Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Fall 2016. Picture Arizona in your mind; imagine traveling the back roads and observing its landscapes. What do you see? For many people, it’s a sprawling desert dotted with cacti—a place of desolation where sunbaked sands cover endless miles of countryside. But this state has a secret,…
The State of Overlanding: Preservation, Treading Lightly, and the Instagram Influx
In 2018, environmentalism, conservation, and preservation are common terms. Most of us are aware of the damage society has inflicted on the natural treasures we love, and, in turn, we make conscious efforts to save these wonders. But it wasn’t always so. Back in the late sixties, pollution was rampant, lake and rivers were treated…
Auto Importers
When only a foreign exotic will do, who do you trust to get it to your garage?
Everyday Four-Wheel Drives of Australia
G’day, mate! If you’ve come here to take a squizz at some of the four-wheel drives rolling around Australia, you’re in the right place. On our last trip to this speccy country, we picked up more than just some ripper new slang. We also brought back heaps of photos of cool fourbies from coast to…
Land Rover Celebrates 70 Years With Defender Outline
On April 30, Land Rover will be celebrating a huge milestone in their company history: its 70th anniversary. While most manufacturers would choose to throw a big party or rip around a racetrack, this British icon has opted to commemorate the occasion a little differently. They decided to drop world-renowned artist Simon Beck off at…
Full-Size Overland: ExPo’s Diesel Excursion Project
What is the ultimate overland vehicle? Plenty of people have voiced their opinions, but from Defenders to Jeeps their responses couldn’t be more diverse. Out of everyone I’d say Jonathan Hanson was the closest when he wrote “The best overlanding vehicle is the one you already have”, but it still left something to be desired. In my opinion the ultimate overland vehicle…
Full-Size Overland: The Excursion Part Two
A little over seven months ago we introduced our latest project vehicle: a low -mile, 7.3-liter turbo-diesel Excursion. It had spent the last 17 years living the easy life in a small town garage, but with our purchase came a second chance for a life of adventure. The plan was to turn this low slung SUV into…
Field Tested: Buckstop Bumpers
When Ford designed the Excursion, it’s clear that they had a few things in mind; durability, reliability, and versatility for example, but somehow I doubt overlanding made the list. Despite its solid axles, massive payload, abundant storage space, and diesel motor, this truck has a couple issues that can make four wheel drive touring difficult,…
The Last “New” XV-JP
Some years back EarthRoamer made a small batch of vehicles they called the XV-JP. These Jeep Wrangler based campers included all of the luxuries you’d want for comfortable road living wrapped in a surprisingly compact and capable package. It was an extremely cool concept, but unfortunately the platform never took off, and they were soon…
ExPo Classifieds: An Ugly HJ45 Camper
Today, we find a very interesting vehicle for sale on the forums. It’s a right-hand drive 1978 Toyota HJ45 diesel pickup that was originally sold in Africa but has somehow found its way to Kodiak, Alaska. The “old Landy” as the name on the camper shell suggests, should be rather cool, but there’s a catch….
Jeep Obsession
Last week we gave you a sneak-peek teaser of Jeep and Mopar’s fleet of 2018 concept vehicles. This week, we’ve been in Moab, Utah, for the Easter Jeep Safari, part of which was not only photographing, but also driving these seven beauties over the region’s stunning red sandstone. We even took a few out to…
Tool of the Trade
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Spring 2018. Throughout the history of our publication, the Toyota Tacoma has remained the most popular vehicle among our readers, a reflection of the model’s reliability and accessibility. As travelers, we ask a lot from our 4WDs, expecting durability, capability, comfort, and capacity, all the while hoping…
Video of the Week: History of the Toyota Land Cruiser
When it comes to overland vehicles, few are as loved or revered as the Toyota Land Cruiser. These legendary trucks can be found in the most remote corners of the globe, and command an almost fanatical following of enthusiasts, but it wasn’t always so. Back in the fifties, the Land Cruiser was simply an imitation…
2018 Jeep Concepts Sneak Peek
For more than a decade, we’ve headed to Moab each spring for the Easter Jeep Safari, the annual spring gathering for off-road aficionados from around the globe. In addition to dozens of great trail rides, a ginormous tradeshow, and a monster raffle that benefits the local Boy Scout troop, the folks at Jeep and Mopar…
On the Lizard’s Tail
I took a deep breath, letting the cool mountain air fill my lungs. The crisp smell of snow and pine was invigorating, and I inhaled again, letting the sensation wash over me. It was a perfect morning. A fresh layer of powder was coating the ground from the previous night’s storms, and it muffled the…
Field Tested: Weego JS12 Jump Starter
We’ve all been there, turn the key and a faint click click click is heard from the engine bay, the result of a flat battery. If you are fortunate enough to be parked at the mall or with friends, you are golden. But if it happens while traveling alone in the backcountry, you will pat…
First Drive: Ram’s new 1500
A few months ago we shared with you a preview of Ram Truck’s new 1500, a from-the-ground-up redesign of one of America’s favorite half-ton pickups. Earlier this month we spent a few days near San Antonio, Texas, testing various configurations not only on the trail, but also tracing hundreds of miles of twisting tarmac, some…
Environmentally Friendly Overlanding
I met Nena Barlow in the ponderosa pine-clad mountains halfway between Sedona and Prescott, Arizona. Nena is a 4WD trainer and the owner of Barlow Adventures, a company that offers off-pavement experiences in the American Southwest. As a certified Leave No Trace instructor, she also knows everything and a bit more about environmentally responsible driving….
International Women’s Day: Bertha Benz
In August of 1888, Bertha Benz loaded her two teenage sons into a Model III and headed 106 kilometers to visit her mother. This was no ordinary road trip—it was the first long-distance automobile adventure ever, and it changed the world. Benz was the wife and business partner of Karl Benz, the German engineer who…
Expedition Portal Classifieds: Tacoma with Habitat
For today’s ExPo classifieds, we have what could be considered one of the most desirable overland setups in North America: a Toyota Tacoma with a paint-matched AT Overland Habitat. What’s more, it’s equipped with an array of accessories and can be purchased for $7,000 less than a TRD-Pro at $36,000. So without further adieu, le’ts…