V7E26: Frozen Feats of the Winter Wanderer 

Neato videos,,enjoy every weeks adventure with you,in these well narrated excursions, into the beautiful outdoors. Thanks .

Great video Chris! Love the scenery and the snow camping... Rin impressed me with two things. He knocked his feet together before climbing into your jeep. Taking care of other people's property is a great trait! Also his statement, "It was gonna come out. I'm glad it came out going zero mph versus on the highway like right now", reinforces his "logical thinker" personality instead of someone that would be an emotional thinker upset with the circumstance. I like these videos because they help me in my decision to go to OK4WD for my next build. I have high confidence they are the kind of people I want to take my truck to!

travelling around the world with Tundra and alucab canopy camper is the perfect setup till date. Reliability with Toyota around the world, and not bring restricted is what matters. With Alucab camper like this is the best and luxurious solution in my humble opinion. Nice video once again, hope your jeep is in the best condition soon.

Your videos made me leave again , went to visit the sea ponies. Scary warm but perfect weather for camping on the beach.

I found your channel after I got back from my long overland trip. You are one of the few that I now watch until I can go back out there. You actually take the time to show where you are, the beauty around you, and not just focus on gear or small cinematic clips of nonsense. Your style shows what solo overlanding is really like and how great it can be. I can relate and it is awesome. I completely agree about the heat situation when in a pick-up, a typical RTT, or a trailer. You can’t turn on the vehicle and just warm up. A huge reason why I sleep in my XJ. BTW.... props for all your footage of you and your Jeep from a distance. Most viewers probably don’t understand how much time and effort that takes to set up, get the right shot (sometimes more than once), and still have to go back and get the camera. You are dedicated to sharing your adventure and putting out quality footage. Well done sir!

I dont think the cars and kit overshadow the exploration elements of your videos - they go hand in hand with each other. I enjoy both sides of the story!

"Not quite according to plan".....Chris, THAT is the very essence of adventure. If you don't have a set itinerary then it doesn't really matter what happens. If you don't know where you are headed.....any road will take you there!

Best Trailside repair tool, CHEEZ-ITS !!!!!

You're closing comments are spot on! I tell people "the best vehicle is the one you have & the best mod is fuel to get out & explore! Merry Christmas, Chris!

Hahah, love how you set up the shots to show broke Chevy and then immediately after that showed a bunch of Jeeps just wheeling away down the trail.

Was really happy to see this surprise upload. Glad you got to take that Taco out for a few nights. Nice rig!

You can’t believe how much I missed you this last week. Glad you’re back on the road, it’s all about the adventure. Love your blog and thanks for sharing. Have a great Christmas with Cole and your family. Please invite me along next year 😘

You made my day. Thought you were off this week. Hope the Jeep gets some TLC.... Merry Christmas.

Almost hate to say that your experience with the Chevy has also been my experience with GM products. I am 64 and growing up we were GM always until my Dads 62 Oldsmobile station wagon came apart. He then switch to Pontiac Catalina station wagons in 66 and 69. They both left us stranded on vacation. I had two, a 72 Chevy Impala and a 74 Cadillac coupe Deville. The Cadillac was my favorite until it came to repairs at approx. 100K miles. It ate through my savings in about a year. Since then I've had Fords with much better results until it came to overlanding in 2016. We grew tired waiting for the infamous Bronco to come out. We now have 3 JK's and follow your travels closely. Thank you Chris for all you share. We wait for each new episode anxiously. Please remain between the ditches.

You hit the nail on the head with the realization on a truck bed camper vs your setup in the Wrangler . I know this all so well.

Love it so much when you speak about gear and experience, couldn‘t agree more!

So glad you're back, Chris. Had to watch the last episode twice to help me through the wait. Beautiful country up there and thanks for sharing it with us. The Tacoma is a nice truck. I had one and loved it. The Chevrolet? Not so much. Broke down is where they spend much of their time. Dependable is something a Chevrolet will NEVER be. I know you'll be glad to get the Rubicon back all refreshed up. Looking forward to next week's episode already. Take care and safe travels.

I like or dislike a video based on the quality and significance of the video. Ads are irrelevant to me, because if I hated everything in life because there was an ad associated with it, I would go to an early grave. These generous creators have helped me so much. Thank you all.

Missed the videos last couple weeks! Glad to see you back at it. Thanks for the great content as always!

Just bought a 2020 Tacoma TRD off road. I’m looking forward to some adventures

Wow - the historical moment the sandwich maker is first used! But seriously, watching you make so many different sandwiches, I ordered one for my summer wandering. Can't wait to try it after a day's driving and hiking.

