- Almost all of today's off-road vehicle trends
are growing in a particular segment
that I'm sure isn't going to be of any surprise to you guys.
Although personally, I'm not really in agreement
with the term Overlanding, as we're not out driving cattle
across the plains of Australia.
Now, most of us are just trying to seek refuge
from the stresses of day-to-day life
while out on an adventure, exploring new areas
and doing as much primitive, camping as possible,
but that needed a name and it ended up being Overlanding
and the Overlanding industry has just exploded
more than it ever has before, because well,
we needed to get the fuck out of the house
and out of our own heads,
due to all of the additional challenges
provided by that nasty little piece of worthless
known as COVID.
But on the opposite side of the spectrum,
we were able to get,
well, sort of get back to our natural born
prehistoric roots of spending time in the great outdoors.
Something that I think a lot of us are really glad of
as it taught us that life is short
and shouldn't always be spent on doing things
that we may not necessarily wanna be doing,
like spending a few hours
watching TikTok videos every day, for example,
either way, regardless of each individual's
own personal reasons
for wanting to get out of the day-to-day and into the wild.
The fact is that more people have gone over landing
in the past year than any year before.
And that's why almost all of the biggest trends
surrounding the off-road vehicle industry
revolve around the Overlanding segment,
starting with the increase of technological advancements
in electronic devices,
especially in solar charging in battery run inverters,
one major name that we here at Trail Built quite often
continues to come across in so many different avenues
of media outlets and events is Redarc Electronics.
And it's not just because we keep running
into our Redarc buddy, Jeremiah from Overland pioneers,
although it probably helps,
but it's because they have been producing some of the best
onboard electronic management systems and devices
for as long as I am old.
And that's a long ass time,
but to run anything electronic
and for a comprehensive selection
of components like solar region systems,
to inverters, deep cycle batteries, power management systems
and everything else to keep your vehicle powered up
and self-sustaining to be able to run
all of your electronics for extended periods of time,
then make sure and start with a reliable power system.
Like what Redarc has to offer.
And guys, this isn't a paid ad or sponsorship
or anything like that,
but one of the biggest and fastest growing categories
of extended off-road vehicle travel Overlanding
trends is in the off-road at power systems
and Redarc just happens
to already have this category online.
Plus power management is the foundation for operating
and charging all of your other electrical devices,
cell phones, cell phone signal, onboard wifi,
lighting systems, refrigerators, televisions, tablets,
projectors for watching movies on the side of your vehicle
and the list goes on.
So if that sounds like a trend,
you are either already a part of,
or are looking to expand on.
Then definitely make sure
and start off with a solid power management system.
Like what Redarc electronics already has available.
Plus it's just really good stuff.
Along with the growing trends and advancements
in the electrical side of four by four travel
is figuring out creative ways,
the pack, the entirety of everything you have in the house
into a vehicle that is a fraction of the size of your house.
How much of a fraction?
Well, I have no clue,
but most of us aren't living out of our vehicles.
And if you are by choice,
well, then God bless because honestly
I wish that was too sometimes,
but over the duration of time
that the Overlanding market has been booming,
many companies have been working on creative
and modular storage systems.
Now, it is the fridge, kitchen sink, pots and pans,
toilet, coffee maker, bed, camp stove,
and welder now all fit into one drawer
that lowers and raises just by asking Alexa to do so.
Okay, well, not really,
but an example of something like that
is the easy slide fridge cradle
that we've showed in our top five products from SEMA video
it mounts in the back of your SUV
and is basically a sliding platform
where you can Mount a fridge too,
or storage box or casket or whatever.
And it not only slides out for easy access,
but it lowers down as well for really easy access
for whatever you have on there.
So that was pretty cool.
Another neat little exterior mounting system
we found at SEMA was originally developed
for use in Marine applications
specifically on boats and our, what is known as sea suckers.
These vacuum cups remind me
of what replacement glass specialists use to carry
and install windshields.
They're basically big suction cups
but use a manual vacuum pump to remove the air
from the rubber cup
and each individual one can hold around 250 pounds
give or take of gear to the exterior of your vehicle.
And again, it's a modular system
that can be used for attaching a variety of different items
to your vehicle, roof racks, cross rails, lights, high lift,
bike rack, whatever, and can be easily removed
during or after your trip
and easily re-installed again for use
as you please when you want.
And there's constantly new systems being designed
and brought to market as this particular trend
that continues to grow into and through 2022.
Also, and besides just products,
the soft roading segment continues to grow.
And there's a large trend in the off-road vehicle community,
especially with Toyota Rav4's and Highlanders
and of course, Subarus.
These types of vehicles
offer a very capable off-road platform
in an economical package, plus are seeing a lot of growth
in the availability in the aftermarket parts segments
for these types of vehicles as well.
And speaking of smaller types of vehicles,
micro campers have become a staple
in the Overlanding industry, teardrop, trailer campers,
SUV conversions, composite truck bed campers,
hard sided rooftop tents, and even air inflated frames
in ground tents and trailer tents,
not to mention the four by four van life community,
where people are ditching the idea of conventional RVs
for more capable and maneuverable off-road vans.
So that way they can get down
and camp by the river in a van.
