On this “episode” of 67 Designs Customer Spotlights, where we share the stories of some of our customers, we get to know Ken Bruce. Bruce, from Phoenix, AZ, is the General Manager of Turtleback Trailers. When he’s not in the shop, you can find him wheeling around the country! Read on for more.
Proud owner of a: Black Jeep Wrangler Rubicon JK 2017 (and a 2021 4Runner!).
Featured upgrades: Ken’s Jeep is decked out with the following features...
- 67 Designs Carbon Fiber Arms with iPad Mini holder, GoPro Mounts and Universal Holder for Phones
- AEV Heat Reduction Hood
- AEV Premium Front Bumper
- Warn Zeon 10-S Winch
- AEV Rear Bumper with Water Kit
- AEV Tire Carrier with 11Gal fuel tank
- Long Range America 16Gal. reserve fuel tank
- AEV 3.5" DualSport Suspension
- 37” BF Goodrich Mud Terrain T/A KM3 Tires
- AEV 17" Alloy wheels
- 23ZERO 3 + PERSON BUNDABERG Tent
- 23zero Peregrine Awning
- Rhino-Rack Pioneer Platform
- ARB Twin Air Compressor
- Adams 1310 Driveshaft
- Nitro Gear front and back 5.13 gear ratio
- Dometic CFX 50W 12v Electric Fridge
- KC Pro6 Gravity light bar
- KC pro6 Flood lights
- KC Cyclone lights under the hood
- KC Cyclone Rock lights under the Jeep
- KC Pro6 Pillar lights
- Fire ring on back spare tire
- Beaver shovel
- ROAM Rugged case on top of Jeep
- Custom build LED lights back window
- Hi-Lift Jack
- Cargo Basket
- Offroad JKE Bar mount
- Garmin Inreach Explorer GPS
- Custom build air system for airing up and down tires
- Teraflex Falcon shocks
- Custom drawer system in back
- Garmin InReach GPS
- MaxTrax
- Rough Country Switch Pod
Customer of 67 Designs since: May 2018.
Inspiration for buying his Jeep: The 2017 was Ken’s first Jeep and he bought it right before he and a few other outdoor enthusiasts acquired Turtleback Trailers. The rig was purchased to be built out for overlanding and it has almost everything they offer at the shop as a model for customers.
First adventure with vehicle: June 2014. Ken went with his wife and son up to Prince Rupert and Terrace in Canada. On the way, they went up the Oregon coast and saw the redwoods, which was a big highlight of the trip. Another highlight was doing some wildlife photography of 6 month old red foxes in northern BC.
Most recent adventure/COVID-19 adventures: December 2020. He took a trip down to Kofa (King of Arizona) National Wildlife Refuge in southern Arizona with 9 rigs. They went for 3 nights, 4 days and were extremely remote the entire time—not hitting one gas station or bar of cell service the whole time.
Most memorable adventure: The trip to Kofa because of the amount of people they were with. Ken is also an avid night photographer, so he got to capture the Milky Way while out there.
Upcoming trips: This summer, he is planning on a 6 week trip up the Oregon coast to Terrace again (where they have family), then to Tuktoyaktuk in the northern part of Canada and over to Alaska and back. If the border does not open, they will head east through Montana and back to Phoenix.
Dream trip: Ken’s dream trip is down to Central America, traversing the coast.
Advice for those who are just beginning overlanding: “Be prepared, make sure you have enough coms, some way of sending out a SOS, it will be your biggest mistake not having one.”
#1 place he has camped: Above Sedona, looking down on the city from a cliff. He says it’s a “million dollar view” and goes 2 to 3 times a year.
Fun fact about: He is a photographer. He loves it so much that he plans trips around the new moon phase, so there is no light from the moon to wash out the stars.
Jeep club memberships: More of a company club, Herd of Turtles–you get to be a part of it when you buy a trailer from TBT.
Notes from the writer: Ken (and the rest of TBT) definitely embody the work hard play hard mindset. They crush the details Monday through Thursday/Friday and head out on the trails together during the weekends. They are all going to Escalante, Utah in a few months! I think it is great that a trailer company gets out so much—you know that their products are top notch due to all the testing they get to do. If you ever see Ken, also make sure to say hi to his Cockapoo, Maggie, too!
Check out his work here: Check out the Turtleback Trailer Instagram and site below, along with Ken’s personal Instagram, where there are many night shots:
© 67 Designs, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Spotlight by Kate Della Pietra.