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I think the top-loading fridges probably have an edge in efficiency. I know someone who installed a top-loader in the camper, on a slider under the counter. I do think it would be a pain to have the fridge in the cab when you're cooking or relaxing in the camper. Congratulations on the find!

Nice! And a great photo. The color of those lakes has to be seen in person to be believed.

I understand your dilemma, as a longtime Toyota owner. There can be no doubt that the company has coasted for some time on its rock-solid reputation for reliability. Nothing particularly wrong with that, but lately that coasting has come to a nearly complete stop, while other companies motor on...

We've put several thousand miles on the KO2s on our Tacoma. They're working just fine, both on I-40 (across the country twice) and in the mud at Overland Expo East.

I would not regear if I were you, especially with an automatic transmission. Going up one tire size should not have a significant effect on your power or mileage. One thing many people forget or don't know is that installing higher ratio gears weakens your differential. Since the ring gear...

I'm not sure if your bottle jack is hydraulic or a screw mechanism, but either way it should work. Just measure the diameter of the ram to make sure the Safe Jack accessories will fit over it. Most are pretty standard.

I've done some investigations into the 2016 Tacoma's engine, chassis, and brakes, here, here, and here. I don't think the new Tacoma exactly qualifies as revolutionary. And as you'll read I've been a Toyota man for a long time.

I can tell you this: Everyone thinks Land Cruisers and Land Rovers are the toughest vehicles on the planet, but after years of watching HiAce 'matatus' hammering down washboard roads in the back of beyond in Kenya and Tanzania, with a dozen and a half people crammed inside, I think they're the...

But you need to carry either a bottle jack or some sort of screw jack anyway—relying on a Hi-Lift for tire changes would be silly. So that's misleading. Think of it this way: The entire kit, with jack and the large baseplate, weighs as much as a naked Hi-Lift. To make the Hi-Lift effective on a...

I know - just a while ago it was near one to one!

I'll remember that - we love Bishop. We want to come do some fly fishing in the Sierras sometime. The Safe Jack kit is like any other insurance. You can go for a long time without needing it, but when you need it you really need it. I think it adds a lot of versatility to a recovery kit. I also...

Everyone, Richard Bogert, the inventor and manufacturer of the excellent Safe Jack products and a staunch friend of the Overland Expo, is offering a 15 percent discount on all sales between now and October 4th . All you have to do is use the promo code GEARUP (all caps) at checkout. I first...

I think you'll like them. The one upgrade I'd suggest to the first generation Boss shocks is polyurethane Energy Suspension bushings, which will far outlast the stock rubber units.

On paper at least the Colorado/Canyon is serious competition for the Tacoma. Fully boxed frame compared to the Tacoma's open C-channel; the 305hp V6 has a higher EPA rating than the 2016 Tacoma's 'Atkinson cycle' 278hp V6 (see here)—not to mention that very promising turbodiesel, which has a...

Jim, the Lift Mate works well if the claws fit your wheels (and you keep the jack shaft away from your sheet metal); however, I think it would be pretty wasteful to carry an entire Hi-Lift jack for only that function. You can't even change a tire that way. You'd be better off with a bottle jack...

The best way to determine correct tire pressure for your own vehicle and load is chalking, although I think paint works better than chalk. Get some white paint and paint a line all the way across the tread on each tire. Then go for a drive somewhere where you don't have to make a lot of sharp...

Craig, your vehicle would have done just fine. I never activated our rear diff lock on this trip.

Everyone, I've posted a report on how nine vehicles and various campers held up on our recent trip up the Continental Divide. It's here.

Yes - they are decent and very compact, but don't seem to offer the flotation or traction of a more rigid mat in very soft sand.

Sand mats such as the excellent MaxTrax are essential recovery tools, especially if you travel solo. The most effective sand mats are rigid—both for flotation and traction. But most are a pain to store unless you mount them on a roof rack or tire carrier. I've just published a preliminary review...

We got the inside shower, and have been very happy with it, and even happier with the front dinette arrangement on our Fleet. We're both medium height, so the slight loss of footroom under the dinette is inconsequential. The front dinette leaves more room for whomever is cooking, and adds...

The referenced review tested the BFG KO. The KO2 has been significantly changed, and I expect will address the very few complaints I've had about the original BFG All-Terrain. We just installed a set of 235/85-16 KO2s on our Tacoma.

Incidentally, I'm 5'9" and fit anywhere. I have no sympathy for you tall guys - statistically you make more money and get more chicks.

Well, if I can chime in . . . The Overland Expo is a much, much larger event - which to be completely fair might or might not be to your liking. For this year's event in Mormon Lake, Arizona, we have - so far - 202 vendors registered, a new record by far. Also 160-some classes, and many, many...

Shadyapex, Moving up the Bilstein ladder to the 5100 would make a big difference. The prosaic but reliable Old Man Emu low-pressure nitrogen shock is also well-proven. Right now we're running all-oil Australian Boss shocks, which are adjustable to suit varying loads and/or driving situations...