RideLust

Anytime you take big iron off the beaten path you’re in for some fun. Sure, some vehicles like bulldozers are generally king of the hill when it comes to industrial off-roading, but never underestimate a good four-wheel drive tractor with a big honkin’ diesel up front. The video you are about to see shows one of the best 4×4 saves I’ve ever seen. Now keep in mind, I have no idea where or when this was filmed, but what I do know is that if I came across a rig that was 75% submerged in a river, the odds of me walking away would be pretty damn good. As for the driver of this tractor though, well, lets just say he had other plans.

Source: Streetfire.net

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I always find it amazing how there are times when shear determination will override commonsense and the need for self-preservation. Take Tim Cameron for example – he’s the owner of this wickedly cool rock crawler that wouldn’t take no for an answer when it came time to climbing this hill. Upon his initial ascent Tim unfortunately broke his RCV shaft which turned his four-wheeler, into a three-wheeler. Undeterred however Tim pressed on, but instead of conquering the hill he ended up breaking both front axles and the rear drive shaft thus ending his day. There is no question that these buggies are very cool and ungodly powerful, but I can’t help but think that poor Tim’s wallet is going to hit him over the head hard when he pulls this thing apart.

Source: TheSmokingTire.com

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For the last two years I have been taking still photographs for a personal project entitled ‘It’s Better In The Wind,’ all the while collecting video footage from each ride as we traveled around the Western United States together. I have been slowly editing the footage into a visual scrapbook of sorts for those who partook, and those who followed us via the web. No preaching the triumphs and failures of the motorcycle industry, no divisive commentary between manufacturers and styles…just a collection of imagery that will hopefully inspire more people to take to the road and discover what there is outside of our respective communities. Chuck Ragan was kind enough to collaborate with me to write an original soundtrack for the film, to give me some anthemic tunes to edit with, and I can’t thank him enough for the kind gesture towards a fellow traveler. Please, enjoy the film, everybody who took part in it is family, we are all grateful for your support these past two years while we tried to build a concept around the positive nature of motorcycling.

- Chuck Ragan

Source: chromjuwelen.com

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Jeep is proclaiming its “Call of Duty – Modern Warfare 3 Edition” Jeep Wrangler the toughest vehicle in the world, and the staged footage in the video below would tend to support that. On the other hand, staged footage isn’t real life, just like being able to smoke the enemy in COD doesn’t make you a stone cold killer. Read More…

I swear, the military gets all the coolest toys. Earlier today we showed you a pretty trick floating bus that was designed to take tourists all over the city of Rotterdam in the Netherlands via their surrounding waterway. Now however, it’s time for something with a bit more grunt, a lot more speed and gun mounts. This is an Alvis Stalwart, an amphibious military truck that served with the British Army. It has the capacity to carry a payload of 9-tons, is capable of traversing almost any terrain thanks to its 6-wheel drive system and once it hits the water, it can cruise up to 6-knots thanks to its vectored thrust water-jet propulsion units. The Alvis Stalwarts are no longer in military service, however that has no bearing on the fact that we’d love to have one here in the Ridelust garage.

Source: Youtube.com

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Let’s face it: if you’re a guy, you could look at giant, bouncing Tatras all day long. In fact, it’s really hard not to stare, and to call them “distracting” is a vast understatement. After all, who wants to get work done when you could be watching ten minutes of jiggling Tatra action on You Tube? Read More…

When Ford initially launched the SVT Raptor back in 2009, its promo videos would have led you to believe the truck was ten-feet-tall and bulletproof. While close, even the stoutest off-roaders have their weak points, and in the case of the Raptor this appeared to be the rear frame. After 10 of 14 trucks on a a single high speed desert run reported bent frames, Ford was quick to point out that the trucks suffering damage hit something hard, at speed. Besides, Ford said, all the trucks made it home, which wouldn’t have happened if a stouter frame caused the shock mounting points to fail. Read More…

Whatever mad genius inside Ford’s SVT group was ultimately behind the development of the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor, we salute you. No one else could have pulled off the idea of a hot-rod, off-road pickup truck, and sales have been brisk since the truck made its debut back in 2009.

There have been a few well-documented problems along the way, most notably a group of off-road enthusiasts who experienced bent frames after a high-speed desert run. Ford is quick to point out that the trucks were still drivable with a bent frame, but if a rear shock failed or tore loose, that may not have been the case. Despite the type of hoonage depicted in video ads for the Raptor, Ford insists that the truck isn’t bulletproof, and that if you hit something hard, at speed, damage will most likely result. Read More…

The Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen. Image: Mercedes-Benz

If you’re Mercedes-Benz and you’re launching a new version of the legendary Geländewagen in Australia, you probably want to demonstrate how rugged and off-road capable your new truck is. What better way to do so than to pick a trail known to be among the most challenging in the world, like the Canning Stock Route that traverses the unforgiving Australian Outback? Some 1,150 miles long, the Canning Stock Route was used by early 20th century ranchers to get cattle to market. It really hasn’t been improved in the century since, and driving its length is a strain on both driver and machine. Read More…

Have you ever wanted a vehicle that was capable of tackling the toughest off-road terrain while at the same time giving you the feeling the pure exclusivity? Well look no further because the Rally Fighter from Local Motors may just be the ride for you. Designed using a collective influence model and powered by a 430 hp GM V8, the Rally Fighter is a vehicle that definitely performs as well as it looks. Translogic’s Bradley Hasemeyer spent the day with Local Motor’s co-founder and CEO Jay Rogers to discuss not only how the Rally Fighter came into being, but how it’s built process is one of the most efficient in the industry.

To find out more about the Rally Fighter head on over to Local-Motors.com, and make sure to click through for the video
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