Even the UTV side-by-side market
is jumping on the off-road adventure train
and mounting rooftop tents on their UTVs, which by the way,
if you are looking for a new package set of wheels
and tires for your side-by-side, well, we have those too.
So with the growing trend of micro campers
and some of the cool technology
that has come out so far in this segment,
it makes me pretty excited
for where things are gonna go here.
And what kind of new space age technology
is gonna come out for having a nice little cozy place
to stay in no matter where you go,
almost like when we built forts as kids,
but now they're way cooler,
same size, just much more convenient than a Fort.
And with being able to get your micro camper
to just about anywhere you're looking to get to
really has a majority of the tire manufacturers
working hard at trying to create a perfect balance
of on-road and off-road traction, performance, toughness,
and a comfort in what is known as a hybrid tire
aimed mostly at the Overlanding vehicle industry,
the hybrid, rugged terrain, crossover, trail trains,
XT type of tire category is getting more and more popular
and is a huge growing trend
in the off-road category in general.
These tires are getting more sophisticated
by having the off-road capable strength
and grippy compounds,
but also trending up are their mileage warranties
and an increasing getting the three peak mountain snowflake
rating classifications proving that tire manufacturers
are really trying to bridge that gap between all-terrain
and mud terrain tires.
And I think they're getting pretty close,
especially if tire companies can figure out
a blend of tire compound
that offers a long lasting on-road tread
combined with the grip and adhesion
of a softer more pliable compound,
like the needle case, spectral grappler,
or BFG cam three or something like that,
but then a 60,000 mile warranty on top of that
three peak mountain snowflake rating,
a flexible 3 ply sidewall and well you guys get the point.
Now, that would be one hell of an awesome tire.
With the advancements entire technology in hybrids
being a substantial trend, wheels, rims
have also been getting some much needed attention
and a lot has been happening over the last year
that we're gonna see continue to grow
the biggest technological breakthrough
of not just the last year,
but since maybe the Beadlock wheel
or the flow formed alloy wheels are,
when forged wheels hit the market.
Or maybe even since the introduction of method, race wheels,
bead grip technology in their 700 series wheels
is Icon alloys, new interlock bead lock technology wheel
that they designed and engineered
into the popular selling rebound model
called the Rebound Pro.
Beadlock wheels are great
and have their advantages like super easy
to change a tire on a Beadlock wheel
with a removable Beadlock ring,
but traditional Beadlock wheels are not DOT compliant
of on-road use, but wheel companies are also working hard
at being creative enough to figure out a way
to lock the outer tire bead in position
and be DOT compliant at the same time.
And that's exactly what Icon alloys has achieved
with their new inner lock Beadlock technology,
which Kayla one of the head engineers and mastermind
in Icon alloys, Icon vehicle dynamics
has brought to market for us
that we can legally drive with these wheels on the road
and then air down our tires once we hit the trails
without having to worry about
blowing the outer bead off the wheel
and end up with a flat tire.
Because the pins that bolt through the rim of the wheel
end up behind the bead of the tire and lock it in place.
It's super simple and genius at the same time.
But I think we're gonna continue to see this trend
of DOT compliant, functional Beadlocks
or bead grip type of technologies grow in the off-road
and Overlanding industries.
And guys to see exactly how Icons
new interlock Beadlock works.
Check out the video we have linked in the description below
and of course, to purchase in.
Well, just head over to Trail Built Off-Road
by clicking the link that we'll also have posted
in the description as well.
And the biggest trend
that we are seeing coming out of 2021 and into 2022
and is going to continue to grow for a while yet
is a virtue known as patience
with the mega boom in sales, depleting current inventories
on aftermarket automotive parts
and many other industries.
Plus the logistical nightmares
stemming from overseas shipping
down to massive employee shortages.
People are starting to understand
that there is only so much that can be done at a time
from suppliers worldwide to get our products to our doors
as fast as possible.
I know our team here at Trail Built
is tirelessly and continuously working
on implementing new technologies
to improve and decrease wait times
from website improvements,
such as having a sort by quick delivery
that we just implemented.
It's a filter that shows you guys
all of our fastest shipping products
to expanding our abilities to bring in
and stock thousands of more wheel and tire packages
by building a brand new 350,000 square foot
distribution center.
In addition to the 150,000 square foot
distribution center we already have,
and those are just a few of the growth
and logistical challenges we are working out.
But with you guys in the Overlanding
and off-road communities being as awesome as you guys are,
just know that we noticed that,
and we greatly appreciate all of your patients
as we continue to strive
to be your go-to for everything wheels, tire suspension,
and accessory supplier,
for all things related to the off-road vehicle communities.
And guys, these are just some of the biggest growing trends
that we have noticed in the off-road
and Overlanding vehicle communities.
But I'm also really interested to hear back from you guys
as to what trends all of you are noticing
or have noticed over the last year?
what are some of the biggest growing trends
and were there any previous trends
that just completely died off?
Definitely make sure and let us know in the comments below.
Also guys, remember to hit that thumbs up
and subscribe button to like today's video
and to stay up to date with all of our newest videos,
remember wheels, tires, suspension,
and accessories for your vehicle, Trail Built Off-Road
and guys as always, we appreciate all of you for watching
and all of your support.
I'm Josh on Trail Built,
and we'll see you guys out on the trail.
(upbeat music)