# Long Range Desert Tools (LRDT) > LRDT is a small company run by Erik Menches (California) and Nate Smith (Maine). It makes trail tools, starting with the CV Lasso, and runs one self-supported, ten-rig overland trip each year, somewhere new every time. 2027 is the Mojave Desert. No entry fee, no sweep truck; participants pay their own way and fix their own trucks. Key facts: - Next trip: LRDT Mojave 2027, Saturday March 20 to Saturday March 27, 2027, Mojave Desert, California. - Ten rigs. Each slot is a driver plus one co-driver over 18. - Applications: open Nov 2, 2026 to Jan 15, 2027 at https://lrdt.co/apply.html. Finalists announced Feb 1, 2027. Two people read every application; it is not a vote. - Cost: no entry fee. Participants cover fuel, food, lodging on paved days, and park or permit fees. - Rig requirements: street legal, registered and insured; working 4WD with a locker or limited slip on at least one axle; rated recovery points front and rear; full-size matching spare; 200 miles of range in 4WD; GMRS or HAM radio. - Every participant gets a CV Lasso and Campspotter Pro. The trip is filmed by documentarian Andrew Crow. - Partners: one brand per category per year. Official camp partner: Campspotter. Official tool partner: LRDT. Presenting, navigation, recovery, tires, suspension, comms and apparel are open for 2027. - Contact: emenches@lrdt.co. Instagram @lrdt.co. YouTube @longrangedeserttools. - Name: inspired by the Long Range Desert Group (LRDG) of World War II. Slogan: "Wheel, Wrench, Repeat." ## The trip - [The Trip](https://lrdt.co/trip.html): A ten-rig, self-supported overland trip somewhere new every year. 2027 is seven days in the Mojave, no sweep truck. Four crew trucks plus six picked from applications. Self-supported, filmed start to finish, led by the two people who started the company. No entry fee; you drive your rig to the start (no trailers or chase trucks) and pay your own fuel and food. The page covers how selection works, the shape of the week, what the driving is like, the rig and kit requirements, and an FAQ. 2027 trip: Mar 20 to 27. - [Apply](https://lrdt.co/apply.html): Six open seats for 2027. Applications are open Nov 2, 2026 to Jan 15, 2027; twenty finalists announced Feb 1, 2027, each gets a phone call, and six are picked. It is not a vote. What gets picked: the story of the build over the parts list, trail failures and how you got home, a walkaround video, and being good company. - [Partners](https://lrdt.co/partners.html): One brand per category. A partner owns a category for the year. Their product goes on the rigs, gets used for a week on the trip, and shows up in the film and the photo set. No tiers, no logo walls. - [Photos](https://lrdt.co/photos.html): From the trips so far. Trips, trails and a couple of driveways. Everything here is ours. ## Logbook - [The East Mojave Heritage Trail, end to end](https://lrdt.co/logbook/emht.html): Two rigs on the East Mojave Heritage Trail: the history of Casebier's loop, all four segments from Needles back to Needles, the breakdowns, the detours and the segment we cut. - [GX460 seats in an FJ Cruiser, with every wire](https://lrdt.co/logbook/gx460-seats.html): Heated and ventilated Lexus GX460 seats in a Toyota FJ Cruiser: every pinout, the printed switch connector, the one-pull seat disconnect, and the three things that bit us. Figures and STLs free. By Erik Menches, 2026-06-08. - [Introducing Duck Gear by LRDT](https://lrdt.co/logbook/duck-gear.html): A two-drawer extrusion and plywood cargo system for an FJ Cruiser: design, cut list, parts, the fridge slide that didn't fit, and the rebuild that put the camp table in a slot. Goose Gear quality for an Ikea price. By Erik Menches, 2025-06-18. - [Bumping and Grinding (a Trooper story)](https://lrdt.co/logbook/trooper-bumper.html): One day steel bumper mod for an Isuzu Trooper. A $400 Jeep XJ bumper, flipped brackets, and a floor jack. By Nate Smith, 2025-02. ## Free parts - [Free Parts: clips, knobs and trim](https://lrdt.co/parts/): 489 free 3D-printable clips, retainers, knobs and small trim parts for 18 makes of overland trucks, SUVs and vans, from Printables, MakerWorld, Thingiverse and owner forums. Each is linked to its creator's page with what it fits, the OEM part number where known, the license, download count, a preview image where the source allows it, and print tips. The main page shows the most downloaded; each make has its own page, filterable by model: - [Toyota](https://lrdt.co/parts/toyota.html): 53 parts for the 4Runner, Tacoma, FJ Cruiser, Tundra, Land Cruiser, and Hilux and pickup. - [Lexus](https://lrdt.co/parts/lexus.html): 26 parts for the GX, LX and RX. - [Jeep](https://lrdt.co/parts/jeep.html): 