We scoured one of the largest trade shows, and the largest car show, in the world, The SEMA Show, to find the coolest new automotive aftermarket products.
With over 140,000 registered attendees, 1,000s of vehicles on display, over 1,800 vendors, and well over a million square feet of exhibits, there was a lot to take in at The SEMA Show 2022. We walked nearly the entire show for three long days to discover the truly new and cool stuff the automotive aftermarket has to offer us very soon.
Here are our top 15 Best in Show picks. Yep, that’s 15 new products for automotive adventure that are worth your attention.
While we didn’t get video of all the latest and greatest that we’ll share with you below, we did capture video of 10 products and four vehicles for you to check out more closely.
Best in Show Products: SEMA 2022
While there were lots of new products on display across the massive show, we found these top new products to be the most exciting and innovative. They all are designed to improve your automotive adventures, and we’re all for that.
Now, let’s dive into our picks for Best in Show from SEMA 2022.
RRE Global: Global Swivel Base
While there are even OEM front swivels for camper vans these days, getting the versatility of a rear seat swivel has been nearly impossible to find. RRE Global has stepped up and built a burly, fully crash-tested, and super easy-to-use rear seat swivel base. The swivel base will be available in December 2022 and be available through RRE Global upfitter/dealers for around $600.
While the base should work for many types of seats, it has been specifically designed to work perfectly with the Scheel-Mann touring seats.
Giant Loop: Cactus Canteen
Building on its great line of soft fuel storage solutions for motos, UTVs, and 4x4s, Giant Loop has now developed a line of water storage containers. The new Cactus Canteen comes in two sizes, 1 and 2 gallons, and will cost $79 and $99, respectively, when deliveries start in February. You can preorder them now, for a discount.
Rhino-Rack Hitch Mount Platform
Rhino-Rack has a bunch of cool new products coming out in 2023, but one really caught our eye. It’s the new Hitch Mount Platform, coming in the summer of 2023. It’s basically a small section of platform roof rack attached to a hitch mount, with integrated brake lights.
Not only is it super versatile at carrying just about anything up to 500 pounds — including dirt bikes, bicycles, coolers, etc. — it also has a second standout feature. The system converts to a table with its built-in legs. Yes, a table/bench/seat for around camp when you unload the hitch rack. Pretty smart, if you ask us.
Icon Alloys Recon Pro
Icon Alloys continues to innovate in the off-road wheel space. Their latest will hit the market in early 2023, likely be priced a bit over $400 per wheel, and has its Interlock bead retention system built in.
It’s called the Recon Pro and has a four-section hard anodize aluminum impact/rock ring. The Icon Alloys Recon Pro will come in gray or black, with an opposing color rock ring.
Redarc TVMS Rogue
Redarc is an Australian company that has made a big splash in the U.S. overland space over the past few years. It is known for its high-quality electronics control systems for vehicles, or Total Vehicle Management Systems.
Its latest is the TVMS Rogue, which is super compact, has solid-state internals, and dimmable outputs. The TVMS Rogue is an all-in-one vehicle electronics management system that will hit the market in early 2023, with a price still TBD.
ARB Tacoma Summit MK2 Bumper
ARB has updated its classic Summit bull bar, first up for the Tacoma. The new ARB Summit MK2 front bumper has an all-new light cluster and welded corner seams, instead of buffers to hide welds. Overall, it’s a much more modern take on a classic. It will hit the U.S. market in early 2023 and cost about $2,600.
ARB Tacoma Intensity IQ
ARB also gets another nod for the most impressive off-road lighting tech at this year’s SEMA Show. The ARB Intensity IQ has all lens styles — width and range — of lighting built-in, is app-enabled, and comes with a multi-switch with eight presets. All that tech and the sleek modern looks won’t come cheap, however, with the Intensity IQ being sold as pairs for $1,850.
Mickey Thompson Baja Boss
If you’re looking for the biggest burliest street-legal off-road tire for your 4×4 the latest from Mickey Thompson is going to be your jam. First introduced in 2019, the Baja Boss M/T will start shipping in a massive 42″ size, in both 17″ and 20″ wheel fitments, in the summer of 2023.
If somehow that isn’t even big enough for you, the burly Mickey Thompson mud-terrain will also be offered in a 44″ size (44×13.50R20LT). Oh, and they’ll continue to be made in the U.S.
Bundutec Bundu Trail Trailer
Bundutec has been making interesting overland tents and accessories out of South Africa for decades now. Just launched at the SEMA Show 2022 is the Bundu Trail, an overland trailer with a powered pop-up tent and a cool flip-out full-featured kitchen. This impressive off-road trailer starts at $28,000 and is now available for purchase.
Let’s Go Aero VTR
Let’s Go Aero makes a ton of economical and versatile vehicle rack systems and accessories. The latest is the Let’s Go Aero VTR, a two-bike hitch rack that can handle up to 300 pounds and is designed to work well for e-bikes. The rack comes with a ramp system, can be expanded up to four bikes, will cost $949, and hit the market in December 2022.
American Adventure Lab BASE
American Adventure Lab continues to make versatile vehicle storage system solutions for a range of popular overland vehicles. The latest, coming in early 2023, is the BASE (bed attachment system and equipment) system for pickups. It is a slide system with shelves and drawers that can be configured to your specific needs.
It will come in 48-inch and 54-inch lengths. It will have both 4-inch and 6-inch drawer height options as well as a fridge mount, and a pop-up table system. Pricing is TBD, and very dependent on which modules and sizing you need.
BedSlide 500CL
If you’re in need of an economical and lightweight bed-slide for your pickup, then the new BedSlide 500CL is what you’ve been looking for. It will come in two sizes — to fit mid-size and full-size trucks — and extends for a variety of bed lengths.
It also has built-in divider grooves to help keep cargo from moving around. It only weighs 70 pounds, while still having a 500-pound capacity. Expect the BedSlide 500CL to hit the market in early 2023 and retail for $899.
Bubba Wear-Ever Synthetic Rope Thimble
Bubba Rope continues to make quality off-road recovery equipment and find ways to make that equipment more durable. Its latest product is the Bubba Wear-Ever replaceable synthetic rope thimble. It’s injection molded and designed to be replaceable. It will cost $35 when it hits the market in December of 2022, first for 7/8-inch synthetic lines — with more sizes coming soon.
Maxtrax Flatrack Mount
There are lots of Maxtrax mounts out there, but the latest directly from Maxtrax looks like a versatile well built one for just about any roof rack system. It can mount to platform racks, crossbars, or even toolboxes in truck beds. This mount has even been crash tested to 12 Gs. It will be hitting the market in early 2023 and will cost around $110.
iKamper Fire Pit
IKamper continues to innovate and expand its offerings for vehicle-based adventure travel. Their latest products are a full cook set, a variety of soft bags, and three different sizes of six-sided folding fire pits. All of these new products will be available in the spring of 2023.
The collapsible fire pit is what really caught our eye, as it packs into a square bag and looks like an impressive, and unique, design.
