HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON !!!

Last run of the season on Miller Jeep Trail

Well, the summer season is over. It finally hit me at Thanksgiving. With the time change, is gets dark much earlier, and the temperature is heading down the scale day by day (well, it was in the 80s here in Southern California for the turkey weekend, but in general, it's getting colder). With fall in full force, holidays coming up, and winter quickly approaching, for many of us our off-road adventure focus changes. Instead of heading out almost every weekend, we have to work in trips around family events and weather extremes.

Replacing a drive axle after a failure on the trail

 With the change of seasons, we should remember to do all the maintenance on our rigs we might have been putting off during the busy summer months. Winter weather is much tougher on a vehicle, and and early darkness makes the thrill of trail repairs less enticing - so now is a great time to take inventory of your vehicle, and fix what needs to be fixed. Hoses, belts, lights, brakes, and tires are even more important to be in good working order when the ground gets wet and sunlight fades. If you keep spare parts stored in your rig, this is a good time to rotate them into use, and replace them with fresh stock for the next summer season.

Security Chain Company

For those who like to adventure out into the snow or mud, make sure you have tire chains on board, and that they are the proper size for you tires. I've seen many folks who had chains at the ready, only to realize that they up-sized their tires since last winter, and their current set won't work. Also make sure you have chains that are not just the right size, but the right style. Newer rigs, with independent suspensions, usually can't accommodate full chains - cable chains are necessary to clear mechanical parts and avoid a disaster. Here's a link to help you make sure you get the right size, and the right style for your vehicle - TIRE CHAINS

PIAA Wiper Blades

Another part often ignored until you need them are you windshield wipers.This is especially true in southern California, where the long dry season leaves the wipers unused. PIAA WIPERS tend to hold up better in the long hot desert-like environments, as their silicone construction is resistant to dry rot and deterioration from smog. They work well dry, to get the dust off the windshield, and even better in rain, where they are streak-free and quiet. Available for virtually every vehicle, I recommend installing PIAA Wiper blades before the next rainy "streak" 

Night runs in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Of course, those who know me, know one of my favorite topics is vehicle lighting - and the longer nights, and more dangerous conditions that winter brings makes your rig's lighting system even more important - both on the trail, and on the road.  I'll discuss lighting in more detail in my next blog post,. From upgrading your headlights, to adding auxiliary lighting for all types of road and trail situations, there are many choices in price ranges that should work in any budget.- so stay tuned for a detailed overview of vehicle lighting. For those who can't wait, you can check out all the major brands of lighting products - including PIAA, Hella, Rigid, KC Hilites, Acro, Eagle Eye, and Warn - on the DIRTY PARTS website.