REPURPOSED DESERT FENCE: OLD TIRES AND FRONTIER INGENUITY

USING TIRES TO BEEF UP OLD IRON FENCE WITH FRONTIER INGENUITY

By Del Albright

 If you explore the remote desert long enough—whether overlanding, off-roading, or just wandering—you’ll witness ingenuity that borders on genius. Survivors and settlers in harsh conditions had to adapt fast and waste nothing. What might look like junk to some becomes treasure out here.

Take this fence, for example: built from rusted metal rails and reinforced with old, discarded tires. It’s rugged, resourceful, and pure desert frontier creativity.

I've come across all kinds of desert recycling methods:

• Railroad ties used as structural beams or walls

• Pine pitch for sealing cabins and siding

• Tires repurposed for fencing, water retention, insulation, and even furniture

• Scrap lumber made into barns, corrals, or windbreaks

• Flattened tin and kerosene cans turned into siding for old miner shacks

This is how people made do. Nothing went to waste. And every item tells a story—of survival, grit, and the wildness of the American West.

🚙 Tips for Responsible Overlanders and Explorers:

• Snap photos, not pieces of history

• Respect backcountry engineering—it's part of our heritage

• Leave things as you found them

• Appreciate the ingenuity that built the West

Out here, the desert doesn’t hand out second chances easily. You’ll find that the folks who once lived here were some of the original sustainable engineers, long before it was trendy.

#DesertLife #OverlandingUSA #HistoricStructures #LeaveNoTrace #SustainableLiving #TrailHistory #BackcountryEngineering

MORE HELPFUL LINKS:

DEL'S BOOKS (LAND USE, WILDFIRE, DEATH VALLEY, COWBOY POETRY, AND MORE)

WEBSITE (HOME PAGE)

PINTEREST (BOOKS, ARTICLES, AND MORE)

FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

DEL'S ARTICLES (LAND USE, LIFE, WILDFIRE, VOLUNTEERISM, AND MORE)

 More land use and volunteerism help here:

• MEETINGS:
• RUN A BETTER MEETING
• LETTERS: 
• WRITE A LETTER
• SPEECHES:  
•  GIVE A SPEECH
• FACILITATE: 
• FACILITATE MEETINGS
• JOIN:
• JOIN THE RIGHT GROUPS
• LEAD:   
• LEAD VOLUNTEERS

#landuse #stewardship #conservation #motorizedrecreation #jeep #jeeplife #volunteerism #volunteers #leadvolunteers #delalbright #BuiltOnBFG #cloakedrepublic #savetrails #leadership

 

 

PRESS RELEASE

50 Years on BFGoodrich Tires

Del Albright Announces 50 Consecutive Years on the BFG Brand

By Del Albright, Sustainable Motorized Recreation Advocate

Internationally published writer, book author, Hall of Fame Inductee, and motorized recreation advocate Del Albright is celebrating his 50th straight year of running BFGoodrich Tires on his various vehicles.

“I came home from combat duty in Vietnam and got out of the active Army in 1972 to attend college in N. CA. Hunting, fishing, and four-wheeling were my main playtime activities, and I needed the right tire for all conditions. So, in 1975, I chose BFGoodrich Tires because of their toughness and traction. I have been on BFGs ever since! 1975 – 2025; 50 years worth,” says Del.

Albright has recreated off-pavement on various motors his entire life, thanks to his dad, Elmer Albright, who spent most of his weekends either in the desert or on the ocean (fishing) with kids. The outdoor lifestyle runs in the Albright blood.

Del adds, “In my life, I’ve had dozens of 4x4 pickup trucks, a dirt bike or two, a water-pumper dune buggy, and a half-dozen Jeeps from YJ, CJ, XJ, TJ to JK. All on BFG tires because of their unmatched reputation for legendary racing toughness and trail traction from Baja to the Rubicon Trail.”

Albright is the founder of the Friends of the Rubicon (FOTR) and the Founding President of the Rubicon Trail Foundation (RTF), both of which were supported by grant money from BFG’s Outstanding Trails program. In 2014, he was inducted into the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame (ORMHOF) for his work on the Rubicon Trail and training and motivating four-wheeling volunteers to get involved in keeping motorsports alive and well.

More on Del’s background here in the BFG Garage: https://www.bfgoodrichtires.com/auto/garage/exploration/if-its-important-to-you-protect-it.

