In this Trail Hero Expedition Spotlight, Episode 2 in the Trail Hero Expeditions Spotlight series, JD talks with the team about their Buckeye, Arizona roots, desert-driven wheeling style, and the mindset that comes from piling on serious trail miles. They share Trail Hero stories, what it’s like being tracked and moving at event pace, and how a tight crew handles the little problems that can snowball fast on the trail—plus the backstory behind their team name.

📍 Trails and Destinations

• Sand Hollow Region (Utah) — Trails Offroad

• Sand Hollow State Park — Utah State Parks

• Sand Mountain Recreation Area (Utah) — BLM

• Grand Canyon National Park

• Zion National Park

• Moab, Utah

• Gold Butte National Monument (Nevada) — BLM

• Harquahala Road (Arizona) — Trails Offroad

• Saxon Mountain Road (Colorado) — Trails Offroad

🛠️ Gear and Tools

• DJI Osmo Action (camera line)

• DJI Osmo (camera line)

• Apple AirTag

• Harbor Freight (tools + storage)

• Floor Jacks — Harbor Freight

🚙 Community Shoutouts

• SRG Offroad

• JD — Me_And_My_Yellow_JK

• The Trailhead Network

🌎 Advocacy & Conservation

• Utah Public Lands Alliance (UPLA)

• Stay The Trail Colorado

🗓️ Events and Resources

• Trail Hero Expeditions

• Overland Expo West (Flagstaff)

📞 Get involved!

• Leave us a voicemail! Call (719) 408-0132 to be featured on the show.

• Write a review! Review us on Apple Podcasts

• Follow us on Instagram! @thetrailheadpodcast

• Visit our website: TheTrailheadNetwork.com

• Trailhead Gear (Shirts & More): Shop Here

• Discounts for Trailheads! Tyri Offroad Lights — Use code TRAILHEAD15 for 15% off

We continue our close out of the year with your voicemails and the crew swaps favorite 2025 moments and what changed us most: first meet-ups that turned into friendships, holiday plans that went sideways, and the reminder that the people around the rig matter more than the parts on it. Between a few good-natured roasts and some honest reflection, we talk about what we’re thankful for, what we learned, and what we want to build together next.

📍 Trails and Destinations

• Trail Hero X

• Sand Hollow OHV Region (Utah)

• Winter 4x4 Jamboree

• Rubicon Trail

• Overland Expo West

🛠️ Gear and Tools

• Starlink

• Riverside

• SDHQ Offroad

• Rebel Off Road

🚙 Community and Advocacy Groups

• BlueRibbon Coalition

• Utah Public Lands Alliance (UPLA)

🚙 Community Shoutouts

• Calvin & Jennifer — SRG Offroad

• Fran Adler

• JD: MeAndMyYellowJK

• Keenan Campbell

📅 Events and Resources

• Trail Hero X 2025

• Winter 4x4 Jamboree

• Overland Expo West

📞 Get Involved

• Leave a voicemail

• Apple Podcasts

• Instagram

• Website

• Shop

• Tyri Offroad Lights — use code TRAILHEAD15 for 15% off

• Record your show with Riverside

JD is joined by Keenan (Overlanding with Intention), Calvin (SRG Offroad), and Fran Adler (Fran's JK Adventures) for a laid-back final check-in with the crew for the year. The crew trades travel plans (SEMA, Overland Expo, and next year’s Trail Hero), talks about making The Trailhead more mobile, and then slides into the real holiday tradition: diagnosing Jeeps that hate cold weather—aux-battery delete tips, mystery codes, and the never-ending rear main seal saga. They wrap this show with night-run talk, mapping tools like Trails Offroad and onX, and the big question: why not record episodes from actual trailheads?

📍 Trails and Destinations

• Sand Hollow OHV Region (Hurricane, Utah)

• East Rim (Sand Hollow, Utah)

• Slaughterhouse Road (Colorado)

• Trail Hero Expeditions (Hurricane, Utah)

• SEMA Show (Las Vegas, Nevada)

• Overland Expo West (Flagstaff, Arizona)

• Overland Expo Mountain West (Loveland, Colorado)

🛠️ Gear and Tools

• Starlink

• onX Offroad

🚙 Community and Advocacy Groups

• Trails Offroad

🚙 Community Shoutouts

• Calvin & Jennifer (SRG Offroad)

• Keenan Campbell

• Fran Adler

• JD Marshall

📞 Get Involved

• Call the voicemail line: 719-408-0132

• Listen on Apple Podcasts

• Follow on Instagram

• Visit the website

• Shop Trailhead merch

• Check out TYRI Lights

This episode kicks off a new series focused on Trail Hero Expeditions, with JD sitting down for one-on-one conversations with members of the cast—starting with Keenan Campbell. Keenan shares what the Expedition felt like from the driver’s seat: building a purpose-driven overland-style Jeep, the real-world headaches that don’t care about camera time (including a winch failure), and how the pace and expectations change when you’re part of a filmed trail experience. From there, they swap stories from Southern Utah stops like Grafton Ghost Town and big-view moments around the Grand Canyon, before bringing it home to what really sticks—the friends you make, the laughs you don’t plan for, and the stories you collect along the way that end up meaning more than the miles.

