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  • Shop Talk: The Jersey Boys of OK4WD

    If you are an overlander or offroader, or even just aspire to be one of the above, there’s a good chance you’ve heard of OK4WD of Stewartsville, New Jersey. This formidable shop sits in verdant farm country, but also within two hours of both New York City and Philadelphia; it’s become the premier four-wheel drive outfitter on the East Coast, and arguably in the nation.

    Jim Oostdyk, the shop’s founder and guiding force, has been instrumental in shaping the technical culture of American overlanding, bringing in top-end gear from four-wheel-fanatical places like Australia and South Africa. His massive shop and showroom work like a creative prompt to people who want to explore the hinterlands. If you can think it up, the crew here can likely build it.

    This was not always the case—Oostdyk started with a two-bay garage and a gas station. The journey from then til now is as interesting as any backcountry route.

    OK4WD

    Jim Oostdyk surveys the trails of his native New Jersey. (Photo Credit: Lila Barth)

    Shop: OK4WDLocation: Stewartsville, New JerseyFounded: 1979Specialty: Off-Road Gear

    Q: You grew up on a farm in rural New Jersey. Did that environment help draw you to off-road driving?

    A: I started the business as a gas station and repair shop, two weeks out of high school in 1979. I ran out of cash within a month and had to sell my car—a ’66 Mustang. I bought an old Jeep. And four weeks later, I rolled it. As I was fixing it up, I lifted it, put on another body, and dropped in a different motor. Customers at the gas station would see that and say, “Hey, I got an old Jeep. Can you do that to mine?” Things just took off from there.

    Q: How long did that take for the gas station to turn into a full-blown 4×4 shop?

    A: Within a year, we were cranking. Ford came out with an F-150 with an independent front suspension. Our UPS driver bought one in about the fall of 1980. We lifted it for him, and he took it to the Jersey Shore for Memorial Day. All weekend, people were stopping him, and he handed out a bunch of our cards. People lined up after that, asking us to lift their trucks and put big tires on them.

    Q: The whole concept and culture of “overlanding” has transformed since then, especially in recent years. How has that evolution looked from your vantage point?

    A: We were kind of into overlanding before anyone called it overlanding. And we always wanted to make 4x4s that fit the customer’s lifestyle. Now that the idea of overlanding has become more popular, that really fits well into our wheelhouse. When things started to head in that direction, I spent a lot of time traveling and finding really good products from South Africa and Europe. We’d bring them back to the U.S. and tweak them for our marketplace.

     

    Q: How did you start your international search for overlanding gear?

    A: I started traveling because I didn’t want my kids to be brats. I took them to do charity mission work in places like Mexico, Peru, Haiti and Africa. Every time, I would find that a 4×4 was a total necessity. I would see things on vehicles in other countries that we didn’t have here—like camping gear, air lockers and extra spare tires. I realized that the rest of the world does four-wheel drives differently.

    We’d go places to build orphanages or do construction work mainly. They’d have a Jeep or a Toyota pickup that was broken down, and my son and I would fix them. You learn all these things, and then you see the components that make their vehicles stronger. It made our business more innovative. I was finding stuff that we just didn’t see here in the States.

    OK4WD

    OK4WD employee Jeremy Dittmar, on duty (Photo Credit: Lila Barth)

    Q: What do you think spurred Americans to become more interested in off-road travel and exploration?

    A: What really got it going here was gear coming from Australia. With the help of a customer, we actually installed the first ARB Air Locker in the US. That guy went on to start ARB USA., and we became one of the first, if not the first, ARB dealers in the country. Overland Journal came out, which then led to a show.

    Q: Where do you draw inspiration for your builds?

    A: Inspiration comes from seeing people get outside. We’ve had couples who met and got married because of events or trails we’ve told them about. We’ve seen a lot of friendships being built, too. The community is just so inspirational in all aspects. The camping aspect of it, too, is just so good. When you camp, it’s good for your soul. The inspiration really comes from giving people a piece of equipment that makes their lives more enjoyable.

    Q: Do customers ever show you something you haven’t seen before—something that surprises you?

    A: We’ll build a camper out, and then a customer will finish the interior and bring it back in. We’ll ask if we can incorporate some of their ideas into our work. And that’s the beauty of campers. It’s kind of like a blank slate. It’s amazing to see what people come up with.

    Q: Are there any dream builds, or maybe even dream trips, that you want to do?

    A: My life’s not going to be long enough for me to get everywhere I want to go, but I’m very, very blessed with where I’ve been able to go. For vehicles, we have a new Ineos Grenadier, which kind of blows my mind. We cut the roof off and put an AluCab pop-top on it. I think it’s the coolest thing I’ve seen in many years—if not my whole career.

