Overland Vehicle Outfitters, LLC
Manufacturer Reviews & Highlights
Home
Components
Service & Repair
Mfg. Reviews
Projects
Project Flatfender
Resources
About OVO
Links
 
 
             Manufacturer Highlights             
 
Featured Manufacturer:  BFGoodrich Tires

bfg-logo.jpg

"Desert racing is BFGoodrich Tires' product proving ground, and for 30 years we've used the knowledge gained in off-road racing to make the world's toughest off-road tires," said Thom Peebles, brand director for BFGoodrich Tires.
 
This quote clearly communicates the approach that has kept BFGoodrich at the forefront of off-road tire technology for the past three decades.  A first-generation Radial All-Terrain T/A tire was the first BFGoodrich tire raced off road, and its introduction marked the first time a radial tire was used in competition. "The goal of us bringing the All-Terrain T/A tire to Baja was to put it through some of the most extreme conditions known to man," said Peebles. "The lessons we learned and continue to learn help us not only improve our race tires, but the tires consumers can purchase at their local BFGoodrich tires dealer every day."
 
The technology and design techniques developed through desert racing experience have been shared across the BFGoodrich light-truck tire family every step of the way.  Three-ply TriGard® construction, ShoulderLock™ and DiggerLugz™ upper-sidewall traction bars are three features prominent on BFGoodrich Tires' current lineup.  The All-Terrain T/A KO radial, Mud-Terrain T/A KM radial, Baja T/A radial, and Krawler T/A KX radial tires have all achieved legendary status due to their toughness and durability in the harshest environments.  Now a new tire has been released that is taking the market by storm.
 
The Mud-Terrain T/A KM2 is the next evolution of the BFG mud tire.  The Krawler-inspired tread design has great looks and a dual grooving pattern for incredible on-off road performance.  The KM2 has more transverse and linear flex zones across the tread to improve off-road traction, and large sidewall lugs add muscle to the sidewall and improve traction in soft soil conditions.  In addition, a new sidewall rubber compound is more resistant to cutting and tearing and the 3-ply TriGard construction has cords that are up to 33% stronger.
 
If you're looking for a tough, effective tire with stellar performance on and off road, BFG has a tire to fit your needs.  And three decades of off-road motorsports championships to back it up.

bfg_mud-terrain-ta-km2.jpg

bfg_all-terrain-ta-ko.jpg

      View previous Manufacturer Highlights articles:     
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                                                                  
 
Featured Manufacturer:  Tom Wood's Custom Driveshafts
 
With 20 years experience working in the industry, Tom Wood opened his shop in 1999 in a rented garage and one employee: himself!  From those humble beginnings, Tom put his knowledge and experience to good use and quickly built a reputation as the industry leader in custom built 4x4 drive shafts.  Tom's shop now has 10 employees, and has grown to include a 2400 square foot manufacturing facility with an additional 2400 square foot of warehouse space.

tw_shaft.jpg

Tom's success is due in large part to the superior quality of his product - his drive shafts are manufactured using the absolute highest quality materials, tightest tolerances, and exacting processes.  Using Drawn Over Mandrel (DOM) tubing provides yield and tensile strengths of nearly double a comparably sized factory Cold-Rolled Electric Welded (CREW) tube.  Forged slip yokes and splines cut the length of the stub add to strength and durability.  The drive shafts are balanced to half the tolerance of OEM shafts.
 
Another key to Tom's success is the fact that each drive shaft is custom built to fit the customer's vehicle; these are not "one size fits all" shafts pulled off the shelf.  Despite the built-to-order nature of his drive shafts, turn-around time is phenomenal with most shafts built and shipped within 24 hours.
 

tw_gold_joint.jpg

tw_flex_joint.jpg

Tom has recently added a line of bulletproof u-joints to his product portfolio under the Gold Seal™ and Super-Flex™ brand names.  The Gold Seal™ joints make a great upgrade from stock and provide a significant increase in strength, exceeding OEM load, life, and strength requirements.  The Super-Flex™ joints are designed for high-angle drive shaft scenarios where clearance is at a premium; these joints will provide an additional 10 degrees of flexibility.
 
Tom backs his products with strong standard warranties and also offers an optional Trail Hazard Protection warranty.  If you're looking for new shafts or joints for your stock or lifted 4x4, Tom Wood's Custom Drive Shafts has you covered. 
 