On his 4x4 rigs, Del has run Radial T/A's, All-Terrain, Trail-Terrain, and Mud-Terrain variations of BFG tires and loves them all. “I have never met a BFG tire I didn’t like,” says Del, smiling. “And when you add in the fact that BFGoodrich Tires supports land use and helps keep trails open, buying BFG makes perfect sense to me,” concludes Del.

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HELPFUL LINKS:

DEL'S BOOKS (LAND USE, WILDFIRE, DEATH VALLEY, COWBOY POETRY, AND MORE)

WEBSITE (HOME PAGE)

PINTEREST (BOOKS, ARTICLES, AND MORE)

FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

DEL'S ARTICLES (LAND USE, LIFE, WILDFIRE, VOLUNTEERISM, AND MORE)

 More land use and volunteerism help here:

• MEETINGS:
• RUN A BETTER MEETING
• NEPA: 
• LEARN MORE ABOUT NEPA
• LETTERS: 
• WRITE A LETTER
• SPEECHES:  
•  GIVE A SPEECH
• FACILITATE: 
• LEARN TO FACILITATE MEETINGS
• CLUBS:
• WHY JOIN A CLUB
• CONVOYS:
• ORGANIZE A CONVOY
• JOIN:
• JOIN THE RIGHT GROUPS
• TRAINING:
• GET VOLUNTEER TRAINING
• LEAD:   
• LEAD VOLUNTEERS
• JOBS:  
• CHOOSE THE RIGHT JOB FOR YOU

MORRFLATE SUPPORTS LANDUSE BIG TIME!

A special message from the owner of Morrflate:  

"Since starting MORRFlate in 2019, our mission has been to support our trails and keep public lands accessible. Before 2024, we donated $94,200 to trail projects and advocacy. In 2024, we contributed a whopping $54,885 to these causes, making our lifetime total $149,100! Note that $1,400 of 2024 donations came from our fundraiser items: slate rounds and trash bags. When you rock the neon green, you're not just part of the MORRFlate family; you're helping keep the adventure alive for everyone."

Tyler Laursen, MORRFlate.

A special note from author Del Albright: 

I never get tired of reminding motorized recreationists to buy from businesses that support our trails and help keep them open to all. When a company like MORRFlate demonstrates this kind of dedicated involvement, we need to return the favor and support them! We love our MORRFlate tire inflation and deflation kit. Take your air up/down to the next level and visit: 
https://morrflate.com/

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MORE HELPFUL LINKS:

DEL'S BOOKS (LAND USE, WILDFIRE, DEATH VALLEY, COWBOY POETRY, AND MORE)

WEBSITE (HOME PAGE)

PINTEREST (BOOKS, ARTICLES, AND MORE)

FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

DEL'S ARTICLES (LAND USE, LIFE, WILDFIRE, VOLUNTEERISM, AND MORE)

 More land use and volunteerism help here:

• MEETINGS:
• RUN A BETTER MEETING
• NEPA: 
• LEARN MORE ABOUT NEPA
• LETTERS: 
• WRITE A LETTER
• SPEECHES:  
•  GIVE A SPEECH
• FACILITATE: 
• LEARN TO FACILITATE MEETINGS
• CLUBS:
• WHY JOIN A CLUB
• CONVOYS:
• ORGANIZE A CONVOY
• JOIN:
• JOIN THE RIGHT GROUPS
• TRAINING:
• GET VOLUNTEER TRAINING
• LEAD:   
• LEAD VOLUNTEERS
• JOBS:  
• CHOOSE THE RIGHT JOB FOR YOU

ABOUT TIRES AND SAFETY

THE RIGHT TIRES MAKES A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE IN YOUR FUN TIME!

A Few Simple Tips and Some Safety Reminders


Recently I had the opportunity to see how tires are made, and to learn the significance of the right tire, taken care of properly.   Some of this I knew; some I didn't.  But I can tell you this; there is little more important, save brakes, than your tires on your rig.

Depending on what kind of off-roading you do, an aggressive lug tire like the BFGoodrich Mud Terrain will take you anywhere you need to go, at a fair price, with reasonable road life.  But did you know that on the road, if you leave your tires at low air pressure, you can experience 1/2 (yea, 50%) loss of the traction in wet conditions -- with any tire!  And that is if you reduce your pressure by merely 15 psi (from 35 to 20).

Brand and tread are meaningless in this statistic -- you will lose half your foot print at 60 MPH going driving on wet pavement if you drive your tires at a reduced air pressure as mentioned above.

Off-roading and rock crawling are when we like to use low air pressure -- for sure.  And that's the right way to do it; but I'm suggesting that when you get back to pavement, and you face possible wet driving conditions, to air back up!

