Off-road Vehicle Recon Co. (2024)

29/02/2024

The FJ transfer case swap is coming along nicely. Should be rolling this weekend.

I’m taking notes, photos and video for a fully detailed step-by-step write up, which I’ve already started writing. Stoked to share that later.

Additionally, while I’ve got it on jack stands, I’m rerouting the exhaust. This is a long overdue mod that will flatten out the belly/skid plates.

05/02/2024

This past weekend, we completed our first off-road rally of 2024. Beginning at Yokum’s Store & Motel in Seneca Rocks, WV, and finishing 580 miles and 27 hours later in Point Pleasant, WV. We drove all day Saturday, through the night and into Sunday afternoon. It was one of the most mentally and physically exhausting events I’ve ever participated in.

Since the 4WD system left the chat well before the weekend, we thought finishing the route might come down to teamwork. Thus, we comprised a team familiar with these sorts of challenges. We encountered every type of terrain imaginable—from creek beds to snowy passes—however, the only time we were forced to pull line was on a steep, slicker-than-snot, rutted hill climb. Throughout the route, the rig snorted a gallon of water into the airborne (a scary moment), a wheel bearing showed signs of failure, the steering rack leaked, and afterwards, had an electrical issue that prevented it from starting for about an hour. We literally limped back to Pittsburgh late last night.

The event raised almost $12K for the Children’s Home Society of WV, and that is what makes it all worthwhile. Thanks to the state of West Virginia, , , the safety crew, local and state law enforcement, .s.forestservice, all the volunteers, and everyone else for your time and effort to host this event.

16/01/2024

I hope you’re all doing well. Just a quick update—I’m still in the midst of a short break that started back in December to spend some QT with my family during the holidays. It was a much-needed period to reconnect and refresh after being away for a few years.

On a somber note, Mazzy, my beloved dog, passed away on December 27, adding a layer of sadness to this period. She was one of a kind that never quit and strived to please her hoomans no matter the discomfort. In the end, her legs could no longer carry the weight of her enormous heart. If any of you had the pleasure of meeting her, you know what she meant to us. Thanks in advance for your comfort and support.

Which brings me to now—I’m gearing up to come back with several big updates that I’m stoked to share with all of you! Thanks for your understanding, and I can’t wait to reconnect soon.

22/12/2023

Here you’ll see the Sierra Nevada living up to the hype.

This was one of my favorite stops in 2023. An atmospheric river dumped a metric f**kton along the entire west coast during our visit—so much precipitation that we had to detour our route almost 1000 miles to avoid the deluge, forcing us to miss Big Sur and Yosemite.

#2023

11/12/2023

Transform “One day…” into “Day One.” Let’s gooo!

Last week, I officially became a small business owner, but details are low key for now. I’m giving this challenge 100% of my effort & determination, but I’m not afraid to ask my off-road and overland fam for help and support.

For now, let’s talk about this specialized bed build. Would you ever consider a custom bed replacement like this? I’d love to discuss the pros and cons. Let me know in the comments.

**t

01/12/2023

It’s flashback Friday, y’all.

During our travels last December, we briefly passed through Oregon. We camped at Fort Stevens State Park, drove onto the beach and posed with what’s left of the Peter Iredale during the type of sunset you never forget.

21/11/2023

All fax, no printer.

17/11/2023

Got some phonky for ya freaks.

Roll call: who’s still rockin’ their OEM grills?

**t

06/11/2023

How would you improve this build?

**t

31/10/2023

West Virginia did not disappoint during the Pittsburgh Overland 2023 Color Run (group ride). I’ve already got big plans for next year’s route.

27/10/2023

Where are all my fellow huckers at?

Do you ride? New school, old school? Downhill, XC, enduro? 29er, 27.5” or mullet? How often do you chase the brown pow? Give me the deets!

