As overlanding grows ever more popular in off-roading, more and more people are looking for the right products to outfit their rigs. Customers want products that not only fit the aesthetic, but also stand up to the rigors of the outdoors. Sky Ridge, a new division of Body Armor 4×4, is stepping up to the overlanding plate. It’s poised to hit a home run with its lineup of quality overlanding essentials, including tents, awnings, annex rooms, and roof racks.

One interesting thing to point out is that to start off, Sky Ridge’s products all revolve around that most famous of midsizes, the Toyota Tacoma. These are indeed robust trucks, and make for good overlanding build platforms.

We’re excited to see what these products will do to bolster the overlanding segment. To that end, we spoke with Body Armor 4×4’s Category Manager, James Grossaint. He gave us the download on what to expect from Sky Ridge’s lineup and how they’ll transform the overlanding experience for the better.

Discussing Sky Ridge’s Vision

It’s no secret that overlanding is the hottest trend in off-roading right now. Across all manner of trucks and SUVs, owners are looking for ways to equip their rigs for the long haul into the wilderness. Grossaint explained how Body Armor 4×4 saw this trend emerging as early as 2018, and how that influenced the company’s product development strategy. “We’ve been in development for approximately two years on this program,” he said.

“Before SEMA and other big names recognized the overland market, we knew we’d be placed perfectly to launch a program,” he continued. “With the pandemic, everything changed. This category exploded, along with many other outdoor activities. The American people felt like they needed to get out. They needed to experience what nature has to offer after being inside for so long. We were very fortunate to have the program ready to launch during this interesting time.”

As for the decision to focus solely on the Tacoma upon launch, Grossaint said, “Toyota has been perfecting that Tacoma platform for decades. With the release of the current generation, it shows. I think it checks more boxes for off road enthusiasts than most platforms.”

However, Grossaint was quick to add that more platforms are coming to the Sky Ridge product line. “We are launching new rack systems for midsize, full size, and Jeep applications aimed at the RTT market, allowing more platforms to easily add this camping luxury,” he said. “You’ll see those starting to launch in November.”

Exploring The Sky Ridge Lineup

Sky Ridge offers several products to round out the off-roader that wants his Tacoma equipped all at once. Let’s take a look at the star of the show, the Pike two-person tent.

Tents are an all-important aspect of overlanding. For Body Armor 4×4’s Pike tent, the company wanted to give customers a quality unit that withstands harsh elements. “We looked at dozens of tents and aimed for the best features at the most affordable price point,” Grossaint commented. “We use 280GSM Ripstop reinforced polyester/cotton canvas, and that’s coated in polyurethane to waterproof the walls and rain fly. It’s the best balance for keeping the material light and tear-resistant, as well as staying dry in wet weather.”

Other features of the tent round out its usefulness, as well as ease of ingress and egress. “The ladder is the first thing you grab to enter and exit the tent, so it needed to give customers the best first impression,” said Grossaint. “Our ladder is a premium telescopic unit with effortless performance. Inside the tent, we include a foam mattress, bug mesh windows, and a cool skylight to see out of. Overall, this tent packs in features you find in high-priced competitors, but without costing an arm and a leg.”

Additionally, Body Armor makes the tent accommodations all the more inviting with its Pike annex room. This room allows for a multitude of uses. “The annex room solve a situation lots of campers have, the privacy to stand or store things outside the tent and vehicle,” said Grossaint. “It adds another 33 square feet of space shielded from the elements and insects. It lets you change clothes, eat meals, store gear, and keep the tent clutter free and clean.”

One more Sky Ridge product of interest is the Pike awning. This piece utilizes similar Ripstop material as the annex room room and tent, while also offering the waterproof polyurethane coating. It’s the ideal solution to offering shade in the high mountains or deserts overlanders often visit.

What’s Next For Sky Ridge?

There’s no doubt about it – Sky Ridge is here to make overlanding feasible for more enthusiasts. Grossaint said, “We are working on multiple options for many platforms. Starting in November, we plane to help all truck, Jeep, and SUV owners experience camping. Our first launch will be universal midsize and full-size racks. These will fit on just about any application. After that, we’ll launch Jeep Wrangler solutions, along with the next biggest overland platform – Subaru.”

Beyond just covering more applications, Body Armor 4×4 also wants to expand Sky Ridge’s product offerings. “We see a huge market for multiple tent styles and sizes, as well as awnings,” said Grossaint. “We have a number of these items in development. Some are also in the late testing phases and will be ready for a 2021 launch. Stay tuned, because it’s all on the way!”

Body Armor 4×4 is putting its best foot forward with the launch of Sky Ridge, and we can’t wait to see what comes next. In the meantime, be sure to visit Body Armor 4×4’s website, and don’t forget to follow them on Facebook.