Oh, and did you know that low pressure tires in dry condition cause more heat build-up in your rubber compound -- and could lead to tire issues.???

I think that is why most all tire manufacturers recommend a certain tire pressure for road driving, and want to you be diligent in checking your tire pressure.

This brings up the next tip -- ROTATE your tires, and yes, even your off-road rig tires. Rotating tires extends tire life, ensures a better footprint all around, and forces you to check your tires more often!

Keep them properly aired up and check them frequently.

One last tip:  remember the old days when we used to buy two tires at a time, rather than 4, to spread out the cost?  Well, if you do that today, or if you run mis-matched tread wear tires, PUT THE GOOD TIRES IN THE REAR!

Yes, the rear tires, even with front-wheel drive rigs, is where you need the stability of good tires -- your best tread goes in the back.  Your chances of spinning out of control in wet conditions is hugely reduced with your good tires in the rear.  They will stabilize you as you push through a puddle or wet surface, even if your front tires want to lose traction.

So the bottom line; make sure you are in the habit of checking and rotating your tires.  Keep the proper air pressure for the conditions; and don't be lazy about safety.
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BFGoodrich Tires Winning Streak at Hammers

I'm pimping this because BFGoodrich Tires is also setting the example nationwide for businesses helping to keep our sport alive and our trails open. BFG is doing more than any company I know of, on many fronts, including the racing field, but also Outstanding Trails program, support for BlueRibbon Coalition with tire sales on off-road tires, magazine adds to support land use organizations and many other helpful donations to raffles.  They just plain ROCK in my book.

Del
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BFGoodrich Tires Continues King of the Hammers Win Streak;

Claims Top 11 Positions

GREENVILLE, S.C. – Feb. 16, 2010 – BFGoodrich® Tires once again reigns supreme as it remains to be the only tire manufacturer to come out on top at the challenging King of the Hammers. More than 30,000 fans witnessed Loren Healy take home the coveted scepter this past weekend at the 2010 Griffin King of the Hammers. Healy, along with co-driver Rodney Woodey, became the only team to take the checkered flag after qualifying at the 4 Wheel Parts Last Chance Qualifier earlier in the week.

Winning 667 buggy driven by Loren Healy.  Photo credit: Harry Situations

Healy and Woodey, who started the race in the 53rd position, battled through the difficult terrain of Johnson Valley, Calif. and conquered the 135-mile loop course in 6 hours 57 minutes and 53 seconds. Of the 100 competitors that started the race, only 43 finished, 34 of which chose to run the ultimate desert-and-rock race on BFGoodrich tires.

Healy’s winning rig was equipped with 39” BFGoodrich Krawler™ T/A®KX tires, which are designed for unprecedented grip on extreme rocks, mud and dirt.

“These BFGoodrich Krawlers are unbelievable,” said Healy at the finish line. “I have always competed on BFGoodrich tires and this is the reason why. The pit support, the onsite support and the tires are the reason why I choose BFGoodrich.”

Team BFGoodrich driver Brad Lovell barely missed out on the win, finishing only 28 seconds behind Healy. Lovell and co-driver Bill Kunz chose 37” BFGoodrich Baja T/A®KRT tires while third place finisher Derek West and co-driver Jason Henne chose 39” BFGoodrich Baja T/AKRT tires, which are designed specifically for rock racing and King of the Hammers.


“We can’t thank BFGoodrich Tires enough,” said Lovell. “They're the greatest tire and you can see that because the top 11 finishers in this race were on BFGoodrich tires.”

“Having the first 11 teams and 80 percent of the finishers who come across the finish line on BFGoodrich tires not only continues to prove the extreme capability of our product, but also shows that winners choose BFGoodrich,” said Roberts Kukainis, Motorsports Manager, BFGoodrich Tires. “Healy’s determination to qualify for the big race at the Last Chance Qualifier and then go on to conquer all 135 punishing miles is an incredible story. Congratulations to him and his team.”

In addition to being the official tire for King of the Hammers, BFGoodrich Tires provided pit and communications support to teams through its fleet of off-road motorsports vehicles. This immense undertaking involved more than 40 off-road enthusiasts and volunteers who donate their time to help BFGoodrich support the organization of King of the Hammers. BFGoodrich also introduced a new 42” off-road racing tire at the event.

BFGoodrich Tires hosted an on-site media hospitality center during the event. Located immediately opposite from tech and contingency and next to the start/finish line, the hospitality center allowed media to cover the race while enjoying complimentary snacks and beverages. Race tracking and updates in the media hospitality center were provided by Pirate4x4.com.

