Photography by Richard Giordano, Nicole Dreon, Regine Trias, and Tim Sutton There is a special time just before the Rebelle Rally begins, before more than 50 teams take off from the start line, arrive at the first base camp, and prior to the highly anticipated finale in California’s Imperial sand dunes. Competitors gradually trickle into…
Field Tested :: iKamper Blue Dot Voyager (BDV) Duo
The overview effect happens when a traveler reaches far enough into space to look back on Earth and observe their home planet, free of international borders, languages, and cultural divides. A profound shift happens to the voyager, seeing the celestial object as a blue dot. It is a good perspective and often results in a…
The Bushwakka Kamelback Is Ready to Take on the World
With the exorbitant cost of overland vehicles these days, it may be tempting to consider a DIY project. In reality, building a camper is an expensive, technically challenging, and time-consuming project; we know this first-hand. Whatever the initial budget for the build of your camper, that amount will need to be doubled, then likely increased…
New Zealand Overlanders Detained in Iran Released
Topher Richwhite and Bridget Thackwray, known as Expedition Earth, disappeared in July along with their Jeep Gladiator shortly after they arrived in Iran on an around-the-world expedition. Very little is known about the circumstances of their detention, but as Reuters and other outlets have reported, the couple were released earlier this week. New Zealand’s Prime…
Could You Win this New Jeep Gladiator? :: The Cal4 2023 Giveaway Is Here
Have you dreamed of cruising down the trail in a decked-out rig with a seven-slot grill? If the answer is yes, now is your chance to score one for less than the cost of a slab of coldies. For the past 50 years, the California Four-wheel Drive Association (Cal4) has outfitted a Jeep for backcountry…
Vote for the Defender Service Awards Finalists
Land Rover, inspired by selfless and passionate acts of service across the US and Canada, launched the second annual Defender Service Awards to celebrate charitable organizations’ positive impact on their local communities. The premium 4WD vehicle brand is donating a custom-outfitted Defender 130 SUV to five organizations to help further their philanthropic efforts in honor…
Charlottamiles are Back on the Road in a 1990 Vanagon Westfalia Syncro
It’s always comforting when I come across other overlanders mad enough to choose the Vanagon Syncro as their around-the-world rig. It might just be something about strength in numbers… or breakdowns. I’ve interviewed a number of these fools and featured stunning expedition-ready examples from Guanabana Overland and Alika Vaquer. If you’re interested in my personal…
2023 Ram 2500 HD Rebel :: Better than a Power Wagon?
Move over Ford F-250 Tremor, there’s a new rebel in town. I’m talking about the 2023 Ram 2500 HD Rebel, the latest off-road focused full-size truck to hit the dirt. Looking a lot like a Power Wagon with its crew cab and six-foot, four-inch box, black rocker panels and fender flares, the Rebel comes out…
GMC Sierra EV :: GM’s Premium Truck Brand Boosts its Electric Lineup
GMC debuted its all-electric 2024 GMC Sierra Denali EV today with a claimed 400 miles of range, 754 horsepower, 787 pound-feet of torque, and 800V DC fast charging at up to 350 kilowatts. Starting at an MSRP of $107,000, the all-new Sierra EV Denali Edition 1 will be available for pre-order at 5:00 pm EDT…
Welcome to the Jungle – Preparation is Everything
The jungle has evolved with one purpose alone—consumption and renewal. Of all the terrain on earth, it is the tropical jungle that is most determined to devour you as it devours every living thing in the pursuit of its survival and prosperity. It helps to think of the jungle as an enormous, beautiful predator, an…
Full-Scale Ineos Grenadier Production Has Finally Begun!
It has been a long and impatient wait for many, but the Ineos Grenadier 4WD has made the giant leap into the final stages of production, and vehicles will soon be rolling off the factory floor. Those registered for Ineos email updates would have followed the story closely and witnessed the vehicle’s progression from a…
Ququq Camping Boxes for Volkswagen T7 Multivan and ID.Buzz
Ququq has been producing camping boxes since 2011 with eight models suitable for approximately 160 models, including the Land Rover Defender, Toyota Land Cruiser, Mercedes G-Wagon, and many Volkswagens. The company recently debuted two new boxes for the Volkswagen T7 Multivan and the ID.Buzz. The truth is most of us can’t afford to run both…
iKamper to Host Second Annual Sky Kamp Gathering
iKamper’s Second Annual Sky Camp will take place from October 21 to 23, 2022 at SongDog Ranch, just north of Santa Barbara, California. It’s an opportunity for the iKamper community to get together and enjoy the company of like-minded people. “Nestled in SoCal’s Ballinger Canyon, the event offers 80 miles of off-road trails, live music,…
Norway, the Country of No Rest
We quickly understood Norway was going to be the country for us. Once the capital, Oslo, passed, the road started winding through the mountains. There is no rest in this country. The roads go up and down at the rhythm of the valleys. Someone told us, “In Norway, the roads were built following the cows.”…
Overland News of the Week
Step 22, Reef Visor Panel and Chameleon Carryall I’m a fan of storage solutions that utilize wasted space, so was intrigued by Step 22’s latest offerings. First up is their Reef Visor Panel designed to house “smaller on-the-road essentials” and provide a place for items that are easily lost. The modular MOLLE design offers maximum…
Essential Tools for Overland Travel
An Argentine beauty once sold me a fan bearing which I was forced to change under the hot Bolivian sun at 12,000 feet. I almost did not achieve the repair because I lacked two tools: the other half of the two-part fan unique tool and a No. 12 Allen key. Now, I know you want…
Ford Teases New 2023 Ford Transit Trail for the USA
The Ford Transit is, by far, the best-selling commercial van in the USA. Sales have been close to double that of the closest competitor, the Chevrolet Express. Our observation has been that the Dodge Ram ProMaster 3500 is one of the most popular vans for overland travel, but this isn’t easy to quantify, and Ford…
Jeep to Introduce the Ground Breaking All Electric Avenger at Paris Motor Show
In line with Jeep’s commitment that all vehicles sold in the European market will be 100% electric by 2030, the BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) Jeep Avenger will be introduced at the Paris Motor Show on October 17, 2022. The Avenger is the brand’s first-ever fully electric BEV, which boasts a range of 250 miles, a…
Makita Launches Cordless Outdoor Adventure Range
The Makita Outdoor Adventure range launches with 16 battery-powered products, including a chain saw, inflator, wet-dry vacuum, lighting, fans, audio equipment, a coffee maker, and more. Duality of use is a huge draw for us, and products that can be used daily on the job site and around the home and can then be repurposed…
Dometic GO Soft Storage With PAC Insulated Insert: Stay Organized with 10- and 20-Liter Storage Cubes That Convert to Coolers.
Dometic was once a small operation that specialized in making refrigerators for RVs and hotels. Fast forward 20 years, and they have expanded into every aspect of mobile living. With the Dometic GO collection, Dometic is making moves to make car camping more comfortable and easy. I’ve been using the Dometic GO 10- and 20-liter…