Sawtooth
Words by Perry Mack
It’s easy to come up with a good idea, but getting the cash to make it real can be a huge challenge. SEMA’s Launch Pad competition looks for the best soon-to-be products and aims to lend a helping hand with cold, hard cash (and advice). Let’s gaze into 4WDrive’s crystal ball to see what you may be able to soon buy and customize your rig in ways that you never thought of before.
Starting with almost 200 competitors, the competition has been whittled down to 15 finalists. At SEMA it will be narrowed down to just five and a panel of judges will award cash prizes of $5,000, $20,000, and $75,000. We have distilled the current 15 finalists down to the top five new truck, jeep, SUV products we’d like to see in 2022.
In no particular order, here are 4WDrive’s top five picks.
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Off_Road_in_Mind
The RGB has a tool-less install and makes gear oh-so-easy to access.
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Off_Road_in_Mind
The RGB works with any spoked wheel and comes with a five-year limited warranty.
Recovery Gear Box (RGB)
Always easily accessible, the RGB bolts to a rear-mounted spare tire and can be loaded with recovery, emergency or any other gear you want to organize and/or access quickly or frequently. It’s a tool-less install that only takes minutes and accommodates any spoked wheel on trucks, SUVs, RVs and off-road trailers. The company is called Off Road In Mind and is the brainchild of Adam Gruener. When we asked Gruener about durability he said, “We ran it on a Jeep (2-door, but still) and it was perfect other than a few scratches.” The RGB is backed with a five-year limited warranty against manufacturer's defects.
Available now for $249.99 (USD) at offroadinmind.com and amazon.com
More info at www.offroadinmind.com
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Tailhand
The Tailhand is designed to create a stable work surface.
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Tailhand
The Tailhand can hold materials and tools using patent-pending dogholes and inverted T-tracks.
TailHand
Considering the attention truck manufacturers have given to improving tailgates as workspaces, this accessory looks like a huge hit. The steel, e-coated Tailhand mounts to most pick-up truck tailgates to create a stable work surface to hold materials and tools using their patent-pending dogholes and inverted T-tracks. According to founder Michael Ruhs, he developed the idea after almost losing his leg with a power tool working from his tailgate. According to Tailhand, “Workers can attach their existing tools to the platform, along with the TailHand accessories, for a completely custom environment, specific to any project. TailHand is easy to install, yet provides a solid, stationary workstation that can be removed as needed.” We also see it being great for easily securing camp gear or long loads like a kayak. Made in the US, the Tailhand comes with a limited lifetime warranty with a one-year warranty on its accessories.
Estimated Price and delivery date: TBA
More info at www.tailhand.com
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Sawtooth
This roll-up cover can cover loads even if they are taller than the truck bedsides.
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Sawtooth
Its military-grade modified composite material is water-resistant, supports snow loads and has a two-year warranty.
Sawtooth STRETCH Tonneau Cover
We’ve seen dozens and dozens of tonneau covers over the years, but we’ve yet to see one like this. We’re constantly loading gear low enough to clear our rolling cover or using our-not-so-handy tarp to cover taller loads. Sawtooth’s roll-up cover is manufactured from a stretchy material that allows it to cover loads taller than the truck bedsides and it can still enclose even if your gear sticks out over the tailgate. Founder D.J. Potter says, “Some truck bed cover manufacturers will void their warranties if cargo comes into contact with their tonneaus. The Sawtooth STRETCH is designed to come into contact with cargo and help protect and secure it from the elements.” The military-grade modified composite material is water-resistant, supports snow loads (it was developed and tested in the Rockies) and has a two-year warranty. The hardened aluminum frame is powder-coated, the install looks tool-less, fast and easy, and the hardware comes with a limited lifetime warranty. The one ‘con’ we see is that there is not a lockable version but even though our soft tonneau locks, we never do since someone is bound to cut it to see what’s in the truck (a lesson we learned from our soft top rigs).
Available now from $399 USD depending on fitment (they can also custom order for fitments they don’t stock).
More info at www.sawtootht.com
Install Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idAmM0FO_Fs&t=7s
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Xtrusion
Rated capacities range from 136 kg (300 lb) static and 454 kg (1000 lb) dynamic and up.
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Xtrusion
The versatile XTR1 Modular Cargo Bedrack can effectively store all your gear.
XTR1 Modular Cargo Bedracks
We like modular systems because you can customize them for what you need now, and change out or add components when you want or require something different. Xtrusion Overland has designed just such a system called the XTR1 using both off-the-shelf and custom components and two of our favourite terms – high quality, low price. The base rack is T-slot extruded aluminum, which we often see in industrial applications. They also add hinges, panels, slide bearings and more to create everything from cooler slides to bike racks and kayak mounts. Rated capacities depend on your vehicle but they range from 136 kg (300 lb) static and 454 kg (1,000 lb) dynamic and up.
Available now from $649 for the base bed rack
More info at: www.xtrusion-overland.com
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RaZorTop
Manage taller loads with The RazorTop with the push of a button.
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RaZorTop
The RaZorTop is made from aluminum and stainless steel and the sides/ top are water- and wind-resistant.
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RaZorTop
The RaZorTop is a great alternative over a truck bed cap.
RaZorTop Retractable Cap
Some pick-up truck owners use tonneau covers, some use caps. Wouldn’t it be great to have both? The RazorTop can function as a regular roll-up tonneau cover and then with the push of a button, it powers up into a full-size cap for larger loads. Inventor Mike Sullivan, says a cap is handy and allows you to transport a lot of cargo but it makes your truck look like an SUV. He wants his truck to look like a truck. “A fibreglass cap limits you to carrying cargo that fits under the cap. If you want to haul anything taller, you must remove the heavy, cumbersome cap leaving your cargo unprotected.” He says the RaZortTop advantage is, “If you have cargo taller than the height of our fully-extended RaZorTop, simply roll back the cover, which allows you to haul taller items.”
The skeleton of the RaZorTop is made from aluminum and stainless steel while the sides and top are constructed from a water- and wind-resistant, long-lasting durable material. The RaZorTop comes with a three-year limited warranty. A very cool option to consider is the Sky Screen, a mesh material that opens this tonneau cap up for full ventilation so you could sleep in the bed protected from flying critters. Made in the US by Fox Products.
Available now from $2,995 USD and up, depending on fitment
More info here: www.razortop.com
Watch the video: https://youtu.be/QQMpm_xug8M
To learn more about SEMA Launch Pad and each of the 15 semi-finalists, visit www.sema.org/launchpad.