Editor’s Letter

If you were to choose any of the new off-road vehicle offerings to take your next trip in, which one would you select? Surveying the available choices, it seems that we are now experiencing a golden age of off-road vehicles. We should count ourselves as lucky. There probably hasn’t been so many great vehicles to choose from at a single time than now.

From the venerable Toyota Tacoma to a diesel-powered Chevy Colorado and the latest generation Jeep Wrangler, each vehicle has been developed to take us anywhere we want to go with unparalleled safety, capability and reliability that we haven’t experienced before. As if we weren’t spoiled enough, Jeep went ahead and finally dropped their highly anticipated pick-up truck, the model year ‘20 Jeep Gladiator. We get a first drive in the latest Jeep and report to you what we thought of it, in this issue.

As great as a truck is direct from the factory, we believe in personalization and upgrading a vehicle to meet your exact needs. You’ll meet the owners of three customized vehicles that were built to cater to their preferences and requirements. A Jeep JKU, a Jeep JLU and a Tacoma all get upgraded in their unique ways. Take a look at each, perhaps you’ll find inspiration to modify your own ride. Also in this issue, we get some valuable tips on fly-fishing for northern pike from our resident fisherman, Randy Hynes. Shifting gears, experienced off-roader, Mercedes Lilienthal gives us the female perspective on off roading in In the Driver’s Seat. We also get the story behind the legendary outdoors fashion outfitters, Filson. Learn about their founding from over a century ago.