Overland Journal Podcast | From Johannesburg, Scott Brady and Matt Scott discuss the new Land Rover Defender after driving it on a legitimate 650–700 km backcountry expedition in northwestern Namibia, including Van Zyl’s Pass, the Hoanib River, and the Skeleton Coast region. They contrast it with a Toyota HZJ79 and evaluate the Defender’s technical terrain…
Category Archives: 4WD
Overland Expo West Postponed to July
These are challenging times for our communities and families, and our hearts go out to all those affected. In addition, many travelers are stuck behind borders or are struggling to arrange transportation home. As an overland community, we are an industrious group, and well-prepared to address this challenge together. We received notice this morning from…
An Overland Chevy Avalanche?
The 2000s were a weird time all around, but they seemed a little weirder over at GM. It was like their engineers hunkered down for the Y2K apocalypse, and in their planning, designed bugout vehicles that could be constructed from existing car parts and recycled plastic. When the world didn’t end as they expected, they…
The 20,000 Mile Jeep Gladiator Review
Winding in-and-out of cirio trees and cardón cacti along the remote Baja peninsula trail which leads to Misión San Francisco de Borja, I realized how how versatile the Gladiator really was. I was driving a fully-equipped, four-season expedition camper at a rate of speed that would be unheard of in the overlanding world just ten—maybe…
Warn Acquires Factor 55
For the past few years, Factor 55’s recovery products have been steadily, if not rapidly gaining popularity amongst overland and off-road enthusiasts. Their line of carefully crafted closed-system winching products have been especially popular, so it comes as no surprise that they eventually caught the attention of famed winch and recovery gear manufacturer Warn. We…
AEV’s 2-inch Spacer Kit Is the Affordable Way to Run 37s on Your Gladiator
The Jeep Gladiator is one of the most popular four-wheel drives on the market today, but the long chassis length can leave something to be desired from the factory breakover angle and ground clearance. Thanks to AEV’s new 2-inch spacer kit though, Gladiator owners can gain some additional height and clearance for 37-inch tires, at…
AEV Releases 7000 Series LED Off-Road Lights
American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) is well known for producing tasteful four-wheel drive accessories and upgrades with an OEM-level of quality. Their offerings span from wheels and suspension systems to turn-key vehicles and motor swaps, but now they’re applying their focus to the lighting market with the 7000 Series Off-Road light. The 7,000 is designed with…
Retracing the Butterfield Route Across Oklahoma
If I could travel through time, I’d go back 160 years to Indian Territory in days antebellum. There, concrete and steel would dissolve into wagon ruts and stone, hewn logs and flowing springs, a landscape familiar in its essence but alien in its rawness. Though I lack a time machine in the H.G. Wells sense,…
Feature Vehicle: TAV Toyota Tacoma
Every vehicle has a story, some born from necessity, some from vanity, and some even from tragedy. For Walt Wagner, owner of Tactical Application Vehicles (TAV) in New Mexico, it was the loss of his cousin, Vincent, in 2013 that inspired this project. When Vincent passed away, Walt offered to purchase his much-loved 2009 Tacoma…
Van Life vs. Overlanding: Working Remotely, Building the Right Rig, and Ethical Stealth Camping
Overland Journal Podcast hosts Scott Brady and Matt Scott welcome editor Chris Cordes and Brittany to discuss the intersection of overlanding and “van life.” Brittany shares her transition from weekend trips to living in her customized 2006 Sprinter, “Wayne the Van,” designed for gear storage and comfort. The conversation covers the realities of remote work,…
The Road Chose Me Volume 2 Book on Kickstarter
After years of working a desk, I realized that life wasn’t making me happy and I needed to make a change. I began dreaming, saving, and planning, and finally quit my job and sold all my stuff. Back in 2009, I wound up driving 40,000 miles from Alaska to Argentina, and I’ve been hopelessly hooked…
Some of The Best Overland Routes In The USA
Each year, our staff members spend months exploring some of the best backroads our planet has to offer, from the red sands of the Simpson Desert to the frozen expanses of Greenland. Along the way we’ve discovered there’s no lack of breathtaking adventures to be had, but believe it or not, some of the best…
COLOSSAL 2019 – The Recipe for Adventure
In 2018, I wrote a short article after Colossal titled “It’s All About the People,” in which I reflected on one of my Dad’s many wise insights into life: people are the most important part of everything we ever do. Year after year, I relate more to that ideal as it seems to solidify for…
Nomad Kitchen Module :: Overland News
(Editor’s Note: Unedited Press Release) Berkeley, CA (February 27, 2020) – Nomad Kitchen Co. is excited to announce the upcoming launch of their first mobile camping kitchen. The small startup, based out of the San Francisco Bay Area in California, hopes to cater to weekend warriors and hardcore adventurers alike with their compact slide-out kitchen…
2020 RawHyde Adventure Days
Editor’s Note: The Rawhyde Adventure Days is a popular event in Southern California that brings motorcycle and 4wd adventurers together. Read our overview of last year’s event here: 2019 Adventure Days Press Release :: ADVENTURE DAYS 2020 RawHyde is thrilled to announce that Adventure Days 2020 will be the Grand Opening of our newest and…
The Brabus 800 Adventure XLP is Sleek, Capable, Powerful, and Painfully Unnecessary
Even if you’re not a Mercedes-Benz aficionado, the name Brabus probably rings a bell. This premier aftermarket upfitter has been taking Merc sedans and SUVs to the next level for decades now, but occasionally they do something excessively awesome, even for them. Enter the Brabus 800 Adventure XLP, a super toy for, well, the super-rich….
Overlanding Needs More E-Motion
Overlanding is about travel, experiences, culture, and yes, to a certain extent, the vehicles. But it’s also about having fun, and I think a lot of people forget that. If you’re so busy obsessing over building the perfect vehicle or doing everything by the book that you don’t enjoy the journey, then what’s the point?…
Warn Releases Their New Subaru Forester Winch Tray
Warn is on a roll with new hidden winch mount options for popular SUVs, trucks, and even crossovers. While it might seem unconventional to install a 12-volt recovery winch on a Forester, Crosstrek, or Outback, it makes sense. In my travels, I have encountered Subarus nearly everywhere in the backcountry, and they are almost always…
All New Method 704 Bead Grip Wheels
It is difficult to imagine, but one of humanities oldest innovations, the wheel, continues to evolve. Principally, companies like Method are finding ways to make them stronger, lighter, and more effective for use in the dirt. The wheels are available in titanium and black With their new 704 wheel, Method has integrated several new design…
The Full Video of James Bond Crew Launching Land Rover Defenders
Back in November, we published an article on a new Land Rover Defender being jumped, rolled, and generally crashed on the set of the James Bond film No Time To Die. Now JLR has released the full footage from the scene, and to be honest, it’s quite cool. The video shows an apparent chase scene…