Behind the Ride:
Build for Off Road Adventure Ride Updates
Nate Pickel and His Custom-Built Samurai Join the Adventure Ride
The Build for Off Road Adventure Ride isn’t just about conquering trails; it’s about a shared passion for the off-road community. And as it turns out, one of the most exciting rigs coming on the ride has a unique shared history between two of the participating drivers!
Recently, the Two Guys Garage Podcast brought together a few of the Adventure Ride participants, inviting Build for Off Road host Ian Johnson and Nate Pickel of “Dirt Lifestyle” to join podcast hosts Kevin Byrd and Willie B to talk about the trip. They discussed everything from their vehicle prep to what they’re most looking forward to on the ride route, and gave us the inside scoop on Nate’s one-of-a-kind rig.
“A Monster Little Samurai”
As Nate explained on the podcast, the rig he’s bringing on the Adventure Ride is a Suzuki Samurai that Ian originally built years ago. It’s a vehicle that has been reimagined and rebuilt several times over.
“This is an ‘86 Samurai that Ian built when it was a tin-top, and then eventually did a body replacement on it, and eventually did a frame replacement on it,” Nate said. “Very little of the original Samurai is still there.”
The vehicle changed hands a couple of times before finding its way to Nate. When it did, he went “all out” and made some serious upgrades. “When I bought it, I put Unimog portal axles under it, and a hopped-up Volkswagen TDI engine, and a Jeep transmission and Jeep transfer case—it’s a whole hodgepodge of different things.” Nate also stretched the wheelbase to make room for the beefy, 43-inch tires the rig currently sits on.
Watch Nate’s Suzuki Samurai in action!
“It’s a monster little Samurai for sure,” Nate said.
Ian told Kevin and Willie that he’s stoked to see his old build come full-circle on the Adventure Ride. “I’m excited to see it in the rocks,” he said. “I think it’s gonna be fun to see it tackle some of these trails.”
Powering Through the Brakes
Nate will be driving his Samurai on the Adventure Ride as a brand ambassador for PowerStop, one of the Adventure Ride’s key sponsors.
Willie, who will also be on the Adventure Ride, has put his trust in the brand as well. He shared on this podcast episode that getting his 1983 CJ7 ready for the ride included a crucial upgrade to a PowerStop brake kit—ensuring he has the stopping power needed to tackle the punishment of the trails.
Want a deeper dive into the prep work for Willie’s CJ7?
The Ultimate Test: Backdoor
For Nate, the Adventure Ride trails will be the ultimate test for his Samurai. He’s particularly looking forward to one specific obstacle on the route.
“What I’m most looking forward to on this trip is Backdoor,” said Nate. “I haven’t had any vehicle that I could really put tires on Backdoor and have a real chance at doing it.” That’s where Nate hopes those beefy, 43-inch tires will come through!
“The Samurai, even though it’s a little bit shorter wheelbase for Backdoor, I feel like it’s the best vehicle I have for the job,” said Nate. “I’m hoping to get most of the way up Backdoor. It’s a hell of an obstacle.”
If you’re not already familiar with Backdoor, here’s a quick explanation from Ian (you can learn more in our blog post about the trails in Johnson Valley that the Adventure Ride crew plans to attempt):
Backdoor
onX Rating: 10/10 – difficult
Ian plans to head to Backdoor and give everyone a chance to tackle this iconic obstacle which, as Ian puts it, “is nearly impossible to do, but everyone likes to try it.”
This “bucket list” obstacle leads up and over a daunting eight-foot waterfall ledge. Worn down by countless attempts by off-road pilgrims to conquer this rite of passage, the vertical rock wall is slippery, preventing tires from getting much of a grip to crawl up; ultimately, drivers just have to go for it.
“It’s the type of obstacle that you’re either going to make it, or you’re going to end up upside down,” says Ian.
“You’ll see $150,000 buggies that cannot do it,” said Nate while chatting with Kevin, Willie, and Ian on the Two Guys Garage Podcast. “And then you’ll see a dude on leaf springs with a mullet that will do it, just by banging rev limiter all the way up.” Nate laughed. “I’m somewhere between those two – no mullet, and not a $150,000 [buggy]; so we’ll see how the Samurai fits on the waterfall.”
When Kevin asked if Nate feels any jitters about it, he responded that at least for now, it’s much more excitement than nerves.
“I’ve rolled over many trucks,” said Nate. “It’s not the end of the world or anything.”
That said, Nate admitted he’d like to avoid wrecking the Samurai if possible. “It’s pretty, still.”
To hear Ian’s tips for successfully attempting Backdoor and a few hints about what rig he’s planning to bring on the ride, listen to the full episode of the Two Guys Garage Podcast below.
What do you think of Nate’s Samurai?
Share your thoughts in the comments below! And make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss any updates as the countdown to the Adventure Ride begins!
What do you think of Nate’s Samurai?
Share your thoughts in the comments below! And make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss any updates as the countdown to the Adventure Ride begins!
Nate will be proudly representing PowerStop, a featured sponsor of the Adventure Ride.
Want to send your brand ambassador on the ride? Get the details here.
Nate will be proudly representing PowerStop, a featured sponsor of the Adventure Ride.
Want to send your brand ambassador on the ride? Get the details here.
Ready to Join the Adventure?
Watch the video below to learn more about putting your brand in the middle of the action!
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