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SpeedHook™ (Chrome)
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Amanda SpeedHook™ is the fast, easy way to stay in the action; it’s compatible with Jeeps, F150s, buggies, and any vehicle with a 2” receiver hitch.
Ruffling feathers with
FIVE OVERLANDING TRENDS TO DITCH IN 2024
8 minute YouTube Video by Exo Apo
Based on his experiences from 2023, these are things he DOES NOT WANT TO SEE in overlanding in 2024. Quick summary ...
#5 – EV OVERLAND RIGS.
“All of us need to stop pretending that we're going to put EV vehicles on the trails for overlanding adventures.”
#4 – FAKE VIDEOS.
“We know that guy is not out there living this lifestyle on the trail every day like he's pretending to be in these videos. He's buying this rig, he's gearing it out, he's driving somewhere setting everything up shooting fake videos pretending to live this lifestyle and then trying to sell you that he is the man in overlanding…
“Why don’t we this year just try to be ourselves.”
#3 – OVERBUILT RIGS!
“I get it, this is an industry companies have to keep innovating and making things better and more convenient for us to use and own; and there are these products that are just cool to have - I understand all of that and we want all of that to keep going, but what we don't have to do is have every single product on our rig.”
“We don't need to see Jeeps that are built like you're moving into them for the next 6 months of your life.”
#2 – “WALKIE TALKIES THAT PRETEND TO BE REAL COMMUNICATION DEVICES.”
“If anything went super bad those things are … great for the 300 to 200 yard radius of the group that you're in, but don't try to convince me or anybody else by your advertising or your influencer pitches that walkie-talkies are real comms in the overland space.”
#1 – "INFLUENCERS CHASING CLOUT.”
They have their place as a tool for the brands, telling their story to reach the audience but ... he goes OFF.
“They try to build their fame on the backs of the companies that are trusting them to be the storytellers for their products and their brands. The community that listens to these guys are trusting you guys to give them real information that actually help them make educated decisions.”
IF YOU'RE AN INFLUENCER, “just be real guys and you will find yourself being successful in 2024.”
#exoapo
#overlanding
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“Come on out and see the cars!"
John Quick at Detroit #autorama March 1-3 in the #milandragway display.”
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THE OVERLAND GAMES 2024
Episode 1, West Virginia
26 minute video by Mountain State Overland
THEY WANT TO BECOME GUIDES.
Some have ‘loads of experience’ – some have none!
Out of 30 applicants, Mountain State Overland chose 5 eager adventurers to “team up and test their skills at guiding” ...
• James Farley from Haymarket Virginia drives a 2017 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon.
• Dan Winell from Northern Maryland drives a 2017 Ram 1500 Rebel.
• Casper Crump from Copenhagen Denmark lives in Washington DC. He drives an FJ Cruiser Trail Team 2010.
• Paul Gunnels from Berkley, Michigan drives a 2019 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2.
• Ryan Fitzpatrick from Pittsburgh, PA drives a 2021 Ram 2500 Power Wagon.
They’re all there for different reasons – and they’re ready to go.
THREE CHALLENGES
Each applicant will have three challenges; “At the end, the two applicants with the most points will win.”
THE FIRST TEST
They’ll be randomly teamed up and they’ll “have to guide us through the woods.”
The hosts will not be helping them out.
As one viewer noted, “The role reversal and letting you guys role play as different characters looked like a lot of fun.”
Names are drawn out of a hat, four are paired and one is on his own; which may be challenging.
They’re all given 15 minutes to make a plan; then the hosts perform a visual inspection.
“TYPICAL NEWBIES”
“Need to get out and get video for Instagram.”
“I was so stoked about crossing a river!”
The participants are having a good time. Along the way, they’re encouraged in terms of what they’re doing especially well.
“A key part of like being a guide on these trips is being able to stay calm and collected and logical while under a lot of pressure or in a high stress environment.”
They work to create some of that 😊
“So uh next time we stop can I get a beer out of the truck and slam one real quick?”
“No sir, no sir, no drinking on the trail please.”
INTRODUCING AN OBSTACLE
“Guys, I think I’m stuck here. I can’t move, the truck’s not moving anywhere. I don’t know what to do. I think I’m going to be pulled right now.”
They want to see how the participants will handle the situation. Reactions/responses and guiding skills are assessed.
THE SECOND GROUP HAS BIG VEHICLES
There is a fairly clean creek crossing.
“Keep yourselves on the rocks, not over them.”
TURNING THEIR RADIOS OFF
“There’s a sizable log laying in the driver’s side track up here.”
With no radio response, the participants stop and check on their ‘guests.’
“Hey, you having trouble with the radio?”
IHosts, to themselves – “They’re doing a good job trying to keep radio chatter.”
They explain “We maintained a visual on you guys the whole time, so we felt confident as long as you guys presented the confidence, we felt good with it.”
There is discussion comparing what was said up front vs what actually happened.
ROUND ONE CONTINUES, with Casper up next.
...
Mountain State Overland …
• Is a YouTube adventure travel video series offering overland tour services, vehicle rentals and overland equipment.
• Since its inception in 2013, this team of explorers has captured motion and still images that recount nearly 75,000 miles of vehicle-based adventure travels.
• They have over 100 videos on YouTube and over 75,000 miles traveled exploring 25 states
Learn more at Mountain State Overland dot com.
#overlandgames
#overlandguides
youtu.be/9JVGemgAvDY?si=-zwK7XYhrLSRVQjo
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SEE IT IN PERSON!
John Quick declares “Come on out and see the cars!
"Got our move in passes for the Detroit #autorama March 1-3. We will be in the #milandragway display.”
