My name is Matt Haddad, and I am the founder of Elevate OffRoad. By day, I’m in the trenches of a middle school classroom, navigating the high energy of students and the rewarding challenges of education. But as soon as the bell rings and the weekend hits, you’ll find me where the pavement ends—usually with a thin layer of dust on the dash and my family loaded up for the next adventure.
Off-roading has been my "reset" button for the last 15 years. Over a decade and a half, I’ve spent my time mastering the nuances of different rigs—from the bulletproof reliability of Toyota Tacomas to the legendary capability of Jeep Wranglers and Gladiators.
I’ve spent my fair share of nights under the stars and days spotting lines over technical terrain. For me, it’s never been about having a "mall crawler" or the most expensive mods; it’s about having a tool that allows me to get truly off the beaten path.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that the best views are meant to be shared. My greatest adventures these days involve my wife, our one-year-old son, and our two dogs.
I’ll be the first to admit: off-roading with a toddler is a game-changer. It requires more planning, more diapers, and a mountain of snacks. But more than just keeping them occupied, we make sure our son is part of the journey. Whether he’s "helping" me spot a line from a safe distance or spending an hour playing with rocks during a lunch break, these moments are why we do this.
In a world dominated by screens, watching my son experience the raw, unfiltered outdoors is pure magic. We want him to grow up knowing the smell of pine trees and the sound of a rushing creek. Having the whole family together to experience the grit and beauty of the trail makes every mile worth it.
Throughout my years in the dirt, I noticed a recurring problem: stigma. I saw a community often divided by the badges on their grills—where "Toyota people" and "Jeep people" stayed in their own lanes.
I founded Elevate to change that. I wanted to create a space where the common denominator isn’t the vehicle you drive, but the spirit of exploration you carry. Elevate is a community for those who value the journey over the brand. We are for the enthusiasts who want to ditch the gear-shaming, leave the gatekeeping behind, and join together to explore further than we could alone and get back safely.
Whether you’ve been wheeling for twenty years or you just picked up your first 4x4 and aren't sure where the 4WD lever is yet—you’re welcome here. Let’s stop worrying about the labels and start focusing on the horizon.