Featured Products
-
TrailHammer™ Rear Bumper
$2,099.99 -
TrailHammer™ Doors
$2,620.00 – $4,999.99 -
TrailHammer™ Front Bumper
$2,679.99 -
SpeedHook™ (Chrome)
$149.00
Amanda SpeedHook™ is the fast, easy way to stay in the action; it’s compatible with Jeeps, F150s, buggies, and any vehicle with a 2” receiver hitch.
AN OVERLANDER’S PARADISE
The Colorado Flat Tops
29-minute YouTube Video by Ozark Overland Adventures
Matt’s spending his last day “exploring new areas and finding new things along the way.” He likes that instead of being on the plateau, he’s in the ravines and gulches. “It’s just really cool seeing this aspect of it.”
“We're at 8,300 FT up on the plateau, we were between 10 and 11,000 ft; but everywhere is just different, that's why I like getting out and exploring. I don’t care how big or small the stream is, this is the best sound in the world.”
THE LITTLE BOX CANYON
“All of a sudden the trees went away and there’s this!”
“This is absolutely gorgeous, this is absolutely wild; this is the coolest thing I’ve seen on this trip.”
RIFLE GAP
He found it on trailsoffroad.com. “It goes to a totally different area that I haven’t been to and that’s where I want to go!” Looks like a great spot to bring a group.
He's thankful for the drone for showing him what’s beyond the trees.
THE ASPEN GROVES
“You get up here on these open prairies and then pop out of one Aspen Grove and now boom, about to go into another Aspen Grove - assuming I don't get bogged down in this muddle”
He explains how he researches destinations and plans trips. “I’m just looking for places I’ve never been to before.” Because “You don’t know until you go.”
“In a group you can be more daring; when you’re solo, you got to take it easy.”
ENCOUNTERING AN ACTIVE RANCH
With a beautiful old log cabin.
He gives meaningful advice for traveling through cow country before enjoying a nice steep climb to ‘the prettiest Aspen grove yet.’
The day ends with an oil issue, so he’s going to town to play it safe.
ON VIEWING THIS CHANNEL VICARIOUSLY
At Expo Mountain West some of Matt's fans told him it’s an honor to live vicariously through him because they’re not in a position to follow his example right now. They have everything from kids, aging parents and demanding jobs to personal health issues.
He responds, “I want to say it’s an honor for me to help you through that, to share these adventures with you knowing that maybe you can’t get out and see the Flat Tops like this; at least not now. Hopefully in the future you can.
"Thank you for letting me know, thank you for being part of my story. I’m honored to be able to bring a little joy, a little beauty to your life if you’re unable to get out. It means a lot.”
#jeepoverlanding
#coloradoflattops
youtu.be/mwvl-1I1wnk?si=B3o8QrhYBRs_eix_
... See MoreSee Less
- Likes: 1
- Shares: 0
- Comments: 0
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
TOP THREE MUST-VISIT SPOTS FOR OVERLANDERS
‘Taking us deeper into the Smoky Mountains’
14-minute YouTube Video by #coddiwompleoverland
In this video Deb and Bill introduce us to 3 lesser-known areas of Smoky Mountain National Park. DUE TO HURRICANE HELENE, PLEASE CHECK PARK FOR STATUS OF DESIRED DESTINATIONS BEFORE YOU GO:
www.knoxnews.com/story/news/local/2024/10/05/great-smoky-mountains-national-park-visitors-centers...
CADES COVE
It’s about 60 to 90 minutes from Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg.
Take a step back in time; the roads are new but the structures are not. Founded around the 1820s, many were built by the early settlers.
”The coolest thing about these structures is they welcome you to come in and take a step back in time; these churches even still hold services on Sundays.”
Wildlife is one of Cades Cove’s biggest attractions. Watch for deer, elk, turkeys and black bear. Some in their group saw a baby black bear “laying down next to three turkeys.”
Turn right off the loop if you’d like to visit …
PARSONS BRANCH
(Was closed due to a fire, check to see if it's open.)
Parsons Branch “is definitely a must-do trail if you’re ever in the area during the fall.”
“Parsons Branch Road is a one-way gravel road that leads from Cades Cove over to US 129 or ‘The Tail of the Dragon.’ It’s 8 miles long and full of all kinds of scenery and chances to see wildlife. This route has been traveled for over 180 years by the people of the Smoky Mountain.”
“It’s definitely a pretty popular route.” The Park service said it was a moderately difficult road and that high clearance is needed, but they didn’t find problems with either of those. “What it lacked in technical difficulty is surely made up in scenic beauty.”
“This is definitely a must-do trail if you’re ever in the area during the fall.”
Parson’s Branch leaves you at blacktop road, US 129; Tail of the Dragon. You can choose to turn right to Townsend or go left into North Carolina to Cherokee, which is what they did.
“It has a few more cabins and historic places along it.”
RICH MOUNTAIN ROAD
“As you wind your way up Rich Mountain Road you can look off to the right and see out across Cades Cove. This is primarily an all-gravel road that runs for about 7 miles from Cades Cove north towards Townsend.”
