My Dirty Easter Jeep Safari Fantasy: Bringing a Mitsubishi Jeep
The 60th annual Easter Jeep Safari (EJS) starts this week in Moab, UT, and runs through April 5. We’ve been 15+ times, despite only owning one Jeep, a 2001 Cherokee…
onX & Toyota Expand Trail Revial Project to 24 Nationwide Trail Restoraion Events
If we don’t respect the off-road trails that are out there, they get shut down—period. Having good trail etiquette and picking up your trash is a great first step to…
Tested: The Women’s Cotopaxi Abrazo Fleece Full-Zip Jacket
When seasons change, it’s always handy to keep something warm nearby. Spring days fool you with warmer temps, but the mercury quickly drops when sunset hits. That’s exactly why I…
Crankshaft Chronicles: Need Some Trailer Wiring? Let Me Get the Wine.
It was June of 2014, and we were preparing our 1995 Suzuki Sidekick, affectionately known as The Teal Terror, to make the 600-mile round-trip trek from our home in Portland,…
Oregon’s Kei Truck Bill, HB 4063: Dead (Again)
Despite bipartisan support, Oregon House Bill HB 4063 did not pass in the House’s short session, which adjourned March 6, 2026. In fact, it never got to a vote. On…
We’re at the 2026 Dakar Rally with Defender Rally Team!
We’re at the 2026 Dakar Rally with the Defender Rally Team! Our very own Mercedes Lilienthal was invited to Saudi Arabia to cover Stage 2 and Stage 3 happenings, Defender and…
Saudi Arabia: Hegra, Maraya, and Harrat Viewpoint
My first morning in Saudi Arabia was stunning. I woke up before the sun rose above AlUla’s huge rock formations, which are reminiscent of Moab or Sedona in the United…
Getting to Saudi Arabia for Defender and the Dakar Rally
We’re kicking off our on-the-ground 2026 Dakar Rally and Defender recap reels! So much to share, we (Mercedes Lilienthal) didn’t posted them all as social stories (although a few hundred videos/photos are…
Peak Design’s Everyday Slim Wallet is a Minimalist Card Carrier
For years, I carried a bulky wallet in my back pocket. About 10 years ago, someone gave me a minimalist wallet: a metal tray with a nylon strap to hold…
Kubota Continues Partnership with American Rally Association
We love all things rally at Crankshaft Culture. Last year, Kubota—yes, the orange tractor company—became a major sponsor of the American Rally Association (ARA). The ARA is the largest rally…
Guest Posts
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…
Hurt on the Tools as a Casual: What Are Your Rights?
Spend enough time around workshops, detailing bays and tyre shops and you’ll meet plenty of people who work without a fixed roster. Weekend detailers chasing beer money, spanner hands brought in for the busy stretch, parts runners covering for a mate, apprentices grabbing whatever extra hours they can find. A…