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.”…
Category Archives: Four Wheel Drive
Overland News of the Week, October 14th, 2022
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…
Field Tested: Rugged Road Ultralight Coolers
I like to think that I’m pretty strong. After all, as a 5.13+ rock climber and competitive ultramarathoner, I’ve worked pretty hard to get that way. I’ve gotten used to the fact that my muscles are usually the first thing people comment on when we meet. Strength is an essential part of my personality, my…
iKamper Introduces A New Wedge Style RTT and a 270- Degree Awning
We here at Expedition Portal have a comprehensive “Field Tested” review of the new iKamper Blue Dot Voyager wedge-style rooftop tent and the ExoShell 270 Awning heading your way within the next two weeks. That does not mean we can’t spoil you with a preview of two new iKamper products launched on 5 October 2022….
2022 OLAF OctoberFest
Camping, wheeling, beer tasting, e-bikes, food, friends, and gear sounds like a decent weekend getaway recipe. This year Olaf OktoberFest will be held between 14-16 October, due east of Los Angeles at the Big Bear’s Holcomb Valley Ranch, a 400-acre oasis which is encircled by thousands of acres of San Bernardino National Forest, rolling hills,…
Niche EV Adventure 1 ORV Teams Up With Egoe
My son has grown up traveling the world in purpose-built campers. He has had the opportunity to experience every shape and size of overland vehicle in a real-world, global travel environment. He has been planning his own adventure vehicle since he was 12 (he is now 23) and has spent thousands of hours staring out…
Over-The-Counter :: Medicine for Travelers
As travelers prepare to return to international travel, many will likely forget to pack their over-the-counter and prescription medicines. Many more will forget to check the international rules and regulations for common medicines easily obtained in their home countries—but possibly not allowed overseas. Trip-takers consistently list “forgetting to pack prescription and over-the-counter medicine” as one…
Weekends with the Family :: How to successfully plan small vacations
I really have no quarrel with the way I live. I am a day-job dreamer and a weekender, meaning I define my relationship to travel and the outdoors by breaks in a five-day workweek and amid limited vacation time. I live for the weekend, you might say. It’s time spent with my wife in middle…
2008 Toyota Tundra TRD Off-Road Overland Build :: 46-Gallon Transfer Flow Fuel Tank Install
How many times have you passed a gas station wondering if you should turn back and top off the tank? Are you constantly curious about how much gas is actually remaining when the low fuel light illuminates? Have you looked at those gasoline-filled 2-liter Coke bottles in Mexico and pondered what the percentage of cola…
The 43rd Annual Mojave Road Rendezvous takes place this weekend
The Mojave Desert Heritage and Cultural Association (MDHCA) is holding its annual Mojave Road Rendezvous. It is set to be a cracker of an event this year, bigger than ever before and with more to offer all desert lovers. The event features a lineup of world-class speakers, corporate-sponsored workshops, a huge offering of historical presentations,…
New Defender Honors its Lineage with 75th Limited Edition
I hereby offer my services to Jaguar Land Rover. Clearly, from an enthusiasts point of view, what the company is lacking is the loud voice of a Defender die-hard, someone who has a passion for the vehicle and its history, someone who is not reluctantly thrust into Defender development while the cool kids standing in…
2008 Toyota Tundra TRD Off-Road Overland Build :: OME BP-51 Suspension Installation
Suspension is the foundation of any overland vehicle build. Its purpose is to manage the additional payload of tents, campers, armor, and other accessories. Although factory springs and shocks will likely provide a more comfortable ride and last longer than aftermarket components on a stock truck, they were not designed to manage the weight of…
Brat Class 2 E-bike Coming from Volcon
Volcon ePowersports, the first company to make all-electric off-road powersports machines, announces a new Class 2 electric bicycle they call the Brat. The single-syllable moniker follows the lead of their Stag UTV, and the fat-tired, two-wheeled, go-most-anywhere Volcon Grunt, reviewed by Scott Brady. Volcon states the Brat is built “for any adventure, on or off…
Exploring America’s Swampiest State :: The Florida Adventure Trail
It took a lot of dirt to raise Jon Birkmire. A lot of water, too. As a child growing up in Florida, there’s hardly a river, beach, or dirt road he hasn’t explored in the peninsula state known for its abundance of coastline, swamps, alligators, and snakes. So ten years ago when he discovered Florida…
Jeep Launches Wrangler Willys 4xe and Grand Cherokee 30th Anniversary 2023 4xe
Jeep has had a busy few months and launched two commemorative vehicles this week. The Willys Jeep changed the world – not many vehicles can boast such incredible heritage. When the U.S. Army needed a light, off-road capable military utility vehicle to increase mobility on the battlefields of World War Two, they turned to the…