Remote Trails Radio

Ep. 41: Camp & Recreate, No More Snow Wheeling, and Getting the Most from Your Toyota Service

Garrick & Melody

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0:00 | 55:39

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 meet-and-greet with Lagalag, a community-driven PNW overlanding group that pulled off an impressively organized event complete with waves of vehicles, a potluck that defied expectations, a raffle sponsored by Open Road 4x4, and a lakeside campsite that became a little too lakeside for one unlucky Sprinter van.

Melody puts Garrick on the spot with an unplanned advice session: she's found the perfect low-profile cargo drawer system for her 5th Gen 4Runner — but the company behind it has some serious red flags in the reviews. Garrick's take? Don't touch it. The conversation expands into a practical discussion about what actually belongs in cargo drawers (hint: not your recovery gear), sleeping platform headroom trade-offs, and ARB's roller drawer system as a solid alternative worth checking out.

Garrick then shares his "Camp & Recreate" strategy for making the most of shoulder season — picking a recreation activity, finding camping nearby, and avoiding the summer crowds entirely. He put it to the test on the Kitsap Peninsula, riding the impressive Port Gamble Forest Heritage Park trail network and camping at Kitsap Memorial State Park, where his Moon Fabrications awning earned its keep on a rainy Saturday.

Melody closes things out with her Toyota dealership insider tips — how service reps and tech teams work, why finding your rep is worth it, how the Costco Auto Repair program can make dealership pricing competitive, and why simply being kind goes a long way. Garrick adds a classic move for testing whether a shop is on the level.

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