📍 Trails and Destinations

• ⁠Trail Hero Expeditions⁠

• ⁠Sand Hollow State Park (UT) – Trails Offroad Region⁠

• ⁠Grand Canyon National Park (NPS)⁠

• ⁠Whitmore Canyon Overlook (Grand Canyon–Parashant, NPS)⁠

• ⁠Grafton Ghost Town (UT)⁠

• ⁠Moab (UT)⁠

🛠️ Gear and Tools

• ⁠Starlink⁠

• ⁠Winch⁠

• ⁠Overland Vehicle Systems (OVS)⁠

• ⁠RotopaX mounts⁠

• ⁠FOX shocks⁠

• ⁠SuperSprings International (Coil Supports / Coil SumoSprings)⁠

🚙 Community and Advocacy Groups

• ⁠BlueRibbon Coalition⁠

• ⁠Tread Lightly!⁠

• ⁠Stay The Trail (Colorado)⁠

🚙 Community Shoutouts

• ⁠Keenan Campbell (@alphafoxtrotjku)⁠

• ⁠Overlanding With Intention⁠

📰 Legal and Policy Topics

• ⁠Keeping trails open (BlueRibbon Coalition – Current Issues)⁠

• ⁠Responsible recreation education (Tread Lightly!)⁠

📞 Get Involved

• Voicemail: ⁠719-408-0132⁠

• ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠

• ⁠Instagram⁠

• ⁠Website⁠

• ⁠Shop⁠

• ⁠TyriLights⁠

JD sits down with Ben Azam, founder of TRUKD, to talk through how a personal need for a cleaner camp setup turned into a Pittsburgh-built, modular truck bed rack system. They get into real-world fitment quirks (tonneau covers, different bed shapes, and why nothing is truly “standard”), materials and finish choices (stainless vs. aluminum, powder coat, and hardware), and what it actually feels like to scale a product company without losing your mind. Along the way, they swap trail-and-travel stories—Holy Cross plans, Sedona tire fixes, Starlink “just in case” moments, and why paper MVUM/BLM maps still earn a spot in the glovebox.

TRUKD (T-R-U-K-D)

📍 Trails and Destinations

• Holy Cross City (Colorado)

• Georgetown, Colorado

• Clear Creek County, Colorado

• Sedona, Arizona

• Flagstaff, Arizona

• Point Pleasant, West Virginia (Mothman country)

• Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

🛠️ Gear and Tools

• TRUKD modular bed rack system

• Tonneau cover (tri-fold style mentioned)

• Rooftop tent

• Awning

• Starlink satellite internet

• GlueTread tire repair kit

• Toyo Open Country R/T Trail tires

• Gaia GPS

• onX Offroad

• Purple Lizard Maps

• USFS MVUM (Motor Vehicle Use Map)

• BLM georeferenced PDF maps

🚙 Community and Advocacy Groups

• Backroads of Appalachia

• Gambler 500

🚙 Community Shoutouts

• Ben Azam / TRUKD

🗓️ Events and Resources

• Overland Expo East

• Overland Expo Pacific Northwest (PNW)

• Overland Expo Mountain West (Loveland, CO)

• Mid-Atlantic Overland Festival

• Range to Ranch (Idaho)

• 24 Hours of Appalachia: Mothman’s Revenge

📞 Get Involved

• Call / voicemail: 719-408-0132

• Apple Podcasts

• Instagram

• Website

• Shop

• TyriLights

This one’s straight from the garage: quick rig and life updates up top (the lights crushed it, it wasn’t the power-steering pump, and yes—we aired those tires way down on purpose). We traded a little friendly grief about beadlocks and link setups, then hit a short news run with gear worth watching, event notes, and a couple access items you’ll actually care about before your next trip. The back half is all you—voicemails with a solid trail win, a “learned it the hard way” moment, and one eerily on-point call about getting stuck in the sand that turned into real talk about prep, recovery, and doing it right on public land.

