The Cars of the 2025 Mint 400

March 11, 2025 / Andy Lilienthal / Leave a comment

Every vehicle is an adventure. United by horsepower. These are literally two of our taglines. And by this, we mean there’s a hugely diverse array of vehicles out there; we thrive on all sorts of different rigs. I attended my first Mint 400 race last week, and I’m happy to say, this is a an…

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Mitsubishi In Moab: We take our Pajero to Easter Jeep Safari

April 7, 2021 / Andy Lilienthal / 2 Comments

We typically go to Easter Jeep Safari for the annual gathering of off-road enthusiasts, primarily Jeeps—duh. I’ve been to the event for work many times. We even drove our Jeep Cherokee out there one year. We barely made it, but that’s another blog post. This year, we took our 1992 JDM Mitsubishi Pajero, aka the…

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Coastal Offroad Delica Space Gear Bumpers: Installed and In Action

November 23, 2020 / Mercedes Lilienthal / 1 Comment

We have the Coastal Offroad high-clearance front and rear bumpers (with skid plate and swing-away tire/jerry can carrier) finalized! We thought we’d do a walk-around video showing the Coastal Offroad Delica bumpers’ advantages for off-road driving, camping, and carrying extra gear.

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Mudfest: The 2019 NW Outdoor Activity Vehicle of the Year

May 28, 2019 / Mercedes Lilienthal / 1 Comment

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 Association’s Mudfest event brings in the newest 4WD/AWD vehicles for judging by a host of automotive writers. Now in its 25th iteration, this year’s event…

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Vanlife Northwest’s Time Traveler’s 4×4 Van Run

January 15, 2019 / Andy Lilienthal / Leave a comment

Last Sunday was a time warp back to the early 1990s. OK, it also may have been the early 1990s in Japan, but it was a time warp nonetheless. Several JDM vans (and one sweet ’70s Chevy van) headed for the hills of Washington for the Time Traveler’s 4×4 Van Run. The meet, organized by…

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Ask. Learn. Pass it on.

May 25, 2018 / Andy Lilienthal / 1 Comment

I just got back from Overland Expo West where I was on booth duty. Frankly, I love working the show booth because I enjoy helping others with their questions. On the way home I stopped for the night at a favorite camp spot in NorCal off of HWY 395. I opened an IPA and started…

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Recommended Routes: California, Hurricane, and Corkscrew Pass, Colorado

November 5, 2017 / Mercedes Lilienthal / Leave a comment

Everyone has a happy place. To some, it’s their home filled with trinkets, movies, children, and warmth. Others find happiness going shopping at their favorite store to hunt for next bargain or latest fashion trend. To me it’s anything outdoors with Andy. It’s anything adventure. It’s finding a place that’s in the middle of nowhere….

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My Top 7 Picks from Mudfest 2017

June 9, 2017 / tuanies / 1 Comment

Photos by NWAPA / Josh Mackey Every year the Northwest Automotive Press Association (NWAPA) gathers 30 journalists together to test SUVs, crossovers, and pickup trucks to determine the Northwest Outdoor Activity Vehicle of the Year at Mudfest. The members-only event is a playground for journalists and automotive manufactures alike, because it takes place at The…

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Overlooked Off Roaders: Kia Sportage and Sorento

December 14, 2016 / Andy Lilienthal / 12 Comments

There are a few specific things many look for in a truly off-road capable four-wheel drive vehicle. This includes a two-speed transfer case with low range; solid axles or at least a solid rear axle; a durable ladder frame vs. unibody construction (with the exception of the Jeep Cherokee (XJ), of course); and arguably a manual transmission…

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