Featured Products
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TrailHammer™ Rear Bumper
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TrailHammer™ Doors
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TrailHammer™ Front Bumper
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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.
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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
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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
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JEEP BEACH 2024 - TEN DAYS OF EVENTS!!
Pick your days! Highlights of events include:
Friday April 19 – UNOFFICIAL Kickoff night at Ormond Brewing Company. 301 Division Avenue, Unit 15, Ormond Beach, FL 32174
Saturday, April 20 - OFFICIAL Let’s Get This Party Started at Teddy Morse’s Destination Daytona. 1637 US-1 North, Ormond Beach, FL 32174
Sunday April 21 – Jeep 5K and Fun Run at the Riverfront Esplanade and Jeep Beach Sunday Afternoon in the Park.
Monday April 22 – Jeep Beach in Boots Event salutes our heroes.
Tuesday, April 23 – Jeep Beach Luau Celebrating Jimmy Buffet’s Legacy. (All day.)
Wednesday, April 24 - Jeep Beach Neon Nights on the Midway of Daytona International Speedway.
Thursday, April 25 - Tiki Party at The Hard Rock!
Friday, April 26 - JBR Music Festival featuring
WHEELAND BROTHERS – MAGGIE ROSE – THE WAILERS – CRAIG MORGAN – LEE BRICE
Saturday, April 27 - Jeep Beach Offroad Toolbox Education Series.
Sunday, April 28 - World Famous Jeep Beach Parade and Official Watch Party and Bloody Mary Bar.
CLICK THE LINK FOR ALL EVENTS, TIMES AND THE LATEST DETAILS
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Explore on a Budget:
LIGHTWEIGHT TRAILERS FROM TC TEARDROPS
13-minute video by Playing with Sticks
Todd and Carol from TC Teardrops “use every inch of available space” and like to take their toys with them. They’ve been doing this for 16 years.
“TC Teardrops is one of the leaders in in the small camper industry. In this video I’ll be highlighting one of their most unique models.” It’s bult for dual sport motorcycle riders.
FEATURING THEIR ISO MODEL
Todd explains:
How they disperse the tongue weight of the bikes. (Their running weight is ‘just under’ 3,000 lbs. loaded.)
The back features Front Runner water tanks, propane and a storage compartment
Their cooking area is designed to haul; “We're meant to be on the road and go. We can pack two weeks’ worth of food in here. We try and be out for about 10 to 12 days without having to resupply.”
This Teardrop has been designed to provide full coverage in the back.
The other side has more water and a shower room.
VENTILATION AND STORAGE
Todd explains the heating and venting.
They don’t run rooftop fans, they run fans through the trailer; “We can open up our windows and draw the clean air in and the bad air out.”
There’s enough interior storage to stash clothes for “winter, summer and everything in between.”
PRICING
The ISO model starts at $16,000; this actual unit is $29,000.
Note - “Everything you see in the galley and in the cabin you will see in many other lower budget TC Teardrops.”
“ALL THE OTHER TC TEARDROP MODELS are essentially the same as this trailer minus the ability to haul motorcycles. Meaning, at a much lower cost and weight you can get this same trailer, but with a regular tongue platform that doesn't haul a 300 lb. motorcycle.”
THE OASIS is a blank shell that starts at $6,700 and you can finish it yourself. If you want their help, they have someone who only builds Oasis, so he can “crank those out a little faster.”
It's a family business, so you’re ‘joining the family’ 😊
PROS AND CONS
PWS expands upon what we’ve seen, going into detail:
Unlike 99% of the models on the road, the interior cabinets go from floor to ceiling on this TC Teardrop. “Typically cabinets only go down 3/4 of the way and leave the last quarter of space for you to place your feet when sleeping. But what I love about this trailer is you get the best of both worlds, full storage and full sleeping space.”
“Somehow with Todd's unique teardrop shape you still get 6'5” of sleeping room.”
He even has a model that accommodates 6’7” individuals.
SMART VENTILATION
He reviews the many benefits of ventilation that relocates the fan from the roof to the window.
“With fans on each door facilitating cross ventilation and additional air events for condensation control, you don't see many manufacturers offering this.”
ABOUT THE EXTENDED TONGUE PLATFORM
“On all their extended tongue platform options I really appreciate how they're utilizing these tongues and allowing more storage opportunities to haul additional gear like bikes and small motorcycles.
"To me, this shows they're willing to work with the customer and build them a trailer that specifically meets their needs.”
ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE
16 years of extensive experience is obvious in “the refined manufacturing process. They’ve navigated past industry pitfalls, ensuring sturdy construction and purpose-driven design in every aspect of their trailers.”
Owners love the human connection with Todd, Carol and the TC Teardrop community.
TRADE-OFFS
No large countertop for food prep and organization, but there are other ways to resolve that.
Visually, “It may not be the most aesthetically pleasing teardrop trailer on the market, but that isn’t what it’s designed for.”
It’s not the biggest either, but that’s how they saved weight.
At a loss for negatives, he shares information on a company that’s been selling teardrop trailers for over 20 years.
“If you're into wood built teardrop trailers, I have a full playlist here on the right highlighting some of the most incredible and beautiful wood built teardrop trailers on the market.”
See the page for detailed information.
#TCTeardropTrailers
#TCTeardropISO
youtu.be/x66Y63up7N0?si=LqP1O45F2fo-R-7V
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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.