Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Fall 2017. When most people envision New Mexico, they picture the outlines of rocky plateaus, desert sunsets, and Native American culture. It’s understandable, as you can certainly find these things in abundance throughout the state, but there is also something more: the Continental Divide. Drivers…
GMC’s AT4 Brings Competition to TRD Pro Tundra, RAM Rebel, and Titan Pro-4X
GM hasn’t always been the first name that comes to mind when you think about an overland vehicle. However, this is quickly changing with the introduction of the Bison and now the newly introduced AT4. To find out about this newest offering, I hopped on a flight to San Diego, California, to put their new…
Chasing the light
Do you ever stare at an advertisement and think, “I wonder what adventure led to that photo?” On the surface, it’s a girl standing atop a mountain, but how did she reach the summit, and what else did she see along the way? I used to stare at images and contemplate these questions all the…
Field Tested: Pull Pal RW6,000
If you’re looking for a lighter and more compact alternative to the full-size Pull Pal, you might want to check out the redesigned RW6,000. It shaved 2 pounds off its predecessor and has an improved soft shackle connection while still retaining compatibility with metal D-rings. Although the RW6,000 is designed for smaller rigs like UTVs,…
Sonora Rally Introduces Adventure Raid
Held deep in the expansive deserts of Sonora, Mexico, the Yokohama Sonora Rally is a five-day off-road navigation rally and a true Dakar-style adventure. Created by Dakar veterans Darren Skilton and Scott Whitney in 2014, the venue has brought rally raid, a mainstream attraction in Europe and Africa, to the forefront of the North American…
Behind The Ice Roads
In our Winter 2018 issue, we ran a story about the new year-round road to Tuktoyaktuk, which replaced what was arguably the most famous ice road in the world. We mentioned how the new road provided a lifeline to the small community of Tuktoyaktuk, in an era of changing climate conditions and uncertain ice conditions….
ExPo Classifieds: 1999 Toyota Land Cruiser
There’s a little-discussed and often feared portion of overland travel, and it’s not what you might expect. Unlike armed robberies, corrupt officials, or remote breakdowns, this thing cannot be avoided, which for many people makes it all the more terrifying. I’m talking of course, about the realization that there will be an end to your…
GMC’s AT4 HD Takes Off-Road Full-Size
Just a few hours ago GMC revealed their all-new HD lineup on the shores of sunny San Diego, and they opened up the event in a big way, a very BIG way. Since towing is one of the main focuses of their HD line, they decided to roll out the 3500 HD Denali with a…
Field Tested: Land Rover Discovery 5
I still remember falling in love with the first generation Discovery. Its boxy yet elegant lines, stadium seating, and alpine windows seemed to beckon me towards the driver’s seat with a promise of adventure, and there was no question of whether or not it had the capability to deliver on it. After all, this was…
MaxTrax Extreme :: First Field Test
“Expedition Portal gets a first look at the newest, and most durable MaxTrax yet.” I remember the first time we really, really, really needed Maxtrax. The Expeditions 7 team was deep into the Canning Stock Route in Australia and encountered a half-mile long, water-logged track. We had already been stuck many times that day, but…
RAM’s 2019 Heavy-Duty Line Is Better Than Ever
With synthetic winch lines, lower crawl ratios, more articulation, more payload and even more power, the new Heavy-Duty line of RAM trucks is a force to be reckoned with.
Roof Top Tents Vs Campers: The Pros and Cons
Four years. That is how long my family and I lived in a roof top tent. The four of us camped almost every day of those long years—cooking outside, living outside, and sleeping between walls of canvas. As the kids grew and our journey evolved from an adventure into a lifestyle, we realized that it…
First Test: The iKamper X-Cover Roof Top Tent
Innovation is a rarity, and quality is even more elusive, but this new roof top tent (RTT) from iKamper has them both in spades. At Expedition Portal, we were given the first access to this new tent and took the opportunity to use it in the field, digging into every feature and fabric looking for…
RAM Breaks 1,000 Pound-feet of Torque, but Kills the Last Full-size Manual
Yesterday will undoubtedly be a day remembered in the history books of heavy-duty trucks. For the first time ever, RAM has broken 1,000 pound-feet of torque with a factory full-size, ripping past their previous numbers, their competition’s numbers, and setting a new standard for performance. It’s all thanks to their 6.7-liter Cummins high-output, turbo-diesel, which…
Behind the Feed: Koda’s Tacoma
I love Instagram for so many reasons. It gives people an open view to the world, breaking down borders and barriers through the universal language of imagery. It inspires people to see new things, try new hobbies, and witness sights they would otherwise never be able to experience. Most of all, it is full of…
ExPo Classifieds: Rubicon Unlimited LJ with 9,800 Miles
Before we had the JL or the JK, and before we had the four-door Wrangler, there was the amazing Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, also known as the LJ. This jeep was only produced from 2004-2006 and was essentially a TJ stretched out an additional 15 inches, giving the owner 13 more inches of cargo space, 2 more…
The Copper State Overland Rally
The clouds of my breath rolled and churned as I trekked alongside the edge of the water. The morning air was crisp, and a layer of frost clung to the ground, shimmering in the pale light as dawn broke over the distant cliffs. I knelt by the edge of the lake, watching the fog dance…
New Expedition Portal & Overland Journal Shirts are Here!
We’re excited to say that we’ve just received our full stock of Expedition Portal and Overland Journal T-shirts! This latest update features a vintage Power Wagon in the mountains, equipped with a classic slide-in camper for an old-school look we love. The Overland Journal shirt plays off of our previous design with the Defender, but this…
From The ExPo Vault: The Archaeologist’s Backpack
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Gear Guide 2017. As the winter months continue, and we dream of camping inside a warm van, we decided to look back on one of our favorite builds ever. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did! – Chris Cordes Unexpected snow flurries…
Overland Routes | Pacific Crest: Washington
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Summer 2017. Adventure doesn’t always look like what you would expect. It is not bound to the toughest trails or limited to foreign lands with unfamiliar cultures. Some journeys are about rediscovering the places we already know and seeing them in a new light. This…