We made our way out to Pomona, California this past weekend to see what the off-road aftermarket was up to. As it turned out, the industry is brimming with radical ideas that are sure to change the four-wheeling landscape.
We were there to collect the best of the best and bring them to you. Without further ado, here are our top tech picks of the 2017 Off-Road Expo.
ARB: 63-qt. Elements Fridge Freezer
When ARB first rolled out its fridge freezer a few years ago, it was a big deal. Running off of either 12/24-volt DC or 120-volt AC connections, the fridge freezer was a great idea for off-roaders and outdoorsmen. It provided constant cool to its contents, in exchange for negligible draw to the electrical system.
Now, ARB has the successor in the Elements fridge freezer. Made from stainless steel, weatherproof, and lockable, the Elements has more than just a few token upgrades. We talked with ARB’s Scott Frary to find out more.
“We made the Elements able to bolt into the back of a pickup truck, hence the name,” said Frary. “It can be locked with a combination code, so nobody can mess with your temperatures or steal your food.”
JKS Manufacturing: JK Bolt-On Coilover Conversion
Converting a Jeep to coilovers can be done a number of ways, but JKS Manufacturing wants to cut down on the difficulty. We spoke with Justin McLean to learn more about JKS’s new bolt-on coilover conversion for Jeep Wrangler JKs.
“The kit comes with a Fox 2.5-inch coilover with a remote reservoir,” said McLean. “It’s adjustable and has a JKS-specific spring rate. Last but not least, this is bolt-in. All you need to do is remove the factory shock tower and bolt this into place.”
McLean believes the conversion kit is great for many Jeep enthusiasts. “If you have a 1.75-inch to 4.5-inch lift, and you want to go fast in the whoops and crawl in the rocks, this is the product for you,” he said.
J.E. Reel Driveline: Driveline Systems For Trophy Trucks, UTVs
Jim Reel of J.E. Reel Driveline was at the Expo to teach us about his company’s latest innovations. On display were drivelines for both Trophy Trucks and UTVs, showing J.E. Reel’s ability to handle multiple markets.
The Trophy Truck driveshaft was certainly intriguing. Next to it were broken pieces of hardware, which Jim explained. “These broken parts clued us in on where to make improvements,” he said. “We used heat-treated chromoly or a higher-grade steel where necessary to prevent breakages.”
On the UTV side of things, a driveline system for Polaris RZRs was laid out next to a stock RZR driveline. “Compared to stock, our system uses a 40-percent larger U-joint and carrier bearing,” said Reel. “The carrier bearing uses a conical, two-piece bushing. This allows the driveline to get about eight degrees of motion and absorb jolts better. The stock version is hard-mounted, so ours is a big improvement.”
Reel confirmed that similar drivelines are in development for other makes. “We have a Yamaha version in the works right now, and we’re disassembling a Can-Am Maverick to see if we can do those, too,” he said.
Wilco Offroad: ADV Rack For Tacomas
The folks at Wilco Offroad are the ones answering the question – “How much more can I load onto my rig?” Their answer for the 2016-present Toyota Tacoma is, “More than you might think.”
At the expo, we spoke with Wilco’s Paul Wilkins to better understand the new ADV rack system. Made out of an aluminum alloy, the rack is full-height, tent-capable, and comes with mounts already included for items like RotopaX and MaxTrax.
“For the Tacoma crowd, we became weight-conscious,” said Wilkins. “The entire rack weighs less than 60 pounds, but it supports a static load of 2,000 pounds, or a dynamic load of 300 pounds.”
Total Chaos: Tundra Front End Suspension Systems
Total Chaos’ history of support for Toyotas is unparalleled. At the Expo, we got to see what TC had cooking for the Tundra: mid- and long-travel systems for 4×4 Tundras.
“We’re excited to be showing our new stock-length and long-travel boxed lower control arms,” said Nicole Patel. “Our stock-length upper and lower replacement kit is designed to bolt in a coilover and still use the factory coil bucket, and will allow for 11 inches of travel while retaining four-wheel-drive. Our other kit will offer 12.5 inches of travel.”
Something interesting about the kits is that both retain not just four-wheel-drive functionality, but the factory sway bar as well. “If you like the ride quality and the corner stability with your factory sway bar, you’ll get to keep it,” said Patel.
Addictive Desert Designs: Raptor Bumpers
Keeping pace with the latest in the off-road market, Addictive Desert Designs was proud of its multitude of bumpers for the 2017 Ford Raptor. We spoke with Ryan Yates at the Expo to learn more about the sleek, steel units, starting with the Pro Series.
“These are full tubular, .120-wall, mild steel bumpers,” said Yates. “They’re cut-frame, giving drivers an excellent approach angle. A universal lighting system is built-in, so you can run any light setup you like.”
Other Raptor bumpers on display included the Race Series R, Stealth R, and Stealth Fighter. “The Stealth Fighter is our number one seller by far,” said Yates. “The Stealth R has our EcoFlow technology, with venting built into the bumper to direct airflow to the intercooler. The Race Series R can run a 30-inch light bar in the center, as well as a 40-inch light bar up top.”
Cognito Motorsports: Adjustable Radius Arms For 2017 Super Duties
Cognito Motorsports was handling the diesel side of things at the Off-Road Expo. Their white 2017 Super Duty had its goods underneath. Justin Lambert took the time to tell us more about what all was hidden on the truck.
“This F-350 is our mule for a lot of our lift kits and suspension systems,” said Lambert. “Right now, it has our new adjustable radius arms. You can modify the camber and caster with these arms, and they adjust from the bottom, which give the wheel more clearance from the cab.”
And not only does the truck gain more clearance for bigger wheels and tires, but it also retains great caster to keep it going straight down the road. Lambert was definitely proud of the radius arms, and said, “At Cognito, we don’t aim to be the first to market. We aim to be the best to market.”
What was your favorite of our top tech picks at the 2017 Off-Road Expo? Let us know in the comments below.
You might also like
RZR Factory Racing Dominates 2025 Baja 500 With Historic UTV Sweep
The Polaris RZR Factory Racing team just put on a masterclass at the 2025 SCORE Baja 500. The team crushed the brutal 461-mile course and sweeping the UTV podium with a historic 1-2-3 finish.
