Pickup owners are drawn to their vehicles by the promise of utility and large cargo-hauling capacities, but keeping items organized and within reach has never been very straightforward. Many pickup owners, myself included, have resorted to various bags, cases, totes, and home-built wooden boxes to keep things tidy, secure, and accessible. When Decked entered the…
Category Archives: Gear
Long Term Review: Falken Wildpeak M/T
Snow whirled out of the darkness, disappearing into the night as quickly as it came. My weary headlights were hardly up to the task, and the mountain roads seemed to curve sharper and harder as the weather raged on. We were in Colorado, and just a few hours ago I had asked my girlfriend, now…
How to properly align your lights
There’s a reason that auxiliary lights are used on expedition vehicles around the world, and it isn’t because they look cool. Well, not entirely at least. A high quality set of lights allows drivers to see obstacles and animals ahead of them before they become a problem, and that can be the difference between a safe…
What’s in your winch bag? The basic gear you should be carrying
The other day I ran into the proud owner of a well-built four-wheel drive. Eager to talk shop, he began to list a few of the numerous pieces of equipment he had installed on his new vehicle. The list included 37-inch tires, aftermarket wheels, a 4-inch lift, lights, a roof rack, a front bumper, and…
Field Tested: The Overland Kitchen
The sweet smell of carne asada wafted up from the pan below, and I inhaled deeply over the slowly rising steam. It still needed something—maybe a little more lime juice? I turned to the prep table and sliced one open, squeezing it onto the dish with a satisfying sizzle. Perfect. It was hard to believe…
Gear Scout: Roofnest Hard Shell Rooftop Tent
In 2010 I attended a local 24-hour mountain bike race, pulled into the sprawling campground, and set up my roof top tent. Judging by the pointing fingers and curious looks, you’d have thought a UFO landed on my truck. Fast forward to 2017, and the roof top tent is not just commonplace, it’s rapidly becoming…
Field Tested: Alu-Cab Expedition III
Basil Lynch walks us through one of the markets best aluminum roof top tents
Field Tested:Rancho RS9000XL
Rancho, which began in 1955 in Long Beach, California, as Rancho Jeep Supply, is the undisputed granddaddy of the four-wheel drive shock and suspension world. And while most shock manufacturers claim that their product is the best thing since the invention of peanut butter, we were quite surprised last year when Rancho’s RS9000XL drove…
Field Tested: Rhino Rack Pioneer Platform
For decades the welded steel roof-rack has enabled automotive travelers to carry the fuel and supplies necessary for long journeys, but as the needs of enthusiasts change, so to must their equipment. Modern adventurers now expect a lighter and more aerodynamic cargo system—one that is as well suited to their daily commute as it is…
Field Tested: Yokohama Geolander M/T G003
As tire technology spins into the 21st century, nearly every manufacturer has gone back to the drawing board and introduced fresh variants of almost every offering. Anticipating the launch of Yokohama’s latest entrant to the mud-terrain genre, the Geolandar M/T G003, we headed to Gateway, Colorado, for a couple of days of traversing the region’s…
Gear Scout: Deadman Off-Road Anchor
A versatile alternative to the traditional ground anchor.
Field Tested: iKamper SkyCamp 4-Person Rooftop Tent
It wasn’t all that long ago my young family of four fit in a roof top tent. We played games and read bedtime stories, blissfully falling asleep with everyone safe and snug. And then our two toddlers grew. I still remember the first time I got kicked out of our roof top tent, but can’t…
Truck/SUV Drawer Buyer’s Guide
No matter how much we try to trim down our kits, more and more gear continues to find its way into the back of our rigs. As these items continue to pile up, it becomes increasingly difficult to locate specific items amongst the mountain of countless duffels, tool rolls, and pelican cases—not to mention the…
Head to Head: Roof Top or Ground Tent
Which is better, the roof top tent or the ground tent?
Field Tested: ARB Cargo Gear Storm Bag
Weatherproof protection for the long, dusty, and rainy road.
The Road Chose Me: A 200 Night Review of the Ursa Minor J30 Pop-Top
Testing a mobile abode with a lap of Africa.
Buyer’s Guide: Hard Shell Roof Top Tents
This article was updated on 06 December 2023 The roof top tent has become an omni-present fixture 0f the overlanding world. As such, we have published dozens of reviews and op-eds espousing the benefits of truck-top sleeping as well as comparative thoughts on soft-sided tents versus their hard shelled counterparts. Without rehashing that debate yet again, let’s…
Field Tested… A lot: The ARB Bumper
The year was 1975, and on the horizon a travel worn Land Rover sent clouds of dust swirling into the air. Behind the wheel, an off-road enthusiast by the name of Tony Brown shifted gears, while mulling over a very big idea. You see Tony was fed up with the sub-par standards of Australian four-wheel drive…
Be Cool: How to Get the Most Out of Your 12V Portable Fridge
These tips are not in most manuals, but they’ll help keep your beers cold longer with less power.
Travel Tip: How to Maintain Your Zippers
Never deal with a stuck zipper again