Charline Ribotta departed from her home country of France in a Toyota Hilux, equipped with a Front Runner rooftop tent and modifications of her design. She has been overlanding solo for more than a year now, with hopes of continuing full-time travel indefinitely. Her original itinerary was to traverse the Middle East and cross to…
Overland News of the Week
America’s Outdoor Recreation Act of 2023 (AORA) Senators Joe Manchin (D – WV) and John Barrasso (R – WY) have reintroduced this bi-partisan bill in Congress. SEMA and the Sierra Club, among other organizations, support it. It is a wide-ranging bill and includes provisions for modernizing and updating campgrounds and other recreation sites across public…
Yakima Introduces RibCage, a Heavy-Duty Track System for Jeep Wrangler Hardtop Models
Jeep hardtop roof panels are designed from SMC (Sheet Molding Compound), essentially a compressed fiberglass base that will safely support a dynamic weight of up to 150 pounds (70kg). That is half the weight of the average rooftop tent. To safely increase the roof carrying capacity of your Jeep Wrangler hardtop Yakima has announced the…
Can Your Overland Videos Send You to Jail?
Last spring, I woke early to start a long day’s hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon on the south rim’s Bright Angel trail. Just a few switchbacks down from the historic Kolb brothers’ studio (famous in their own right as filmmakers), my eye caught subtle but deliberate movement in the pre-dawn light. A…
AEV Silverado HD :: The Ultimate Chevrolet Overlander?
GM is moving everyone’s cheese, announcing product after product that becomes a best-in-class for overland travelers. This started with the Bison Colorado, and followed with the GMC AT4x Sierra AEV (now available with the exceptional 3.0L diesel). And now, GM is going after HD trucks for overlanders with their Chevrolet Silverado HD ZR2 Bison AEV…
First Drive :: 20th Anniversary Jeep Wrangler 4xe, 392, and AEV
We’ve known about the 2023 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 20th Anniversary edition for a while now. You’ve likely already read an article or two about it. But did you know that it almost never came to be? The Jeep engineers working on the Wrangler in the early 2000s were true enthusiasts, in-touch members of the off-road…
Aether Rides Again – 6th Annual Rally May 5-7
Aether is back in Town–Pioneertown, that is–for their 6th annual rally. Within spitting distance of Joshua Tree National Park, the venue offers both motel and camping accommodations in the wide-open spaces. You may have seen last year’s rally on Expedition Portal. Ticket prices include all food, beverages, group rides, sponsor activations, campfires, and other amenities…
GMC’s Refined 3.0L Duramax Diesel Engine Pegged for the 2024 Sierra 1500 AT4X
GMC recently announced that it would allocate the second-generation 3.0-liter inline-six Duramax Turbo-Diesel engine as standard for the “extreme” off-road Sierra 1500 AT4X trim. The updated 3.0-liter Duramax engine comes standard with a 10-speed automatic transmission and delivers maximum power of 305 horsepower and maximum torque of 495 pound-feet. These figures represent a 10% increase…
New 2024 Jeep Wrangler Range to be the Most Capable Ever
The latest iteration of one of the world’s most iconic and off-road capable SUVs, the Jeep Wrangler, promises greater capability, advanced safety features, and new technology while staying true to the Wrangler formula. Jeep claims that the 2024 model delivers the freedom to “go anywhere and do anything” and is taking the Wrangler’s capabilities to…
Top Gear Declares the Jeep Avenger Electric Car of the Year
The Jeep Avenger has been named “Electric Car of the Year” and “Best Electric City Car” in the TopGear.com Electric Awards 2023, adding to the brand’s growing list of international accolades. The awards recognize the best electric vehicles in the industry, from hypercars to hatchbacks. Jeep’s first-ever battery-electric vehicle was recognized for its innovative design…
Mercedes Benz Updates GLS SUV Range
A Mercedes Benz GLS may not be our first choice for overland travel. Still, the entry model would be on the high roller’s list, given the brand’s reputation for reliability, build quality, comfort, and innovation. And, while you will be hard-pressed to spot a GLS out on the trail, the vehicle is equipped with all-wheel…
The Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness Enters the Chat
Those of us in the Subaruverse could see this one coming from a long way off. With the runaway sales success of the Outback Wilderness and Forester Wilderness models, it was only a matter of time before Subaru’s smallest adventure-mobile got the Wilderness treatment. The formula remains the same (why change it?)—beefier lifted suspension, gnarlier…
Feature Vehicle :: This 1990 Toyota Hilux is Business Up Front and a Party in the Back
Italian overlanders Valeria Pixner and Lukas Unterholzner were near Moab, Utah, traveling in a rental van when they decided a four-wheel-drive vehicle was essential for their next trip. Amid a 10-month tour of Patagonia, Australia, New Zealand, and the US, it was near Canyonlands that the couple spotted “cool overlanders” exploring canyons and driving along…
Scandinavia By Land Rover 110
Waking up to a blisteringly cold wind strong enough to rock our Land Rover from left to right and with temperatures well below zero, we got out from under our thick layer of wool blankets and opened the tailgate. We walked to a viewpoint where we could see just enough to distinguish the silhouettes of…
Field Tested :: Toyo Open Country AT/III
I have always believed that a person’s shoes are the building blocks of their personal gear. This is a perspective based on form and function. If your shoes look good and can perform, it matters less how your pants look or what logo lives on your shirt. The same goes for the shoes that my…
Video of the Week :: Return to Namibia
If you listened to the Overland Journal Podcast recently or saw Joe Fleming’s stunning photo essay from his moto adventure in Southern Africa just a few weeks ago, you probably have a little Africa travel itch you need to scratch. I know I do. It’s almost impossible to take a bad photograph in Namibia, and…
Overland News of the Week
Black Diamond Introduces New Pursuit Packs, Trekking Poles, and Apparel Black Diamond’s Pursuit Series of packs, poles, and apparel is lightweight gear perfect for springtime adventures. Products include unisex FLZ trekking poles, which incorporate ergonomic cork grips, interchangeable carbide tech tips, a Z-pole collapsible system, Solution 2.0 wrist straps made from post-consumer recycled fibers, and…
Ineos Grenadiers US VP Answers Your Questions
Grenadier, the automotive start-up aiming to produce an off-road vehicle in the spirit of the original Land Rover Defender, recently held its second Q&A session. Executive Vice President of Ineos Automotive Americas, Greg Clark, fielded questions from the public, covering issues such as timing, driving events, and vehicle specifics. Mr. Clark also talked about the…
Jeep Unveils New Concepts for 57th Annual Easter Jeep Safari Trail Adventure
Jeep enthusiasts and off-road enthusiasts alike are in for a treat this year at the 2023 Easter Jeep Safari, as the Jeep brand and Jeep Performance Parts (JPP) by Mopar design teams have created seven unique concept vehicles that are equipped with advanced powertrains and cutting-edge technology. These vehicles are designed to take four-wheeling to…
Sinuhe Xavier to Present at GTFOverland This Saturday, April 1st
Award-winning director, photographer, and professional adventurer Sinuhe Xavier will be welcomed to GTFOverland on Saturday, April 1st, to celebrate his recent cover of Overland Journal and showcase his photo essay found within. The event will kick off at 11:00 AM and include a captivating slideshow presentation of his stunning photographs along with a Q&A session…