By and large, the modern-day car has become a tool or a fashion accessory, taking us to the grocery store, or the bank, or hauling our family to and from soccer practice. But in this pursuit of functional design, one key element has been neglected: fun. OK, also character. Fortunately, not every vehicle that leaves…
Expedition Portal Classifieds :: 1989 VW Syncro Camper
Modern vehicles certainly have some advantages when it comes to performance, reliability, and available parts. But it’s hard to beat the character of a classic adventure rig, especially the Volkswagen Syncro. The beloved, boxy T3 body style was produced from 1979 to 1991, with production of the 4WD Syncro continuing into 1992 at VW’s Austrian…
The World’s Fastest Production 4WD? The Ram TRX
For those looking to cross the Gobi Desert really fast, look no further than the newly announced 702-horsepower Ram 1500 TRX. (Editor’s Note: Manufacturer’s unedited press release below) All-new 2021 Ram 1500 TRX: Quickest, Fastest and Most Powerful Mass-produced Truck in the World With 702-horsepower 6.2-liter Supercharged HEMI® V-8 Engine 2021 Ram 1500 TRX Engineered…
Featured Vehicle :: Anders’ 2001 Turbo-diesel Cummins Ram 2500
Anders Zway may already be a familiar name to some of you. He’s an ExPo Forum regular who goes by the handle Landman. A couple of months ago, Anders pointed me to the full build thread on the ExPo Forum, where he detailed his experience creating what he has dubbed, the “Puller Project,” named after…
Video of the Week: Rivian R1T Shredding the Trails
If the name Rivian doesn’t mean anything to you yet, do yourself a favor and read up on them right here. But for those of you who have been following along eagerly with the development of their incredibly slick-looking electric vehicles, we’ve got a great video of the week for you. This is the R1T,…
Jeep Ultima :: Building the J8 for Overland Travel
Where do we mount the .50 caliber? Testing and modifying a military Jeep exploration platform.
Nitro Gear’s Restored Trakka Troop Carrier | Feature Vehicle
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Summer 2020. All too often, the vehicles we love are eventually lost. Old muscle cars are traded in for more practical sedans or wind up in a ditch, road trip vans succumb to high miles and blown motors, and our trusty camping trucks begin to rust after…
Featured Vehicle :: Brett’s 1992 Toyota Townace A’m Craft Camper
I first crossed paths with action-sports photographer Brett Wilhelm in Driggs, Idaho, back in 2018. I was en route to Victor, Idaho, to run an event, and Brett was making his way south for a photo assignment. We chatted photography over a cup of coffee before going our separate ways. I connected with Brett…
Tom Sheppard Reviews the Suzuki Jimny
This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Gear 2020 issue. If you find the absurdity of black leather seats scaldingly hot or sticky in summer and dark-slippery-cold in winter; if the advantage of flush, pop-out door handles escapes you; if a line of 10 tiny touchscreen icons has you taking off your gloves, reaching…
The Vagabund Lada Niva :: Drool
The Lada Niva is timeless, pulling the heartstrings of overlanders around the globe. I have seen them in the most remote regions of Russia, Iceland, and even Kyrgyzstan. Essentially, they are the Jeep Eagle of Russia, and they are as cool as hell. Vagabund Moto clearly sees them as legit as well, having recently completed…
Classifieds :: Survivor 1972 Range Rover Classic
Editor’s Note: There are moments in time when something truly special crosses our path. This moment is an all original 1972 survivor Range Rover Classic, available from the second owner. This is the first Range Rover registered in Austria. The age would allow easy import into North America, although European delivery would be a perfect…
Classifieds :: 2008 Ram 2500 Cummins with Fourwheel Camper
For Sale: 2008 Ram 2500 4×4 SLT Regular Cab, 6.7 Cummins Diesel with 2015 FWC Hawk Flatbed Camper Mario from Adventure Trailers is selling his well-built and proven Ram truck for $50,000 firm. It has been in our family since 2015. We built it originally to showcase the FWC Flatbed product for shows. It has…
Feature Vehicle: EarthCruiser Mercedes Benz G-Pro Escape
There is no way around it, the EarthCruiser Mercedes Benz G-Pro Escape is an object of desire. This tightly integrated pop-up camper mated to a Mercedes Benz G Professional chassis has serious off-road capability combined with a refined and compact living space. EarthCruiser Australia Builds A Beast With offices in Bend, Oregon, and New South…
Ford Ranger Built for the Fifty Classic Ski Descents
The FIFTY involves a lot of driving and a lot of camping. The vehicle that gets Cody around North America is a 2019 Ford Ranger equipped out with a GFC Camper and a bevy of unique and custom built storage, organization and car camping tools. In this episode, a tour of the truck is given…
2020 Defender Overland Test Drive
There are few automobiles that capture the attention of multiple generations, inspiring everyone from the Greatest Generation to the wonder-filled eyes of a five year old. The Defender has been that vehicle, and even the most die-hard Land Cruiser lover would secretly admit to the charm of a classic Land Rover meandering down a dusty…
An Overland Chevy Avalanche?
The 2000s were a weird time all around, but they seemed a little weirder over at GM. It was like their engineers hunkered down for the Y2K apocalypse, and in their planning, designed bugout vehicles that could be constructed from existing car parts and recycled plastic. When the world didn’t end as they expected, they…
Retracing the Butterfield Route Across Oklahoma
If I could travel through time, I’d go back 160 years to Indian Territory in days antebellum. There, concrete and steel would dissolve into wagon ruts and stone, hewn logs and flowing springs, a landscape familiar in its essence but alien in its rawness. Though I lack a time machine in the H.G. Wells sense,…
Feature Vehicle: TAV Toyota Tacoma
Every vehicle has a story, some born from necessity, some from vanity, and some even from tragedy. For Walt Wagner, owner of Tactical Application Vehicles (TAV) in New Mexico, it was the loss of his cousin, Vincent, in 2013 that inspired this project. When Vincent passed away, Walt offered to purchase his much-loved 2009 Tacoma…
The Brabus 800 Adventure XLP is Sleek, Capable, Powerful, and Painfully Unnecessary
Even if you’re not a Mercedes-Benz aficionado, the name Brabus probably rings a bell. This premier aftermarket upfitter has been taking Merc sedans and SUVs to the next level for decades now, but occasionally they do something excessively awesome, even for them. Enter the Brabus 800 Adventure XLP, a super toy for, well, the super-rich….
Overlanding Needs More E-Motion
Overlanding is about travel, experiences, culture, and yes, to a certain extent, the vehicles. But it’s also about having fun, and I think a lot of people forget that. If you’re so busy obsessing over building the perfect vehicle or doing everything by the book that you don’t enjoy the journey, then what’s the point?…