Using motorsports as a proving ground for more than 30 years, BFGoodrich Tires is involved in every type of racing, including oval, sports car, drifting, drag, desert, dirt, rally, and extreme rock-crawling. BFGoodrich Tires combines technological expertise with vast motorsports experience, delivering a high-performance tire for every type of vehicle. Visit BFGoodrich Tires online at www.bfgoodrichtires.com

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Media Contacts: Tonya Polydoroff

864-458-4511

tonya.polydoroff@us.michelin.com
David Gordon
949-223-2314
David.gordon@hillandknowlton.com

BFGoodrich Tires Partnership with BlueRibbon Coalition

BFGoodrich Tires and BlueRibbon Coalition Join Forces to Raise Money for Saving Trails

GREENVILLE, S.C. – Oct. 10, 2009 – BFGoodrich Tires and BlueRibbon Coalition announced today a partnership that will benefit off-roaders and off-road trails alike. BFGoodrich Tires will make a $5 donation to the BlueRibbon Coalition for each of its new 10 sizes of BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/AKM2 tires sold between August 2009 and December 2009.

(Photo: Del Albright (center) thanks Joe Mazur (L) and Gary Enterline (R) for their partnership, donations and continuing support  of BlueRibbon Coalition and access to our trails.  Photo by Stacie Albright).

Due to consumer demand, BFGoodrich recently expanded its line of Mud-Terrain T/AKM2 tire sizes, which are part of the 10 sizes eligible for the contribution. The tire sizes are as follows:

• LT345/75R16 LRD
• LT365/75R16 LRC
• 38X14.50R17 LRD
• 40X14.50R17 LRD
• 36X13.50R18 LRD
• 38X14.50R18 LRD
• 40X14.50R18 LRC
• 38X14.50R20 LRD
• 40X14.50R20 LRC
• 42X14.50R20 LRC

“The BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain tire has set the standard in the world of off-roading, both for competitive and recreational uses” said Gary Enterline, senior product category manager, light truck tires for BFGoodrich Tires. “What better way to give back to the community that made the tire what it is today than by teaming up with the BlueRibbon Coalition to help preserve our off-road trails.”

As a respected national recreation group that represents more than 600,000 recreationists nationwide, the BlueRibbon Coalition is dedicated to protecting responsible recreational access to public lands and waters.

“This generous donation from BFGoodrich Tires will help the BlueRibbon Coalition continue working to keep public land open for use, whether you recreate on a mountain bike, snowmobile, motorcycle, personal watercraft, ATV, four-wheel drive, horse or your hiking boots,” said Greg Mumm, executive director of BlueRibbon Coalition.

Inspired by the BFGoodrich Tires Krawler™ T/AKX tire, which is the most successful tire in rock-crawling history, BFGoodrich Tires incorporates Krawler TEK® technology into the BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/AKM2 TriGard® sidewall. Krawler TEK technology consists of three main components: aggressive sidewall lugs, cut- and chip- resistant sidewall compounds and sidewall cords that are up to 33 percent stronger than the previous Mud-Terrain T/AKM tire. These advancements allow for more bite and sidewall protection along with increased strength and resistance to bruising caused by rocks and rough trails.

More information about the BlueRibbon Coalition is available at www.sharetrails.org.

Using motorsports as a proving ground for more than 30 years, BFGoodrich Tires is involved in every type of racing, including oval, sports car, drifting, drag, desert, dirt, rally and extreme rock-crawling. BFGoodrich Tires combines technological expertise with vast motorsports experience, delivering a high-performance tire for every type of vehicle. Visit BFGoodrich Tires online at www.bfgoodrichtires.com.

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Media Contacts: Lela Randall
(949) 223-2323
Lela.Randall@hillandknowlton.com

BFGoodrich Tires Supports Albright Jeep and Land Use Work

BFG Tires, once again, has supported keeping us on the trail doing land use work. BFG contributed two new KM2's which are being installed on our Jeep at Blazen Offroad in Lake Tahoe.

Coming out of the Rubicon Trail the other day, I hit one of those odd, no-see-um pointed rocks that turned towards me and STABBED my sidewall -- out of the blue. Then somewhere on Cadillac Hill I managed to dislocate some suspension parts which allowed the axle to shift and thus RAM one of my tires into the spring basket and frame. Needless to say by the time Stac and I smelled burning rubber from the grooving that was taking place, another tire had bit the dust. So we lost TWO in one trip. OUCH.

