CTI Tour 2015 Starts Today - Leg 1 to Jeep Beach

CTI Tour 2015 is ON!

Starting tomorrow, our own Corey Osborne (facebook) will be travelling this great country with the Corner Travel Index Supension Testing Trailer in tow... all with two goals in mind...

First, to get to the 2015 Jeep Beach in Daytona, Florida.

And second, but more important, to meet YOU along the way, get pics and gather stories for our own ModernJeeper.com

Below is a map of his travels and where he will be stopping to set up the CTI Trailer. Some other details are being worked out, but for the most part the fix is in! You can follow on Instagram or Facebook or Twitter. The hashtag is #ctitour2015 and, of course, #cloakedrepublic.

We hope to see you on the road!

Cheers,

Matson

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CTI TOUR 2015, PART 1 of 4

This is the first cross-country trip of the year. Starting in Colorado, we are heading down to San Angelo, Texas, over to Houston, through Louisana and off the Daytona Beach for Jeep Beach 2015!

Now, this trip will be a LITTLE different then last year. Corey is pulling the CTI trailer, but without a Metalcloak Signature Rig. We have one of those already in Daytona built by our friends at JeepersDen.

BTW, if your town or shop is not on this trip, don't despair, there are there will be three more trips including another Southern run when we hit the Sherrif's Jeep Fest in Georgia later in the year.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND US...
Here is the list of stops on the way out to Jeep Beach. The return route will be shared soon. ;-)
1 - West Texas 4 Wheel & Offroad - Saturday, April 18

• LOCATION: At the shop: 1811 W Beauregard Ave, San Angelo, Texas 76901
• TIME: 3 - 6
• DETAILS: Facebook Event Details

2 - Maxxed Off Road - Sunday, April 19

• LOCATION: Coaches Sports Bar & Grill, 5304 FM 1960 Rd E, Humble, TX 77346
• TIME: 4 - 6
• DETAILS: Maxxed is hosting this event in conjunction with the Cruisin for St Jude fundraiser. A VERY COOL event with Live Music and more - the event goes from Noon - 6, we'll be there 4-6.

3 - Dirty Sanchez Off Road - Monday, April 20

• LOCATION: Rotolo's Pizzeria, 2125 Veterans Memorial Blvd, Metairie, LA 70002
• TIME: 5 - 8
• DETAILS: Dirty Sanchez is hosting a Pizza Party! Facebook

4 - Jeep Beach 2015!!! - April 22 - 26

PIC OF THE WEEK

If we choose your picture for the Pic of the Week, we will send you a Metalcloak Hat or Tee-Shirt of your choice (you must contact us with shipping information.) How do you enter? You must post your pic on our Facebook Page. We will choose the one we like the best (it helps if you have friends comment and share it ;-). Here is a great article in FourWheeler.com about How to take good pictures of your Jeep. We like them in action, on the trail, having a good time.

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CONGRATULATIONS to David Phillips of Chesapeake, Virginia, for posting this Pic of the Week. The photo is by his friend Stephen Swett. Both win this week - if you want your swag give us a shout via email or facebook.


You can see the original Facebook post here.

We'll see you on the rocks! Matson "Matsonian" Breakey MetalCloak.com 916-631-8071

Trail Food for the Non-Cook, By Badlands Off-Road Adventures

For an easy meal, just throw some meat on an open fire. (Click picture for a larger image.) Let's say you love the outdoors, and yearn for a weekend of four wheeling. But you can't cook or don't care to. It's just not your bag. Should you stay home? Of course not! You can still hit the trails – you just need to plan accordingly. You're in luck. Chef Severin has put together a nifty game plan for your next 4WD weekend. It involves selecting the right items and mapping out a menu to make your decision making so much easier. I've done all that for you. Fortunately, much of what you need is inexpensive and convenient. Because many items are packaged or premade, you don't need to be Chef Cordon Bleu to eat pretty well. As you long as you can boil water, cook over a fire (or camping stove), and you own a cooler or fridge, you'll survive! It's quite simple, actually. That's the beauty of it. You can enjoy three meals a day without a lot of fuss and mess. This outline shows you how. Afterward, I provide additional details of what to buy and where.

