Remote Trails Radio

Episode 45 takes us on location at Overland Expo PNW! For the first time, we're recording together in person from the expo grounds as we kick off a two-part series covering one of the biggest overlanding events in the Pacific Northwest. Garrick shares why he's planning to move from his trusty 4Runner to a midsize truck camper setup, including what he's learned about payload ratings,...

Summer is coming and the rigs are getting ready — whether that means new bump stops, a custom moto seat, or frantically cutting a leash off a choking dog on a cliff. In Episode 44, Garrick is freshly back from a Capitol Reef run with the overland crew (full debrief coming in Episode 45 with guest Demetre), and Melody has been deep in build mode on the 5th Gen 4Runner. This week: Melody swaps her D...

Garrick and Melody are back with a packed episode — and a lot of grievances to air before the good stuff kicks in. Garrick kicks things off fresh off a new MacBook Air M5, finally ditching the decade-old Windows machine. Meanwhile, Melody's had a rough stretch: her 4Runner got broken into (again), she battled pink eye, and her lucky cat had nothing encouraging to say about any of it. She walk...

Melody debuts her new Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T tires and breaks down exactly how she saved $425 at Discount Tire — including the one question you should always ask at checkout. Garrick shares his experience at an Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance trail work party and makes the case for giving back to the trails we love. Melody also recaps a trip to the North Mountain Fire Lookout near Darringt...

Adventure season is here, and Garrick and Melody are kicking it off with a packed episode full of gear talk, trip recaps, and insider tips. First up, Garrick delivers an unfortunate update from Episode 40 — what started as a cracked rim from snow wheeling turned into a full steering rack replacement, officially marking the end of his snow wheeling career. Then the two recap an incredible spring me...

Episode 40 is a full-on rollercoaster. Garrick finally tracks down that mysterious rear-end thud, only to discover a much bigger problem lurking under the rig. Meanwhile, a snow wheeling trip goes sideways with hidden obstacles, cracked wheels, and more trail damage than expected. Melody shares a soggy lesson in winter tent camping after waking up in what can only be described as a lake, plus some...

What does it actually take to move toward an electrified overlanding setup—and is it worth it? In this episode, Garrick walks through the thinking behind his shift away from propane and toward battery-powered camp systems, while Melody helps unpack where that strategy shines and where it still falls short. They talk about the real advantages of electric cooking, charging flexibility on the trail,...

Melody just got back from Overland Expo SoCal 2026 , and she’s bringing stories from the show floor, vendor booths, and even an unexpected moment on stage at the Women Who Wander meetup. From suspension conversations with 74Weld to recovery gear troubleshooting with Maxtrax, this episode is a look at what makes expos worth the trip beyond just the shopping. 🚙 We also talk about community connecti...

Garrick and Melody are back with a mix of adventure updates and practical trail wisdom. Garrick shares his experience attending the Montana Backcountry Discovery Route (MTBDR) unveiling in Seattle , including what the new 900-mile route looks like, the film screening, and why Montana might be the next big BDR destination for riders and overlanders.  From there, the conversation shifts to one of th...

This one’s a mix of heavy hearts and winter wins. We start by honoring Cameron — better known as Roo — Beth’s loyal trail companion and a beloved member of our overlanding crew. If you’ve ever driven behind “Roo Tube,” you know what we’re talking about. He’ll be deeply missed. From there, we shift into a Presidents’ Day weekend done right: winter camping near the Wynoochee River with blue skies, f...

What do Goose Gear, used mud terrains, cross-country skiing in the Methow Valley (yes, that’s MET-HOW), and a futuristic Honda camper trailer have in common? Apparently… this episode. Garrick breaks down his recent Goose Gear cargo plate and fridge slide install in the 3rd gen 4Runner—what went smoothly, what didn’t (missing hardware, no instructions), and whether it’s actually worth the money. He...

In Episode 34, we welcome back friend of the show Beth for a wide-ranging conversation that blends winter overlanding reality checks with trip stories, gear lessons learned the hard way, and a few laughs along the way. We start with a follow-up on rainy-weather ventilation gear, including an honest post-mortem on the Roadie window tent—what works, what doesn’t, and how operator error (and torrenti...

In this episode of Remote Trails Radio , Garrick and Melody trade road-trip stories from winter travel across the West, introduce Melody’s new pup Yuzu, and share updates from past episodes - including a deep dive into Bluetti’s new Charger 2 and what it means for vehicle-based power systems.  Garrick walks through his experience with the Starlink Mini, explaining how standby mode makes satellite...