If you enjoyed the video, please subscribe to their channel.
#overlandingdestinations
#smokymountainsnationalpark
#cadescove
#parsonsbranch
#richmountainroad
youtu.be/fVzXP-1CeDM?si=jgBZ9u7gEXcZQcYY
... See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
An update from John Quick - Amanda Products is a proud sponsor! ... See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
THREE MUST-SEE OVERLANDING DESTINATIONS IN ARKANSAS
24-minute YouTube Video by Big Rock Overland
In this video Big Rock Overland teams up with Trailheads Overland from Mississippi and Arkansas Offroad Adventures. Locations include Union Schoolhouse, Bub’s Cabin, Oark General Store and Oachita National Forest.
The experience features “challenging trails, incredible history, and stunning scenery. It’s been an unforgettable experience, and we're thrilled to share it with you.”
They’ve been planning this trip for a while.
The group gathers in Ozark National Forest just north of Car Wash Falls. Introductions ensue and they discuss experience levels.
The call is to “Have some fun; that’s what we’re here for.”
THE HISTORIC UNION SCHOOLHOUSE
There was a LOT of water their last time through. Not this time!
“The lack of water didn't dampen our spirits; instead, it offered a unique perspective of the landscape.”
“I’ve never seen it with no water. This is wild.”
They think there used to be a swinging bridge.
BUB’S CABIN
They heard Bub is typically there on Saturdays. It’s Saturday. They hoped “finally we’d get to meet him.”
“He’s hollering at us before we even get there.”
“I like him already!”
“Bub shared stories of a land, the cabin’s history and a way of life that’s been all but forgotten. It was an incredible experience to take a step into that history.”
Bub explained “I got Timberland here” and the house was just falling down; but when he opened the door and saw the hand hewn beams, “God, I just can’t burn that.”
Around Christmas he might have 100 visitors a day.
The group is getting hungry; they’ll eat at the next stop.
The trail “sounds so squishy.”
Then the going gets a little rough.
“All the water is hard bottom, so don’t worry about the mud.”
“This Trail is definitely one of my favorites. I forgot how much I liked it.”
BEWARE OF DOGS
Signs warn they’re in dog territory, so they roll the windows up.
The dogs start barking.
“They seem pretty tame today, I’m surprised.”
They’d been known to “bite people’s tires and all kinds of stuff.”
THE OARK GENERAL STORE
Established in the 1890s, it’s “the longest continually running store in the state of Arkansas.”
“We feasted on mouth-watering burgers and homemade pie, the kind of food that warms your soul.”
They discussed their next move. Some had to go home early to prepare for the Overland of America event in Oklahoma.
OACHITA NATIONAL FOREST
Logan’s group camps.
“The night sky was a tapestry of stars unmarred by city lights. We gathered around the campfire sharing stories and reflecting on the incredible journey so far.”
In the morning they parted ways.
“We'll see you guys in the next one.”
JUST A BEGINNING
“In just a few days we'd formed bonds that felt like they'd been there forever. It was tough to say goodbye, but we knew this wasn't the end - just the beginning of more adventures to come.”
#overlandingarkansas
#unionschoolhouse
#bubscabin
#ouachitanationalforest
youtu.be/DeyC8gUvYjQ?si=G7hco18X2xEhxvbZ
... See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
John Quick update from 9/15/14; Tracking down a turbo!
"A few more tweaks and this thing gonna be fast. I'm not regretting my decision to make the switch so far."
Amanda Products is a proud sponsor!
... See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
THE MOST HORRIFYING RESCUE YET?
“Not For The Faint Of Heart”
48 minute You-Tube video by Matt's Offroad Recovery
They got a call for a “Land Rover of some sort that is upside down in a ravine almost all the way down in Mexico.”
He took a skeleton crew because “we only need the wrecker and a few guys and it’s the weekend and nobody wanted to come.”
They’re 3 hours into an 8-hour drive. He sings for a while before deciding to answer most-asked questions; “Hopefully it’s going to be worth your time, so you don’t skip ahead in the video.”
Q & A runs from 1:01 to 3:03, whereupon someone asks him “why do we even go out and rescue these vehicles that are destroyed? There's no scrap value in them, I mean that's not going to cover the cost. Sometimes we travel a really long distance.”
Like in this instance. Matt explains “A lot of this is just to keep the mess out of the environment ... so the other thing is a lot of these are happening on public land and the government will impose fines if you leave them out there. The last I heard the forest service around here is imposing a $1,000 fine for leaving a vehicle there and $200 a day after they contact you. They give you a couple days to get it out. If you don't, you get hit with the fine and then a daily accrual of $200 a day till you get it out. So that's one of the reasons we do that.”
The same guy asked what they’re doing on “these really big jobs really far away where we say nobody could get to it except for us.” Matt explains, “They [the towing industry and off-road recovery industry] aren’t the same industries.” If the towing or recovery service doesn’t have the right equipment, “these vehicles sit there for a long time. This one that we're going to go get right now has been there for 2 months.”
