Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Summer 2015. One of the most hotly debated subjects around the campfire these days is what 4WD vehicle deserves the title of “Ultimate Overlander.” The conversation should not be limited to four-wheel drives sold in the United States, but to the best 4WD wagon platform…
Nissan Armada Mountain Patrol
New to the overlanding market last year was Nissan’s Titan XD PRO-4X Project Basecamp. The stock light-duty truck was endowed with an impressive collection of aftermarket add-ons that included a custom exterior body wrap from Rocket West Off-Road, a host of functional exterior accessories, and a full complement of essential camping necessities. Project Basecamp’s success…
Life in a Go Fast Camper
I think in order to understand where we are going, it is best to know where we have been. With that in mind, I want to start by addressing a question I’ve been getting a lot lately, “Why the switch?” For those of you that don’t know, I had a Flippac for quite a while before getting…
In Defense of the New “Blazer”
There seems to be a vehicular renaissance upon us. Iconic names like Defender and Bronco are returning from the golden days of four-wheel drives, and manufacturers are realizing that capability sells. Jeep’s JL has already blown us away on the trail, Chevy’s ZR2 is nothing short of phenomenal, Toyota is offering a range of capable…
Abenteuer and Allrad 2018
Europeans are famously prolific travelers, so it is no surprise then that the largest overland show on the planet is to be found in the town of Bad Kissingen, located in beautiful central Germany. We have had the good fortune of attending the Abenteuer & Allrad (Adventure and All-wheel Drive) in 2017 and again in…
Braking News
“That’s it. That must be it. Thank you, Rocco!” I almost screamed through the telephone as I concluded my call. Halfway across the globe, in the Netherlands, it wasn’t even dark yet but here, in South Korea, it was close to midnight. I still saw a light in Changwoo’s office, so I ran downstairs to…
Trail Advisory: San Juan National Forest to Close
The San Juan National Forest (SJNF) is amongst the most beautiful overland destinations in North America, but if your summer plans lead you there, you may want to check their website. According to the SJNF rangers, a stage three fire closure is expected to be signed into place tomorrow, due to extreme drought conditions. The…
Birthday in the Black Rock
A few years back, I decided I’d try for once to get some people together on my birthday. We set a three-day expedition date in February to the high desert in Western Nevada, which was a risky proposal due to the potential conditions. I invited some friends from Prometheus Design Werx, Exploro, and some guides…
The New Lower Priced LP9 Sport
I’d say more than a few of us were excited when Baja Designs released the LP9. We fell in love with their modern looks, high output, ducted cooling, and of course that 200-degree beam spread, but then there was the price. At full retail, a set of two would cost over $1,200 USD, and that’s…
Heart of a Range Rover Stage II
Building a Range Rover Classic for reliable, economical expedition travel. Senior Tech Editor Graham Jackson continues the restoration of his childhood steed.
Expedition Portal Classifieds: Matzker Discovery
When the latest generation Discovery was released, I grabbed my torch and pitchfork like everyone else and made my way toward the bandwagon. But over the past few months, I have to admit that I’ve really fallen for the thing. It started when I saw a photo of Lucky 8’s D5 on steel wheels and…
The Trucks, Campers, and Trailers of Expo West 2018
For the past few years, Overland Expo has had the misfortune to be plagued by wind, rain, and snow. This year, the tides turned, and we found there was a torrent of a different kind: a flood of new people and amazing four-wheel drives. Vintage vehicles of every shape and size were set up throughout…
Expedition Portal Classifieds: Forest Service CJ6
Every now and then something pops up on eBay that is so cool we just have to share it. Today, that something is a Jeep CJ6. Not any CJ6, mind you, but a special Forest Service Edition, which appears to be as close to a Defender in size and styling as the old Jeeps ever…
Old-School Cool: Classic 4x4s of Overland Expo
When it comes to four-wheel drives, most of us have our brand loyalties. Heck, we even debate which tires, tents, and other accessories are best. But if there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that vintage four-wheel drives are awesome. It doesn’t matter if their lines are sharp and square or round and…
The Best Seat in the House: Scheel-Mann Vario F XXL
We evaluate a lot of gear here at Expedition Portal and Overland Journal. Tents, trucks, bags, fridges, and recovery equipment are regularly used and reviewed by our team, and normally the write-ups are pretty straightforward. We cover their specifications, talk about our expectations, and determine how well the product ended up meeting them. But today…
An Overland Camper for $38K
We see a lot of trucks pass through our for sale sections, and I’d be lying if I said we didn’t browse through most of them to see what new hotness is on the market. Usually the coolest vehicles are snatched up and sold quickly, but every now and then one manages to fall through…
Building the Perfect Beast
Overlanding from a blank canvas.
Video of the Week: Timeless Adventure
For this week’s video, we’re taking a second look at this beautiful Jeep and teardrop trailer combo owned by Larry Shank. The pair was originally purchased and built by his father, and Larry spent his childhood bumping around the backroads of the United States in the passenger seat. Over the years he has lovingly preserved…
ICON Vehicle Dynamics Full Size Suspension: It’s Super and Up To The Duty
In stock form, the suspension on the Ford Super Duty series isn’t anything to write home about. It’s fitted with small, nameless, black monotube shocks which are forced to undertake the massive job of dampening a 7,000-pound vehicle and its beefy driveline. Tuned for pavement comfort and towing, it’s the weak link in the suspension…
South of Yuma
After having worked a 65-hour week at a work conference, Olivia and I needed to get out and decompress. We knew we wanted to go somewhere warmer than our last trip and neither of us had been to the extreme south end of Arizona, so we decided it was time! I didn’t have a ton…