Skip to main content

Author: ericpthomas

4D Shields – Protecting More Than Windshields

In the mudding and off-road world, innovation usually comes from necessity. For Jason and LaRaye Fortner, owners of 4D Shields in Palestine, Texas, it came from heartbreak, healing, and a simple problem that needed a real solution.

Today, 4D Shields is known for one thing: protecting glass windshields on UTVs and buggies while they’re being hauled on open trailers. But the story behind the brand runs much deeper than plastic and hardware.

A Solution Born From Real Life

When the Fortners purchased their Polaris 1000 XP, it came equipped with a glass windshield. Not long after, their family experienced an unimaginable loss with the passing of their oldest son, Dylan.
Jason spent a lot of time traveling back and forth to their deer lease, using the outdoors as a way to process his grief and find peace again. During those long hauls, one concern kept coming up: how vulnerable that glass windshield was on the trailer.

He searched for covers that actually protected the glass and came up empty.

So he did what off-roaders do best.

He built one.

Jason sketched out a design that could truly protect the windshield during transport, contacted a patent attorney, and turned that idea into a real product. That design became the foundation of 4D Shields.

The company name honors their four children: Dylan, Dalton, Dawson, and Destini.

What 4D Shields Offers the Off-Road Community

4D Shields specializes in durable windshield protection designed specifically for UTVs and buggies with glass windshields. Their shields prevent rock chips, cracks, and damage while hauling on open trailers, saving riders from expensive repairs before the ride even begins.

As Jason and LaRaye put it simply:

“Protect that glass & get shielded!!”

What Makes Them Different

In an industry full of mass-produced accessories, 4D Shields stands out for two big reasons:

  • Purpose-driven design – built from firsthand experience, not guesswork
  • Real customer service – Jason and LaRaye personally talk to their customers

Their passion for what they do shows in every order.

And their motto says it all: “We Got You Shielded.”

Favorite Place to Ride

When they’re not building shields or talking with customers, you’ll find them riding at:

River Run – Jacksonville, Texas. Why? Because it’s just across the woods and close to home. Sometimes the best rides are the ones that don’t require a long haul.

Growing Nationwide

4D Shields isn’t slowing down.

They’ve recently expanded into wholesale distribution, with around 15 dealerships across the U.S. now carrying their shields in-store. Their goal is simple:

They want everyone shielded.

And judging by the demand, they’re well on their way.


Find 4D Shields Online

🌐 Website: https://www.4dshields.com

At Where2Mud, we love highlighting brands that are built from grit, heart, and real trail experience. 4D Shields isn’t just protecting windshields; they’re protecting memories, machines, and the weekends riders live for.

If you haul with glass, this is one brand you want in your corner. Built for the Bog. Built to protect. Built with purpose.

Randi Alicia, WTF-Offroad & The Bounty Course

Some people ride for the adrenaline.

Some for the machines.

Some for the mud.

Randi rides for all of it — but even more than that, she rides for the people, the family, the community, and the life built around it.

From Houston, Texas, Randi is the force behind Randi Offroad, WTF-Offroad, and The Bounty Course. Racer. Rider. Event organizer. Mom. Business owner. And as she jokingly puts it, “The Boss 😉.” But titles aside, what really defines her is heart, grit, and an authenticity that can’t be manufactured.

Not Here to Change the Culture. Here to Add to It.

Ask her husband what she brings to the mudding world and he’ll tell you: “a pretty smile & face.” (Insert eyeroll.)

But the real answer runs much deeper.

Randi brings visibility, capability, and confidence to a male-dominated space — not by trying to overhaul it, but by standing firmly within it.

She shows that women can be knowledgeable.

That they can wrench, race, build, compete, organize, and lead.

That they can be tough and genuine.

That they can show up as themselves and still earn respect.

She shows up muddy. She shows up learning. She shows up working. And she shows up with her family right beside her.

From a Four-Wheeler to a Full-Blown Life in the Mud

Randi’s story doesn’t start with sponsorships or TV shows.

It starts with a kid on an old Honda four-wheeler.

By high school, the addiction had set in. At 16, she got her first real taste of trail riding and that unmistakable, heart-pounding, full-send rush that only off-roaders understand.

She was hooked.

Twenty years later, the passion hasn’t faded — only evolved.

