Recommended Routes: The Loneliest Highway in America
Photos by Mercedes Lilienthal There are desolate stretches of highway, and then there’s U.S. 50 in Nevada, also known as the loneliest highway in America.
2017 Overland Expo West: A Hub for Anything Adventure
Knowing the world we live in today—full of fear, ever dividing politics, war and strife—there are still good people out there. Lots of good people. In fact we met lots…
Toyota Takes Land Cruiser to 230 MPH
How Fast is your SUV? If it’s like The PDXJ, probably not all that fast. Toyota, however, decided it was going to build a super-fast SUV. Behold: The Land Speed Cruiser.
How the Jeep Community Made Moab Happen
Words by Andy Lilienthal; photos by Mercedes Lilienthal As we work on The PDXJ (project ’01 Jeep Cherokee), we’ve had an outpouring of support and help to get it upgraded,…
Review: Magellan eXplorist TRX7 GPS
You can have the most capable and built off-road rig, the coolest and most expensive gear, and all the desire in the world to conquer your adventure—but if you don’t…
Projects Aplenty: Lots of Work on the PDXJ
Yesterday was the first day of spring. Frankly, after a nasty winter in Portland, we’re looking forward to some much-needed sunshine and better weather. We’ve already done lots of work on…
Cravenspeed Stubby Antenna Review
Let’s face it: The Jeep Cherokee (the XJ, not the new Cherokee) is really a malaise-era vehicle at heart. It’s an old design fitted with relatively modern amenities. Well, OK, some…
2018 Subaru Crosstrek Details
Subaru showed off its all-new 2018 Crosstrek this week at the Geneva International Motor Show. It retains a lot of the things people love about the lifted hatchback and adds a…
Review: 2017 Mitsubishi Outlander SEL
We’re back with another scintillating Crankshaft Culture review. This time, we’re again venturing into the land of all-wheel drive crossovers with the 2017 Mitsubishi Outlander. This is a seven-passenger getaway…
The Honda Crossroad Was A Japanese Land Rover. Kinda.
Did you know that in certain markets you could buy a Land Rover Discovery from Honda? It’s true. Behold: The Honda Crossroad.
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…