Before the Ram: My Early Adventures
- segurooffroad
- Sep 26, 2023
- 3 min read
Updated: Mar 22
Seguro Files 001
Welcome all, my name is Alex, and I am the person behind Seguro and Seguro Offroad. Before we get into all the adventures and exploration, I would like to tell you how I transitioned to a heavy-duty truck for my off-road vehicle.
I grew up in Arizona, the youngest of four children. Much of my childhood was spent traveling in and out of hospitals, staying at my grandma's, cousins', and relatives' homes. My second sister, who is not the oldest, has had epilepsy since the age of four. The epilepsy started after mercury dental fillings were put in. She experienced over a hundred seizures a day, which is why my childhood was mostly spent in hospital waiting rooms. As a result, I never really explored Arizona's desert.
In 2008, I decided to join the U.S. Army. This decision sparked my desire to explore. Throughout my military career, I met people from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and upbringings. I traveled the country and explored other countries. I began to try new foods, learn new cultural norms, and become more adventurous. I used to watch videos of white water rafting and think those guys were crazy! Then, I found myself rafting down the Arkansas River in Class 4 rapids!
When I returned to Arizona, I was never satisfied with sitting still. My adventures continued with activities such as ziplining, lava tube, and cave exploration. In 2018, I really started to satisfy my inner explorer. I began hiking the Arizona desert, exploring typical trails around Phoenix, venturing into unmarked remote areas, and even participating in events like the Phoenix Summit Challenge, a demanding local hiking competition.
As with most hobbies, I eventually found myself trying to cover more ground in less time. Mountain biking was the next logical step. My first bike was a 3x7 hardtail, meaning it had three gears in the front and seven in the back, and no rear suspension. I ended up upgrading to a 1x10, meaning one gear in the front and ten in the back, with lighter wheels, a dropper seat, and hydraulic brakes. As I began to cover more ground and venture further and further from the city, I began to reach the limits that my commuter car could handle. It simply wasn't designed for the increasingly rugged terrain I was exploring.
This led me to consider adding a secondary vehicle capable of reaching more remote areas and trails inaccessible to my car. I was initially determined to get a Jeep, drawn to its off-road reputation. However, after sitting in one, I found the driver and passenger seats uncomfortable and the interior cramped. I began to consider other potential uses for this vehicle, such as payload capacity, tow rating, and bed space. Coincidentally, I was getting my car serviced when I wandered over to the Ram parking lot. I sat in a 2019 Ram Rebel. The Ram offered a higher tow rating, payload capacity, and a bed, all of which a Jeep couldn't provide. The truck was remarkably comfortable to sit in. The interior design was unlike anything I had experienced in another vehicle. The increased payload, towing capacity, and air suspension made the Ram increasingly appealing. However, I was still unsure if a truck was the right long-term choice. To give myself an easy out, I decided to lease the vehicle.
As you can guess, a 4-wheel-drive vehicle enhanced my exploration. With this new range, my adventures extended further out and into more difficult terrain. Within a month of owning the Rebel, I was exploring Four Peaks Mountain, Sedona, and many other areas. I was venturing into areas where I had not seen a full-size truck before. I knew myself, and I knew I couldn't keep leasing this truck. I was taking increasing risks with the vehicle, knowing I didn't own it. I realized it would be more cost-effective to buy the truck outright than to pay the lease-breaking fees or the higher costs at the end of the lease. Before the first payment was due, I found myself back at the dealership looking to break the lease. That is where we meet Seguro for the first time... Stay tuned.
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