Featured Products
-
TrailHammer™ Rear Bumper
$2,099.99 -
TrailHammer™ Doors
$2,620.00 – $4,999.99 -
TrailHammer™ Front Bumper
$2,679.99 -
SpeedHook™ (Chrome)
$149.00
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.
JEEP BEACH WEEK KICKS OFF!
Runs through Sunday, April 28
(See jeepbeach.com for the full schedule)
News 6 reported “Thousands of jeeps are rolling into Daytona Beach for the annual event.”
Molly Reed interviewed Charlene Greer, CEO of Jeep Beach. She’s ecstatic. “This is unbelievable – so our 21st year, over 25,000+ vehicles in Daytona Beach, over 200,000 people in Daytona Beach!”
“IT’S BIG FUN FOR A GOOD CAUSE”
They have a full lineup of events through next week.
Greer says, “Over the last ten years we’ve raised 4.3 million dollars for central Florida charities.”
NOTE NEW RULES ON THE BEACH
Find out what the Sheriff’s Office has zero tolerance for this year. But mostly, they say “Here on the beach, the biggest issue is mainly the kids, the visibility.”
Molly Reed says, “Otherwise the more TRICKED OUT AND DUCKED OUT the better – and always welcome!”
#jeepbeach2024
#jeepbeachdaytona
youtu.be/GO8oQcg-e6U?si=jHsqIQJPQ7iFLJyw
... See MoreSee Less
- Likes: 1
- Shares: 0
- Comments: 0
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Throwback Thursday; taking our independent suspension concept to SEMA in November 2015 🙂
Amanda Products is a proud member of the Deshler Group - a family of successful companies that does it all, from manufacturing, assembly, packaging, and logistics to information technology.
... See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
CARPENTER TRAVELS NEW ZEALAND IN THE VAN HE BUILT FOR AN AMAZING JOURNEY
Inspiring 19-minute video by Living Big In A Tiny House
“When you build out a van and turn it into a house, you're not only building yourself a home, you're also crafting a way of life.”
Floyd is living that life.
It began when he was started his carpentry apprenticeship. He wanted to get it done and get on the road. Then he got a dog “and I was like ‘I'm going to be tied to New Zealand now.’” Altogether it took six years.
A qualified carpenter, he bought a 1998 Ford Transit van in 2020.
“I was lucky enough to pick up for relatively cheap, stripped it all, ripped the carpets out and then I had specifications ‘no plywood, no framing timber. I don't want to see any pine.” Which was “pretty much awesome” and then he hit the road.
Building is a skill you can take anywhere in the world, so “It’s been pretty awesome ever since.”
Floyd says, “building and van life just go hand in hand provided you have the tools and gear.” (He’s set up for wood turning and wood burning, which he finds “pretty therapeutic.”)
ABOUT WOOD TURNING
“Wood turning is my calm place… I was super lucky to find that when I'm just chucking chunks out, my brain is completely focused on that piece. You know what is going to happen next you know how that knot's going to work with the piece I'm turning. So with me need to keep my hands busy, decided wood turning would be coming with me on this journey.”
He loved the artistic freedom he had. He even helped build his sister’s tiny house.
CREATIVE FREEDOM = UNANTICIPATED INCOME
After lockdown he started promoting his wood turning pieces on an Instagram page he named ‘Floyds.woods’. “I had like 30-40 pieces made by the end of lockdown and lots of people keen on buying them from me too;” which came as a surprise because he was enjoyed the work so much, he just wanted to share it. He made ‘art drops.’
Money was not the motivation. But then, ‘suddenly’ he was able to charge for his art. And help local mental health charities. “I just try to reek positivity every day.”
THE VAN’S INTERIOR IS A HIDDEN GEM
“I built this from scratch …. Like this is a timber version of me… Having this space to see and share with people, I think that’s an awesome part.”
“There were a lot of supplies left over from jobs. Design came on the fly” with use of native timbers, carvings, gifts from artist friends.
“I actually drove about 3 hours south to pick up this beautiful slab of Redwood and I just I felt like I did it justice when I cleaned it up and polyurethaned it.”
He gets interior electric from one solar panel.
Fishing rounds out his groceries.
He has zero expenses.
He budgets $300/week for travel, not including jobs.
The interviewer adds “Floyd, this is just such an amazing place you've created here. It’s filled with art and the promise of Adventure…
"I love that by downsizing into this van you've been able to create such a perfect situation for yourself where you can live comfortably, where you can travel, where you can follow your passions and also afford life.”
youtu.be/gN6IROwin4w?si=EHZGunZevOL6JFoX
#floydswoods
#vanlife
#vanliving
#vanlifestyle
... See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
THE ART OF SLEEPING IN YOUR VEHICLE
Overlanding & Stealth Camping DIY
30-minute video by TrailNewbie
Greg filmed this video 1/1/24. He’s one of the few overlanders ‘with a channel’ who does not have a rooftop tent. “If you're just starting out, you can sleep inside your vehicle; just about whatever vehicle you have, you can find a way to have a good sleep setup.”
INSPIRATION
He was telling others about camping in his Jeep, when a friend chimed in: “You know, when I was growing up there were times when me and my mom had to live out of our car not by choice but because of necessity; we were homeless.”
The friend continued “When you're a kid you don't realize that you're homeless, you just remember the times when you'd wake up and your front yard was a park or a beach. Those were good times, some of the happiest memories I have.”
He admired Greg’s CHOICE to “wake up to a granite cliff as your front porch, a symphony of birds as your alarm.”
“Then he said something I'll never forget – ‘Don't confuse comfort for happiness.”
GREG'S SLEEP SETUP
“When you get to camp late, there’s nothing to set up.”
He starts at the rear passenger door
Window shades provide blackout and privacy
The essential good mattress; he likes the DeepSleep Solo Mat, which is extremely comfortable and cut perfectly
Sleeping bag & king size pillow w/passenger seat folded forward
Stow gear up and away from your body; he uses a Vector shelf to get the job done
Front Runner boxes
SideStasher Bags “hold a ton of gear”
Have your power system within arm’s reach
A small fridge with good interior volume is “key to being able to sleep in my vehicle”
He demonstrates getting his 6’4” self into sleeping position; and what to do with your shoes.
ABOUT PROTECTION FROM THE ELEMENTS, NOISE AND MORE
Jeep’s hard roof is great protection from the elements (vs. a tent).
“Inside the Jeep you hear zero, absolutely ZERO wind noise.”
It's also protection from stuff that goes bump in the night.
“I do lock the doors.”
IN SUMMARY
This is “a great place to get started. You don't have to spend money on a roof rack, you don't have to spend money on a rooftop tent, all you need is to be able to do fold your seats flat, get yourself a decent mattress and you are good to go sleeping inside your vehicle.”
“This is super comfortable.”
[He does wish he had remote start. ”It’s a major, major plus.”]
A MINIMALIST SETUP
“The way that I Overland, the way that I car camp is different in many ways from a lot of other channels that have more built out rigs. What I'm trying to Showcase here … is a very minimalist setup when it comes to having everything inside the vehicle while still being able to sleep in there. I love it, I hope you love it.”
“Please subscribe to TrailNewbie, it helps out the channel a ton.” 😊
#trailnewbie
#jeepcarcamping
#stealthcamping
youtu.be/nYHfPD0KZ6E?si=Yqb6LNmJYk2sHPsS
... See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
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.