In this episode, Overland Journal Podcast host Matt Scott sits down with Spencer Park of Bliss Mobil to talk about our shared passion for expedition vehicles—what makes them special, what they enable, and why they matter. From design philosophy to real-world functionality, we explore what separates true expedition platforms from ordinary builds. Along the way,…
Category Archives: Four Wheel Drive
2026 Toyota Tundra Receives Refreshing Upgrades
The 2026 Toyota Tundra was unveiled by Toyota on July 22, 2025, marking a new chapter for the full-size pickup with a series of refinements aimed at improving comfort, convenience, and capability. Although it is not a complete redesign, this iteration offers a considered package of changes that collectively sharpen the Tundra’s appeal to drivers…
Pizza to Go: Portable Ovens that Bring your Favorite Pies Beyond the Backyard
Overlanding getaways to the backcountry need not forego the simple pleasure of America’s favorite food. Adding an outdoor pizza oven to your cache of mobile cooking appliances instantly elevates life under the open skies. Today’s portable pizza ovens incorporate several features, and many models use multiple fuel sources. The ideal pizza oven can reach much…
Overlanding With Jeep on the Rubicon Trail, 70+ Years After Mark Smith Organized the First Jeep Jamboree
“It’s really gnarly up there,” trail boss Pearse Umlauf of Masor Performance (also president and CEO of Jeep Jamboree USA) tells us, over dinner. We’re high in the High Sierra near Lake Tahoe, a group invited by Jeep to tackle the most brutal stretch of the Rubicon Trail, the crown jewel of off-road routes. Umlauf’s…
Unplug Outdoor Co. Debuts the Trailster, a Fusion of Camper Cap and Rooftop Tent
Unplug Outdoor Co. has launched the Trailster, a thoughtfully designed combination of a camper cap and rooftop tent, built to fit both mid-size and full-size trucks. Marketed as the first of its kind, the Trailster merges the protective features of a traditional cap with the convenience of an integrated rooftop tent in one streamlined package….
The Subaru Slayers from Ford That Never Were
With a little bit of historical hindsight, we can safely say that the 1995 Subaru Legacy Outback was one of the truly revolutionary cars from the final years of the twentieth century. Not only did this lifted wagon finally bring the quirky Japanese brand into the mainstream, but it also became the archetype for many…
Overland News of the Week, July 18th, 2025
The New Jeep Compass 4xe Combines Rugged Off-Road Capability with Refined Practicality The Jeep Compass 4xe is the latest evolution of Jeep’s compact SUV, designed to combine rugged off-road capability with refined practicality. Built on the Stellantis STLA Medium platform, it offers multi-energy powertrains and features a raised suspension, optimized bumpers, and upgraded tires for…
The Big Thing :: A Mighty Little Triumph in Montana
Having attended my share of overland events over the years, I half-expected XOverland’s inaugural The Big Thing (July 10–13, 2025) in Montana to feel like a polished production with an established vibe. What I didn’t anticipate was the heart, the attention to detail, and that family-oriented community energy pulsing through the XOverland Ranch like wildfire….
Dave Harriton on What it Takes to Build a Factory Overlander
In this episode of the Overland Journal Podcast, hosts Matt Scott and Scott Brady are joined by Dave Harriton from American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) to delve into the complexities of building a factory overlander. The discussion examines the key components of overland vehicle construction, including transfer case chain integrity, the distinction between aftermarket and OEM…
The Big Thing :: Where the Heart of Overlanding Came Home
The Big Thing event began with a simple idea: create something that feels like why we all fell in love with overlanding in the first place. Not for the gear. Not for the builds. But for the belief that adventure makes us better—because it brings people together and changes us along the way. So, we…
Toyota Taps Rachelle Croft and Taylor Pawley to Lead Rebelle Effort
This isn’t their first rodeo. Rachelle Croft and Taylor Pawley won the grueling Rebelle Rally outright six years ago, and they have their sights set on taming the California and Nevada deserts again in 2025—this time with factory support from 4WD giant Toyota. In fact, the Croft/Pawley duo from XOverland will be the first outside…
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…
Stay on the Road: Why the Overland Industry Needs Real Travelers with Basil Lynch
It’s easy to get caught up in the business of overlanding and actually forget to travel. But Basil Lynch never stopped. In this episode, we sit down with the founder of Basil’s Garage—an overland outfitter based in San Diego—to talk about why staying on the road matters more than ever. From international travel to local…
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…
Overland News of the Week, July 4th, 2025
Rossmönster Debuts All-New Havn Adventure Vehicle In this week’s overland news, the Havn is designed for those who love dirt roads and remote trailheads but don’t need the extreme off-road focus of a Rossmönster Baja Series truck or the compact limitations of a Sprinter van. Built on a Mercedes-Benz 3500 chassis and engineered for four-season,…
Made in the West: American Innovation in Overlanding
What does overland innovation look like when it’s born in a Montana machine shop instead of an international trade show? In this Overland Journal Podcast episode, hosts Matt Scott and Sinuhe Xavier sit down with Matt Linder, CEO of Truckhouse, and Graeme MacPherson of Go Fast Campers—two leaders shaping the future of American-made expedition vehicles….
Meeting a Legend: Barbara Toy’s 1950 Series I Land Rover, Pollyanna
Photography by Richard Giordano Sitting under a vintage map of Chipping Norton, I wait for my Scotch egg and gin and tonic. Cool autumnal weather typical of the Cotswolds had led me inside, and I figured a good book and an English pub were the perfect antidote. Opening my current read, Barbara Toy’s In Search…
Land Rover Launches Global Defender Trophy Competition
Two years ago, I participated in the Land Rover Trek event held in Texas and came very close to winning the event with my team (we finished second, losing to the returning champions). The event comprised a series of physical and mental challenges centered around the capable, tenacious, and stylish new Land Rover Defender 130….
Sierra Trek Adds New Adventure Trips for August 2025
Established in 1967, Sierra Trek has become an annual destination for families across the West, and this year they are pulling out all the stops by adding four new Platinum trips. The event takes place in the Sierra Nevada north of Truckee, California, with a base camp placed on the cornerstones of the 1862 mining…
Graham Jackson: At the Beginning of American Overlanding
Before overlanding was a hashtag, it was a mindset—and Graham Jackson was one of the people who helped define it in the US. In this Overland Journal Podcast episode, Scott Brady and Matt Scott sit down with Graham to trace the origins of overlanding in North America, from the founding days of Overland Journal to…