24/10/2023

It was a moody setting at Canaan Valley in West Virginia. A few too many chili dogs at happy hour caused us to arrive a little later than expected, but wheeling in the darkness is never a worry for me. In fact, I love it—thanks to the lighting design by . I chose the SS5 Crosslink on the front bumper because they throw a ton of light and I can run different TIR optics in each pod giving me full control of the light pattern. I also think the backlight feature is 🤌🏻 and adds to the builds’ unique look.

22/10/2023

If I ruled the world, it would be autumn 365 🍁

17/10/2023

Business in the front, party in the back.

13/10/2023

Leading a group of rigs this weekend through the Appalachian’s. Unfortunately, we’ll have to deal with this s**t storm headed our way. I officially miss summer.

10/10/2023

Back in early August, and I had a blast exploring the coal country of Central Pennsylvania. We hit up two amazing OHV parks: Rausch Creek Off-road Park and Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area (AOAA). Here are some cool facts we picked up along the way:

Central Pennsylvania is known for its anthracite coal deposits, which are a high-quality and hard variety of coal. Anthracite coal is particularly valuable for its clean-burning properties and high energy content. The region's coal mines played a significant role in providing fuel for industrialization and heating during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Central Pennsylvania was home to the infamous secret society known as the Molly Maguires. This group of Irish-American miners was active in the anthracite coal regions during the late 19th century. They were involved in labor disputes and often resorted to violence and sabotage to advocate for better working conditions and wages. Their actions led to a series of trials and executions, making them a notable part of the coal industry's history in the region.

Like many coal regions across the United States, Central PA’s coal industry experienced a decline in the latter half of the 20th century due to factors such as economic changes, environmental regulations, and the shift to alternative energy sources. However, in recent years, there has been a renewed interest in the region's coal resources, particularly in exploring cleaner technologies for coal utilization, such as carbon capture and storage (CCS), to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and extend the life of coal-related industries. This reflects ongoing efforts to adapt to changing energy needs and environmental concerns.

Our adventure wasn't just about the history of the region though; it was about thrills and hitting all the hard lines, tight and dense-forest trails, boulder fields, and enjoying sweeping vistas of the Appalachian mountains. If you're ever in my backyard, these are two must-wheel spots.

06/10/2023

Write a caption... Part 6/6: Doesn’t it feel great to finish a project, especially involving the rig?

I’ve always been drawn to these split grid photos but never committed to posting one on my feed. I chose this banger because it encompasses all the significant events and changes to the rig this year. Between completing a 40k mile journey around the continent, the Red Clay Rally podium finish and a full bed replacement, I think it captures the passion I have for vehicular exploration.

I’d like to thank my partners and for their continued support. This year has been full of twists and turns, but as the dust settles I know I’m heading down the right path with these two solid companies.

So what’s next? Where do we go from here?

04/10/2023

Part 5/6: Solar panel reminds me of the TIE Fighter wing from . Change my mind.

02/10/2023

Part 2/6: Take a whiff, can you smell it? The mountain air. The seasons changing. The storm coming.

01/10/2023

Part 3/6 “It’s just a tire.” There are so many choices nowadays. I’m glad I decided to go with Geo’s, they’re absolute slayers.

What tires are you currently running? What’s your all-time favorite tire? Let me know in the comments.

01/10/2023

Part 2/6 Finding beauty in coal country. Have you explored the hidden gems of eastern Kentucky?

29/09/2023

Part 1/6: What was the last mod you made to the front end of your rig?

I’ll go first—I completely rewired all of the light pods.

I realize this isn’t my typical post so please bear with me for the next six posts.

22/09/2023

A Triumph in the Heart of Coal Country!

What a wild ride it was through the rugged terrains of Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee in the Red Clay Rally 2023!

Day 2 ended in the deep end so we knew to expect slick tracks, and oodles of mud in the morning. Whispers of an epic hill climb loomed ahead, and the skies still looked angry, but the rain gods finally showed mercy. Starting the day tied for 8th place, we knew we had our work cut out for us.

