbery analogs that do the job, but not well.

Enter Field Roast’s Frankfurters.

Don’t hate on my mustard and ketchup application skills: It’s actually performance art and you are missing the point.

These are a “drier” dog, that I prefer to grill or boil while in the plastic “skin.” These dogs will not have a ton of water in them like traditional franks. They have a wonderful flavor and texture that perfectly balances the like-meat-but-not-too-much scale.

These travel incredibly well (keep them refrigerated) are easy clean up, and deliver plenty of protein and food to your gut on those long days of wheelin.

Buy (or don't) this Stuff

Product Review: Artec Dana 44 Axle Armor Kit

October 5, 2013 scottmcnamara Leave a comment

One of my favorite mods for the Jeep is armor. I don’t think having a super capable rig is all that important if you slide off a rock and slam open your oil pan/transmission/diff cover/transfer case/gas tank/etc.

The Artec installed on my 2013 JKUR. I applied the custom paint.

So the Artec Axle Armor Kit has been on my wish list for some time now for the following reasons:

Appealing design will allow me to upgrade the actual axle in the future, where sleeves really limit this;
Price point ($249)
Ability to order from Northridge 4×4 (free overnight shipping)
I feel the truss design is stronger than a sleeve/gusset approach.

I ordered the kit in the Summer, and stalled on the installation. This was purely due to cost and the PITA factor. I would need to remove the entire axle, put it in our Ford Fiesta, and drive it to a shop to be welded in.

Thankfully, the guys at 4 Wheel Parts in Portland hooked me up and offered to weld it in for a great price (along with some new Alloy USA ball joints).

This kit is amazing because:

It is built of SOLID, thick steel plating
Had amazing tolerances for fit
Includes some great armor: Front LCAs, Gussets, AND the truss

The only real downside to installing this kit is the fact it needs to be welded in by a competent welder. This is due in large part to the metals on the axle – the cast on the pumpkin has some sensitive welding needs.

But that downside is not due to Artec, it is just the nature of the beast!