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…
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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…
The 20,000 Mile Jeep Gladiator Review
Winding in-and-out of cirio trees and cardón cacti along the remote Baja peninsula trail which leads to Misión San Francisco de Borja, I realized how how versatile the Gladiator really was. I was driving a fully-equipped, four-season expedition camper at a rate of speed that would be unheard of in the overlanding world just ten—maybe…
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?…
Hummer Is Back With 1,000 Horsepower, 11,500 lb-ft of Torque, and an Electric Drivetrain
At one point in time, the name Hummer was synonymous with off-road capability, but in the 2000’s it came to represent something totally different for millions of Americans, vehicular excess and waste. Instead of being perceived as a pinnacle producer of four-wheel drives, they were associated with massive chrome wheels, rubber-band tires, and large fuel…
Overland Nomad’s Awesome and Affordable Toyota Pickup Camper
Sometimes the truck of your dreams is the one right in front of you
Overland Truck of the Year :: The Best Midsized Pickups
Until a few years ago, there were only two suitable choices for a midsize overland pickup: the Nissan Frontier and Toyota Tacoma. That dearth of options resulted in limited innovation and notable apathy among both the OEMs and aftermarket. However, that all changed when Chevrolet, Ford, and finally, Jeep all released trucks into the market….
Podcast #7: Building a Jeep Gladiator for Overlanding
Matt Scott and Scott Brady share details and insights in this podcast about selecting the best Jeep Gladiator model to purchase and how to modify it for backcountry travel, including suspension, tires and wheels, bumpers, and overland campers. Show Notes: What Makes the Jeep Gladiator So Special? 1. Jeep Capability 2. Proper payload, easily greater…
Gramp Camp: Jon Burtt’s 7.3L Overland Truck Camper
There has always been something about old trucks with bed campers that captures my imagination. Maybe it’s the Texan in me or my childhood readings of Travels with Charley, but every time I see one, I long to leave the world behind in pursuit of an endless horizon. How could I not, though? A pickup…
A Turnkey 7.3L Diesel Camper for Just $33,000
Seriously, the fact that no one has snatched this truck up blows my mind. What we have here is a high-payload vehicle, freshly tuned and painted, with one of the most reliable powertrains ever produced, and a nearly ideal collection of upgrades and overland modifications. This thing is ready to drive around the world tomorrow,…
New Legend Scout Review: Old School Cool with A Modern Twist
“They just don’t make cars like they used to,” the old man said as he walked up to the Scout. His sudden appearance took me by surprise, causing me to nearly hit my head while stepping out of the small door. He laughed and ran his weathered hands along the fender. “We built real automobiles…
Featured Vehicle: Goose Gear’s Overland F-350
It wasn’t all that long ago that many people would have laughed at the idea of a full-size truck for overlanding. But these days, they’re all the rage, and it’s not hard to understand why. While many mid-size trucks are struggling with a lack of power and feeble payloads, their siblings offer an abundance of…
Arkonik: Defending the Defender
Prologue: Namibia “Yeah, it’s leaking oil pretty good.” I’m yelling from underneath a well-outfitted Land Rover Defender 110, trying to overcome the clattering of an idling 300Tdi motor. Early on as a professional archaeologist, I learned just to accept the vehicle you get when you get there and get working. We were somewhere in Namibia’s…
Expedition Portal Classifieds:Defender 110 with Alucab Pop-Top
For many enthusiasts, a Defender 110 is a dream truck on its own, but a three-door version with an Alucab pop-top is the holy grail, and that’s exactly what we have here today. This clean truck is currently for sale in the Seattle Washington area. It’s a 1986, but has been upgraded with a 1994…
Project Vehicle: Desk To Glory’s 1990 Toyota Pickup – Little Red v2.0
Prior to its resurrection in 2013, our 1990 Toyota Pickup “Little Red” had been ridden hard and put away wet. It was left for dead in the back forty with flat tires and a cracked windshield that leaked like a sieve. Mould, rust, and long grass consumed the 25-year-old beast. Despite the pickup’s unfortunate condition,…
SEMA to Feature Exploring Elements GX460
I’ve been eyeing up a Lexus overland GX460 as my next build for a few years now. I sold my big custom composite Dodge camper creation, the EEXP, in May of 2018, as I didn’t need a full-time, on-the-road house anymore. Since then, I’ve been traveling by adventure motorcycle, my 2006 KTM 950 Adventure, lots…
Ram 1500 Off The Grid Overland Concept
Overlanding continues to permeate the automotive and outdoor landscape, now with vehicle manufacturers preparing purpose-built overland concept vehicles. The latest coming from Fiat Chrysler with the Ram 1500 Rebel Off the Grid (OTG). Mopar even incorporated swaths of Overland Journal’s definition of overlanding in their latest press release “Unlike traditional ‘four-wheeling,’ in overlanding the journey…