Outline of a Simple Menu Friday Breakfast: (at home) Lunch: Stop at a fast food joint along the way. Your choice. (Heck, I can't make all the decisions for you!) Dinner: Steak (over the fire) and lettuce; beer. Saturday Breakfast: Coffee and donuts or Coke and cookies. (Gotta get that energy for the big day ahead!) Lunch: Prepared sandwich or made on the trail; Chips, soda or sport drink. Dinner: Pork chops (over the fire) and lettuce; beer. If you're inclined, heat up some baked beans in the can. Call it a three-course meal. Sunday Breakfast: Coffee and donuts or Coke and Pop Tarts. Lunch: Chicken wings from the supermarket. Found in the deli, they're precooked. Don't grab the uncooked kind. You want to minimize cooking in camp. Dinner: At home, unless it's an extended weekend. Then you'll need to account for supper. Chicken breasts (over the fire) and lettuce. Feel free to substitute brats. Monday Breakfast: Finish off the pastries or cookies, and wash down with coffee. Lunch: Remaining prepackaged sandwiches or bring stuff to "you roll your own". Dinner: Fast food on the road or at home. See how simple this is? Nothing fancy here, and just a few food items each meal. All items are prepackage or premade. You simply grab and go.

Let's look at a few of these food items in greater detail. Lettuce: Either a head of iceberg or package of Romaine. Cut the iceberg in quarters; each one, to be topped with salad dressing, is your salad. Romaine usually comes with three stalks per package. Each stalk can make at least two salads. You literally just pour on the dressing. Don't forget a small bottle of salad dressing. In either case, don't bother chopping the lettuce in advance. You'll do that with knife and fork during dinner. (Remember: one objective is to minimize the preparation.) Sandwiches: For minimal effort, hop into a Subway, gas station or a supermarket. Look at what they have, and grab what looks good and is relatively inexpensive. Don't care for a sandwich or sub? Other possibilities include Lunchables, Hot Pockets and frozen burritos. Before leaving camp each morning, double wrap the Hot Pockets and burritos in tin foil. Stick then in a secure position above the manifold on the engine. By lunch time you will have a hot with melted cheese meal. Don't' worry about nutrition. You just need cheap body fuel for the weekend. Just right for manifold cooking! (Click picture for a larger image.) If you prefer to make your own sandwiches, buy some bread (cheapest you can find), cold meat(s) and cheese. Avoid applying any sauces in advance; you'll do that in camp. Bring along bottles of sauce or grab some of those foil packets from the fast food joint. Lettuce pulls double duty here. By the way, a loaf of bread (or package of hamburger buns) can be used for sandwiches, brats and wienies. No need to buy separate packages. Beverages: This is a personal call, but I've found that coffee, cola (Coke for me) and beer or Tequila are all I need for a weekend. If you can't make coffee or get your buddy to make it, buy Starbuck's coffee in a bottle.

Check the reqs where you will be camping to see if glass beverage bottles are allowed. Another lunch alternative.

All your food can be purchased on Friday. It will keep throughout the weekend. Snacking: Whether on the drive to and from the trail or while on the trails themselves, you're bound to get the munchies at times. Convenient snack foods (which also are good for you) include plums, apples, cucumbers (mini ones in a package), snap peas, and bananas. Cukes, by the way, can also be added to your salads. Another good snack is Mother's Oatmeal cookies, one of my favorites.

Good for happy hour or on the trail. Eat them whole out of the bag. (Click picture for a larger image.)

