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