In the summer of 1987, I attended a car auction with my dad with a wad of cash and hopes pinned on a mid-’70s muscle car. Born into a family of avid car collectors I knew the drill, and as all the prices for muscle cars climbed out of my financial reach, I began to…
Category Archives: 4WD
Happy Holidays (2017)
As we round the final bend into 2018, we wanted to take a moment to wish you and your families a joyous holiday season and a happy New Year. Wherever you are, whatever you’re celebrating, and whoever you’re celebrating it with, we hope you’re making memories as warm and inviting as a campfire on a…
The Ultimate Adventure Gift List
If you’ve seen our home page in the last month, you may have noticed that we published our holiday gift guide a little differently this year. Instead of lumping gifts of every size and shape into one article, we separated them into three distinct categories, one for every budget. Our first guide covered cool gear…
Michigan Opens 6,300 Miles of Forest Roads
After all of the swirling controversy over land access this year, we were beginning to think that things would finally quiet down during this final stretch to 2018, but we were wrong. Yesterday the state of Michigan announced that they will open 6,300 miles of trails to off-road vehicles, following a law enacted last year…
Off-Road Review: 2018 Jeep Wrangler JL
When the Wrangler made its début in 1987 as the YJ, Jeep purists poked fun at Jeep’s new prodigy, casting derogatory insults such as “Yuppie Jeep” and “Real Jeeps have round headlights.” While I agree with them regarding round headlamps, the YJ retained the DNA of its venerable predecessors in the CJ lineup. It had…
36 Hours of Adventure: Perpetual Fire in Southern Utah
“Did you know there is a part of Utah that is always on fire?” I gave my husband a look of pure disbelief as he went on to say, “I guess there are these weird cracks in the ground above underground coal veins that are burning and always have been. Want to go see it?”…
Expeditions 7: Wild Africa
Cinematographer Bruce Dorn shares his obsession for African megafauna that will not only kill you, but also eat you. Bon appétit!
How to Buy a Rooftop Tent
I’m sure you’ve noticed, but you can’t swing a dead cat these days without hitting a roof top tent. There are now dozens of purveyors of car-top sleepers with some auto dealers even selling them as add-on upgrades. If you don’t have one yet, statistically, I’d say you will soon enough. For those inclined to…
Featured Vehicle: FOTORNR
Over the last few years, the 5th-generation 4Runner has become one of the most popular four-wheel drives in the overland segment, and it’s not hard to understand why. They are capable, reliable, relatively affordable, and easy to modify, making them perfect for both new enthusiasts and experienced travelers alike. But recently, we’ve noticed a growing…
Expeditions 7: The Wonders of Oz
The Expeditions 7 team explores the remote reaches of the red continent.
The Jeep Wrangler JL Has Arrived!
The new Wrangler JL has been released, and yes, it will have a diesel.
Featured Vehicle: Arkonik Defender 110 Ragnarök
If you live in the United States, there are really only a few paths to follow for purchasing a Defender. You can take the affordable route and buy one in well-loved and sometimes leaky condition. Alternatively, you could look at one of the many “restored to factory” choices, which are cleaned up, running well, and…
The Modern Explorer: Land Rover LR4 – Part I
Determined to vet the reliability and performance of a modern Land Rover, Overland Journal secures a 2012 LR4 and modifies it for serious exploration.
Field Report: Overland Experts Training
Here at Expedition Portal, we talk a lot about how to make your four-wheel drive more capable and reliable for the road ahead. After all, these vehicles are often our only way into and out of the remote locations we love, so it makes sense that we’d want to purchase parts that help them perform…
The Most Questionable 4×4’s of SEMA 2017
Whether you’re into custom campers, classic four-wheel drives like Broncos and Power-Wagons, or awesome new concepts like the AEV Chevrolet ZR2, the SEMA show has something for you. But amidst all the cool builds, there are a few vehicles that just leave us wondering “What’s the point?” These particular trucks and SUVs are usually covered…
Top 10 New Overland Products: SEMA 2017
The annual SEMA Show is the place to find the latest in automotive aftermarket. Each year automotive professionals from around the globe descend on Las Vegas to show, discover, and/or purchase the best new gear for their respective markets. It was great to see a few innovative, quality new products specifically oriented for the overland…
2017 BFGoodrich Outstanding Trails
$20,000, cash on the barrel to keep our backcountry trails open for all.
The Jeeps of SEMA 2017
Yesterday we published an article on our favorite four-wheel drives of SEMA, but it was missing one key category: Jeeps. You see, there are just so many of them at the show each year that it is becoming difficult to cover them all. There are tan, blue, chrome, and pink ones. They come bed-lined, wrapped,…
The Coolest Four-Wheel Drives of SEMA 2017
After we return from SEMA each year, our friends and families like to ask us the same thing: what was your favorite vehicle? Anyone who has ever been to SEMA will know that such a question is tough to answer. It can take days to see all of the amazing cars and trucks placed throughout…
First Impressions: SEMA 2017
For most people, the end of October and beginning of November is simply a season called fall, but for those of us in the automotive world, it’s something entirely different. It’s that time of year when tens of thousands of enthusiasts and manufacturers descend upon the Las Vegas Convention Center to see the latest and…