The Defender Trophy is getting closer, with two-person teams selected from around the world to compete in Africa this October on a three-week adventure that hasn’t been paralleled since 2006’s G4 Challenge. Over 70 countries were invited to participate, from the USA and Canada to Brunei to Northern Cyprus. The one glaring exception: the United…
Category Archives: Four Wheel Drive
Classic Kit: The Pith Helmet
To honor the 20-year anniversary of Overland Journal, we are revisiting special heritage content in the upcoming 100th issue of the magazine. Originally published in Overland Journal’s Summer 2010 issue, this article is part of that celebration. Home, they say, is where you hang your hat. If that hat happened to be the legendary pith…
EP322 | Ant Austin: From Japan to AI
Overland Journal Podcast host Scott Brady interviews Ant Austin of We Will Roam in Montana about balancing a tech career with long-term overland travel using remote work and contracting. They explore storytelling as the connection between tech, AI, and adventure, highlighting practical AI applications for creative organization while noting concerns over disclosure, scams, and Overland Collective’s…
10 Things to Know About Overlanding Mongolia
Photography by Richard Giordano Summer is an exciting time in Mongolia. City dwellers flock to the countryside to enjoy the annual Naadam Festival, a celebration centered around wrestling, horse racing, and archery competitions. Nomads move to their summer gers (yurts), where green grass and warmer temperatures are enjoyed by multi-generational families and their meandering livestock….
Hyundai Confirms New Body-on-Frame Pickup
Hyundai recently announced its plan to go after the heart of the North American adventure truck market. At its 2026 CEO Investor Day, the company confirmed that a new body-on-frame mid-size pickup is part of its product plan, with the truck expected to arrive in North America before 2030. Hyundai says it will be designed…
Field Tested: Pelican ATX and Aegis Carry-On Luggage
Airline travel without checking bags is a cheat code that is well worth striving for. Free yourself from the worry of theft, damage, and lost luggage (and the wasted time associated) with either of these two premium carry-on options from Pelican. Both offer organized space for up to a week of travel between laundry cycles…
Field Tested: The Campspotter App
Michiel Pruijssers thought he had planned the perfect camping trip. The weather forecast looked good, the campspot ideal. But when a powerful storm rolled in and ruined the experience, Michiel, a longtime outdoorsperson and SAR volunteer, felt unprepared. Thus, he built Campspotter, an app with a simple mission: to make finding and planning your next…
Mitsubishi Launches Fifth-Generation Pajero
The fifth-generation Mitsubishi Pajero was just unveiled in Tokyo, marking the return of the highly respected nameplate that disappeared from the global market in 2021. After five years away, the Pajero is back as Mitsubishi’s flagship SUV, and this time the company is taking direct aim at vehicles like the Toyota Land Cruiser and Defender….
Overland News of the Week, September 11, 2026
KC Hilites Platform One Roof Rack for Full-Size and HD Trucks KC Hilites has expanded its Platform One roof-rack system to fit full-size and heavy-duty pickup trucks. The low-profile platform uses proprietary aluminum extrusions and precision-formed steel components, combining a broad cargo surface with multiple mounting points for overland equipment. Its modular design lets owners…
36 Hours Exploring Montana’s Gravelly Range
This article is presented by Montana. If there’s one sound in the off-road world that guarantees fun times ahead, it’s the hiss of tires dropping air pressure. This comforting realization hit me as I admired the rugged peaks surrounding us and listened to my all-terrain tires drop from 36 PSI to 20. My three friends…
EP321 | Jack Mac: Wanderlust by Any Wheels Necessary
Overland Journal Podcast host Scott Brady talks with team member Jack Mac about minimalism and life on the road. Jack shares insights from over five years managing Expedition Portal’s classifieds and global travel by bicycle, backpacking, and vehicles like a 70-Series Land Cruiser Troopy. They discuss how a travel mindset lowers consumer spending, why high-end…
2026 Jeep Recon Brings Trail Rated Capability to an All-Electric Platform
“Nobody wants this.” I read that comment from a respected voice on an Instagram post after a fellow journalist shared his time with the new Jeep Recon EV, which was revealed to select media in Healdsburg, California, in early September. That statement has been bugging me all week. Why would people not want a vehicle…
EP319 | Global Traces on the Realities of Full-time Expedition Truck Travel
Overland Journal Podcast host Ashley Giordano interviews Jess and Dave of Global Traces from Lake Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan, about five years of overlanding in their MAN HX60 expedition truck with their dog Otis and five-and-a-half-year-old daughter Isla. They explain why they chose a truck for long-term autonomy and comfort, how they bought an ex-British military HX60…
Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame Launches Future Legends Scholarship Program
The Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame (ORMHOF) recently announced the launch of the Future Legends Scholarship Program, a new initiative designed to invest in the next generation of leaders who will shape the future of off-road motorsports. The program will award five scholarships totaling $25,000 to individuals and organizations demonstrating excellence in media, advocacy, and…
EXCLUSIVE :: Limited Edition Sitka x Scout Camper
There are truck campers designed to make camping comfortable and easy, and then there are campers designed with the mantra that the journey itself is the point. Taking that to heart, Scout Campers teamed up with Sitka Gear to design and build a limited edition camper that falls squarely into the second category. This premium…
Field Tested :: Alu-Cab ModCap Canopy Base
For years, I ran an RSI SmartCap on my Ford Ranger. It’s a canopy that’s hard to fault—stylish, sleek, and built with clean lines that give any vehicle a polished, factory-fresh look. I loved how refined it made my rig look; it had presence, and it turned heads. But as my trips became longer and…
Overland News of the Week, August 28, 2026
iKamper and Rivian Launch New Skycamp 4.0 DLX Rooftop Tent Suitable for the Rivian R2 and R1S, the new Skycamp introduces an HC Staircase and an electrical junction box that routes power from a compatible external 12-volt source. Additional campsite functionality includes independently dimmable interior and exterior lighting, dedicated HVAC and electrical passthroughs, and USB-A,…
BYD Denza Set to Take on Defender and Land Cruiser
If you made a list of all the vehicles most likely to make Toyota and Land Rover nervous, the Chinese BYD Denza Bao 5 deserves a spot near the top. This is a rugged, ladder-frame SUV designed from the ground up to take on the Defender and Land Cruiser, combining traditional four-wheel-drive hardware with an…
Overland Events and Rallies You Don’t Want to Miss This Fall 2026
AMERICAN NORTHWEST KTM Adventure Rider Rally When September 17–19, 2026 | Where Kellogg, Idaho The KTM Adventure Rider Rally heads to the Silver Mountain Resort for its 21st Anniversary edition this September. The event kicks off with the Ready to Race experience, where adventurers begin with a rally and, from there, shift into ride days….
Ford Planning a Bronco Pickup
Not content to rest on their laurels after the Bronco outsold the Jeep Wrangler for the first time ever, reports indicate Ford are now aiming to take a slice out of Jeep Gladiator sales too. According to Automotive News, Ford is developing a pickup version of the Bronco that could arrive before the end of…