Each year, the design team from Jeep reveals a series of concept vehicles that either spark the consumer’s imagination for current models, or tease possible future offerings. The 2019 Easter Jeep Safari was no exception, and Mark Allen (Chief Designer, Jeep) pulled out all of the stops with a fleet of Gladiators. Of particular interest…
Never a Wrong Turn — The Story of Luka
An unexpected detour and dash of luck lead to a miracle pup deep in the heart of Navajoland.
Overland Expo East Moves to Arrington, Virginia and Announces Dates
As many of you have already heard, Overland Expo is under new management, and this year it seems that they’ve wisely chosen to change venues for Expo East. The new location, which was revealed to be Infinity Downs in Arrington, Virginia, will include accessible electricity in the main event common areas, WiFi connectivity, and hard…
The Expedition Portal Diesel Excursion Wrap-up
At one point or another, we’ve all asked it. That one question that never fails to stir up a fight on four-wheel-drive forums and social pages the world over, What is the ultimate overland vehicle? Plenty of people have voiced their opinions, but from Jimnys to Unimogs, their responses couldn’t be more diverse. Some might say that…
Ice, Snow, and Falls of Fire
“Nature is best enjoyed with thousands of strangers, long lines, and lots of rules.”–No one ever Here’s the thing, I love national parks, but like many outdoor enthusiasts I find myself rather conflicted about visiting them. On the one hand, they encompass some of our nation’s most iconic and beautiful landscapes, but on the other,…
Jeep JL ICON Suspension
It is easy to list the specs of a new product and publish the press release, but what is too often a secondary thought is how will a product perform in a month, four months, 7,000 miles and longer after installation. At Expedition Portal, we prefer to review and report on products after we have…
The Nissan Titan Surfcamp
I accelerated hard out of the curve, pushing tight against the apex and to the limits of adhesion from the Nitto Grapplers. The Cummins diesel pulled strong and sent me into the next bend with more momentum than an 8,000-pound truck should, and with a bigger smile on my face than I expected a full-size…
Heart of a Range Rover Stage III
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Gear Guide 2013. There are certain events you never forget. While some drift away on the winds of memory, those that stay with you define your attitudes and perceptions for life. Camping by the banks of the Boteti River in the Kalahari Desert, Botswana, when I was…
Yeti Hondo Base Camp Chair Review
Yeti is an impressive company, based on a simple ethos: “Build the cooler (i.e., product) you’d use every day if it existed.” They certainly made their name constructing extremely robust coolers that endure full-tilt adventure travel, but they have also extended their product line to include soft coolers, drinkware, bags, and now chairs. Pulling the…
The Overland Gladiator and Other 2019 Easter Jeep Safari Concepts
With the recent unveiling of the Gladiator, we figured there would be some cool truck concepts prepared for Easter Jeep Safari this year. What we hadn’t planned on was every concept vehicle being a truck, yet it’s a very welcome surprise. At a glance the 2019 lineup is all about heritage and hobbies. From the…
Expedition Portal Classifieds: 1969 Jeep Wagoneer
The Jeep Wagoneer boasts one of the most iconic, and arguably beautiful profiles in four-wheel-drive history. Every inch of the design from the wide grill to the rear window exudes Americana, and somehow brings us back to “the good ol’ days” when things were slower and times were simpler. Not everyone is into slow and…
Jeep Will Pay You a $100,000 Salary to Drive a Gladiator For The Year
One of the most common questions we see asked of overlanders is how do you afford to travel? How can you possibly take off from work and follow your dreams all over the country or the world? Well, there is a myriad of answers to that question, and now we can add one more to…
Lightforce Genesis LED Driving Lights
Australia’s Lightforce has long been known as one of the kings in auxiliary vehicular lighting. They offer up superior LED driving lights, and their round 140W LED Genesis 8.3-inch diameter model is no exception. Our 4×4 needed secondary lights for dedicated off-road use. We’re constantly traversing uneven terrain at night (or in thick forests) and…
Expedition Portal and Cummins have partnered to help make your diesel dreams reality
You fall asleep at night thinking of your next vehicle project. You wake up in the morning to phantom smells of diesel fuel. You pull away from stop signs with a disappointing want for more torque. If you’ve given up hope and dismissed your ideas of having a diesel engine as unrealistic folly, or if…
The Jeep Gladiator Off-Road Review, Pricing, and Fuel Economy
Since the official unveiling of the Gladiator last November, we have been discussing comparisons, weighing opinions, and feverishly waiting to get behind the wheel of the latest Jeep truck to see how it would stack up against the Colorado, Ranger, Tacoma, and Frontier. That opportunity finally arrived earlier this week when we set out on…
Overland Routes | Pacific Crest: California Segment
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Summer 2018. What do you envision when you think of California? Shimmering oceans, warm beaches, and a stunning coastline? Perhaps towering redwoods or sparse deserts filled with Joshua trees? You wouldn’t be wrong to think of any of these things, but what if I told…
Where the Wild Places Are
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Summer 2018. Photography by Joe Fleming and Scott Brady TRAVEL CHANGES US IF WE LET IT. There is something different about Peru. On my third trip to this variegated country in as many years, it became clear. It is easy to say that the difference…
Field Tested: DMOS Stealth Shovel
Jackson, Wyoming-based DMOS is a force to be reckoned with. Since their Kickstarter debut in the fall of 2015, this woman-owned company has taken the bull by its horns. DMOS exists to build tools that are purpose-built, portable, and engineered to outlast its customers. They make shovels. They make highly durable shovels. The Stealth is…
BFGoodrich KM3 Mud Terrain: New Mexico Backroads’ 12,000-mile Review
Over two years and 40,000 miles, I conducted an in-depth and long-term review of BFGoodrich’s KO2 all terrain during New Mexico Backroads’ normal scouting, training, and guiding fieldwork. The KO2 unseated the KM2 mud terrain as my tire of choice for midsized trucks and SUVs. My professional clients often ask for recommendations and information on…
Understanding Gearing And Why You Want To Re-gear
Have you ever noticed that on most phones and computers, overlanding auto-corrects to overloading? Call it a fun coincidence, but it’s also appropriate given our tendency to weigh down our vehicles with bumpers, winches, armor, tents, and other equipment. Any of these upgrades can add comfort or capability, but they also make the engine work…