Welcome to the first Remote Trails Radio episode of 2026 —and instead of a highlight reel, we’re doing the anti-wrap . Garrick and Melody unpack a wild, soggy, and often frustrating Pacific Northwest fall, from historic flooding and washed-out highways to snow seasons that never quite showed up. From there, things turn productive (and optimistic): we celebrate our first-ever fan mail , share pract...

🎄 Merry Christmas from Remote Trails Radio! In this holiday episode, Garrick and Melody kick things off with updates, mishaps, and the ongoing debate over car color—before diving into gear talk, trail stories, and a deep Moab travel breakdown. We start with real-world vehicle issues, including a cargo-area heat problem in a 3rd-gen 4Runner and a physical muffler swap that had unexpected consequen...

Zack is back! Our favorite resident tinkerer (last heard on Episode 10) returns with a new-to-him 2023 Tacoma and a head full of ideas. We chat through how he specced it as a dual-sport hauler on a budget—why he went with the “park-service white” access cab, the first mods he’s already done (hello, plug-and-play bed lights and wheel chock), and what actually makes sense to upgrade when your priori...

Our Thanksgiving episode is here! 🦃 This week, Garrick and Melody dive into an unexpectedly eventful stretch of adventures, gear experiments, and one very fancy set of license plates. We kick things off with updates from Episodes 26 and 28—including Garrick’s saga of trying (and failing, then succeeding) to build a DC5521 fridge cable, plus the surprising Instagram shoutout that has us basically...

Chilly temps, big mods, and bigger trip tips. Garrick installs a DC-DC alternator charger (Bluetti Charger 1) to turbo-charge his EcoFlow River 2 Pro and talks solar (220W), safer fridge power connectors (DC5521 + Anderson swap-ends), and why cigarette lighter plugs keep letting overlanders down. Melody breaks down our Vancouver Island playbook—ferries (Black Ball vs. BC Ferries), border/dog docs,...

Join Garrick and Melody for a spine-tingling Halloween edition of Remote Trails Radio , featuring returning guest Scott as they swap eerie tales from the wilds of the Pacific Northwest. From raccoons that seem just a little too smart, to cougar cries that sound like human babies, to the chilling darkness of lava tubes and an overland camp that may be cursed — this episode has it all. The trio dive...

Melody and Garrick circle back on a summer of experiments—what gear actually worked, what flopped, and what they’re upgrading next. From window-vent rain solutions and Bluetooth headsets that finally transmit clearly, to $28 camp showers, engine-bay steam cleans, and a close call that becomes a hard-earned route-planning lesson, this one’s packed. Plus: the gloriously flowy Olympic Adventure Trail...

Load up the rigs and join us for a week of rain-soaked trails, hidden coves, and endless lake views on Vancouver Island North . Starting with a Black Ball Ferry ride from Port Angeles to Victoria, we snake our way up the island—camping at Georgie Lake, chasing fossils near Holberg, and paddling mirror-calm waters from Secret Bay to beautiful lakes. Along the way we meet Mark at the Holberg General...

In this episode of Remote Trails Radio , Garrick and Melody welcome back returning guest Shannon for a recap of their recent VIN shakedown weekend—a test run to dial in gear and routines before the big Vancouver Island trip. The conversation meanders through highlights and lessons learned: camp gadgets and cooking setups (from Skoti and Skottle grills to the never-ending search for the right pot s...

Buckle up for a fun ride! In this episode of RTR , Ann joins us to share her adventures, mishaps, and wisdom from years of overlanding. We kick things off with her 5th Gen 4Runner mods (split into two parts for good reason!) and the unforgettable story of when she rammed into Garrick’s parked rig. From there, Ann talks about how she first got into overlanding and what drew her into this community....

Remote Trails Radio - Episode 22 In this episode, Garrick kicks things off with a fun fact: Enumclaw, WA, is pronounced like “enumerate,” not like “enemy”—a little slip-up from last episode. After that, we dive into what we’ve been up to since the last episode.  Melody shares her experience on a work camping trip, which turned out to be a great shakedown for the upcoming Vancouver Island trip she’...

We're back! Our release schedule has slowed down a bit this summer as we are busy adventuring. The good news is that we'll have plenty to talk about.  This week we start with some updates from our previous episodes before jumping into Melody's vacation in Australia and New Zealand. It sounds like an overlanding paradise over there, but the conditions can be perilous so always be pre...