Dry heat. Africa hot. Sweaty. Glistening. Nope, not writing summer haiku here. Call it what you want, and give its side effects whatever adjective or verb you need to, but it boils (literally) down to one thing: It can suck when it's hot out. Some of us have to suffer through many months of ugly seasons before we're able to resurrect the truck from storage and head to the hills and trails and suffer through hard-core high temps. And those aren't miserable just for you-your truck can also take a beating if not properly equipped for fun in the sun. That's why we've got tips and gear to keep both of you wheeling in comfort and completely prepared no matter how far north the mercury goes.
Blue and red are fine, but we dig that Add-Awn comes in camo. That's cool.
Gimme Shelter
We could go into the specs of the Add-Awn Sport Shade, but what's the point? All you'll really care about when you're baking is the fact that it will provide between 80 and 150 square feet of shade. That'll feel like the moon is out. It'll mount on pickups, SUVs with roof racks, and trailers. OK, here's the tech anyway: It has low-profile brackets that go inside the truck bed, resulting in a clean fit, and it includes a carrying bag, so it's not a bulky item to store in your rig-year round (it's ideal for escaping from rain too). It has telescoping legs for dealing with uneven terrain and for angling.
FTM Enterprises, 760.732.3161, www.ftmbiz.com
Did you know that there are sleeping bags for different sexes? No, we don't mean that. We'
No More Night Sweats
Your sleeping bag keeps you toasty and warm all winter-but if you bought it because it's the dream sleeping bag for winter months, outfitted with flannel and such, you'll hate it when evening degrees are barely a relief from the day's. That's why if you're shopping for a bag, don't think simply seasonal but rather all-season. And if you'll be hiking to your destinations, pay close attention to the weight of the sleeper. Kelty hits both topics of consideration with its Light Year 3D. This one is even designed for wet climates. Comfort (and the name) comes from a Polarguard 3D insulation, which is a synthetic material that will give you warmth in the wintertime. There's a two-way locking zipper and zippered foot vent for making sure you can find a happy temperature for slumber, and it weighs in at 2 pounds, 6 ounces.
Kelty, 800.423.2320, www.kelty.com
The Freezer Fridge comes in three sizes: 33, 42, and 63 quarts (45, 53, and 70 pounds, res
Grab A Cold One
You know ARB best for its air lockers, but you'll love those Aussies even more for their portable refrigerator/freezer when it's hot out. Not a glorified cooler, the Freezer Fridge has two separate power cords-one for AC operation (120 volts) and the other for DC (12/24 volt)-and there's thermostat control so you can decide whether to make it work as a refrigerator or freezer. Extreme angles don't bother it, and it has a removable lid and basket. Its rounded corners won't tear up your vehicle's innards.
ARB 4x4 Accessories, 206.264.1669, www.arbusa.com
There's a bonus to going aluminum: shedding weight. Be Cool's aluminum radiators are 40 pe
Heat vs. Your Engine
Your OE radiator probably isn't up to the task of cooling off a higher-horsepower engine, especially on a hot day; and nothing takes the fun out of wheeling more than constant overheating. Switching to an all-aluminum radiator can lower the coolant temperature by as much as 20 degrees, and Be Cool has what you need to make this swap happen, even if you're dealing with a tight engine compartment or small grille opening. Be Cool radiators have epoxy-free construction to also contribute to heat dissipation.
Be Cool, 800.691.2667 or 989.895.9699, www.becool.com
The Sun Bucket is available in three colors and sizes M-XL.
Red Head
We're all about slathering the SPF 75 over our exposed parts, but we often forget about our scalps, and our baseball caps do nothing for our ears. That's why the Sun Bucket is an easy solution. It features SolarShield fabric rated at 50+ UPF and has a Coolmax head guard for "moisture management" (the politically correct way to say, "You're sweating like a pig"). There's an adjustable and removable chin cord.
Outdoor Research, 800.421.2421, www.orgear.com
Liquid For Your Truck
It's a mouthful to say, but it's a key ingredient for your truck to run healthy in the heat. Ready? Prestone 50/50 Prediluted All Makes All Models Extended Life Antifreeze/Coolant. Whew! It's intended for topping off, and has the precise factory-fill blend: 50-percent antifreeze concentrate for temperature and corrosion protection, and 50-percent demineralized water for heat transfer. It can be added to any cooling system-it's compatible with all types of antifreeze, regardless of color.
Prestone, 800.862.7737, www.prestone.com
Not sure what antifreeze formula/engine type to put in your truck? P5050PAMAMELAC (we didn't really shorten it up, did we?) can go into anything.