📍 Trails and Destinations

• Moab, Utah (TrailsOffroad Region Page)

• Sand Hollow, Utah (TrailsOffroad Region Page)

• Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area — AOAA (TrailsOffroad Park Page)

🛠️ Gear and Tools

• Starlink

• APEX Designs USA — Rapid Precision Valve

• Power Tank — On-Board Air

• Beadlock Marketplace

• TYRI Off-Road Lighting

🚙 Community and Advocacy Groups

• BlueRibbon Coalition

• Stay The Trail (Colorado)

• Tread Lightly!

🚙 Community Shoutouts

• @beatricejku

• @mudhorn_gladiator

• @mechanic_jk

• @frans_jl_adventures

• @srgoffroad

📰 Legal and Policy Topics

• BRC Updates: Recent OHV Access Wins

• BRC – Operation: Accessible

• Stay The Trail – MVUM & Smart Maps

• Tread Lightly! – Partnerships & Support

📞 Get Involved

• Call the Show: 719-408-0132

• Listen on Apple Podcasts

• Follow on Instagram

• Visit the Website

• Grab the Shop

• Check out TyriLights

JD and the crew are back to catch-up with show regulars Bryan (Beatrice JKU), Nathan (Mudhorn Gladiator) Calvin Pulda of SRG Offroad, Joe the Mechanic, and Fran Adler from Fran’s JL Adventures. The crew swaps SEMA takeaways, winter wheeling plans, and East-vs-West trail talk—from Moab and Sand Hollow to AOAA and the Ben Franklin Range—sprinkled with real-world fixes like driveshaft choices, lighting that actually helps at night, and what to pack before the snow runs. Fran adds a front-row perspective and Joe brings the wrench-turner reality check, while the gang keeps it grounded with trail etiquette and access reminders. If you’re mapping EJS prep or plotting a cold-weather shakedown, this one’s equal parts trip planning, gear wisdom, and shop-floor honesty.

📍Trails and Destinations

• Moab, Utah

• Sand Hollow State Park, Utah

• Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area (AOAA), Pennsylvania

• Ben Franklin Range, Pennsylvania

🛠️ Gear and Tools

• JKS Manufacturing (referenced for JL/JT fitment talk)

🚙 Community Shoutouts

• Bryan: Beatrice JKU the Lunchbox

• JD: MeAndMyYellowJK

• Nathan the unpaid intern aka MudhornGladiator

• Fran Adler: Fran’s JL Adventures

• Calvin: SRG Offroad

🌎 Advocacy & Conservation

• Stay the Trail

• BlueRibbon Coalition

• Utah Public Lands Alliance (UPLA)

📰 News Topics

• SEMA trip recaps and takeaways (general discussion)

• EJS prep chatter and shop talk (general discussion)

📅 Events and Resources

• Easter Jeep Safari (EJS)

• AOAA – Park Info & Events

📞 Get involved!

• Leave us a voicemail! Call 719-408-0132 to be featured on the show.

• Write a review! Help us grow on Apple Podcasts: The Trailhead on Apple Podcasts

• Follow us on Instagram! @thetrailheadpodcast

• Visit the Site: www.thetrailheadnetwork.com

• Trailhead Gear (Shirts & More): https://thetrailheadnetwork.com/shop/

• Discounts for Trailheads!

  • Tyri Offroad Lights — Use code TRAILHEAD15 for 15% off: https://tyrilights.com

JD is joined by Keenan Campbell, Nathan the unpaid intern aka MudhornGladiator, and Calvin from SRG Offroad for a post–Trail Hero debrief that’s equal parts laughter, trail tales, and behind-the-scenes insight. The crew swaps stories from Sand Mountain—including wild moments on East Rim, Double Sammy, and Triple 7s—and revisits highlights from Trail Hero Expeditions Episode 1 on Speed Sport 1. From broken sway bars and side-by-sides to concert critiques and bird-related mishaps, it’s a chaotic, hilarious recap of one of the biggest off-road events of the year.

📍 Trails and Destinations

• Sand Hollow State Park, Utah

• East Rim Trail

• West Rim Trail

• Triple 7s

• Double Sammy

• John’s Trail

🛠️ Gear and Tools

• ARB Old Man Emu 660 lb Coils

• MagnaFlow Exhaust Systems

• DV8 Offroad Hitch Skid Plate

• BFGoodrich Tires

• Rugged Radios

🚙 Community Shoutouts

• JD: MeAndMyYellowJK

• Nathan the unpaid intern aka MudhornGladiator

• Keenan Campbell (guest)

• Calvin: SRG Offroad

🌎 Advocacy & Conservation

• BlueRibbon Coalition

• Utah Public Lands Alliance (UPLA)

📰 News Topics

• Trail Hero Expeditions Premiere on Speed Sport 1

• Amazon Prime Live TV Integration for Speed Sport 1

🗓 Events and Resources

• Trail Hero 2025

• Winter 4x4 Jamboree 2025

• Speed Sport 1 Broadcast Schedule

📞 Get involved!

