The awkwardly named Specialty Equipment Market Association is holding its annual bash in Las Vegas. It is one of the largest showcases of aftermarket automotive parts and accessories on the planet, which is why we generally eschew its full title for the shorter and instantly recognizable, SEMA. However, SEMA isn’t just for the aftermarket any…
Toyota Tundra Now Available with a TRD 3-inch Lift Kit
There was a time when most manufacturers refused to offer lift kits for their off-road-based vehicles. A suspension lift is, however, one of the most common and desirable modifications, and for decades, drivers have been relying on the aftermarket industry to provide these suspension kits. The problem with user-selected lift kits is that they all…
Jeep, Ram, and Dodge Brands Dominate SEMA Awards
The Dodge, Jeep, and Ram brands have earned top honors at the annual Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas, beating the competition thanks to votes from show exhibitors who had the honor of choosing the top trend-setting vehicles that represent the best business opportunities in the automotive aftermarket. The SEMA awards were…
Toyota Storms SEMA with Multiple Overland Vehicles, Land Cruisers, and More
Toyota has taken over the Ford booth at SEMA and hit the show by storm. Their lineup includes nearly a dozen overland vehicles, with Land Cruisers, Tundras, and several new Sequoia builds. We got a sneak peak last night, and assembled a run-through of the highlights.
The Electromod Jeep CJ Surge Concept May Save Your Classic 4×4
Debuting at SEMA 2022 today, the Jeep CJ Surge concept is custom designed and engineered to explore an efficient battery-electric propulsion system for classic Jeep models. With the recent launch of the battery-electric vehicle (BEV) Jeep Avenger at the Paris Auto Show, Jeep made clear its intention to soon have all new Jeeps running on electricity. It…
The Ram 1500 Backcountry X Concept Is All Work and All Play
Debuting this week at SEMA, the attractive and practical Ram Backcountry X Concept is designed with crossover appeal for a driver who needs both a week-long work truck and an off-the-clock adventure machine. We predict this vehicle will likely be a massive hit in the overland market. Before focusing on the ingenious load system, let’s…
The Redtail Skyloft is the Perfect Wedge Tent for a Specific User
$20,000. That is the elephant in the room, so we might as well throw a mouse at it first. That’s a lot of greenbacks; I bought my entire Defender in excellent working condition for less than half of that 13 years ago. Twenty thousand dollars (the unconfirmed price for the Skyloft) is the equivalent of…
Overland News of the Week
Special Edition Beast28 Helium Ultralight Frame Pack I remember backpacking with my first frame pack 30 years ago. It weighed almost more than the sum of its contents, was extremely cumbersome, and I would almost topple over when hoisting it onto my back. Granted, I may have packed too much stuff, but the Beast28 Helium…
New Zealand Overlanders Detained in Iran Released
Topher Richwhite and Bridget Thackwray, known as Expedition Earth, disappeared in July along with their Jeep Gladiator shortly after they arrived in Iran on an around-the-world expedition. Very little is known about the circumstances of their detention, but as Reuters and other outlets have reported, the couple were released earlier this week. New Zealand’s Prime…
Could You Win this New Jeep Gladiator? :: The Cal4 2023 Giveaway Is Here
Have you dreamed of cruising down the trail in a decked-out rig with a seven-slot grill? If the answer is yes, now is your chance to score one for less than the cost of a slab of coldies. For the past 50 years, the California Four-wheel Drive Association (Cal4) has outfitted a Jeep for backcountry…
Vote for the Defender Service Awards Finalists
Land Rover, inspired by selfless and passionate acts of service across the US and Canada, launched the second annual Defender Service Awards to celebrate charitable organizations’ positive impact on their local communities. The premium 4WD vehicle brand is donating a custom-outfitted Defender 130 SUV to five organizations to help further their philanthropic efforts in honor…
Charlottamiles are Back on the Road in a 1990 Vanagon Westfalia Syncro
It’s always comforting when I come across other overlanders mad enough to choose the Vanagon Syncro as their around-the-world rig. It might just be something about strength in numbers… or breakdowns. I’ve interviewed a number of these fools and featured stunning expedition-ready examples from Guanabana Overland and Alika Vaquer. If you’re interested in my personal…
2023 Ram 2500 HD Rebel :: Better than a Power Wagon?
Move over Ford F-250 Tremor, there’s a new rebel in town. I’m talking about the 2023 Ram 2500 HD Rebel, the latest off-road focused full-size truck to hit the dirt. Looking a lot like a Power Wagon with its crew cab and six-foot, four-inch box, black rocker panels and fender flares, the Rebel comes out…
GMC Sierra EV :: GM’s Premium Truck Brand Boosts its Electric Lineup
GMC debuted its all-electric 2024 GMC Sierra Denali EV today with a claimed 400 miles of range, 754 horsepower, 787 pound-feet of torque, and 800V DC fast charging at up to 350 kilowatts. Starting at an MSRP of $107,000, the all-new Sierra EV Denali Edition 1 will be available for pre-order at 5:00 pm EDT…
Full-Scale Ineos Grenadier Production Has Finally Begun!
It has been a long and impatient wait for many, but the Ineos Grenadier 4WD has made the giant leap into the final stages of production, and vehicles will soon be rolling off the factory floor. Those registered for Ineos email updates would have followed the story closely and witnessed the vehicle’s progression from a…
Ququq Camping Boxes for Volkswagen T7 Multivan and ID.Buzz
Ququq has been producing camping boxes since 2011 with eight models suitable for approximately 160 models, including the Land Rover Defender, Toyota Land Cruiser, Mercedes G-Wagon, and many Volkswagens. The company recently debuted two new boxes for the Volkswagen T7 Multivan and the ID.Buzz. The truth is most of us can’t afford to run both…
iKamper to Host Second Annual Sky Kamp Gathering
iKamper’s Second Annual Sky Camp will take place from October 21 to 23, 2022 at SongDog Ranch, just north of Santa Barbara, California. It’s an opportunity for the iKamper community to get together and enjoy the company of like-minded people. “Nestled in SoCal’s Ballinger Canyon, the event offers 80 miles of off-road trails, live music,…
Overland News of the Week
Step 22, Reef Visor Panel and Chameleon Carryall I’m a fan of storage solutions that utilize wasted space, so was intrigued by Step 22’s latest offerings. First up is their Reef Visor Panel designed to house “smaller on-the-road essentials” and provide a place for items that are easily lost. The modular MOLLE design offers maximum…
Ford Teases New 2023 Ford Transit Trail for the USA
The Ford Transit is, by far, the best-selling commercial van in the USA. Sales have been close to double that of the closest competitor, the Chevrolet Express. Our observation has been that the Dodge Ram ProMaster 3500 is one of the most popular vans for overland travel, but this isn’t easy to quantify, and Ford…
Jeep to Introduce the Ground Breaking All Electric Avenger at Paris Motor Show
In line with Jeep’s commitment that all vehicles sold in the European market will be 100% electric by 2030, the BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) Jeep Avenger will be introduced at the Paris Motor Show on October 17, 2022. The Avenger is the brand’s first-ever fully electric BEV, which boasts a range of 250 miles, a…