You might be surprised at what one of our first important vehicle upgrades was after completing a 65,000-kilometer overland journey. Replacing the suspension? Swapping the motor? Incorrect. On the top of the list for our 1990 Toyota pickup before undertaking another long trip were the seats. They looked fantastic, especially considering how much dirt and…
2,000 Hours and a Custom Camper Interior Might Make This The Coolest Range Rover Build Ever
I have an affinity for Range Rovers, especially the classic ones. Their timeless design, surprising capability, and abundance of character have endeared them not only to me, but to many enthusiasts around the world, so believe me when I say that I do not take the matter of calling this one of the coolest builds…
Winter Overland Gear Guide
Winter and polar travel present some of the most challenging and rewarding conditions for the overlander, (often) requiring in-depth planning, logistics, and specialized equipment. Even a trip to the local mountains for some four-wheeling in the snow will necessitate an additional degree of preparedness, which we think is all part of the fun. To assemble…
Is the Rebelle Rally the Most Important Off-road Competition in North America?
OFF-ROAD RACING, YEAH!! The smell of gasoline, the sound of thunderous exhausts, the teeming energy drink representatives, and million-dollar tube-chassis race trucks. The Rebelle Rally is, well, none of that. In fact, it’s not a race at all, but rather a competitive and inspiring navigation and driving challenge. Four years ago, when Emily Miller and…
The Overlander’s 2019 Gift Guide: Outdoor & Camp Gear Under $200
It seems like every year, we tell ourselves that we will prepare for the holidays long before they arrive, and almost without fail, we find them sneaking up on us anyway. This year is no exception, with trip planning, meal prepping, and, of course, gift buying well underway, but if you haven’t found that perfect…
The Overlander’s 2019 Gift Guide: Outdoor & Camp Gear Over $200
If you’re feeling like someone in your life deserves something big this holiday season, and $200 just isn’t going to cut it, then this is the list for you. You can see all of our outdoor gear under $200 here, and check back for our four-wheel-drive parts and accessories list coming soon. Renogy 200-watt Solar Starter…
Overlanding the Olympic Peninsula
Thirty-six Hours of Adventure :: The Olympic Peninsula Presented by ARB USA One of the great joys of traveling in the continental United States is the fantastic diversity within our borders, the transition from the densely populated and wooded Northeast to the arid and mountainous…
Project Vehicle: Desk To Glory’s 1990 Toyota Pickup – Little Red v2.0
Prior to its resurrection in 2013, our 1990 Toyota Pickup “Little Red” had been ridden hard and put away wet. It was left for dead in the back forty with flat tires and a cracked windshield that leaked like a sieve. Mould, rust, and long grass consumed the 25-year-old beast. Despite the pickup’s unfortunate condition,…
Crossing the Gobi Desert to Camp at the Flaming Cliffs of Mongolia
We have seen our share of empty landscapes in South America: Patagonia, the Atacama Desert, Bolivia’s Altiplano—but all of them pale when compared with the Gobi Desert in Southern Mongolia (and stretching into northern China). The Gobi is intimidating—so immense and seemingly boundless, driving here was claustrophobic at times, making me wonder, worry even, if…
The Best of SEMA Overland 2019
SEMA was quite the surprise this year, with overlanding taking center stage in the South Hall, and the Overland Experience presentations often having standing room only. And it wasn’t just about roof tents, there were also some genuinely interesting and innovative products on display, and more than a few thoughtful and functional project vehicles. Here…
At Least One New Defender Has Already Been Rolled
The only thing people love more than seeing spy shots of an awesome unreleased vehicle, is spy shots of someone wrecking an awesome unreleased vehicle, and today we’ve got just that. In a video clip released by Land Rover, small snippets of a new Defender 110 being jumped and subsequently rolled can be seen. In…
Overland Routes | Anza-Borrego State Park
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Spring 2017. Anza–Borrego Desert State Park (ABDSP) is a remote moonscape that beckons the adventurer with technical terrain, expansive geology, and the solitude of desert campsites. It is named for the Spanish explorer Juan Bautista de Anza and borrego (bighorn sheep). At 600,000 acres it…
SEMA Overland Day 2
The overland theme continues into the South Hall for our coverage of 2019 SEMA day two. The Gladiator was certainly a darling of the show, but Tacomas and Colorados also filled the halls. One theme that was encouraging is a general trend towards functionality, with many of the parts reflecting better durability, improved coatings,…
SEMA Show Day 1 :: The Overland Experience Area
13 years ago, when Expedition Portal first displayed a vehicle at the SEMA show, there was only three purpose-built overland vehicles in attendance: The Turtle Expedition Ford, UJoint Offroad’s E350, and our 2004 Tacoma. Times have certainly changed and you cannot walk 10 feet without bumping into a roof tent or a snorkel. Even SEMA…
RLD Designs Releases Stainless Steel Canopy For Gladiator
Back in May, we named the RLD Designs truck canopy as one of the coolest products you might have missed at Overland Expo, and for good reason. These beefy caps are made in South Africa entirely from stainless steel, pack some seriously cool camp features, and carry a 700-pound dynamic load rating while weighing as…
SEMA to Feature Exploring Elements GX460
I’ve been eyeing up a Lexus overland GX460 as my next build for a few years now. I sold my big custom composite Dodge camper creation, the EEXP, in May of 2018, as I didn’t need a full-time, on-the-road house anymore. Since then, I’ve been traveling by adventure motorcycle, my 2006 KTM 950 Adventure, lots…
Ford and ARB Join Forces on the Ranger
The new Ford Ranger is developing speed in the aftermarket, and not just because of that sweet little EcoBoost turbocharged motor. It seems like every week, a new partner is announced, from the Yakima project vehicles to this co-development of off-road accessories with ARB. Most overlanders are aware of the ARB brand and their legendary…
Ram 1500 Off The Grid Overland Concept
Overlanding continues to permeate the automotive and outdoor landscape, now with vehicle manufacturers preparing purpose-built overland concept vehicles. The latest coming from Fiat Chrysler with the Ram 1500 Rebel Off the Grid (OTG). Mopar even incorporated swaths of Overland Journal’s definition of overlanding in their latest press release “Unlike traditional ‘four-wheeling,’ in overlanding the journey…
Training Our Limits
“Driver training should be one of the first things we buy for our overland vehicle.” A 36 Hours of Adventure Presented By :: 5.11 Clothing and Bags The most elite units in the world rely on training, best-practice, and continuous improvement; yet many overland travelers skip this critical first step towards competency and safety in…
Overland Expo East 2019: First Look
The past few years of Overland Expo East have been interesting, to say the least. Vendors and attendees alike have stood against hurricanes, ice storms, 11 snowstorms, and quantities of mud and flooding that can only be described as epic. They’ve faced recovery scenarios in the parking lot and required tracked vehicles just to drive…