Verne Simons
Senior Editor, Jp
SEMA is a hot spot for anything new, cool, automotive and aftermarket. It’s a great venue for the unveiling of the coolest new off-road tires, new suspensions, lights, trucks, Jeeps, 4x4s, winches, gizmos, sparkily widgets, and more…just about anything really. The first day is always a blur with excitement at every turn, seeing new stuff, getting the scoop, and meeting new (and old) friends. We love checking out new parts, but SEMA is also a great place to find cool new tools. You cant build cool rigs without the right tools, and maybe that’s why we love tools? Check out all the new tools we saw, and keep your eyes peeled as were sure to find more stuff as we explore the show all week long.
DED’s Maxxis Off-Road Runner needed tools to be built!
Dimple dies add strength to metal and good looks to any off-road project. They are also easy to add if you have the right tools. Namely some way to make a nice round hole and a way to create the all important dimple using your dimple dies and a press. Sure offering them as a set is not new, but that doesn’t mean we don’t want a set for our very own!
We bumped into the Red Baron Tools Tool Organizer and Cart at Off-Road Expo. It looks like a really innovative way to store tools with a spinning head and a design that puts the tools right there in front of you. Perfect for our easily distracted minds.
The Millermatic 211 MIG welder is brand new at SEMA 2015. We’ve been spending lots of time with a Millermatic 190 and this welder ups the game welding 3/8ths steel with one pass (while the 190 is good for 5/16ths). Both feature Auto-set, a new drive system, and you can add a spool gun.
We noticed this cool new product from Smittybilt at SEMA 2015. It’s called WRAP Woven Repair Active Powergrip, and it can be used for a variety of trail repairs including plugging up an exhaust leak just about anywhere.
If you are like us you’ve probably dealt with storing (even temporarily) a set of off-road tires. It’s a pain especially when you need to move those tires even just a few feet. Time to unstack and restack or use this cool tire dolly, the trustack from Chariot Concepts. Yep, we’ll take one…or two.
OK, so it’s not a new tool (they’ve been around since the late 60s), but we don’t care, we still want one. What home fabricator doesn’t want a Scotchman Ironworker…maybe someday.
What protects items in your trucks bed from the elements better than a tarp without permanently modifying your truck? How bout the Ruffsack? It’s a foldable storage area (available in 4,6, and 8 foot lengths) that you can use when transporting stuff. The standard-duty Ruffsack is weather resistant and inexpensive while the heavy-duty Ruffsack is waterproof. Cool idea!
Engine stands are nice unless you are working on an axle. That is unless you have the Traction Mounting System from Rack Up Equipment which converts most engine stands into an “axle stand” allowing you to work easily on your re-gear or locker install project.
Keeping your stuff yours is becoming more and more important every day. Dirtbags everywhere want your stuff (not dirtheads. They are awesome and only want your pie). How about a lock for your D-ring shackles? That’s just what we found from Infinite Rule Security.
In our modern world having usable electricity is more important than ever. Especially if you are like us and spend lots of time away from wall outlets. The Micro-Start XP-10 can help you get more power to your car and many of your other toys.