Our journey led us from open hilltops to the depths of a forest canopy along a creek bed. Then, the moment of truth arrived – the steep hill climb challenge. I gave it my all but lost momentum and veered off the trail. Heart pounding, with some technical driving I maneuvered back on track.

Another attempt up, and I realized I couldn't conquer it alone without a front locker. That's when JC swooped in, making the climb look effortless and putting his rig in position to pull my line.

What happened next was the stuff of rally legends. With JC's FJ attached to a Jeep on the summit, my rig tethered to his, then another Jeep winched to me, we formed an epic 4-rig daisy chain. Determination and teamwork saved the day, rescuing the Jeep from a rollover plus hauling me to the summit.

The rest of the day brought its own adventures, with tight trails and long hardball sections, but nothing compared to the excitement that morning. We thought we had a solid second half, but we still picked up some points along the way. The podium seemed like a distant dream.

Imagine our shock when they announced "team 123" for second place! 🥈 We never saw it coming. Turns out, our decision to tackle the challenging hill climb, rather than taking the bypass, paid off. That's the essence of rallying – staying true to the track and hitting every checkpoint.

Huge congratulations to Sam, Phil and Jamy for seizing 1st place and to all the fearless competitors who conquered the Red Clay Rally 2023.

18/09/2023

The weather took a turn on day 2 of the rally.

Since it was the shortest track of the three, we were afforded a later start time which meant sleeping in an extra hour. The team moved from 19th position to a tie for 12th. We were feeling good about the advancement, however the top ten teams were separated by only 20 points.

Throughout the track, we kept our pace and stuck to the game plan even though it felt entirely too slow. It wasn't until the last third of the track when we hit the dirt again. It had been awhile since the last checkpoint so we could sense the next one was just around the corner—that feeling creeps on you all day and those checkpointers sure are a sneaky bunch.

The final few miles got a little rowdy. A gnarly uphill with an undercut ledge at the very top caught a few rigs on their first attempts. Longer wheel bases seemed to have less issues as I cruised right up but had to spot JC's shorter wheel-based FJ on his second try.

The track finished atop an old mountaintop removal mining site. If you're not familiar with these, I recommend you research it. It's a controversial and destructive way of accessing seams of coal.
However, Mother Nature finds a way and reclaims the land eventually.

At camp that evening, we were pummeled by a thunderstorm for a solid three hours. The 270° awning was clutch and allowed me to make tacos comfortablv as the storm unleashed its furious winds and heavy rain. The staff at TFO did a fantastic job making sure I received the new awning in time for the rally and I’m very thankful for their continued support and efforts.

13/09/2023

Day 1 of the rally started early and clean. Besides starting line nerves, the first day through the Virginia’s mountains was pretty chill—blessed with gorgeous weather and scenery.

and I started in 19th position which gave us much needed extra time to discuss our plan and route. As the day went on, we settled into a rhythm and made good time until arriving at the first obstacle. Unfortunately, someone broke a CV mid-obstacle and several teams were waiting in line. We were able to turn around on the trail then take a bypass, but that ended up throwing us off our game plan and we didn’t know how to recover from it. We learned several key rallying lessons on day 1 for sure.

07/09/2023

A throwback to my first rally in 2021. I missed last year because I was in Alaska (no complaints) but I’m thrilled to be participating in this competition again this year.

If you’ve been following along the last two months, you know I’ve been working my tail off to get the rig ready for the . It’s been intense. I’ve neglected a few things I shouldn’t have, spent more time and money than I wanted to; but I’m certain it will be worth it once the green flag drops.

The experience will bring on some nostalgia for sure. Many things have changed since 2021 that I can reflect on, both my life and with the truck. As for the rally, changes this year include a new team, new course and format, and a substantially more capable rig. I couldn’t be more excited and anxious but at least I’m confident the rig is dialed in this time.

