The namesake of British explorer Ernest Shackleton is suitably the stuff of legends. This wheeled Sir Shackleton, who we’ll call “Shack” for brevity’s sake, is a 1966 Land Rover Series 2a Marshall ambulance. But we’ve already entered a shrouded realm of mythology. Though Shack’s registration papers designate his build year as 1968, the error in…
Category Archives: 4WD
Budget Hatchbacks Cross the Sahara in Preparation for “Driven to Extremes Sahara 2025”
We have said it before and will say it again: you do not need a top-of-the-range expedition vehicle to overland the planet. Earlier this year, we covered the launch of the Driven to Extremes Sahara 2025 Expedition, and, in a bold demonstration of determination and unconventional adventure, two second-hand Ford Focus hatchbacks have completed a…
American Expedition Vehicles Introduces 37-Inch Tire Clearance Kits
American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) has introduced its 37-inch Tire Clearance Kits for the 2024 GMC Sierra 2500 AT4X AEV Edition and the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 ZR2 Bison. These kits are designed to enable owners to upgrade from factory-installed 35-inch tires to 37-inch tires, enhancing off-road capabilities without compromising vehicle integrity. Compared to 35-inch tires,…
Principles of Overlanding: Intentional Vehicle Modifications
Join hosts Matt Scott and Scott Brady in this episode of the Overland Journal Podcast as they dive deep into the principles of modifying your overland vehicle with intention. Matt and Scott discuss the importance of thoughtful upgrades, the dangers of over-complication, and how to build a vehicle that meets your specific use case without…
Overland News of the Week, May 16th, 2025
Roofnest Condor 2 XXL Air First up in this week’s overland news, Roofnest has unveiled the Condor 2 XXL Air, the world’s largest hardshell rooftop tent. The impressive 51-square-foot tent can sleep four adults, and thanks to self-deploying rainfly U-bars and an inflatable foamcore mattress, it can be opened and closed in seconds. It incorporates…
The Best Mid-sized Trucks for Global Travel
The best overland vehicles are constantly morphing with consumer interests and regulatory pressures, but there has never been a better time to choose your next adventure machine. With the growing popularity of overlanding, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) have doubled down on suitable models, and in the case of Ineos, an entirely new car company has…
From Fear to Fascination: Overlanding the United States-Mexico Border
I sat down and took a deep breath, desperately trying to clear my nerves. Our Zoom call gave a soft chime as parents and teachers logged on one by one. It’s not every day that a high school would consider supporting and helping pay for a month-long overland trip, much less an expedition consisting of…
Overland Expo Has Debuted Its 2025 Overland Builds
Now in its fifth year, the Ultimate Build program allows Overland Expo’s editorial team and overland gurus to transform proven factory vehicles into their interpretation of the Ultimate Overland Build. The 2025 Ultimate Overland Build features the 2025 GMC Sierra 2500 HD AT4X AEV Edition and the 2024 Suzuki V-Strom 800DE. Hang the bike off…
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo by Lamenting the 4WDs Mexico Has That We Don’t
Having traveled the length and breadth of Mexico more than a few times, I have often come across a variety of tough and relatively basic diesel-derivative vehicles that do the hard work as agricultural, municipal, military, and civilian private overland vehicles. And, while Mexico has had access to rugged, simple vehicles that many American overlanders…
Land Roamer Pioneer :: Feature Vehicle
Building an overland camper is not for the faint-hearted or those with shallow pockets. While most DIY camper builders tend to be optimistic enthusiasts with a passing grade in woodshop and skill with a saw, they soon realize that making a home on wheels is a project not to be taken on lightly, as there…
May Overland News :: The Big Thing, New Project Vehicles, and Tariffs
Join hosts Scott Brady and Brian McVickers for the May edition of the Overland Journal Podcast. In this episode, they cover May overland news, including Overland Expo in Southern California, new products and projects, and exciting updates from the XOverland Ranch. Scott and Brian also delve into industry trends, the impact of tariffs, and upcoming…
Classic Land Rover Defender Upgrades: More Capability and Greater Reliability
Our classic Land Rover Defender has been working hard since the day it rolled off the showroom in South Africa 23 years ago. “Mafuta,” as she is lovingly known, worked as a farm truck for six years before being rebuilt into our overland vehicle with a large rooftop tent for a family of four, a…
Transglobal Car Expedition Completes Journey in New York
The Transglobal Car Expedition, the first-ever surface-based circumnavigation of the Earth via the Poles, returned to New York City on April 27, where they had begun their 16-month, 92,586-kilometer adventure in January 2024. The team recapped their incredible achievements at a press conference Monday at the Classic Car Club Manhattan, an auto enthusiast’s paradise located…
Ethiopia: Breathing the Air of our Ancestors
Of the gladest moments in human life, methinks is the departure upon a distant journey to unknown lands. Shaking off with one mighty effort the fetters of habit, the leaden weight of Routine, the cloak of many cares, and the Slavery of Home, man feels once more happy. The blood flows with the fast circulation…
Slate Auto Drops a $20,000 DIY Bombshell
Let’s get this out of the way up front: Slate Auto’s brand new electric pickup is not available with any kind of AWD or 4WD system. Yet. However, the under-$20,000 projected asking price (after federal EV tax credits) for a base model “Blank Slate” and its unmatched modularity and options for owner customization are extremely…
Doug and Stephanie Hackney’s Inspirational Overland Adventures
In this episode of the Overland Journal Podcast, Scott Brady hosts special guests Doug and Stephanie Hackney, who share their incredible journey from high-powered careers to full-time explorers. They dive into their motivations behind choosing travel over material comforts, the challenges and rewards of overland adventures, and the importance of adaptability. The conversation also touches…
The 4WD Kia 2025 Tasman X-Pro Is Ready For Launch In Australia
Many years ago, I sat perched in a hot Mozambican bar with an ice-cold 2M beer cradled in my hand, debating with an Afrikaans farmer about which was better: the Land Rover Defender or the Toyota Land Cruiser 79 Series. To my surprise and horror, he flipped the script and offered the Mahindra Scorpio pickup…
Subaru of America Unveils Seventh-Generation Subaru Outback
America sure does love a Subaru. In 2024 alone, the Japanese automaker sold over 667,000 vehicles in the US; a whopping 168,771 of those sales were of the ever-popular Outback. But why is the Outback so popular? Well, it’s safe and roomy enough for family travel, tough enough for off-road adventures (as Carey Lando has…
Behind the Scenes with Blue Ridge Overland Gear
In this installment of the Expedition Portal series on brands that inspire us, Senior Editor Ashley Giordano profiles overland industry leader and storage solutions manufacturer Blue Ridge Overland Gear. Matt Akenhead admits that by nature, he’s incredibly disorganized. “It wasn’t necessarily related to overlanding or travel initially,” he says about the origins of Blue Ridge Overland Gear (BROG). “I just…
Winging It Through New Mexico
The key to enjoying college is figuring out how to maximize your time away from school. In all seriousness, university life can be a drain, and finding little moments to recharge your academic battery by embarking on adventures can be pivotal to a college experience. That’s why I was extra motivated to go on this…