the SxS Adventure Blog

03/30/2025

10/16/2024

Check out the Halloween Stories on Colorado SxS Adventures Facebook Blog:
https://www.facebook.com/share/WRcT7iDmAbg33Ccj/?mibextid=qi2Omg

04/02/2024

✨🥰Reusable Magnetic Eyelash Kit
🛒Shop now : https://neonusmarket.com/product/eyelashkit/

04/01/2024

So excited.... look what showed up in the mail !!!!

04/01/2024

Product Review:

UTVZILLA Glass Windshield

When it comes to selecting the right equipment for your SxS Adventures, having reliable information about products before you buy them is one of the reasons I started this blog. This review is for the UTVZILLA DOT Glass Windshield which I bought and installed over 3 years ago. It has been an incredible value at $339.99 dollars and its durability was put to test with being pelted by roosted rocks, quarter sized hail and even survived a slow rollover .... it's definitely as tough as advertised.

The UTVZILLA windshield offers adjustable flap style vents allowing directed airflow inside the cab, cooling occupants when open and can providing better visibility during harsh conditions closed; powdercoated aluminum frame ensuring endurance against tough elements - everything stated earlier holds true no matter what condition you thrown at it, the glass is very strong and does exactly as advertised ..... protects from all element keeping occupants safe. Having the manual windshield wiper was a big game changer for us as well.

The only cons are manufacturers provided weather strips .... sandwichd between windshield frame and rollbar not lasting long. I assume due to flexing aluminum frame (which was designed to flex with your rollbar).... but can be replaced easily for under $7.00 dollars. Mounting bolts may rust over time, however also an easy fix ....less than $20.00 dollars.. Despite these minor setbacks overall rating remains five out five, extremely worth every penny invested buying this product.

Here is a link to UTVZILLA:
https://utvzilla.com/

04/01/2024

Update to a post I wrote about Baofeng radios. Any transmission from 2 to 50 is illegal without a Ham Operators License.... I guess I've been illegal for a very long time ?????? If your caught .....
Does this mean you’ll go to jail if you use a Baofeng as a FRS/GMRS walkie-talkie? That’s very unlikely: the FCC has bigger challenges than tracking down individual kids or off-road enthusiasts using (comparatively) low-power radios illegally. The more serious issue—which they will hunt people down for—is that it’s easy to program Baofengs to transmit on police, fire, and other emergency frequencies, which can cost lives, or to transmit on commercial frequencies and interfere with businesses that have paid good money for the private use those frequencies. You better believe the FCC and law enforcement will pay attention to those sorts of activity. Be very careful you don't accidentally program the wrong frequency? Getting a license isn't that hard and is inexpensive.

03/31/2024

Happy Easter everyone...

03/31/2024

Finally.... Some Great News.
My company.....
The SxS Adventure Company .... is real!
As of today The SxS Adventure Company is a licensed, totally legit company. This has been weeks in the making and now it's done. I am so friken happy!

Lots of future plans for this company.... I can't wait to get started and share them with you.

03/30/2024

Trail Riding in my favorite footwear!

My Flip Flops

Life dosent always have to be so complicated - and Flip Flops are definitely not complicated!

There is no easier or simpler piece of footwear than the flip-flop on the planet. All you need to do is slip them on and go, making them the defacto shoe for trips to the mailbox, grocery store, beach, and yes .... even trail riding. Of course, over the years we have all heard warnings about these shoes, especially for people in older bodies .... like me. They leave your toes exposed to accidents, lack support, and, in some cases, look juvenile and mundane. I mean....REALLY?.....I'm a Gen X'er .... I've never listened to what other people say about me anyway! So why start??

My first real pair was in 1984, a brand new company....Teva was started.. all because Mark Thatcher, a Grand Canyon river guide, was distraught over how often his flip-flops would float away. He then used Velcro straps to affix them to his feet.

Shortly after the adventure sandal was invented and hit the market. Later that year they took the bottom design from there sandal and made a flip flop. I've been wearing them ever since! My go to .... jean shorts, Van Halen Tshirt and my Teva's. And pretty much growing up in Boulder,Colorado nobody cared!

And because... I grew up with them.... I'm not going to give them up just because I'm in my 50's. Not yet!

Nothing is more comfortable than working in that garage in shorts and flip flops....

I don't know about you....but my RzR is hot in the cab, especially in the summer months. Wearing my flip flops keeps my feet a lot cooler and way more comfortable. I however .... do carry a pair of hiking boots on the RzR for emergencies.

There are instances when I definitely recommend against wearing flip-flops;

Weddings(unless otherwise specified)

At a funeral. Or really at any event that takes place in a house of worship. Now that's just disrespectful!
Except for my funeral....you'll be required to wear them! Lol

Anything that takes place in a courthouse or in the presence of a lawyer. Your hourly rate may reflect his/her opinion on your choice of footwear?

FACT - I knew a Judge once that wore flip flops behind the bench .... of course .... who's going to say anything ????

And, as should be clear to any adult, fashion is thankfully not a monolithic thing that we all have to adhere to in every strictest detail.