There are other unrelated questions, but we’re fixated on this rescue.
At 7 hours on the road Matt admires the dunes and says “It has been a long time since I’ve been down here.” They spend the night at El Centro.
They’re back on the road @9:11. Matt tells the guys it’ll probably be a short day. They stop at a gas station – the only gas station - for snacks.
They’re on dirt @11:18. “We are headed straight to the southern border.” He counts the 'cavallo.'
A TEXT SAYS ‘WELCOME TO MEXICO’
They unload the wrecker @12:12 and soon they’re wheeling along. Matt says “I'm nervous how far I am away from help.”
They didn’t cross the border, they’re in ‘the buffer zone.’
‘THIS LOOKS PRETTY HAIRY MAN’
Much of the road has slipped away. There are boulders on the other side. Turning around isn’t going to be easy.
The wrecker squeaks and squeals.
Matt says “I’m going to need a little bit of a break.” Then he realizes, the spare tire is gone.
In fact, “All of it is gone.”
“I DON’T KNOW HOW WE’RE GOING TO GET THIS OFF THE MOUNTAIN WITHOUT TIRES”
They had hoped to roll the vehicle off the mountain, but now they realize someone needs to go on Facebook and “look for Land Rover tires.”
The customer assured him that the wheels were there.
@15:15 they’re trying to figure out how to get the wheels and how to get them where they are. “I don't want to drive the wrecker down there and back up because of there's one spot right there that I only want to drive through it one more time.” He laughs nervously.
Plan is to flip it over on its wheels … once it has some some … and “pull it right up this little chute right here.”
They find tires in San Diego, so the guys head out in Blue Steel. Matt stays behind to dig at the trail that has him vexed.
“Ugh, that is scary. It’s just NOT good.”
He digs the inside edge deeper, compacts some of the dirt by stomping, and builds up the outside.
“THIS IS A NARROW ROAD.”
@17:57 - “I'm just going to keep hacking away at this and hopefully it will make enough of a difference that we won't die on the way down.” He has three hours, “I got nothing to do... It looks better.”
Colby and Collin are in San Diego. There’s rain and flash flood advisories. When they return, they have to figure how to get the tires back up the mountain to Matt.
“There's this incredible 25 to 30 degree walk straight up the mountain to where I'm at.”
Matt calls his buddy Colt whose buddy Mark is willing to help. He and his buddy will bring a Samurai.
Matt jokes, “What they’re going to do is haul the tires up here for us and then probably stick around and make sure to call 911 if we go over the cliff or something.”
Matt keeps working the dangerous area and it looks much better.
“Sometimes I get myself in over my head; this one’s a doozy.”
He needs to figure out how to run the lines.
Help arrives; with lunch.
The tires are on the Range Rover; Matt declares “I’m not proud of what I just did but I am pleased. OK, ready to flip this thing!”
@23:52 they attempt to flip the Range Rover “with some difficulty.”
But it flips just fine.
Now they have to pull the vehicle back up the slope. Boulders slide, creating obstacles.
Matt doubles his pulling power, realizing he’s going to have to depend on a rock to hold.
The Range Rover is HEAVY; “7,000 lbs. of British muscle.”
“Did anybody see any reason why this is going to kill anybody and we should stop?”
@33:40 “WHOA, HOLD IT, STOP! THAT ROCK’S MOVING!!”
Matt confirms, “The rock’s moving?”
“Yeah, it’s starting to come down.”
Matt – “What an ordeal!”
He felt the rock start to slip.
The angles are complicated.
“I’m glad I’m not sitting in that right now.”
They look for a better rock.
They’re able to start rolling the vehicle. “Time to creep down.”
A rock is in the way. They move it.
@38:00 “It’s up!” “We got it!”
“We’re just going to go really slow.”
The sun is setting.
Mark, Colt’s friend, takes the driver’s seat in the Range Rover on the way down.
Matt assigns a spotter.
@41:59 they’re between a rock and the danger area Matt was working on; after they see they were off the edge, but it held.
@44:26 darkness has fallen. @45:16 they load the wrecker and Range Rover onto the trailer.
@46:01 Matt thanks Mark, Brody and Kai for “coming out and saving our bacon… Local area experts, that's the best thing you can have in an off-road recovery when you are outside of your normal area.”
“Good time once it started going right! That job was quite an experience. I've never had an experience like that at all.”
#offroadrecovery
#dangerousrecovery
youtu.be/DuC0agOa1t8?si=ZwOmXE0-_iYo65hE
... See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
MADE IN AMERICA
Amanda Products are engineered, tested and manufactured by Amanda Manufacturing in Logan, Ohio. We are inspired by – and committed to – the off-road community, from racing to recreation.
Amanda Products is a new division of Amanda Manufacturing, an original equipment supplier that produces more than 300 quality metal formed parts for automotive manufacturers, including hood-prop rods, hood/door/seat strikers, muffler hangers, fender braces and manual shift assemblies.