Crankshaft Culture Gear Garage: Helinox Lite Cot
It’s critical to get a good night’s sleep, especially after a hard day of off-roading, hiking, biking, or other adventure activity. Your body is tired and achy; your mind longing…
Gear and Rigs of the 2019 Overland Expo West
If you love adventure vehicles, off-roading and traveling-chances are you’re into the associated gear that goes with them. Proper gear can make you more prepared, smarter and self-reliant both on…
2019 Inaugural Texas Off-Road Invitational: Who’s Top Dog in the Texas Dirt?
The inaugural Texas Off-Road Invitational event was held by the Texas Motor Press Association at General Sam’s Offroad Park in Huntsville, Texas. Nearly three dozen automotive journalists came together to…
2019 Oregon Trail Rally: Racing and Rally Culture.
Oregon Trail Rally is the state’s biggest stage rally event. It brings out both the big dogs, such as the Subaru Motorsports USA team that includes David Higgins and Travis…
Mudfest: The 2019 NW Outdoor Activity Vehicle of the Year
ABOVE: Still one of my favorites, the runner up in the Subcompact and Compact Family class, the 2019 Jeep Renegade Trailhawk. Photo: Ryan Douthit, MediaSpigot LLC The Northwest Automotive Press…
Super Sleepers
I’ve long wanted to build some sort of super sleeper. You take one car that is not anywhere near a high-performance vehicle from the factory, add in some sort of…
Remember: We’re All Gearheads
I’ve long said that most people love to belong to something. Whether it’s a club, a devout loyalty to a brand, or whatever. Everyone likes to belong somehow when it…
ARB Classic Series II Fridge Freezer Unboxing
We just picked up a brand-new ARB Classic Series II portable Fridge Freezer. This new fridge comes in a new color, but it also has new features such as Bluetooth…
Lifting the Traxxas TRX-4 Bronco RC Crawler
Spring is here and we survived the overblown Snowpacalypse in the Pacific Northwest. The weather is getting nicer with gorgeous sunshine, tolerable drizzles, and breezy cloudy days, which means it’s…
Crankshaft Culture Gear Garage: ARB Single Portable Air Compressor
Having accessible air is a necessity when off-roading. Deflating tires is a must in order to allow for a comfortable off-tarmac ride and additional traction, and quick inflation offers up…
Guest Posts
VIN Secrets: What a Transmission Lookup Can Tell You About Your Vehicle
A used car can smile with fresh paint while hiding an expensive transmission story. One quiet VIN check can change the whole deal. The VIN is more than a label. It is a 17-character code that links a car to factory build data, records, recalls, specification notes, and ownership clues.…
The Most Overlooked Way to Lower the Cost of Car Ownership: Auto Loan Refinancing
Most drivers focus on fuel costs, maintenance, and insurance when thinking about what a car actually costs to own. The monthly loan payment often gets treated as a fixed number, something set at the dealership and left untouched for years. That assumption, however, is where a significant amount of money…
Why Precision Matters In Every Automotive Fabrication Project
Automotive fabrication is where creativity meets engineering. Whether building a custom hot rod, restoring a classic muscle car, or modifying an off-road vehicle, fabrication work demands attention to detail at every stage. The difference between a project that performs flawlessly and one that develops ongoing issues often comes down to…