I think you’ll find the people who wear flip-flops in places or situations were people don’t approve of, don’t give a damn what anyone thinks anyway. Kinda like me, so .... I say wear what you want .... who cares! But .... if a 70 year old dude wears a speedo while driving his SxS, with no doors and wearing flip flops......you’ll know about it before he will....because I'm posting pictures all over social media.......I don't care who you are ???? That's funny !!!!

Always look on the flip-flop side of life.

03/29/2024

Blog Status Update:

Things are moving forward with my Blog name and official licensed logo getting trademarked. These things cost a little bit of money but the red tape headache is friken terrible.

I think I would almost pay double just so I didn't have to deal with all the B.S., but ..... its what I got to do to be officially....official.

Thanks for being a part of the blog.

03/29/2024

Our Current Radio Set Up

My (Average Joe) answer to Rugged Radios $2000.00 dollar kit......is a $100.00 bucks........ yes $100.00 bucks will have you up and running! Seriously ..... no bu****it !!!

I was all ready to drop $3000.00 dollars for the kit and the install...

I'm not sure what I was thinking .... sometimes I'm scatter brained. The purpose of the other radio blog articles was supposed to end with this article which was written months ago.

I got caught up in the Rugged Radio magic .... I fell in love with there product, got to see this kit installed in a RzR, got to play around with it for a bit. Oh how clean it looked installed, every cable had its spot. Super user friendly ...... oh man ...!!!!! It was almost a ....??????..... well you know ???? A moment !!!

Thought about buying and having it installed by a professional. Then I found Rugged Radios YouTube diy video on how to install it yourself..... AND BAM!!!!!!

Back to reality ...... and back to one of the reasons I started this blog. To help all of us Average Joe SxS enthusiasts out there by showing you that a $2000.00 radio setup..... might be a waste !!!!

Disclaimer: I am not ..... never claim to be ...... nor will I ever claim to be that RADIO COMMUNICATIONS guru!
I buy, I have a friend who programs them and I use them. I report how I use them, where I use them and I give a basic review.....

But.....I love the Baofeng radios. Bought them about 4 yrs ago. They go with us on all our trips. In fact as a few of you know .... I have 5 of these radios( just upgraded two of them) and routinely hand them out during rides to those that dont have a radio and need one ( middle of the pack position, tail gunner position or even to the lead guide position.
I have also loaned them out for people to try and review before purchasing.

They are programmed to be capatible with the Rugged Radio frequencies and work amazing. The amount of accessories that you can get for these radios is jaw-dropping. And the best part ... they are cheap on Amazon.

These Baofeng radios
are the same exact Chinese radios that Rugged Radios buy and use. I mean exactly the same. Rugged just orders their's with their logo on it and they are pre programmed by r
Rugged.

You can purchase a cheap USB cable and use free software to program the channels with your computer. Or if your not that kind of computer guy someone else can do it.

Don't take my word for this "mind blowing revelation" about Rugged and Baofeng ..... I urge you to Google it ...... ???

We have never had a problem or issue with these radios. We have however ..... had problems with some of the accessories but they weren't a big deal.

I bought two Rugged Radios headsets with the boom mics and push to talk feature on the ear piece. Even know they are a Rugged Radio headset ... they plug right into the Baofeng radio. They where on sale at the time .... for like $49.00 bucks on Amazon and they are pretty nice...I just didn't like the push to talk button being up by my ear! We still use them today.

When I let people borrow a radio I also give them a brand new "secret service" style push to talk ear piece. These are cheap on Amazon. I buy them in bulk...and they come in a sealed indivdual package....I do this so users have a uncontaminated .... never used ear piece.

Breaking down my cost:

Radio: Mirkit Waterproof Baofeng Radio UV-9R Plus MK1 (UV-82 3rd Generation) 8W Ham Radio VHF/UHF 144-148/420-450mhz Walkie Talkie with 2200mAh Battery, IP67 Radio: Dust, Cold & Waterproof Radio
$37.00 bucks on Amazon

Extra Battery: MIRKIT Radio Baofeng Battery BL-9 2200 mAh Li-ion Compatible with: Baofeng UV-9R, UV-9R Plus, BF-T57 Rechargeable Extended Battery
$15.00 bucks on Amazon

Antenna:Dual Band Antenna Upgraded MP-701 SMA Female Antenna for Baofeng Accessories, VHF/uhf (144/430mhz) 50 Watt, 8.3inch Whip Antenna -
$15.00 bucks on Amazon

Ear Piece:Baofeng Air Acoustic Tube Earpiece with Throat Mic Headset for Baofeng UV5R BF-888s
$10.00 bucks on Amazon

Total cost: $77.00 dollars

The best part of our Baofeng radios is they are mobile. We can take them whenever we leave our SxS. We use then for general trail comms,trail obstacle spotting, backing our camper up, vehicle to vehicle comms when we are on the road, emergency comms and a whole lot more.

Legal issues: There are some stories out there about needing a license to operate. I can tell you that I have only just began to research this. Up to this point, after 4 years of using them, I have never had any legal issues...... for the little bit of time on the wknds we use them .... I'm not sweating this ...!

To be fair:
Rugged is a more professional set up. They are a well known brand and definitely have consumer perceived brand value. However .... the amount of money I saved not buying there product bought a complete set of tires for my RzR. Just food for thought ????