Eezi-Awn’s new hard-shell Dart tent was introduced by Equipt Expedition Outfitters at the 2018 Overland Expo West event.
Copyright James Langan/RoadTraveler All Rights Reserved
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AEV Ram 1500 Recruit DualSport 4-inch suspension
My 2017 Overland Expo West coverage in TDR 97 included photos and prose about AEV’s new 4” DualSport suspension for 1500 Rams. However, the light was challenging and sometimes it’s difficult to show parts installed on a truck. AEV displayed a 20th Anniversary Recruit with the DualSport 1500 4” suspension at the SEMA Show, and also had the kit mounted on a board for closer inspection.
James Langan
Copyright James Langan/RoadTraveler/Turbo Diesel Register. All Rights Reserved.
A version of this article was also published in the Turbo Diesel Register magazine.
Source: AEV-American Expedition Vehicles
Factor 55 FlatLink MultiMount And Rope Guard
In just five years Factor 55 has helped revolutionize the self-recovery winching market by intelligently promoting Closed System Winching™ and rigging techniques better than anyone had before. They have done this by manufacturing fantastic products to facilitate safer recoveries, with education, and documenting scientific failure testing.
Everything they make is designed by their small team in Boise, Idaho, and made in the USA. At the 2017 SEMA Show Factor 55 introduced their Rope Guard, a simple yet ingenious item that can be added to existing FlatLink or UltraHook products. It protects the exposed rope at the end of a thimble on the front of a winch. My 2014 Ram runs an UltraHook, so an upgrade may be on the horizon.
The new FlatLink MultiMount was also introduced at SEMA. It allows one to pull/add force to the end of a winch line from more than one direction. I liked the FlatLink MultiMount so much that I ordered one for my 2017 Pack Mule flatbed project as soon as I got home…and I didn’t even have a winch or bumper for that truck yet.
James Langan
Copyright James Langan/RoadTraveler/Turbo Diesel Register. All Rights Reserved.
Source: Factor 55
Atturo Trail Blade X/T
My bias against newer, overseas-manufactured tires has prevented any serious consideration of treads from many of the newer players. I prefer to buy from American companies or at least products made in North America, voting with my dollars. However, a local diesel repair shop, Patriot Diesel, told me they liked Atturo as an affordable, good quality truck tire option, so I decided to take a look.
Patriot Diesel sells more big mudders for lifted trucks than all-terrains, but it was the Trail Blade X/T pattern that caught my eye online, so I decided to take a closer look at the 2017 SEMA Show. The X/T is neither traditional all-terrain nor aggressive mudder, but a hybrid, just how I like my light-truck tires. The outer lugs are deep and beefy, while the tighter, well-siped center puts more rubber on the road. Atturo even won SEMA’s 2014 Global Media Award for “Best Innovative New Product for the International Market” with this X/T design. Okay, I’m no longer ignoring this brand; and certainly not the X/T design.
James Langan
Copyright James Langan/RoadTraveler. All Rights Reserved.
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Firestone Destination M/T2 and Transforce AT2
Firestone took a couple big steps forward this year by redesigning two of their light-truck tires that may appeal to the TDR audience: the Destination M/T2 and the Transforce AT2. The previous Destination M/T was a whopping 12-years old and needed an update; even Firestone admits it was very long-in-the-tooth. The new Destination M/T2 retains some family heritage, but the tread, particularly the two center ribs, are noticeably different and more attractive. Every tread block has one long sipe, where the older design had none. The shoulder lugs are a new shape and more pleasing to the eye. Twenty-nine sizes are offered for wheels from 15” to 22”, including many of the most popular 16” to 18” sizes likely to be popular with TDR readers.
The Transforce AT2 targets the other end of the spectrum. It’s a relatively low-void, 4-rib, all-terrain or commercial tire for those that prefer a closed outer rib, which can reduce noise and prevent wear. Many Ram owners are familiar with Firestone’s Transforce line as the OE tire for most late-model trucks, the Transforce HT or the AT. The Transforce AT is the all-terrain upgrade tread that came on my 2017 Tradesman as part of the (AD2) Snow Chief Group. The new AT2 looks very similar to the tire it replaces, but the outer ribs are a bit beefier, and there is some thin (compared to the M/T) shoulder rubber that was not present on the older design. There are 16 sizes, and I bet we will be seeing the updated AT2 on new heavy-duty Rams with the all-terrain tire option.
James Langan
Copyright James Langan/RoadTraveler/Turbo Diesel Register. All Rights Reserved.
A version of this article was also published in the Turbo Diesel Register magazine.
Source: Firestone Tire
Superwinch EXP Series Winches
At the 2016 SEMA Show Superwinch introduced their new EXP, Expedition Grade, winches in 8, 10, and 12,000# versions. At the 2017 SEMA Show they released the big dogs for the larger, heavier trucks, with new 14, 16, and 18,000# EXP Series winches. We are looking forward to their retail availability.
My last two truck builds both featured the previous generation, 12,500# Superwinch Talon.
James Langan
Copyright James Langan/RoadTraveler/Turbo Diesel Register. All Rights Reserved.
Source: Superwinch
Ram Truck Bumpers From AEV, Expedition One, and Warn
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