If there has ever been a full-size truck that best captures the needs of overlanders, it has been the Power Wagon. It was the confluence of capability, comfort, capacity, and durability, all on top of a heavy-duty chassis, solid axles, and posi-traction. The early Dodge units were also used for significant expeditions, most notably Wendell…
Category Archives: Featured Vehicles
The White Desert: The Expeditions 7 Team Crosses Antarctica
Photography by Chris Collard and Scott Brady 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 Spring 2015 issue, this article is part of that celebration. Beyond the windscreen, I can barely make out the edge of…
Dave Harriton | AEV FXL Super Duty Deep Dive
Overland Journal Podcast host Matt Scott and AEV’s Dave Harriton discuss the new AEV FXL, a Ford Super Duty heavy-duty truck program following AEV’s Ram and Chevy/GMC lines. They address brand loyalty, regional preferences, and modern truck capabilities. The FXL will be sold as complete VIN-stamped, warrantied dealer trucks and as individual parts starting early…
2027 Ram 1500 TRX SRT: Mega Speed, Mega Compromises
Overlanders are a specific breed. We look for very specific non-negotiable features in a truck, and go-fast has never been at the top of the list. We want power, sure, but we also want fuel economy, comfort, a high payload rating, and reliability. The 2027 Ram 1500 TRX SRT—yes, they brought back the Street and…
2026 Ultimate Overland Build: Nissan Frontier Pro-4X + Tune Camper
Each year, the Overland Expo Foundation partners with a manufacturer to build one of their Ultimate Overland projects. Last year was an amazing GMC 2500 AEV with an OEV camper, and this year they focused on a midsize build with Nissan and Tune Campers. Nissan has been doing big things in the space, including launching…
2024 Toyota 79-Series Land Cruiser :: Feature Vehicle
Australia is a continent of contradictions, with crocodile-filled billabongs, ancient rainforests, and snow-dusted mountains. And it is vast, covering over 7.69 million square kilometers that include approximately 11,000 beaches. It features a desert (Great Victoria) nearly the size of France, and has more wild camels than anywhere else on Earth, along with a decent showing…
2008 Toyota Tundra and OEV Alpine Camper :: Feature Vehicle
Our 1990 Toyota Pickup, affectionately named “Little Red,” has been our go-to adventuremobile since 2013. It has seen a couple of continents and a few revisions along the way, but it remains an antiquated, underpowered, 36-year-old minitruck. It does a wonderful job of scoot-ing through moderately sized whoops, narrow trails, and soft sand while the…
Refuge II Jeep Camper :: Feature Vehicle
Photography by Dan Grec and Michael Fuchs Mad scientists, the Bermuda Triangle, and quicksand. According to Disney movies and cartoons, a person exploring the globe will inevitably have to deal with these from time to time, like it or not. In my personal experience, that has not been the case. Until recently, that is. Thanks…
10 Lessons Learned Traveling in an XOVERLAND Toyota
At Expedition Portal, we have been longtime friends with the XOverland crew, and in 2025, we joined forces, which also gave me the opportunity to finally travel in one of their expedition Toyotas. I have always loved how they look, with all the latest cool products and stunning graphics packages. But how would they work…
The OutFit’s 1975 6×6 Volvo C304 :: Feature Vehicle
Photography by Chris Beight and Ange Feton There’s nothing subtle about the Volvo C304 6×6. Boxy, with clearance for days, and big, square front windows, the vehicle champions Volvo’s design philosophy of clean lines and minimalist aesthetics. Produced between 1974 and 1984, the ex-military truck sports a classic ladder frame, portal axles with leaf springs,…
Jacob Delacruz Explores the Smoky Mountains with Hankook Tires
In the heart of Tennessee’s rugged landscape, Jacob Delacruz embarked on an exhilarating off-road journey up Hall Top Road in the Smoky Mountains. The destination was just south of the French Broad River, reached by navigating challenging bypasses and enjoying the breathtaking views that opened up along the way. This adventure was not just a…
Overland Innovation on Display: Standout Expedition Builds from SEMA 2025
SEMA 2025 offered a clear view of where overland vehicle design is heading, with manufacturers and builders presenting a mix of refined engineering, emerging technologies, and practical solutions shaped by real-world travel demands. Across the halls, familiar platforms appeared with thoughtful upgrades, while new concepts pushed into territory once reserved for purpose-built expedition rigs. Electric…
Where is the World’s 2003 Land Rover Defender 110: Feature Vehicle
The idea of driving around the world as a family was one that completely consumed us once it took hold. We love exploring the world together, and some of our favorite experiences were when we had a rental vehicle. It was a liberating feeling, the freedom to explore where we wanted, when we wanted. My…
The Brown Bird & Co. Skafta Land Rover Defender Campervan is Ready to Make Dreams Come True, In Style
For the last two decades, I have been telling anyone who would listen that the nearest to perfect overland vehicle for an adventurous couple is the Classic Land Rover Defender Hardtop. With three doors and a cavernous interior, this old Landy will take you there, bring you back, and ensure that you have the space…
Proof of Concept: The TruckHouse Takes on Pearl Pass
Pearl Pass has always carried a reputation. In Colorado, it’s shorthand for something stubborn, something reckless, something earned. The road was first cut in the 1880s when Aspen was a silver boomtown and Crested Butte still a rough mining camp. Mules and men scratched their way across the Elk Mountains, hauling ore and supplies along…
The Rescue Truck: A 2024 Ford F-350 Built to Save Lives in King County
When King County Search and Rescue (KCSARA), a nonprofit organization that has served Washington State since 1965, heads out on a four-wheel-drive rescue mission, the circumstances are rarely predictable. The team of volunteers must be prepared for any eventuality. KCSARA brings together nine independent member units under one umbrella, creating a coordinated network of motorized…
The Landrovers: From Cape Town Daydream to Bespoke Defenders
My old Land Rover Defender has seen better days. The instrument binnacle is cracked, the headliner has been replaced with cheap vinyl, the body is scratched and dented from a thousand trails, and the motor has covered 300,000 tough miles across continents. If not a beloved part of the family, my Defender would likely be,…
Land Rover Honors 75 Years of Adventure at Pebble Beach
When you think of the annual Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, you usually think of the famous waterfront golf course lined with immaculate eight-figure Ferraris and one-off pre-war vehicles from European marques that are long out of business. But for the past two years, Land Rover has made a statement at the iconic event with a…
Travel Beasts’ 1993 Toyota Land Cruiser HZJ73 :: Feature Vehicle
It happens to the best of us; we purchase a vehicle and kit it out for a long-distance overland journey, only to find that our needs change as we fall deeper into overlanding and commit further to a life lived on the road. A rooftop tent and daily outdoor existence are fine for a few…
Jeep Beach Episode 3: Hankook Dynapro Project Vehicles
Every great adventure begins with a properly prepared vehicle, including navigation, communication, and emergency equipment. Beyond that, the 4WD can be customized to the needs of the individual and their intended overland journey. Any great overlanding platform starts with quality tires in an appropriate tread pattern for the terrain. Next comes a suspension configured to…