The Hi-Lift jack is somewhat of an icon, which is no surprise considering its parent company was established in 1895, making it one of the oldest companies in the state of Indiana. The jack’s predecessor was invented back in 1905. It’s become a well-respected tool in the overlander’s recovery kit, and with the new Winch-Clamp-Spreader…
Hummer EV SUV to join GMC’s Supertruck Lineup in 2024
GMC captured our attention in the fall of 2020 with their Hummer EV announcement, complete with a list of futuristic features like CrabWalk…yes, seriously. If you are late to the party, learn why Scott Brady calls the EV Hummer “Electric Overland Nirvana”, here. I think it’s fair to say that we’re equally excited for this…
ARB and Ford Partner on New Bronco Accessories
ARB 4×4 Accessories has just announced a strategic partnership with the Ford Motor Company in developing a complete line of aftermarket accessories for the new Bronco platform. Not only have these accessories been developed to match Bronco’s heritage and performance, but they will also flawlessly integrate into the vehicle’s original design, thanks to a collaborative…
Front Runner Load Bed Rack Side Mount for Bike Carrier
Try saying that product name quickly. Front Runner (FR) continues to be a market leader when it comes to overlanding accessories. Legend has it that the company was conceived between a 1988 Land Cruiser 70 and a 1992 Mercedes G-Wagen in Botswana. A handful of friends with backgrounds in engineering, design, manufacturing, and off-road racing decided…
Nemo 2021 Collection
Nemo was born after its founder, Cam Brensinger, spent a sleepless night on Mount Washington in a poorly designed bivy. He realised that evening how much opportunity there was in creating quality functional gear that enhanced the outdoor experience. As a result, just three days after graduation, he founded Nemo (New England Mountain Equipment). Seventeen…
Rumpl Blankets
Necessity is the mother of invention, and quite often, the best-selling products offer solutions to everyday problems. I’d not heard of Rumpl Blankets before writing this piece, but within 10 minutes, I was sold. Rumpl began their journey “in the back of a van,” where on a surf/ski trip through California, the founders awoke to…
New Expedition Overland SOLO Series Premieres Thursday, March 18
The newest SOLO series from Expedition Overland premiers on YouTube this Thursday, March 18. On this journey, we’ll join Expedition Overland’s very own Clay and Rachelle Croft and their sons, Cyrus, Ryder, and Eli as they explore their wild and rugged home state of Montana, overland style. “It’s an adventure in itself to take the…
“Defender Above & Beyond Service Awards” Honors Community-focused Charitable Orgs
Recognizing seven US-based charitable organizations, Land Rover’s “Defender Above & Beyond Service Awards” will identify and reward these champions of community service with one of seven custom-designed Defenders. Why seven? In recognition of seven decades of Land Rover vehicles helping humanitarian efforts across the globe. “Across seven decades, Land Rover vehicles have earned a unique…
JEEP Wrangler, New Half Doors
The Jeep brand, built on 80 years of heritage, is widely regarded as the authentic SUV. The company’s Wrangler has always been a vehicle synonymous with open-top fun, and the partnership between Jeep Performance Parts and Mopar looks to ‘push the open-air envelope further’ with their new half-door option. First and foremost, it’s important to…
Land Rover Defender V8
What has 518 horsepower, 461 pound-feet of torque, can go 0-60 in 4.9 seconds, and has a top speed of 149 mph? A Defender? Sorry, what?! Well, you heard right, Land Rover has brought back their iconic V8, but this time it’s more than just a soundtrack. Sure, us English folk are pretty used to…
Expedition Exchange Celebrates 20 Years
While it may feel like overlanding is the hot new thing, there have been companies selling quality vehicle-dependent adventure equipment for decades—the godfathers or original gangsters of the industry. There are few organizations as fitting of this title as Expedition Exchange (EE) in Southern California. EE was incorporated in 2001, founded by John Lee and…
Lets Go Aero, Nelson Trailer Adapter
Necessity is the mother of invention, and at Let’s Go Aero (LGA), it was all the motivation they required to launch their first product in 1998, the Gearwagon AT ‘Herman’ Sport Performance trailer. It was a light and enclosed trailer that could carry five bicycles, among other gear, and still be pulled by a Volkswagen…
BDR Announces Plans for the Wyoming Backcountry Discovery Route
Anytime Backcountry Discovery Routes (BDR) announces another project, I can’t wait to get on my F 800 GS and go there. So far, I’ve ridden four of the BDR’s 10 routes and hope to add more, including Wyoming, which the BDR team has declared their next project for 2022. Highlights of the WYBDR are three…
ARB Bushranger Exhaust Jack
Up up and away! The latest version of ARB’s Bushranger is the inflatable saviour we all need. This ingenious recovery solution has a long history in Australia, and in the words of ARB, ‘is an essential piece of equipment that should never be far away in case of emergency.’ Well, the company has taken this…
KC Hilites Flex Era 4
There are very few vehicle accessory companies with such a long-standing reputation for quality as KC Hilites. Moreover, the designs and performance of their latest products have overlanders like me transfixed, jaw agape, breathless like a deer in Flex Era 4 spots! I remember purchasing my VW Syncro and immediately (childishly) investing in four cheap…
RacksBrax Mounting Brackets Now Available in the US From Adventure Imports
Family-owned Australian company RacksBrax offers an innovative accessory mounting system that allows for the quick removal (10-seconds or less) of roof-rack mounted accessories like recovery boards, jacks, and now awnings too. And the exciting news for US-based customers is that RacksBrax products are now available for the first time in North America from Prescott, Arizona-based…
ICON 4x4s ‘Old School Edition’ FJ44
I’ve always struggled between choosing a modern, reliable vehicle and being seduced by the undeniable charm of older models. I find myself wondering, what flaws can I live with? Are the aesthetics worth the heightened risk of mechanical failures? It’s ridiculous, but I can’t help lusting over the boxy dimensions of classic 4WDs. I’m not…
New Moab City Ordinance Disrupts ATV-related Events
Sand Flats Recreation Area. Photo by Matt Swartz. The City of Moab, Utah, which is widely recognized as one of the premier 4WD and off-highway motorized vehicle playgrounds in the world, has recently enacted a moratorium, temporarily putting a hold on issuing new ATV-related business and event permits. This development has quickly grabbed the…
SDi’s Auto-Adjusting Overland Suspension Test
Technology changes everything and provides the types of innovation that ushers in the future. Not long ago, drivers bemoaned fuel injection, then ABS, and, more recently, traction control, and vehicle stability control. All of that technology has transformed vehicle reliability and safety while also (in most cases) improving performance. With current-generation ABS systems, each wheel…
67 Designs is Fighting to Save Manufacturing Jobs in the US
We’ve all been faced with this dilemma at one time or another: buy the “cheap” product that is made overseas (often from a major online retailer), or pay a small premium for a USA-made version. It’s a tough position to be in, especially if you are facing financial hardship or employment disruption due to any…