BFGoodrich Tires is a long term sponsor of keeping our Jeep on the trail so we can keep saving trails, and this just goes to show they are there when we need them. Add to that they just gave a $4000 grant to Friends of Fordyce to help save that trail, and you have a company that deserves our thanks and business.

BFG Mud Terrains (and one set of All Terrains) have been on my Jeep since I bought it 12 years ago. The KM2 is an innovation between the famous Krawler and the old Mud Terrain. I love 'em!

THANK you, BFG Tires for helping to save our sport and our trails.

Fordyce Trail Selected as Outstanding Trail by BFGoodrich Tires

BFGoodrich and UFWDA team up again in 2009 for the Outstanding Trails program. Fordyce Trail Gets on the List!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Todd OckertE-mail: landuse@ufwda.org
Tulare, Ca. 4 August 2009United Four Wheel Drive Associations (UFWDA): BFGoodrich and UFWDA team up again in 2009 for the Outstanding Trails program.Beaverton, OR – April 10, 2009 – United Four Wheel Drive Associations (UFWDA) has again teamed up with BFGoodrich on the 2009 Outstanding Trails program.

This year due to the current economic climate, the program was reduced to include only two trails this year that are adopted by two outstanding clubs and associations. BFGoodrich has identified some of the best trails in the country and given them national recognition with their Outstanding Trails program. But it is not all about recognizing the trails, as it takes a lot of work by local club members and associations to maintain these trails.

During the course of the program, which runs May through October, BFGoodrich Tires will be at club events associated with these trails and areas to highlight the uniqueness of each location as well as educate off-road enthusiasts on the responsible use of each trail.

• The Fordyce Creek Trail (August 8, 2009), Nestled in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the Fordyce Creek Trail has a rich history starting as an old wagon trail serving the 19th century mining town of Summit City at Meadow Lake prior to evolving into the OHV trail it has become. The trail was lost for many years after the mines closed and is now accessible after many years of effort by a group of dedicated off-road enthusiasts.

The trail has incredible high sierra beauty with five winch hills and four water crossings, ending at Meadow Lake, which is adjacent to Fordyce Lake."United Four Wheel Drive Associations is again proud to partner with BFGoodrich for the 2009 Outstanding Trails program. This program is a great opportunity for leaders in the four-wheel drive community to recognize enthusiasts and the impact they are making,” said Todd Ockert, director of environmental affairs, UFWDA.

“The Outstanding Trails program has recognized some great trails across the country and the enthusiasts that maintain those trails. United Four Wheel Drive Associations hopes to continue this partnership for years to come," added Todd.

To help aid with costs associated with the trail’s conservation efforts, BFGoodrich Tires will also present a grant to a selected off-road club at each trail event. Both Tread Lightly! and UFWDA are non-profit organizations dedicated to responsible and ethical outdoor recreation. BFGoodrich Tires collaborated with these two groups to select the finest North American trails, and will continue to work with these organizations on restoration and education initiatives.

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United Four Wheel Drive Associations (UFWDA) is the leading representative for four wheel drive enthusiasts. UFWDA is a group of individuals, clubs, state, regional, provincial and national associations and businesses in the United States and around the world; our members span the globe from the U.S. and Canada, New Zealand, Australia, England, Japan, South Africa, and Iceland. If you would like more information on how you can be a part of this effort contact United Four Wheel Drive Associations today at 14525 SW Millikan Way #22622, Beaverton, OR 97005-2343, 1-800-448-3932 or visit http://www.ufwda.org/.

Tread Lightly!® is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower generations to enjoy the outdoors responsibly. Tread Lightly!'s strategic educational message, along with its training and restoration initiatives are designed to instill an ethic of responsibility in outdoor enthusiasts and the industries that serve them. The program is long-term in scope with a goal to balance the needs of the people who enjoy outdoor recreation with the needs of the environment. The federal government recognizes this by acknowledging Tread Lightly! as a sole-source service provider of education and training on how to be environmentally and socially responsible while using motorized and mechanized vehicles in off-highway settings.

Using motorsports as a proving ground for more than 30 years, BFGoodrich® Tires is involved in every type of racing, including oval, sports car, drifting, drag, desert, dirt, rally and extreme rock-crawling. BFGoodrich Tires combines technological expertise with vast motorsports experience, delivering a high-performance tire for every type of vehicle. Visit BFGoodrich Tires online at www.bfgoodrichtires.com.