    OK4WD

    The first OK4WD catalog from 1985 with photos of the original gas station. location. (Photo Credit: Lila Barth)

    Head for the Hills

    1. The OK4WD website provides plenty of project-documentation eye candy for the would-be adventurer. A 2021 Ram 3500 Tradesman transformed via the installation of an OEV Alpine flat-bed camper, kitted out with Maxtrax recovery boards, an Alu-Cab shadow awning and a robust suite of rugged vehicular upgrades
    2. The shop puts a strong focus on the most basic and essential component of off-road exploration: tires. Its selection of BFGoodrich, Nitto and Michelin models runs deep, and the technician team specializes in vehicle fit, install and maintenance support.
    3. The shop’s build-out of a 2024 Ineos Grenadier does full justice to the new cult-favorite exploration vehicle. The team implemented the Alu-Cab Silenus rooftop tent conversion, specially designed for the Grenadier.

    This article originally appeared in Wildsam magazine. For more Wildsam content, sign up for our newsletter.

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  • See Where U.S. History Was Born and Tested

    If your family includes a history buff or two, then the Atlantic states that were part of the original 13 colonies are a perfect destination. The good news is that while checking these historic sites, your adventures can easily take you to fun-filled beaches and some out-of-this-world Fourth of July celebrations.

    American flag from 1812 waves above a fortification in the Atlantic States.

    Fort McHenry on Baltimore Harbor. Photo: Joshua Woods.

    Maryland Majesty

    Talk about celebrating the Stars and Stripes: be sure to visit Maryland, home to Fort McHenry. Sitting at the mouth of Baltimore Harbor, Fort McHenry was the site of a fierce battle during the War of 1812, when our young nation once again had to prove to the British that we were and would remain Independent.

    The sight of the American flag waving over the ramparts during the hard-fought 1814 battle inspired Francis Scott Key to write the National Anthem. Fort McHenry is now a National Monument.

    While in Baltimore Harbor, step aboard the USS Constellation, a Civil War sailing ship.  Or ride the rails at the B&O railroad museum.

    Campground on shores of reflective lake.

    Ramblin Pines Family Campground. Photo Courtesy of Ramblin Pines.

    Some campgrounds in Maryland also provide easy access to Washington DC, the nation’s capital. Stay at Ramblin Pines Family Campground and RV park in Woodbine, Maryland, and visit all of the state attractions. And come back to camp for a pool, family games, and cookouts.

    For stays nearer the beach, head to Maryland’s Eastern Shore and try Sun Frontier Town in Ocean City or Run Outdoors Ocean City Gateway in Whaleyville.

    Lighthouse juts skyward at end of breakwater.

    Lighthouse in Lewes, Delaware. Photo: Nikolay Loubet

    Delaware: The First State

    Adjacent to Maryland’s eastern shore sits Delaware, known as the first state because it was the first of the former 13 colonies to ratify the U.S. Constitution.  In addition to its rich history, Delaware offers plenty to do with 380 miles of Atlantic shoreline, lots of beaches, shopping, and restaurants.

    Parks to visit include Sun Outdoors, Rehoboth Bay in Millsboro, and Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park at Delaware Beaches in Lincoln.

    Pennsylvania: Crucible of Democracy

    History was made in Pennsylvania when the Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia, the city that became known as the nation’s first capital.  Philly is also home to the famous Liberty Bell. And if your legs and knees are up to it, try the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, made famous by Sylvester Stallone’s run in the movie “Rocky.”

    Lone cracked bell under focused lighting.

    Philadelphia’s Liberty Bell. Photo: Dan Mall

    Pennsylvania is home to Gettysburg and the National Park and Museum of the Civil War.  Details about the area are available from Destination Gettysburg. Check out goodsam.com/campgrounds-rv-parks for parks in the area.

    Statue of Civil War soldier on horse.

    A statue honoring soldiers in Gettysburg National Military Park. Photo: John Kostyk

    New Jersey: The Red Coats Have Gotta Go

    Pennsylvania also gained Revolutionary War fame as the site of Valley Forge, a major winter encampment for General George Washington and his Continental Army. East of Valley Forge, near present-day Upper Makefield Township, General George Washington, and 2,400 men made a surprise crossing of the Delaware River on Christmas Night in 1776. The Americans defeated the British and their German Allies at Trenton, New Jersey. Visit Washington Crossing State Park, which includes Johnson’s Ferry. The battle became a turning point in the American Revolutionary War. The visitor center has a museum.

    Make it in New York With Atlantic States History

    If your history chase takes you to New York City, you may hear that the city of New York was where the U.S. Congress first convened in New York’s Federal Hall in 1789 before settling in Philadelphia a year later.  Washington, D C. became the nation’s seat of government in 1800.

    Bronze statue of man in front of building with pillars.

    A statue of George Washington greets visitors to Federal Hall in New York. Photo: Another Believer

    For more recent history in NYC, be sure to visit the 9-11 Memorial and Museum. Prepare to be humbled.

    New York state offers history and sights throughout — the Hudson River Valley, the homes of both Roosevelt presidents, West Point — originally an outpost during the French and Indian Wars, and, of course, breathtaking Niagara Falls. Stay at HTR Niagara in Niagara Falls or Jellystone Park at Birchwood Acres in Greenfield Park. It’s a great base camp for your exploration of the Atlantic States.

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