Per Amy, great to see you back doing your videos. I appreciate your adventurous spirit!!

Good stuff! Beautiful area this time of year.

Awesome!! Hats off to OK4WD for letting you use the truck and bringing us a video. Great videography as usual!!

Plans to watch it tonight.. can’t wait! Thanks for your hard work!

Nice, glad to see your adventures, always inspires me

Hi Chris, please reconsider the location of the solar panel. In the shade of the canoe the solar panel won’t work. I suggest you to split the solar panel to adequately catch the sun. Kind regards from the Netherlands. Love your stories and footage.

Loved this episode Chris, as always! That Chevy sure was embarrassing eh? I’m glad you still got to explore in the Tacoma. Can’t wait to see what you got done on the Rubi! God Bless and safe travels.

What a great new ride, thanks Chris !

Kudos to solving a problem that hopefully GM will fix upfront. Your video may have just saved some lives. You’re more than cheez-its my Friend. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

It looks like you've had a pretty eventful couple of weeks. I'm glad that tie rod didn't give out on the highway. That would have ended very badly. The guy from OK4WD is pretty cool. If I lived closer, I would definitely be doing business there. Thank you and see you in a week, Lord willing.

Glad to see you back! Missed your videos. Surviving on the old ones. Your comments at the end were very true.

LOL! When that first guy came on driving the Jeep, I thought Jesus! Cole grew up fast! 😂

It’s always awesome to see your video Chris always calm and enjoyable. :) can’t wait to see your next video.

My Sunday morning is complete Chris, thank you. Enjoyed your adventure this week. Glad you and the Jeep are getting some needed R&R. Looking forward to seeing your solar setup. Happy Holidays! Cheers!

Thank you Chris for another great video adventure.. From the central coast of California..👍🏕👏🇺🇸🙏

Another great video. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas from the other side of the pond. Thanks for all the adventures this year and looking for to next year!

I really do enjoy my coffee on a Saturday morning watching your videos. A trick is to use a granite rock (size of a large grapefruit) with your stove on low to help heat.

Glad your getting the Jeep fixed and looked over

Another great instalment Chris, Glad that you managed to stay positive even when the vehicle issue managed to stop you “literally” in your tracks, I’m always intranced by the scenic imagery in your videos, and wish that there was as many 4wd roads and track here in Britain

Hi Chris. Great to see you buddy. Loved the heater for the camper. That would work for me. But I understand your point of wanting living space with being able to drive as well. Have a good week my friend. See you on the next one. :)

Sitting there.....................LIKE A ROCK! :D

Love your stuff, keep it up always.

Chris...glad you’re back! Loved seeing the different platforms...but there’s just something of your soul relationship with your orange jeep...that makes everything feel right. Thanks for sharing the different perspectives on different gear.

Good to see you try and review different Overland rigs ! It’s all about personal decisions, preferences, budget and experiences when it comes to overland vehicles but you sum it up right at the end of your video and that’s what I tell people too: go explore with whatever vehicle you own and go from there. I have considered a truck/truck camper for my next setup (if there will ever be one) but in my mind you have the perfect setup with your Jeep. I wish there was a Ursa Minor Jeep camper for a TJ 😬😀

Nice to see some east coast overlanding!

As you are closing out the year I just want to share that I started following you this year thanks to OK4wd and I have enjoyed all your videos, tips, and advice on vehicles gear and exploring overall. Here’s to another year of exploring Happy Holidays

Ur so carm when things go south so chilled out alot of ppl ie me being 1 would b so stressed out 😣 if something broke.

Nice video, and very calming.

That cleaning robot was something else. Never seen anything like it in Utah

Keeping food simple.....in the pet food aisle.....nice.... :D

Great video, Chris. The sites in WV looked amazing. I think I'll have to spin up there from SC and check a few out. As always, thanks for the great content and +1 for the positive spirit. Keep exploring!

Merry Christmas Chris and enjoy some R&R. No rush to get back into it. We can wait!

Glad you put out a video it was nice and snow. Have a nice Holiday Merry x-mas.

All the Best!!!!

I love these Tacoma videos

just started watching back issues and thought I would pick up on this new one ...you are very efficient at what you do I really like the fact that compared to most I can watch your travels in real time relatively speaking. keep it up!

