Escapar a la Baja, an Overlanding and Vanlife Meetup Baja season is approaching quickly, and for those heading south of the US border this winter, you’ll definitely want to check out Escapar A La Baja Tres. This weekend-long vanlife and overlanding rendezvous at Playa El Tecolote (just 30 minutes outside La Paz) is scheduled for…
Category Archives: Four Wheel Drive
Mac’s Tie-Down Solutions
Mac’s manufactures a fantastic range of tie-down solutions with infinite possibilities. The company was established in 1993 when its founder Colin McLemore recognised a need for tie-down systems for trailers and truck beds. The company eventually released their patented VersaTie Tracks and Connectors, a system that has since “become the standard of the industry.” Mac’s…
Driving the 2021 Copperstate Overland Rally
Photography by Tom Leigh/Tommy Gun Images On a late October afternoon in Northeast Tucson, at one of America’s old-time ranches, “old-time” vehicles made their way through dark wooden gates, past the horse barns, and toward the main house of the Tanque Verde Ranch. The participants of the 2021 Copperstate Overland have gathered for a yearly…
2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk: Better Than a Toyota 4Runner? Test Drive.
Is the 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee better than a Toyota 4Runner? I kept asking myself that question during a recent test drive of the new 5th generation Cherokee in Utah. While the 4Runner may have the edge in terms of trail performance, the Trailhawk absolutely crushes the 4Runner on comfort, which is very compelling given…
Overland News of the Week, November 13th, 2021
Harley Davidson Bagger Riding Jacket w/ Integrated Backpack Heading out on a short motorcycle ride and need a little bit of additional cargo space? Harley Davidson’s new Bagger riding jacket, constructed from 600-denier polyester canvas with a Teflon coating, offers protection from the pavement with a removable integrated backpack offering 20-liters of storage (men’s size…
The Ford Bronco Owned SEMA 2021
Jeep was a close second, but it seemed like you couldn’t turn a corner at this year’s show without walking face-first into a Bronco. They were everywhere: strategically or randomly scattered, there was a vast herd. Luckily, the new Bronco is almost as attractive as the old Bronco. Ford should be proud that they have…
Rebelle Rally Continues to Up the Ante as Proving Ground for EVs
When Rebelle Rally Founder Emily Miller states that the vehicle parked in your driveway is more capable than you think, she means it. From Porsche to Rolls Royce, Jeep, and Ford—old and new—this event proves that even the most unassuming grocery runner can transform into an off-pavement warrior fit for a long-distance rally. And this…
Ironman 4×4 Jeep Raid Series
Ironman 4×4, established in Australia back in 1958, is well known for its range of high-quality parts designed for the 4WD market. The company has released a range of products known as the Raid Series, designed specifically for the Jeep Wrangler JL and Jeep Wrangler JT. Essentially, the range consists of full-length or stubby version…
No Time to Burn
I’d never heard such thunder, and it was getting closer—I could feel each crash reverberate in my chest. It was like enemy mortar shells finding their range. Then there were the punches of lightning, so close they seemed only feet away from my rooftop tent. Maybe the tires on my ’99 4Runner would insulate me….
Feature Vehicle :: MAN Kat 1 – “Darth Vader”
The first time I set eyes on this epic MAN Kat 1, I was parked across the bay in Reine, Lofoten Islands, and distinctly remember thinking, “What in the name of Tolkien is that?” (or words to that effect). I rushed over, letting out the occasional childlike giggle of excitement (not dissimilar to a Chucky…
Mopar Announces ’22 Dodge Durango
Building upon more than 10 years of low-volume, factory-backed vehicle customization, Mopar this week announced a new limited-production vehicle featuring a special-edition package of unique quality-tested, factory-backed performance parts and accessories from the Mopar Custom Shop—the Mopar ’22 Dodge Durango. The new performance SUV, which was on display November 2-5 in the Mopar booth at…
Nissan Aims to Impress at SEMA with Overland Projects
Nissan is yet another auto manufacturer to realize the potential of the overland sector. For the 2021 SEMA Show, which is being held from November 2-5, Nissan will introduce a number of vehicles featuring significant upgrades to appeal to the off-road enthusiast. The Frontier and Pathfinder are sure to turn heads, but we have a…
8 Things We Learned from 4WD Master Trainer Nena Barlow
Photography by Richard Giordano If you flip to the masthead section of Overland Journal magazine, there lies a list of folks whose names you may never see grace the bylines, but their roles are incredibly important. A small but mighty team sees to the day-to-day operation of Expedition Portal and Overland Journal; individuals come from…
Toyota USA Unveils Three Concept Truck Builds at SEMA 2021
Toyota unveiled three truck-specific build concepts at the 2021 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show. What we’ve seen of the Tacozilla Tacoma Camper and TRD Desert Chase Tundra so far has been via Toyota USA’s YouTube channel, so we’re pleased to finally put eyes on them (along with the Tacoma Overlanding Concept Vehicle) under the…
Overland News of the Week, October 29th, 2021
Lavabox Over/Under The Over/Under is a 304 stainless-steel multi-level stand and cooking surface for your Lavabox firepit. When used as a base, it elevates the Lavabox off of the ground (two height settings) to comply with Forest Service regulations as well as Leave No Trace low-impact campfire principles. But if you fold in the legs…
Honda Returns to SEMA with Rugged Overland Vehicles and Africa Twin Overland
Honda will demonstrate its diverse paths to fun and performance at the 2021 SEMA Show in Las Vegas 2021 with vehicles developed by the Honda Performance Development (HPD) division. Specific to the overland segment, Honda will be showcasing three vehicles, including a pair of rugged Honda light trucks custom-built for overlanding adventures. Fully equipped for…
Finish and Publish Your Moto Travel Stories
Do you have an incredible tale of adventure? Have you been told you should publish your stories? Does the thought of pitching to magazines or publishers sound daunting? If so, you need to check out Carla King’s Your Moto Diaries writing workshop. I took the YMD workshop at the beginning of 2021 to help with…
The Best Overland Fridge Freezers
Editors Note: This article originally ran in the print version of Overland Journal, Winter 2021 Issue Coolest of the Cool | Testing the latest fridge-freezers to their limits. Having interviewed hundreds of overlanders, we often ask what their favorite piece of kit is, and almost sheepishly, many reply “my fridge.” The reasons vary, like making…
AT Overland Aterra XL: The Composite Camper Revolution Continues
I remember Dave Soza leading me from the Tern Overland office into the workshop where he grabbed a scrap piece of composite material as well as a hammer. Placing the panel on the concrete slab between us, he began striking it, repeatedly, clearly putting some serious effort into the demonstration. He turned to me, heart…
Video of the Week: Overland Ready Ford F350 Super Duty Flatbed Build
In this week’s video, Chris Cornette gives us a detailed look at his one-of-a-kind F350 Super Duty flatbed overland camper build. Chris chose the short-bed extended-cab F350 chassis for a variety of reasons including the generous payload, short-wheel-base, and gearing options from the factory. He then had a custom Norweld flatbed tray installed which supports…