Military camo is the traditional olive and khaki, while urban is black and white and deser
Bikini Season
Nothing feels quite as awesome as an open-top vehicle-until the moment you're convinced that someone is holding a magnifying glass over your head and trying to spontaneously combust you under the searing sun. To keep the wind in your hair but gain sun block, an easy solution is a bikini top, such as this one from Bestop. The company offers them in multiple styles, including header, traditional, and strapless. To look the part of outdoor adventurer, there are three camo colors in the line: military, urban, and desert. The fabric tops have reinforced edges and industrial-grade buckles and webbing.
Bestop, 888.407.9456, www.bestop.com
The Mega Light will sleep four (51 square feet of floor space) but packs down to the size
Pitch A Tent
When the weather warms up, it's the ideal time to sleep under the stars, and having a compact tent that you can easily carry in your truck or in your backpack is the goal of the all-season Black Diamond Equipment Mega Light. Using a carbon-fiber pole sheds weight, and without the optional floor, the Mega Light rings in at a bit over 2 pounds. It's designed for being pitched over rocky terrain (and snow pits). And as a perk, it comes with a Pole Link Converter, a nylon wrap with a Velcro-type of closure system for combining trekking or ski poles into a single Mega Light pole.
Black Diamond Equipment, 801.278.5552, www.bdel.com
Fan Club
If you've pondered switching from a mechanical fan to an electric fan, summer is a good time to finally get serious about it. These are just as sturdy, and they're as capable of handling wheeling with the A/C on or being on your tow rig for hauling toys for water or dirt. In fact, you'll probably see a jump in both horsepower and torque as a side effect of the change. The Cool-Pack from Perma-Cool has dual high-output, low-amp, 14-inch fans that are controlled with a 160- to 210-degree F adjustable thermal switch in an aluminum assembly. The Cool-Pack will mount to the existing radiator-core support and uses stock fan-shroud mounting holes and fasteners; it arrives to you pre-assembled and wired.
Perma-Cool, 909.390.1550, www.perma-cool.com
This water pump has heavy-duty bearings, billet steel hubs, and aircraft-industry clearanc
Hi-Po Pump
We've already told you heat can quickly become a brutal enemy of your truck. Another way to prevent overheating your small-block Chevy is to install the Edelbrock Victor Series aluminum water pump. Featuring racing technology (where cooling and light weight matter big time for performance), they're designed for maximum flow and pressure and equal distribution to both sides of the block within 1 percent, they say. The pump flows in only one direction to keep things efficient.
Edelbrock Corp, 800.FUN.TEAM (386.8326) or 800.416.8628 (tech), www.edelbrock.com
The Wraptor technology is a strapping system that secures the instep and arch shank to the
Amphibious Footwear
Face it: Your tennies don't really cut it if your feet get wet or you're walking on them all day on rugged terrain. The X-1 from Teva is lightweight, cushioned, stable, and flexible, plus it has a 360-degree drainage system. You may not plan to do any running off road, but if you had the urge to bolt, these are tuned for just that via the Wraptor Lite fit system, and they have Protection Web, a coated fabric. The men's shoe weighs in at just about 9 ounces, while women's are about 811/42.
Teva, 800.367.8382, www.teva.com
The REI Ultra Light Jacket includes a 4x9-inch stuff sack.
The Jacket
You may not like the idea of sacrificing precious cargo room in your truck or your pack to bring along a jacket, because after all, it's summer, so the extra clothing can stay behind at camp, right? Big mistake. While it can be warm during the day, sometimes temperatures dip low once the sun goes down. That's no bueno if you're stuck on the trail or still have a long hike back. One of the key words in clothing for warm months is "breathable," but another must is "packable." The Ultra Light Jacket from REI is waterproof and has upper-arm zippers for ventilation, chest pockets and hand-warmer pockets, a microfleece-lined collar, and a double-layer front placket to keep out wind.
REI, 253.395.3780, www.rei.com
Wicking Fabric
When it's hot, you sweat. When you sweat, your clothing ends up soaking wet. If that happens, it's likely because you're wearing a natural fiber, such as cotton T-shirt and shorts. But if you plan to be outdoors-wheeling, hiking, backpacking, or whatever-you should really aim for wearing synthetic fabrics that "wick." They're better than cotton because they don't retain your sweat-they draw it and other moisture away from the skin, keeping the clothing lightweight and dry (by evaporating quickly), making you far from clammy. To know if something is wickable, watch for words like CoolMax, which is often utilized as a liner in things like shorts (think chafing), or Gore-Tex, which boasts being both breathable and waterproof. Companies such as Timberland (888.802.9947, www.timberland.com) offer clothing that wicks, including T-shirts, crew-neck tops, and even socks (since the friction between the wet sock and shoe can result in blisters). Wicking material is just as important in winter months too, so it's an investment you can wear year-round.