Hi Chris. I so enjoy your videos. Its my Saturday morning treat that I always look forward to. I follow a good many Jeep folks here but you are my favorite. Your format is unique in its simplicity. Your camera work is first rate and your locations are amazing. But there is a calmness about the videos too. Many people have music or extreme camera work, which is fine, but the straightforward-ness of your style is very appealing. It works. The other thing I like, and I'm so glad you talked about it in this video, most of the people I follow have very expensive rigs and I do sometimes compare and get a bit down that I cant do to my Jeep what others do because of my budget. But your setup is awesome, simple and serves you well and feels within reach if that makes sense. You are right, it's not the fancy rig, it's the adventure. Keep up the great work. We all look forward to the next year of going on adventures with you.

Always enjoy... Well done

Lite rain, soft snow and a hint of bite in the air. Reminds me so much of home in Minnesota in, you know, June.

After the luck you had, I can't believe they gave you another one. : ) That Would've been nasty if that came apart at speed.

Do you know that movie, Alf? You know when the store manager announces that Santa Cruz is coming tomorrow, and then what Will Ferrell's reaction was? Yep, that was my exact reaction when I got the notification that Chris had just posted a new video. I thought I was ready for the Army-Navy game, all ready for pizza, the chips, good friends, and glorious football. But the very second I receive Chris's notification, everything had to stop, all because I was going to watch some venture4wd, come hell or high water. Talk about withdraw..lol Great video Chris, looking forward to your next update. Oh and, Go Navy!!!!!😁

35 minutes went by like 15. I guess that means I was caught up in it and enjoying the vid. I liked hearing your take / comparison between your Jeep and the pick-up. Thanks for sharing.

About the Webasto-heater: I have one in our Land Cruiser and it is worth all the money if you are traveling trough cold landscapes as if you do. We just travelled trough Lapland in November and were so happy about this heater ... without it such a trip is not even possible I think ... So my recommendation: Go for it. You will appreciate it.

Chris, my Jeep is at OK4WD. I am getting a new Dana 60 rear axle. On my rear Dana 44 I had literally just put on a brand new AEV diff cover and a brand new Metal Cloak Diff skid, about $400 worth of parts. Was going to gift them to you. Not sure if you are still there or are going back, but if you are, tell Ken S that Colin said Merry Christmas and they are yours. If you see this, Ken can give you my number.

Thanks Chris, have a great week!

great episode, nice to have you back. most quotable quote " the best adventure vehicle is the one sitting in your driveway" ain't that the truth. Suddenly my trusty tacoma has been given new purpose. Thank you.

Hi Chris glade you are getting some adventure in ,O and sharing it with use .I thought some of the video looked familiar ,then I saw the 219 sign . my wife and I took the 219 from the beginning in Buffalo NY to Virginia last February . Its a neat drive . I person could install a hot water heater in the cap that works from the motor . leave it on when you are driving and the cap would be nice and warm when you stop. Thanks for the Video and stay warm and safe

nice to see you back

Really enjoy your content Chris. It’s honestly something I look forward to every episode. Thank you for reminding us that the best adventure vehicle is in the driveway. It’s easy to get discouraged by all the new and fancy things. Onward!

Famous last words at the end. I bought a small trailer to tow behind my jeep - mostly for comforts and because I don't really do much technical driving. I'm more into going someplace, finding a nice spot to park the camper and use my Jeep to explore the area. Since most of the "living" components are in the little trailer (including a ducted in Propex Heater - pretty much the LPG version of a Webasto), I run my Jeep with a soft top so I can go topless when exploring - one of the main things I love about a Jeep. For example Joshua Tree NP is nice, but it's a lot nicer topless (and I don't mean my wife next to me, although that has happend - LOL). A pickup base could be nice depending on what you want - personally I like the more nimble feel of a Jeep over the longer wheelbase of a pickup, so for me the small trailer setup works just fine and I can use the Jeep without any hassle when not out exploring (which is another consideration: most people don't have an explore and a daily vehicle - they just have a vehicle and that needs to fit what else you're doing. In your case that's full time exploring, most other people have jobs to go to) Nice video again - Happy Holidays!

Rubicons are hard to beat! Having your living space within your driving space is also safer. I’d hate for you to have to get out of the back and run outside of the vehicle to start up the truck. Easier to hop down and go to avoid danger. That’s the mom in me talking. 😀

The marine heater is a great Idea. I hope you stay with the Jeep. It wouldn't be the same without it. I have an Ursa Minor and a flip pac, love them both. But Jeeps have more,,,, cool.

Your videos are awesome!

All this time I thought it was “Venture 4Wheel Drive.” D’oh!