In this video he’s “moving in to the Autorama. Car showing this weekend, racing season soon after!”
Detroithoodtv says “Car has always looked good behind the lens and the new look is even better.”
FIND TICKET, LOCATION AND PARKING LOCATION
At Autorama.com
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MATCHBOX REPLICA JEEP GLADIATOR TAKES CENTER STAGE AT BARRETT-JACKSON SCOTTSDALE
Friday, January 26, 2024
• “Barrett-Jackson produces The World's Greatest Collector Car Auctions in Scottsdale, Arizona and Palm Beach, Florida.”
• This year the auction showcased “the power of uniting passion for automobiles with a purposeful cause.”
• RealTruck committed to donating “100% of the hammer price to Building Homes for Heros non-profit organization.”
• “Doetsch Off-Road in Chandler, Arizona, turned the iconic 2023 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon into a real-life version of the Mattel Matchbox toy car we all know, bumping it up from a tiny 1:64 scale to a full-sized 1:1 masterpiece.”
• “In partnership with Mattel and Matchbox, the stylish and bespoke Jeep Gladiator custom build made its grand debut during the SEMA 2023 and LA Auto Show.”
• RealTruck “collected an incredible $325,000 for Building Homes for Heroes, dedicating the proceeds to constructing and customizing homes, which are then presented, free of mortgage, to veterans and first responders as a token of gratitude for their service.”
Click the link in the article to browse all of the Jeep Gladiators currently on sale.
While you’re at it, sign up for the dR list. The duPont REGISTRY has been the premier exotic and luxury automotive marketplace since 1985, facilitating “billions in transactions.”
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SIMPLE CAR CAMPING
26-Minute YouTube Video by Steve Wallis
“Let’s just go wherever the road goes.”
Steve describes his channel as “ABC - Always Be Camping. I camp all the time. I’ve lived in vehicles, motorhomes, tents, forests, and in a van down by the river! I boondock, backpack, cycle, gold mine, raft, and car camp my way around Canada.”
A lot of his subscribers are curious about camping, “but where do you begin?” THIS IS WHERE YOU BEGIN! “This is stuff you’ve probably got at home.”
‘BACK OF THE SUV CAMPING IS THE GATEWAY CAMPING SETUP’
“Nothing is permanently attached. Nothing screwed down. No seats pulled out.”
He recommends a full tank of gas and canned goods, etc., in case you get stranded.
MAKING MEATLOAF EN ROUTE
In this episode he’s taking advantage of travel time to make dinner.
“I got this little 12qt oven. It’s popular with long haul truckers, it cooks food really slowly, but it does cook it. So I'm going to start a meatloaf that sounds delicious and it'll just cook as I'm driving around.”
He mixes ground beef in a bag with panko, ketchup, onion soup mix, Worcestershire sauce and egg.
“I feel foolish sitting here in the parking lot doing this, but that’s normal for my videos.”
He bought the portable oven at Canadian Tire. “I've seen it for sale in like trucking stores, truck stops and stuff. Sometimes they have like CB radios and a bunch of trucking gear. These are in there cuz they are pretty handy. I've used them before… I’ll know if it’s working soon enough.”
LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO PARK FOR THE NIGHT
He’s hoping for a place with a view.
“They have just announced a snowfall warning.”
He's not happy about being on a mountain road with no cell service; but he knows a place and hopes it’s open.
A NEW CAMPGROUND HAS OPENED UP
“I haven’t seen a new campground in years, so this is going to be quite nice. It claims to be open but everything seems to shut down here in the snow.”
“THIS IS GOING TO DO JUST FINE”
He starts a fire and shows how he levels his bed.
The combination lamp/phone charger is strategically placed.
He shows where the essentials go and demonstrates making coffee with pods that are 100% recyclable.
“Pretty good for back of the car brewed coffee and Baileys, I have to say.”
The campground host is on-site, which is reassuring under the circumstances. He thinks they may have Starlink.
UPPER CAMPBELL RESERVOIR CAMPGROUND
“The view can’t be beat and there’s a beach down there.”
He doesn’t see anything about a fee.
“I think the legend is true. There are still some free campgrounds to be found. But in the winter they look like this and in the summer, good luck finding a spot.”
He notes certain area features ‘warrant further investigation.’
EXPECTING SNOW
It’s a “very quaint place, very quiet, nobody here; just the way I like it.”
Without cell phone service, he can feel his blood pressure drop.
His meatloaf is nearly cooked. He adds veggies.
The meatloaf is juicy and holds its shape just fine.
He enjoys his ‘carmeal’ and says it tastes like an onion burger.
BEDTIME
He doesn’t have anything downloaded to watch on his computer, so he settles in.
“I’m digging this setup, it’s pretty nice.”
A GORGEOUS MORNING
There was light snow overnight but the roads appear to be passable. He tucks everything away to prevent ‘rolling around.’
He wants to check out the bridge, which hasn’t been plowed.
There’s a gate blocking his way; so he hikes past to take a look at the reservoir.
It’s “one of the coolest boondocking sites I’ve ever seen in my life… People have obviously been camping here.”
On his walk back to the car, he talks about plans for the future and expresses a desire to “keep just driving and filming.”
#camping
#carcamping
#boondocking
#UpperCampbellReservoir
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MADE IN AMERICA
Amanda Products are engineered, tested and manufactured by Amanda Manufacturing in Logan, Ohio. We are inspired by – and committed to – the off-road community, from racing to recreation.
Amanda Products is a new division of Amanda Manufacturing, an original equipment supplier that produces more than 300 quality metal formed parts for automotive manufacturers, including hood-prop rods, hood/door/seat strikers, muffler hangers, fender braces and manual shift assemblies.