Fun fact: in 2021, my traction control system failed before the rally and didn’t even have a locker then. I still managed to complete the rally with only one high center but never pulled line.

Special thanks to my sponsors, partners, companies that I depend on, and especially my family and friends.

Here’s to a fun, safe and successful rally. Good luck everyone!

14/08/2023

After our odyssey in the western region of Death Valley, we set our sights on the northern territory of the park. Although, recoveries and rescues do occur in this remote region, we passed signs that cautioned “NO TOW SERVICE”.

This excursion spanned 140 off-road miles, a dozen natural way points and an unforeseen overnight stay in the backcountry of the park. Thus far, it’s one of my favorite experiences and stories to tell from our adventures.

Nonetheless, as I was writing, the realization hit me—I would prefer to tell the story unbound by the limits of a character count. Alas, I’ve decided to save the tale for a blog someday, but in the meantime I’ve written captions for each photo.

Would you risk going this far into Death Valley’s backcountry alone?

1 Taking a break from the washboard roads while immersed in Death Valley’s diverse landscape.

2 Ubehehe Crater, a half-mile wide 600-foot-deep volcanic crater, meaning “big basket”.

3 Racetrack Playa, the home of the “sailing rocks” and one of the flattest places on earth with the north end being only 1.5” higher than the south while being 2.8 miles apart.

4 Crossing the Saline Valley after the descending Lippincott Pass.

5 The wild burros of Salt Lake keep eyes on us.

6 Remnants of the Saline Valley salt tram.

7 Saline Valley Warm Springs, where we stayed overnight. Not a bad place to be stranded.

8 The morning sun over the Last Chance Range.

9 Eureka Dunes, a 680 foot tall dune resting in the basin of Eureka Valley.

10 The quintessential park sign photo op. Death Valley captured our hearts while refreshing our respect for being prepared for the unexpected.

01/08/2023

I warned you it was going to get weird.

In the heart of the American Southwest, lies a place of enigmatic beauty and historical significance—Death Valley National Park. Our expedition to this extreme landscape took us on a journey through the depths of natural wonders and the echoes of human history.

The lowest point in North America, Badwater Basin, was a surreal experience. The thought of being 282 feet below sea level felt bizarre. I tried to imagine Lake Manly’s ecosystem when it existed—now, in this extreme place, you can hardly find signs of life—a reminder of the delicate balance in the harshest environments.

Our expedition continued into the expanse. The day trip was made possible by a bone-stock Tacoma, driven by our adventurous friend, Steve. He experienced a variety of emotions that afternoon, since it was his first off-road experience. At first it was amusing for him, then as I spotted him through more challenging terrain, his stress level ascended. In these moments, I had to remind our friend that I wouldn’t let anything bad happen to him or his beloved truck. I encouraged him to trust my experience.

I pushed him out of his comfort zone as he pushed through the rocky terrain. One obstacle remained and due to the low clearance of a stock Tacoma, he became high-centered. After stacking a few rocks, we had him through Mengal Pass. Finally, we reached Barker Ranch—the hideout where Charles Manson was arrested.

Standing on this hallowed ground that once harbored the darkness of humanity, we were humbled by the remoteness, simultaneously reminding us of the human history etched into every corner of the earth. The descent through Goler Canyon was breathtaking and before too long where we connected with pavement again.

Off-road Vehicle Recon Co.

29/02/2024

05/02/2024

16/01/2024

22/12/2023

11/12/2023

01/12/2023

21/11/2023

17/11/2023

06/11/2023

31/10/2023

27/10/2023

24/10/2023

22/10/2023

17/10/2023

13/10/2023

10/10/2023

06/10/2023

04/10/2023

02/10/2023

01/10/2023

01/10/2023

29/09/2023

22/09/2023

18/09/2023

13/09/2023

07/09/2023

14/08/2023

01/08/2023

Address

Website

Alerts

Videos

Shortcuts

Share