“Nothing’s changed except my age,” she jokes, “and maybe my recovery time.”

Living It — On and Off the Trails

Plenty of people show up for the photos.

Plenty show up for the highlight reels.

Randi shows up for the work.

She lives this life as a rider, a racer, an organizer, a supporter, and a mom raising the next generation of mud lovers. She’s deeply involved in the behind-the-scenes grind that makes events happen, communities grow, and the sport move forward.

And she does it with purpose.

“I bring heart, grit, and authenticity,” she says. “I genuinely care about the people and the community behind the machines.”

That care is obvious in everything she touches — from WTF-Offroad builds to the competitive energy of The Bounty Course, to the way she champions others in the sport.

Favorite Place to Ride?

That’s like asking a parent to choose a favorite child.

“If it’s got awesome trails, good people, and views that make you thankful for God’s creation, I’m in.”

She and her family have ridden parks across the country, and every one carries a memory — a moment that left its mark.

Some places shape your riding.

Others shape your life.

Advice From the Mud

Her tip for new and seasoned riders alike is simple and hard-earned:

Build it right the first time.

  • In the garage.
  • On the trails.
  • In business.
  • In life.

Shortcuts don’t hold up in the mud.

A Dream She Never Saw Coming

If you told 16-year-old Randi where she’d be today, she would’ve laughed. Now? She’s living a life that once felt impossible.

From being part of a TV show like Mud Madness, to racing, running multiple events, building brands, working with companies she believes in, and raising a family that loves the trails just as much as she does — it’s been more than a journey. It’s been a blessing.

“It’s all thanks to God and the incredible people around me,” she says. “It’s been a heck of a ride, and I’m beyond grateful.”

Eyes on 2026

The upcoming season is shaping up to be her biggest yet.

  • More parks.
  • More races.
  • More building.
  • More family moments at the track and on the trails.
  • Watching her husband and son race.
  • Creating something lasting together.
  • Pushing harder than ever.

She knows it will be demanding.

She also knows it will be worth it.

Randi’s Words to Ride By

“Every dream is within your reach.”

Randi Alicia is living proof that mud can build more than machines.

It can build confidence.

Family.

Community.

And a life you never planned — but wouldn’t trade for anything.


Follow Randi & Her Projects

Website: www.wtfoffroad.net

Instagram / TikTok: @RandiOffroad

Facebook: Randi Alicia

Facebook / TikTok: The Bounty Course

Facebook: WTF-Offroad

Boggs & Boulders ATV Park: One of the Best UTV Riding Destinations in Alabama

If you ride ATVs, UTVs or Side-by-sides in the South, Boggs & Boulders Off-Road Park should already be on your radar. Located in Andulusia, Alabama, this legendary riding destination has earned its reputation as one of the best off-road parks in the Southeast — and for good reason.

From technical rock climbs to deep mud holes and endless wooded trails, Boggs delivers real terrain for real riders.

Park Stats at a Glance

Location: Andulusia, Alabama
Total Area: 1,500+ acres
Trail System: 80+ miles of marked trails
Vehicle Types: ATVs, UTVs, Side-by-Sides, Dirt Bikes
Terrain: Mud pits, rock gardens, wooded trails, hill climbs, open riding areas
Skill Levels: Beginner to advanced
Camping: On-site primitive camping available
Events: Hosts multiple large ride weekends and special events throughout the year

Why Riders Love Boggs & Boulders

Boggs & Boulders isn’t just big — it’s diverse. You can spend the morning crawling rocks, the afternoon slinging mud, and the evening cruising trails with your crew. Whether you’re riding stock or fully built, there’s always something that will test your machine and your skills.

But what really sets this park apart is the community. Riders travel from across Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, and the Carolinas to experience it. Camps stay lively, groups form fast, and weekends feel more like a reunion than just another ride.

It’s the kind of place where:

  • Builds get tested
  • Friendships get made
  • Stories get earned
  • And your rig comes home dirtier than it left

Plan Your Ride

If you’re searching for:

  • The best ATV park in Alabama
  • Top UTV riding trails in the Southeast
  • or a destination worth trailering your machine to

Boggs & Boulders belongs at the top of your list.

Plan.Ride.Repeat— and we’ll see you in the mud.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1050735630570789