• Leave us a voicemail! Call 719-408-0132 to be featured on the show.

• Write a review! We’re only 9 reviews away from a giveaway at 30 reviews — Write one here

• Follow us on Instagram! @thetrailheadpodcast

• Visit the Site: www.thetrailheadnetwork.com

• Trailhead Gear (Shirts & More): https://thetrailheadnetwork.com/shop/

• Discounts for Trailheads! Tyri Offroad Lights — Use Code TRAILHEAD15 for 15 % Off

In this reflective episode of The Trailhead, JD and the crew address “The Incident,” an unexpected Jeep accident that tested everyone’s focus, teamwork, and community spirit. They open up about what happened, how they responded, and the outpouring of support that followed from fellow off-roaders. The team talks about how the Jeep was ultimately recovered by the famous Matt’s Off-Road Recovery, a reminder of the incredible network that exists within the off-road world. It’s a candid and heartfelt conversation that sheds light on safety, camaraderie, and how quickly the off-road family rallies when things go wrong. The team also talks about lessons learned on and off the trail, the gear that helped when it mattered most, and what comes next for the show.

📍Trails and Destinations

• Sand Hollow State Park, Utah

🛠️ Gear and Tools

• Tyri Offroad Lights

• Motobilt

• Rock Hard 4x4

• PSC Motorsports Steering

• Recovery Gear – Factor 55

🚙 Community Shoutouts

• JD: MeAndMyYellowJK

• Pope & Randi: JemandtheMisfit

• Alyssa: HoldMyCoffee_AZ

• Bryan: Beatrice JKU the Lunchbox

• Nathan the unpaid intern aka MudhornGladiator

• Rich Klein

• Trail Hero

• Matt’s Off-Road Recovery

  
  

🌎 Advocacy & Conservation

• BlueRibbon Coalition

• Utah Public Lands Alliance (UPLA)

📰 News Topics

• Trail Hero Safety and Community Response

• Supporting Fellow Off-Roaders After Incidents

• Gear Essentials for Emergency Recovery

📅 Events and Resources

• Trail Hero X

• Easter Jeep Safari (EJS) 2025

• All-4-Fun 2025

📞 Get involved!

• Leave us a voicemail! Call 719-408-0132 to be featured on the show.

• Write a review! We’re only 9 reviews away from a giveaway at 30 reviews — Write one here.

• Follow us on Instagram! @thetrailheadpodcast

• Visit the Site: www.thetrailheadnetwork.com

• Trailhead Gear (Shirts & More): https://thetrailheadnetwork.com/shop/

• Discounts for Trailheads!

  • Tyri Offroad Lights — Use code TRAILHEAD15 for 15% off

This episode is a recap of and marks the show’s first major adventure — a five-day overland journey spanning Utah, Arizona, and Nevada following the recording of Trail Hero: Expeditions, a new offroad reality show. The crew reflects on what it took to pull off such a massive expedition from cast to crew, from long travel days and desert heat to the rewarding moments around camp. Listeners will hear stories of breathtaking sunrise views at the Grand Canyon, challanging moments, and the lessons learned while navigating new terrain. This episode captures our side of the Trail Hero Expeditions story — the behind-the-scenes chaos, the laughs, and the moments that tied it all together — before we hand the mic to the individual teams whose interviews will roll out over the coming weeks.

📍Trails and Destinations

• Sand Hollow State Park, Utah

• Behind the Reef Road, Utah

• Green River, Utah

• Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona (North Rim)

🛠️ Gear and Tools

• Ride Dog Tracking Equipment

• Starlink

🚙 Community Shoutouts

• Alyssa: HoldMyCoffee_AZ

• Bryan: Beatrice JKU the Lunchbox

• JD: MeAndMyYellowJK

• Nathan the unpaid intern aka MudhornGladiator

• Rich Klein (Trail Hero)

🌎 Advocacy & Conservation

• BlueRibbon Coalition

• Utah Public Lands Alliance (UPLA)

📅 Events & Resources:

• Trail Hero Expeditions

• Trail Hero 2025

• Easter Jeep Safari (EJS) 2025

📞 Get involved!

• Leave us a voicemail! Call 719-408-0132 to be featured on the show.

• Write a review! Help us reach our next milestone — write one here.

• Follow us on Instagram! @thetrailheadpodcast

• Visit the Site: www.thetrailheadnetwork.com

• Trailhead Gear (Shirts & More): https://thetrailheadnetwork.com/shop/

• Discounts for Trailheads!

  • Tyri Offroad Lights — Use code TRAILHEAD15 for 15% off