The Accessory Dream Guide Issue 4

GEAR INTO ADVENTURE

So we got the thicker sway bar installed and the diff cover just in case. And once I got that done and started hitting trails, the appetite for a more self-sufficient long hauler just kept on growing. I started thinking of a trip to Argentina in a few years. I started thinking of the 1 month off-road trip I would take in 2017 . And the build kept on growing. Rob has always been there to stop me going into the looks-only direction vs. functionality and I’m thankful for that. Victor is from Vancouver, but jokingly calls himself a “secret citizen of the world in hiding”. He got 37” inch tires on 17” wheels as Rob suggested because: “I should have smaller rims if I plan to go to third world countries in case something happens and I need to get a replacement. Rims larger than 17”aren’t as common out there.” Mr. Beast became Victor’s Dream Ride, “the same week I left on the 36-day overland journey, North Shore Off-Road installed a dust-proof snorkel for me so I don’t have to clean out the air filter every other day from constantly being in out there in deserts for days.” These final touches before the trip gave Mr. Beast it’s overland look and functionality. In fact, I’ve just released a trailer for my 36 Day Overland travel across California, Arizona, Nevada and Utah. It will consist of 33 episodes as part of my first overland life content creation process. I want to inspire others as I was inspired.” “My 36 day overland trip revealed that I’m more of a scenic overlander guy rather than an every challenge seeking off-roady overlander type. Not that I’m not looking for challenge, and proof of that is doing trails like Metal Masher in Moab, Utah in a full-size truck, which not too many people dare to do. I made it with a little bend in the door and some under-door metal scratches. I was proud of my Mr. Beast as to how capable it is, even while not having lockers and all that other fancy stuff.” Victor belongs to “The Four Wheel Drive Association of BC, officially. Unofficially, on social media I’ve registered with many overland and off-road groups in the hope of building future relationships and finding like minded people to go country and continent hopping with.” As for his favourite Dream Rider locations, Victor had much to say: “BC has many great places to go, but it is huge and I’ve yet to go anywhere north past the 6 hour mark. But my heart right now is in the Mojave desert in California. There are no people around, great distances, great views (yes, deserts are scenic!) and a sense of freedom because you can do anything you like any time, like take a shower in the morning butt naked without having to even give a second thought that some odd car may come by. In my 3-day Mojave Desert crossing, I didn’t see a single soul and that stretch of land felt like a true overland experience.” The farthest Victor has taken Mr. Beast is: “To the El Camio Del Diablo Trail in Arizona (Update: at Christmas he traveled to Baja California all the way to La Paz, the furthest point away from Vancouver so far...).” Naturally, he has plans to go much, much further: “I’ve set up plans to travel to Baja, Mexico for 3 weeks. Then in the middle of August, 2018 for a month, I plan to travel to Alaska and the Arctic Circle and visit the most northern city of Tuktoyaktuk. That will basically take care of the north of this continent and I’ll start making plans to conquer everything up to the most southern city in South America, which is called Ushuaia, Argentina. In 2009, I visited Argentina and that country has tons of potential for deep exploration by vehicle. But again, a trip like this requires huge time off from work and resources. After that, years from now, I would like to port my rig to Australia for a month or 2 and take care of that continent. After that, I’ll see which continent will be next. Eventually I would like to cross my former homeland of mother Russia in either my current rig or maybe something more serious by that time.” Finally, Victor offers fellow enthusiast an invitation: “follow me at GearIntoAdventure on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube as I try to create interesting content. It is another learning curve and sometimes it’s a challenge to be flying drones and driving at the same time. Perhaps one day we will go on an adventure together, you and I.” THE ACCESSORY DREAM GUIDE 55