I own five different vehicles—and not one of them exists to do the same job. That’s intentional. Years of owning, building, breaking, and rebuilding rigs have taught me that there’s no single “correct” way to set up a vehicle. The badge on the grille or the category it fits into doesn’t matter nearly as much as whether the setup matches its real-world use. Purpose Over Popularity One of the biggest traps in the off-road world is getting caught up in brand loyalty or rigid categories. Jeep vs....

Off-road driving lets people reach places most will never see. But once you leave the pavement, mistakes matter more. Vehicles are heavier, recovery gear is stronger, and help can be hours away. That makes one thing clear: who teaches you matters.

Wintertime is here, which means some downtime for our rigs as we spend less time out and about through inclement weather. This is an optimal time to focus on maintenance for our rigs and camping gear, so everything is ready to roll come spring! I typically focus on a very in-depth vehicle 360, starting with wheels and tires and working my way up from there. Look for dry rot, cracking, or damage to your tires or major damage to your wheels. Moving to the underside of the vehicle, make sure...