Mixed nuts are good, though they can be a little salty. Avoid shelled nuts (peanuts and pistachios, for example). Too often these become campfire food, and the grounds become littered with shells. You should plan on contributing to happy hour as well. Here, again, the choices are easy and convenient. Corn chips, salsa and cheese dip are a natural. Other possibilities include wheat chips and cheese (Triscuit, Wheat Thins), beef jerky and even licorice. Speaking of happy hour, a common effect after a good happy hour is lack of enthusiasm to prepare a full meal. Could be that everyone filled up on snacks or just tanked on beer. This is yet another reason to stock up easy-to-prepare food. A quick bite is possible if the hunger pains strike. (Of course, you can always bribe a buddy to cook for you. Make sure you have enough extra beer or booze with you.)

As you see, preparing for your meals doesn't have to be a nerve-wracking affair. Use these suggestions as a guide when you next visit the store. You'll quickly fill up your cart and be prepared for your next 4WD outing.

########################## Related Articles from Badlands Off-road Adventures Camp Cooking Use a checklist for Every Outing Break Camp Fast and Easy Cook Anywhere, Anytime With A Campbox Campbox Tips Wine Adds a Nice Touch to Your Outdoor Adventure Tickle The Taste Buds With A Dutch Oven

Did you miss the previous article? When Disaster Calls, Amateur Radio Answers Camping Hygiene What's On Your Bucket List

Easter Jeep Safari, CTI Tour 2015, and the Pic of the Week

Good Times! Good Times!

If you haven't noticed, this is event season and there is good wheelin' going on! From Tierra Del Sol to Easter Jeep Safari to Jeep Beach and more... there is no shortage of opportunities to get out and take your Jeep for a day, weekend or week of wheelin'!

At Metalcloak, we just got back from a week of fun in red dirt of Moab, Utah and the 49th Annual Easter Jeep Safari. This is an event that MUST be on every Jeeper's Bucket List.

You can see some of the coverage of Easter Jeep Safari at our new Online Magazine, ModernJeeper.com or do a search of your social networks for the hashtag #ejs2015.

What? A new Online Magazine? Yep. Just one more project we are doing to connect more with you, the Modern Jeeper. Check it out and let us know what you think.

We got more for you this week including the upcoming CTI Tour 2015, Jeep Beach and the famous Pic of the Week!

Matson




CTI TOUR 2015 IS ON

We spent the week at Moab doing Corner Travel Index Suspension Testing, and now it's time to take our custom-built trailer cross country, stopping at Metalcloak Authorized Installers along the way.

The first cross-country trip will be from Colorado to Jeep Beach in Daytona, Florida, and back again.

Stay tuned to our Facebook Page... we will be publishing the full route and the schedule of Authorized Installers to stop at.
TJ LONG ARM KIT NOW SHIPPING!
Yes, the TJ Lock-N-Load Long Arm Kit is finally shipping and so far the reviews have been very well appreciated.

So, for those of you who missed the 10% Pre-Order Discount, we are sorry. But, for a short time only, we will be offering a special deal on 6Pak Shocks... Save 20% off the 6Pak Upgrade Kit.

So if you get the Lock-N-Load Long Arm and want to add 6Pak Shocks, we'll take 20% off four 6Pak shocks and all the hardware needed to install. That's a huge savings!

Just give us a call to get this great deal!

Oh, by the way, we now have the Long Arm Upgrade Kit on the website too!


PIC OF THE WEEK

If we choose your picture for the Pic of the Week, we will send you a Metalcloak Hat or Tee-Shirt of your choice (you must contact us with shipping information.) How do you enter? You must post your pic on our Facebook Page. We will choose the one we like the best (it helps if you have friends comment and share it ;-). Here is a great article in FourWheeler.com about How to take good pictures of your Jeep. We like them in action, on the trail, having a good time.

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SPECIAL THANKS to Michael J Plunkett for posting this pic of the week. Adminittedly this is a little self-serving (oaky, a lot), but when Michael posted this pic of me in my 4500 car at the first round of the NorCal Rock Races, I was floored. Why? Because I had no idea I got air... hmmm. Thanks Michael!

We'll see you on the rocks! Matson "Matsonian" Breakey MetalCloak.com 916-631-8071