                                                                                                  
 

Featured Manufacturer:  Custom 4x4 Fabrication

c4x4fab_logo.jpg

When it comes to trail gear, one of the essentials is armor to help protect your 4x4.  Custom 4x4 Fabrication, located in Oklahoma City, specializes in producing heavy-duty front and rear bumpers, swing-away tire carriers, winch bumpers, and rocker panel protection for Jeep Wranglers, Cherokees, and Grand Cherokees. 

 

We were first introduced to C4x4F several years ago when we went looking for front tow-hook mounts for our Cherokee XJ.  We were very impressed with the quality engineering, attention to detail, and ease of installation that didn't require any "modifications" for a perfect fit. 

c4x4f_trailblazer.jpg

That same level of quality is evident in their line of bumpers as well.  From designs that improve approach and departure angles to over-engineered mounting brackets to the quality of the powdercoat finish, their bumpers are designed for durability, functionality, and good looks. 

 

C4x4F has recently introduced a rear bumper and tire carrier for the Grand Cherokee WJ.  If you're looking for serious protection and outstanding looks for your 2nd generation Grand, you'll find this equipment second to none.

c4x4f_wj.jpg

c4x4f_tj_rocker.jpg

Regardless of amount of lift or tire size, most vehicles benefit from rocker panel protection.  If you do enough off-pavement driving, you’ll eventually encounter an obstacle (log, rock, ledge) that will make contact with your vulnerable rocker panel.  You can avoid expensive damage with a set of C4x4F rocker guards, like their 2x2 or 2x4 inch rectangular XJ and TJ guards, or their 1.5” diameter double-tube XJ guards.  They also offer differential protection in the form of heavy duty diff guards that use existing bolt holes.

 

If you’re looking for serious protection for the front, sides, or rear of your Jeep, you won't find higher quality or better value than Custom 4x4 Fabrication. 

 

                                                                                                  
 
 

Featured Manufacturer:  Kevin's Off-Road

kor_banner.jpg

If you own a ZJ or WJ Grand Cherokee, you know that your choice of aftermarket parts and accessories can be somewhat limited at times.  We've experienced this ourselves in the past, and in an effort to offer you more options for building your ideal Grand Cherokee, we're proud to announce that we now carry the full line of parts from Kevin's Off Road.   

 

Kevin started the company several years ago when numerous people began asking him to sell them parts he had built for his own Grand Cherokees.  From this humble beginning, word quickly spread about Kevin's quality parts and reasonable prices.  Before long, Kevin'sOffRoad.com, LLC was developing, marketing, and selling an extensive line of products, from bumpers and roof racks to long-arm suspension systems.   

kor_zj_fr.jpg

kor_zj7.jpg

kor_zj_rear.jpg

kor_rack.jpg

   

If you're looking for ZJ bumpers, Kevin sells his front and rear PreRunner tube bumpers which are built to take abuse but also to complement the lines of the Grand Cherokee.  The front bumper offers an integrated winch mount, and a stinger is optional with light mounting tabs to provide extra protection and convenient mounting points.  The rear bumper includes a 2" receiver and can be ordered with the optional swing out tire carrier.  The bumpers are available unpainted (to save money or to allow for custom colors) or powdercoated in your choice of black, white, or gray.    

 

For further protection, Kevin offers rocker protection, skid plates, heavy-duty crossmembers, and a host of other parts to save your sheetmetal and running gear.  If suspension flex and tire clearance is what you're after, Kevin offers everything from complete 2.5" spacer kits to 7" long-arm kits.  Other heavy-duty suspension components are available and highly recommended if you're piecing together a custom system, such as upgraded front and rear track bars, upper and lower control arms, swaybar disconnects, and shocks.
 
If you're interested in heavy-duty components for your XJ, ZJ, or WJ, consider Kevin's Off Road.

 

                                                                                                  
 

bestop_logo.gif

If you own an open-top Jeep CJ or Wrangler, the name Bestop is probably not new to you.  Bestop celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 2004, making the company one of the oldest aftermarket companies in the business.  From humble beginnings in a small upholstery shop in Boulder, Colorado, Thomas Bradley needed something to help "fill in" the lean times through the winter months.  So he designed and began manufacturing replacement tops for Jeep vehicles.  From the beginning, Bestop used top-of-the-line materials and the highest quality standards.  The company later expanded its product line to include softops for Toyota Landcruiser, Ford Bronco, and other popular 4x4 vehicles.  The company now has numerous product lines for many makes and models of vehicles, and has become a household name in recreational four-wheeling circles.  The rest, as they say, is history - the company, now headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado, employs over 400 employees, and continues to be the industry leader in producing innovative products. 