Great video. I really like the Toyota im thinking that there is a boot setup that allows you to go back and forth from the camper to the cab eithout going outside. Granted its not like walking between the two more like craeling but still itd be alot better. Also a little buddy heater would eork great in the camper i think. Have a good week and we'll c-ya

Aww put a tear in my eye thinking the year is over! Thanks for sharing this stuff! Lewisburg WV looks like a pretty town! Look forward to the next video!!

Agreed with that message. Simple is better anyway imo.

"Check engine lights are usually not that important" Chris 2019

I share your thought with having your living space shared with your vehicle cab space ,,, I have a really nice extra high camper shell on the bed of my 2017 nissan titan xd 4x4 with that said your jeep set up I've always thought was soooooo ideal amongst being very cOOl !

Heat wise... I have a propex heater in my tacoma with a GFC camper; even on its lowest setting it keeps the camper at 60 when it is in the teens outside. I typically run it in the evening to preheat the camper and then turn it back on in the morning. It is an expensive luxury item but I think it is worth it.

Be safe my friend 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

Proper Sunday morning this week. Thanks

BONUS DAY!!! Thanks Chris!!

thanks for sharing :)

Absolutely love the that part of West Virginia. My wife and I spent our 16th year anniversary at an Airbnb in Thomas and then got a cabin over in Davis for a couple nights. Of course we stopped at Hellbenders to get a burrito! With your recommendation. Do you mind giving the location of the campsite next to the pond? I live in Maryland and frequently backpack the dolly sods wilderness. My wife and I love to van camp new spots in the Mid-Atlantic. Please keep the videos coming by far you have the best videos.!

There’s a reason Wrangler and Tacoma are at the top of most lists... build quality. I’ve owned several of both. The $60k/year Chevy worker who failed on that part assembly was probably hungover, stoned, or just didn’t care. P.S. - You came to mind last week.I was at my grocery store where they had Cheez-its on sale 2for1. I bought two family size!! lol

Green stuff! I saw Chris touch green stuff!

Your musings on platform for your next build got me to thinking: while I'm not really a fan of the Gladiator (at least not in stock form), think of the possibilities. Diesel Gladiator, with integrated top/truck-bed camper! The Gladiator is unique among trucks in that the top comes off. If Ursa Minor isn't already working on it, they need to be! This could give you the best of both worlds - spacious, truck-bed camper, WITH access to/from the passenger cab. With that much room, you could even add auxiliary fuel and water tanks -- think of the range! ;-)

The Jeep JKU pop top setup you have for a one or two person overlander can't really be beaten. Access from the cab into the back is important and the Ursa Minor is a proven setup. Working on building a very similar setup using the Gladiator as a platform so that you have in essence the same setup just slightly larger. Of course it's heavier and not as nimble as the Wrangler which has its disadvantages as well. I hope you get that heater installed it really will make a difference for the cold season.

Wow....Breathtaking locations!! I was in Flagstaff earlier this year at the Overland Expo and I saw a company that’s from Texas at adds about 8-10” to the rear of a JK/JL and has a built in living space like this Alu Cab drop in with a pop up tent like your Ursa Minor. Very nice and the fit and finish looks like Jeep did it. Can’t think of the name of the company, but if you were Texas you might want to check them out. Just a thought. GREAT episode as always. Cheers.

REALLY Interested in the solar solution… Can’t wait to see what it will power, how much it will do, and how discrete it is. Definitely something I may be interested in replicating on my own jeep

You need the diesel jeep they are coming out with! Extended range and fuel economy perfect for your kind of travel.

Years back (when I was dumber), I suffered lots of bad experiences due to using propane heaters due to all the condensation they produce. Since I've done a lot of homework, I learned Webasto will be my next system...

chevy lol. what a joke. thanks for the episode!

Pretty sure the reason the tie rod failed was when the original tie rod lock nut was removed it likely started unthreading the inner tie rod. They have sleeves installed on this so I'm surprised it didn't thread back in when they put those one, but it likely came out most of the way, threads got chewed and didn't go back in during sleeve install. For what it's worth (not much) my ZR2 hasn't had any steering failures and I'm only aware of a handful of tie rods getting bent.

GM stands for "Glad it's moving"

As the wipes go you can get duplicates for the cab or put things like that in a small box you can just carry back and forth in the morning and evening. As a long haul driver that is an issue I cam across from time to time. depending on the cab lay out of the make and model of truck. I think I would like the Taco more then the Jeep it has more room in the cab as well as the living/sleeping area. I have a 98 Taco so that camper would not fit

Merry Christmas.

Ahhhhhhhhhh, been a frantic week.