Parked in a construction quarry beside a quiet, muddy road between the villages of Loebetsi and Kibangou in the Democratic Republic of Congo, my son, Keelan, struggled to cook a meal as we dealt with a debilitating mechanical issue and the sunset. We had recently run out of propane, and now the price was being…
Category Archives: Four Wheel Drive
Jeep Avenger to be Powered by 4xe Hybrid Technology for Europe
The Jeep Avenger, which is not sold in the US as Jeep has reportedly deemed it too compact for American consumers, has been doing quite well since Stellantis launched it in Europe in 2023. The little Jeep, the brand’s first BEV, has done so well that it was voted European Car of the Year 2023….
Designed for Marines, Used by Overlanders: The Story Behind Shower Pouch
In 2012, Mike Houston’s father, a retired Navy officer stationed in Afghanistan, shared stories of his travels between forward operating bases with the Marines. Among the many anecdotes, one recurring theme was the pervasive stench they endured inside their transport vehicles. Hygiene was a top priority for soldiers, and baby wipes were the go-to solution…
INEOS Introduces the Fusilier—One Vehicle, Two Powertrains, and a Hint at Hydrogen
Let’s take a moment to celebrate Ineos Automotive’s success. The 2024 model year Grenadier is already sold out in North America, and aftermarket accessory manufacturers are hard at work keeping up with the demand for body protection, roof racks, drawer systems, and other essential overlanding products designed to make the Grenadier even more capable. Buoyed…
South Africa’s Namakwa 4×4 EcoTrail | Overland Routes
Photography by Expedition Overland and Expedition Rove Spanning over 600 kilometers through South Africa’s Northern Cape, the Namakwa EcoTrail is the country’s longest official 4×4 route. The title comes with a certain prestige, attracting those who seek bragging rights associated with completing the route in South Africa. To be fair, though, most trek to this…
The Norweld Bull 79 Is in a Class of Its Own :: Featured Vehicle
The “Bull 79,” a 2020 Toyota 79 series dual cab, is Isaac Edmiston’s masterpiece. Isaac, the big chief of Norweld Australia, initially dedicated eight months to creating a vehicle that is as practical as it is visually stunning. While we often feature the creations of DIY overlanders making the most of their resources, the Bull…
The All-New 2024 Land Cruiser Delivery and Pricing Confirmed
Last year, Toyota unveiled the 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser. Intrigued, we asked on paper whether we loved the new vehicle or not. While it was too early to say for sure, we admitted to being quite smitten. We also speculated that, with a promised mid-$50,000 price range, the vehicle is well placed within the market…
General Tire Arctic LT :: Long-Term Review
Born and raised in sunny South Africa, I had minimal experience driving icy winter roads before heading to the Northern Hemisphere. When preparing for a winter expedition to the Arctic Ocean in the darkest depths of winter, I realized I still had much to learn. That learning was the entire point of driving up to…
Overland News of the Week, February 16th, 2024
Overland News: Guzzle Introduces 4-inch Stealth Flex Twist UV Water Filter We all love maximizing every inch of space in an overland vehicle, so products that are small but mighty are always a win. Offering the thinnest footprint in Guzzle’s Stealth point-of-use series, the Flex Twist takes up mere inches of space behind drawers or…
Full Power: The Wescotts’ Turtle V Gets a Solar and Electrical Upgrade for its Next Adventure
Think back to 1972. Some of you may remember when The Turtle Expedition, Unltd. was exploring the backroads of Mexico and Central America in our trusty 1967 109 Land Rover. At that time, we had one battery, and its functions were to start the 6-cylinder gas engine (that choked on Mexican Pemex Nova regular), turn on…
Norweld Debuts the Elite Tray
Norweld has a reputation for innovation; they produce products that evolve from excellence towards perfection, a benchmark in their industry. That might sound like a mouthful of hyperbole but do yourself a favor and watch the video below, and you will likely agree that the Elite Tray is built to be damn near perfect. At…
Toyota Australia Unveils Upgraded 48-Volt Hilux for 2024
2023 was a great year for the Toyota Hilux in Australia, but it could have been better. After seven years at the top of the sales chart, the mighty Hilux was dethroned by the Australian-designed and engineered Ford Ranger. It was a close-fought battle won ultimately by Ford’s ability to deliver more vehicles from Thailand,…
Lexus GX 550 Overtrail+ :: First Drive
I’ve always considered the Lexus LX and GX lineup luxury forward vehicles that became popular for adventure travel after the fact. I thought buying a used LX or GX and outfitting it for overlanding was somehow cracking the code, creating an extra-fancy Land Cruiser—an idea that brilliantly pushed the limits of normal consideration. Over the…
Overland News of the Week, February 2nd, 2024
Goose Gear Announces New Products for Ineos Grenadier In this week’s overland news, our very own Scott Brady is Crossing the African Continent in the Ineos Grenadier and has so far reported that it has exceeded his expectations. Goose Gear similarly understands the vehicle’s significance and potential and has subsequently revealed a lineup of products…
Expedition Portal Staff’s Favorite Trips of 2023
With international tourism reaching over 90 percent of pre-pandemic levels by the end of the year, 2023 marked an enthusiastic and eager return to the travel scene for many of us, both domestically and internationally. Overland Journal publisher and co-founder Scott Brady began his much-anticipated long-axis Trans-Africa continental crossing in the capable Ineos Grenadier, while…
The Ushi Outdoors Ultralight Trailer is a Trail Chef’s Dream
Ushi Outdoors, a company based in Dallas, North Carolina, offers an innovative solution for outdoor enthusiasts with its all-in-one ultralight trailer, called the Ushi Ultralight. This compact trailer is designed to cater to various outdoor activities such as camping, tailgating, and fishing, providing a practical and convenient way to carry essential gear but not too…
RealTruck and Matchbox Team Up to Auction One-Off Gladiator for Charity
For those of us who grew up playing most days with die-cast cars and trucks, it’s not unusual to wonder what it would be like to have your own rig immortalized as a Matchbox. Now is your chance to find out—online automotive parts and accessories retailer RealTruck has teamed up with Mattel to build a…
Hymer Launches Eriba Car Camper at CMT Holiday Exhibition
European vanlifers rejoice! Eriba, the caravan specialist division of the Erwin Hymer Group, unveiled the Eriba Car camper at the CMT Holiday Exhibition held in Stuttgart, Germany, earlier this month. Building on six decades of expertise in creating iconic caravans, Eriba has extended its design philosophy to the camper van segment. The Eriba, based on…
Gon Dirtin’s 1994 Land Cruiser Troopy : Feature Vehicle Interior
“There’s no such thing as a perfect travel vehicle,” says Karissa and Linhbergh of Gon Dirtin. Built to support the LA-based couple’s careers as professional automotive photographers and overland chefs, their 1994 Land Cruiser Troopy suits their outdoor lifestyle, houses their two pups, Kyia and Stella, and acts as a rolling chef’s lab, from which…
The Best Remote Communications for Overlanders
The historian Hellanicus recorded the first reference to letter writing, a handwritten note sent in 500 BCE from the Persian Queen Atossa, mother of Xerxes and the Achaemenid Empire (Roberts, 1843). There is little doubt that messages were sent across longer distances in earlier times, but they are lost in the sands. The process changed…