 

Rather than focus on the softop products you already know and love, we thought we'd show you some products that you may not realize Bestop produces.  Case in point... Bestop recently released its Supertop®  for Truck line.  Looking for a convenient form of weathertight storage for your truck bed, but don't want to give up your truck's utility by adding a truck cap?  The Supertop® for Truck is amazingly versatile and easy to use.  Need to haul a refrigerator?  Drop the convertible top to the front of the bed.  Need a secure place to spend the night on the trail?  Raise the top and throw down your sleeping bags for an instant truck bed tent.  It's as versatile as it is cost effective, and it comes with traditional Bestop quality.  Available for Toyota mid-size and Ford and Chevy/GMC mid-size and half-ton trucks.   

bestop_pu_supertop_toy.jpg

bestop_pu_supertop_f150.jpg

Also new from Bestop are a number of innovative truck products including Powerstep Running Boards, Cargo Management Systems for truck beds, Underseat Storage, RoadRider replacement truck seats, and Extendable Towing Mirrors.

bestop_pickup_seats.jpg

bestop_powerstep.jpg

bestop_underseat.jpg

One of our favorite new products is Bestop's HighRock 4x4 bumpers for Jeep Wrangler.  The front bumper is designed with clearance and approach angle in mind, and incorporates D-ring shackle mounts and mounting brackets for an optional approach roller - this is a trick feature that hard-core rock crawlers have been using for years.  It comes with an integrated winch mounting plate and offers an optional grill guard - it's simply the best looking, most functional bumper we've seen in some time.  The rear also comes with integrated D-ring shackle mounts and a 2" receiver.  Its slanted design provides great protection with an outstanding departure angle.  And it has an optional SlideAway rack system for extra storage. 

highrock_bumper.jpg

highrock_rear_bumper.jpg

bestop_slideaway.jpg

Bestop has way too many products to list here, but we'll give you a quick summary:
  • Center consoles
  • Interior storage solutions (locking and non-locking)
  • Sound bars
  • Spare tire carriers
  • External storage racks
  • Entry guards and entry steps
  • Jeep fender flares
  • Spare tire covers
  • Softops, hardtops and hardtop storage solutions
  • Jeep seats and seatcovers

                                                                                                  

 
 

black_diamond_logo.gif

Black Diamond Advanced Off Road Equipment is not a newcomer to the suspension industry.  Originally developed as a division of Warn Industries, Inc., Black Diamond has roots that run deep.  Now owned by Superlift, the Black Diamond brand continues as a leader in Jeep suspensions.  From traditional suspension lift systems to their award winning and innovative coil spring conversion kits, Black Diamond has earned a reputation for rugged, durable suspension components that stand up to the harshest environments, yet provide excellent on-road ride and handling characteristics. 
 
The company ensures an extraordinarily high level of product quality by using computer-modeled lift system brackets and hardware that is first laser cut, then welded in CNC machined assembly fixtures.  There are a number of critical features addressed in the design phase.  For instance, leaf springs utilize tapered leaf plates, anti-friction pads, light spring rates (for full suspension articulation and unbeatable ride quality), double wrapped spring eyes (military wraps) for durability and safety, shot-peening and flat spring seats to reduce spring stress which increases spring life.  
 
Black Diamond was among the first to offer a full suspension lift for the 2007 JK Wrangler, with features to address spring rate for the 2-door vs. 4-door, track bar bind and misalignment, front caster angle alignment, and the length of the brake hoses and e-brake cables.  True to form, the JK kits are well thought out and complete, addressing safety concerns and potential complications. 
 
Black Diamond offers suspension systems for multiple Jeep models from 46-07, as well as Toyota FJ Landcruiser 64-82. 

blackdiamond_jk_fr_illustr.jpg

jk_004.jpg

                                                                                                  
 
 
 
 

 

want_the_truth.jpg

 

E-mail us at:  rmiller@ovoonline.com
 
 
Overland Vehicle Outfitters, LLC
PO Box 309
Marysville, OH 43040