Overland Journal Podcast Episode 216 Join Overland Journal Podcast host Scott Brady as he welcomes Land Cruiser legend and off-road driving expert Kurt Williams from Cruiser Outfitters for a wide-ranging discussion on how best to modify the Toyota 200-Series Land Cruiser for long-distance overland travel. They discuss which models to consider, what to look for if…
Feature Vehicle :: 1990 Campteq Toyota Land Cruiser
In the world of overland travel, few vehicles evoke the same level of respect as the Toyota Land Cruiser. This 1990 80 Series, imported from Spain and meticulously outfitted by Campteq, is a prime example of why the Land Cruiser is held in such high regard. Over three days, starting from Telluride, Colorado, we set…
What These Rebelles Want You to Know About Rallying Older Vehicles
Lead photo by Richard Giordano There are so many parallels between competing in the Rebelle Rally with an older vehicle and overlanding in one. Usually, the vehicle is already parked in our driveway, budget prohibits the purchase of something newer and comfortable, and the vehicle isn’t just a mechanical object transporting us from one place…
Zero Labs’ Electrified Land Rover Series IIIs are Perfect (if that’s your cup of tea)
Since my Defender entered its third decade, I have begun to consider options for the future of the vehicle. Would electrification bring this classic vehicle quietly screaming into the future, and is electrification a viable option for my style of overland travel? These musings have brought my attention to the Zero Labs’ Land Rover Series…
Nobody Puts Baby in a Corner :: Pan-Am Highway With an Infant
The border crossing from Honduras into Nicaragua was an endless line of 18-wheelers at a standstill. Travelers who’d gone before instructed fellow overlanders to reach customs officials by passing the trucks on the right shoulder. This worked until it didn’t, at which point an agent appeared, waved, and conducted the movements of tractor trailers until…
Feature Vehicle: Steyr 12M18
With the explosion of the popularity of overland travel globally, we are seeing more and more people choosing to take the plunge and choose the path in life that we love dearly. Choosing and preparing an overland vehicle is the first, and some would say, the most crucial step to getting out on the road…
Van Conversion Companies :: Buyers Guide
Let’s be honest. Building your own camper interior is a real pain in the neck unless you are a qualified carpenter or a next-level ninja DIY’er with a full workshop of tools. An interior build is never as easy as it looks online, the costs are always double your budget, and the build is never,…
Exploring the Smoky Mountains: Jeep Gladiator
For episode two of Exploring the Smoky Mountains, we look at Ben Wootten’s 2020 Jeep Gladiator Sport with 37-inch Hankook Dynapro XT tires. As an overland and 4WD instructor with over 18 years of teaching experience and operates Classic 4×4 in Asheville North Carolina. Ben also shares his insights into vehicle preparation for the backcountry….
All Wheel Drive (AWD) vs. Four Wheel Drive (4WD), What’s the Difference, Really?
We’ve all been there: navigating your heavily modified 4WD along a twisting, mildly challenging trail or remote track, feeling like a modern-day Camel Trophy adventurer, maybe even in low range (because, why not?). Then, you round a corner and, to your dismay, find yourself face to face with an AWD Subaru Outback, a Honda CR-V,…
The 1 of 1 Mojave Van is a Superb Off Grid Overland Vehicle
I am not a van guy, truth be told. Of all the vehicles available for overland travel, I tend to be biased toward solid-axle 4WD vehicles such as the Land Rover Defender 130 or the Land Cruiser Troopy. These vehicles give me the fizz and, more importantly, suit my style of travel as I prefer…
Bush Lapa Unveils Off-Road Caravan Models in the USA
While exploring the recent Overland Expo PNW, we rounded a corner and came across the impressive sight of three off-road trailers equipped with everything an explorer could ask for. Since its inception in 2010, Bush Lapa Offroad Caravans have been synonymous with robust and versatile off-road recreational vehicles designed and built in South Africa. This…
The Moonlander by Radica Products
So, you’re a young, hip, Carharrt-clad individual with more on your mind than how many watts of solar you need to express an espresso. You want to get out there and live, surf, camp, and explore the world while painfully conscious of how much life costs these days. You have the old Tacoma and are…
Tactical Application Vehicles x Enduro Campers Toyota Land Cruiser
Of all the vehicles on show at Overland Expo West, one stood head and shoulders above the rest, despite being relatively diminutive compared to some of the brutes on display. This vehicle is almost certainly the most capable and practical overland vehicle we found at the event after hours of searching for that one gem,…
The Infanta Inkuzi Camper Is the Bull’s Horns
There is a sublime campsite a few miles east of the South African town of Swellendam. The camp is called Umshanti and is nestled between the mountains and a large dam brimming with large, tasty fish. We have camped there many times over the years and visited again a short while ago. Just off the…
KRUG Expedition Unveils 2024 Rhino XL for Europe
Crafted in Austria, the Rhino XL is the culmination of KRUG’s dedication to creating supremely capable and “affordable” expedition vehicles; KRUG claims that the Rhino XL is “the world’s most capable expedition vehicle.” That is a bold claim indeed. The Rhino XL’s primary limitation is the nearly half-million dollar price tag, which puts it out…
The Norweld Bull 79 Is in a Class of Its Own :: Featured Vehicle
The “Bull 79,” a 2020 Toyota 79 series dual cab, is Isaac Edmiston’s masterpiece. Isaac, the big chief of Norweld Australia, initially dedicated eight months to creating a vehicle that is as practical as it is visually stunning. While we often feature the creations of DIY overlanders making the most of their resources, the Bull…
The Ushi Outdoors Ultralight Trailer is a Trail Chef’s Dream
Ushi Outdoors, a company based in Dallas, North Carolina, offers an innovative solution for outdoor enthusiasts with its all-in-one ultralight trailer, called the Ushi Ultralight. This compact trailer is designed to cater to various outdoor activities such as camping, tailgating, and fishing, providing a practical and convenient way to carry essential gear but not too…
Hymer Launches Eriba Car Camper at CMT Holiday Exhibition
European vanlifers rejoice! Eriba, the caravan specialist division of the Erwin Hymer Group, unveiled the Eriba Car camper at the CMT Holiday Exhibition held in Stuttgart, Germany, earlier this month. Building on six decades of expertise in creating iconic caravans, Eriba has extended its design philosophy to the camper van segment. The Eriba, based on…
Gon Dirtin’s 1994 Land Cruiser Troopy : Feature Vehicle Interior
“There’s no such thing as a perfect travel vehicle,” says Karissa and Linhbergh of Gon Dirtin. Built to support the LA-based couple’s careers as professional automotive photographers and overland chefs, their 1994 Land Cruiser Troopy suits their outdoor lifestyle, houses their two pups, Kyia and Stella, and acts as a rolling chef’s lab, from which…
Freedom Campers
A few weeks ago, we wrote about the Freedom Campers Unimog 2.0, and our socials were inundated with likes, loves, and comments. The great news is that Freedom Campers, based in Dubai, have created not only one of the most drool-worthy Unimogs on the planet but also a stable of overland vehicles, which are all…