46 parts for the Wrangler, Cherokee and Grand Cherokee. - [Ford](https://lrdt.co/parts/ford.html): 35 parts for the F-Series, Ranger, Bronco, Explorer and Expedition. - [Chevrolet](https://lrdt.co/parts/chevrolet.html): 34 parts for the Silverado, Colorado, Tahoe and Suburban, and TrailBlazer. - [GMC](https://lrdt.co/parts/gmc.html): 33 parts for the Sierra, Canyon, Yukon and Jimmy. - [Ram and Dodge](https://lrdt.co/parts/ram.html): 30 parts for the Ram 1500, Ram 2500 and 3500, and Dakota. - [Nissan](https://lrdt.co/parts/nissan.html): 21 parts for the Patrol, Frontier, Titan, Xterra and Pathfinder. - [Land Rover](https://lrdt.co/parts/land-rover.html): 31 parts for the Defender, Discovery, Range Rover, Series and Freelander. - [Mercedes G-Class](https://lrdt.co/parts/mercedes-g-class.html): 5 parts for the W460 and W461. - [Mercedes Sprinter](https://lrdt.co/parts/mercedes-sprinter.html): 27 parts for the T1N, NCV3 and VS30. - [Ineos](https://lrdt.co/parts/ineos.html): 12 parts for the Grenadier and Quartermaster. - [Isuzu](https://lrdt.co/parts/isuzu.html): 25 parts for the Trooper, Rodeo, Amigo, VehiCROSS, D-Max and Pickup. - [Mitsubishi](https://lrdt.co/parts/mitsubishi.html): 34 parts for the Pajero and Montero, Delica, and Triton and L200. - [Suzuki](https://lrdt.co/parts/suzuki.html): 22 parts for the Samurai, Sidekick and Jimny. - [Subaru](https://lrdt.co/parts/subaru.html): 34 parts for the Outback, Forester, Crosstrek and Ascent. - [Rivian](https://lrdt.co/parts/rivian.html): 16 parts for the R1T and R1S. - [International Scout](https://lrdt.co/parts/international-scout.html): 3 parts for the Scout II. Also links the Planet Isuzoo factory service manual thread and the FJ Cruiser Forum fastener catalog. Anyone can submit a model through the form on any of these pages. ## Store Checkout is not open yet. Each product page has a Notify me form that emails you once when it is ready. - [CV Lasso](https://lrdt.co/store/cv-lasso.html) ($35): Use our CV lasso to make pulling your broken or torn CV axle easier than ever. This is our take on what a few others offered in the past but no longer make. It is the reason the company exists. - [Duck Gear Drawer Plans](https://lrdt.co/store/duck-gear-plans.html) ($25 PDF, $45 with the CAD model): Dimensioned drawings, cut list, drawer and slot dimensions and the tie-down layout for the FJ Cruiser extrusion drawer system from the Logbook. A PDF, no inventory, build it yourself. - [Method Wheel Center Caps](https://lrdt.co/store/center-caps.html) ($15): The scorpion and the LRDT dash on a black cap, printed to fit the Method center bore. The one part on the truck that says who you ride with and costs less than a tank of gas. - [2027 Expedition Tee](https://lrdt.co/store/tee-expedition.html) ($30): The 2027 Mojave trip, drawn as a poster. Full back print on a sand tee. Every attendee gets one at the start; this is the same shirt for everyone else. - [The BFH Tee](https://lrdt.co/store/tee-bfh.html) ($30): The Big Friendly Hammer, hauling a pickup across the desert. Full back print, script logo on the chest in orange. Vintage-washed black tee. - [Shocks on Firm Tee](https://lrdt.co/store/tee-shocks.html) ($30): A coilover with his fists up, dialed to firm, dust devil behind him. Full back print, script logo on the chest in blue. Black tee. - [Throttle Out Tee](https://lrdt.co/store/tee-throttle.html) ($30): When in doubt, throttle out. A gas pedal sprinting through the desert with a dust cloud behind him. Full back print, script logo on the chest in yellow. Vintage-washed black tee. - [Mojave 2027 Sticker](https://lrdt.co/store/sticker-mojave.html) ($8): The trip poster as a 5-inch die-cut. Printed once for 2027, then it's gone. Every driver gets one; everyone else can buy it here. - [Character Stickers](https://lrdt.co/store/stickers.html) ($12): The three characters off the tees, cut as 3-inch vinyl stickers. The BFH, the Shocks on Firm coilover, and the Throttle Out gas pedal. $5 each or all three for $12. ## Freebies - [GX460 seat swap files](https://lrdt.co/store/#free): the figures, two printed parts (STL) and the net list from the GX460 seat swap post. Free. ## Optional - [Policies](https://lrdt.co/policies.html): Refunds, privacy and terms, on one page, in plain words. Questions go to Erik at emenches@lrdt.co. - [Store index](https://lrdt.co/store/): A few tools, a few tees, all of it used on our own trucks. Made in small batches between Maine and California, so if something says made to order, that's what it means. - [Logbook index](https://lrdt.co/logbook/): Detailed logs on our latest 4x4 and DIY adventures. Build write-ups, rig profiles and trip reports from Long Range Desert Tools.