Japanese manufactured vehicles are the best—end of discussion. Okay, I accept that’s not always the case, but I bet you know at least one person who drives a Stone Age Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Mitsubishi, Isuzu, Mazda, or Suzuki that seemingly never breaks down, despite being redlined daily, rusted beyond fathom, or half-way up the Andes….
Category Archives: Featured Vehicles
Behind the Wheel: 2022 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro Test Drive
2022 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro Test Drive Electric Lime Metallic. It kind of sounds (and looks) like a Gatorade flavor. This bold new color, which is limited to the 2022 Tacoma TRD Pro, has already gotten a lot of attention. But after getting behind the wheel of this truck and exploring many (I repeat, many)…
Exclusive :: GMC Canyon AT4 OvrlandX
Photography by Sinuhe Xavier We have come into a golden age of vehicle options for overland travel, with more capability and choice than ever before. A decade ago, there were just a few mid-size truck offerings, and now there are models available from all of the major manufacturers. Companies are also paying attention to the…
Featured Vehicle :: Mercedes Vario 4×4 – “Le Truck World”
There’s a big difference between a campervan and a motorhome; generally, the former is more compact and offers basic amenities, whilst the latter provides generous living accommodation and the comforts of home. I appreciate these are sweeping statements, and there are numerous exceptions to the rule, but broadly speaking, one remains a “van,” whilst the…
Featured Vehicle Interior :: Overland Site’s 2006 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado
Vehicle features here on Expedition Portal offer a wealth of information about overland builds, including specifications, modifications, and upgrades. While they are helpful in a general sense, I want to dig deeper. I want to know what’s in drawer systems, how dry food storage is organized, what kind of toiletry kits overlanders swear by, and…
RedArc Tacoma TRD Off-Road build showcases 12-volt power and capability
RedArc has just unveiled the newest truck in their fleet, which also happens to be their first North American vehicle build. The 2021 RedArc Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road build was upfitted for off-highway travel, backcountry camping, and to showcase the full potential of RedArc’s 12-volt power system, and judging by these initial images, it looks…
Featured Vehicle :: 1989 Volkswagen T3 Syncro – Guanabana Overland
Some of you will know that I ordinarily live (pre-Covid) full-time in my 1986 Volkswagen T3 Syncro and thus have a soft spot for this iconic classic. I follow hundreds of 2WD Vanagons and Syncros online and frequently contribute to the various Volkswagen forums. There are simply thousands of incredible rigs out there, as diverse…
2022 Jeep Compass Will Arrive in North America this Fall
The 2022 Jeep Compass is arriving at dealerships in North America this fall and will be offered in five different trim levels with a slew of new technological and performance upgrades over the previous iteration. Jeep calls it the most technologically advanced Compass thus far, with a new modern-looking interior, advanced safety and security updates,…
Featured Vehicle :: Toyota Hilux Arctic Truck 38 Polar Edition – DID Extreme Expeditions
David Daigle, former special forces and Norwegian climbing champion, owner of DID Extreme Expeditions, adventure travel expert, and all-round good guy, is the owner behind today’s featured vehicle, a Toyota Hilux Arctic Truck 38 Polar Edition. I first met David in southern Norway during a road trip to Stavanger, and if I’m honest, nearly came…
Behind the Wheel: Rossmönster Baja Adventure Truck
The Rossmönster Baja Adventure Truck When the Rossmönster team reached out and asked if I was interested in taking their newest overlanding vehicle, the Baja adventure truck, out for a spin, I was giddy with excitement. This would be the first flatbed truck and camper combo that I’d ever driven. To say that I was…
Featured Vehicle :: Land Rover Defender Ambulance – “Coco Overland”
Purists look away; Jannis Josten is in the house! Josten is one of the most talented, ingenious, ambitious, and outright mad engineers I’ve ever met. He’s also the owner of today’s featured vehicle, a BMW-powered 1987/1997 Defender, featuring a 1969 Land Rover Series II ambulance body and a suspension setup that would make Dakar drivers…
Featured Campervan :: 1977 Mercedes Benz LA 911 B – “Akela”
People often assume that we’re able to travel full-time because we’re millionaires, but they couldn’t be more wrong. Nevertheless, I always say, yes, I am. I’m a “time millionaire.” I may not have lots of money, but I have time, and that’s most important. -Leander Nardin Akela World is comprised of Leander, Maria, their son,…
Video of the Week: Overland Journal Lexus GX470 Build
On my first trip to Prescott, Arizona, I remember seeing Scott’s 2007 Lexus GX470 at Overland HQ and asking him about it. At the time, I was considering the vehicle for an overland build myself (which I ultimately abandoned in favor of a full-sized truck, primarily because I needed more robust towing capability). Scott and…
Featured Campervan :: 1993 Volkswagen LT 4×4 – “Gertrude”
I first stumbled upon Fabian’s Instagram profile (4x4_fabian) a few years ago when I was seriously considering swapping my 1986 Volkswagen T3 Syncro for an LT 4×4. The LT 4×4 is, at first glance, the obvious upgrade to the Syncro, and as my life on the road was permanent, I figured the extra space would…
Featured Truck Camper :: Global Expedition Vehicles Turtle
Photos courtesy of Global Expedition Vehicles When it comes to designing an expedition vehicle that can traverse continents, having experience behind the wheel in a variety of locations is indispensable. Founder of Global Expedition Vehicles (GEV) Michael Van Pelt understands this well. He’s been refining his expedition vehicle designs since the 1980s in an effort…
Ford’s All-electric F-150 Lightning Will Strike in 2022
In the race to bring a fully electric pickup truck to market, we’ve (sadly) seen some flops. But generally speaking, those have been companies starting from the ground up. It’s an entirely different story when an established auto manufacturer like Ford announces their entrance to the EV truck scene. That is to say, the new…
Tommy Campervans and the Hotshot Adventure Truck
Photos by Justin Wade Orton Tommy Campervans is an Arizona-based campervan and adventure vehicle upfitter. Their skilled crew converts standard cargo vans, but they also upfit decommissioned Hotshot buggies for use as overlanding and adventure rigs. To give you a little more context, Hotshot buggies are crew carriers used by BLM and Forest Service firefighters….
Behind the Wheel: 2021 Ford F150 King Ranch
What do you do when a shiny new Ford F-150 King Ranch arrives at Expedition Portal HQ? Naturally, you hand the keys to the guy who drives a Prius and tell him to write about his experience. I know it sounds illogical, but I’m actually in a perfect position to deliver some opinions, primarily because…
Terranova Expedition Truck Joins the EarthCruiser Ranks
As the demand for purpose-built overland trucks continues to rise, EarthCruiser has answered the call with its new Terranova expedition truck. This cab-over-style composite adventure rig is built on one of three domestic 1-ton chassis including the 2020 or newer Ford F-350, Ram 3500, or Silverado 3500. “The EC Terranova is the culmination of years…
Test Drive: Jeep Wrangler 4xe in the Texas Hill Country
Testing the Jeep Wrangler 4xe in the Texas Hill Country I just returned from the beautiful Texas Hill Country, outside Austin, Texas, where I had the opportunity to jump in the driver’s seat of Jeep’s new Wrangler 4xe Rubicon. Driving this innovative (but charmingly familiar) vehicle on hundreds of miles of pavement as well as…