Over the past few years the overlanding scene has truly exploded, giving life to new events all across the country. Yet, despite the large number of enthusiasts in the central U.S., these expos and rallies seem to be concentrated solely along the East and West coasts, leaving those of us in the middle without many…
The Four-Wheel Drives of Overland Expo East
Ah yes, fall has finally arrived. The leaves are changing, the temperatures are dropping, pumpkin-flavored food and beverages are filling the shelves, and Expo East is here. For a few days each fall this event brings together travelers, four-wheel drive enthusiasts, and adventure Moto riders from every corner of the globe, and allows them to…
Decked Announces New Systems for Midsize Pickups
Pickup owners are drawn to their vehicles by the promise of utility and large cargo-hauling capacities, but keeping items organized and within reach has never been very straightforward. Many pickup owners, myself included, have resorted to various bags, cases, totes, and home-built wooden boxes to keep things tidy, secure, and accessible. When Decked entered the…
Featured Vehicle: The Patriot Campers Megatourer 6×6
When Patriot Camper’s Justin Montesalvo set out to build his latest overlander, it wasn’t just an exercise in excess, it was an unabashed attempt to create the most formidable 4×4 touring platform imaginable. Judging by the results, it took a lot more than just imagination. Packed with more technical features than any custom build we’ve…
Cummins Now Taking Orders for their R2.8 Turbo Diesel Crate Motor
Over the last few years we’ve seen a number of creative attempts to convert various vehicles with diesel engines. From Jeep Wranglers fitted with VW power plants to trucks rolling on marine diesels designed to power electrical generators, we’ve seen it all. The most promising was announced last year with the introduction of the Cummins…
A2A Expedition: Give Me Inconvenience Or Give Me Death
Our Land Rover Defender has taken us to 41 countries over a 6-year period. Not once have we been arrested, none of us (a family of four) have contracted malaria, been robbed, shot at, beaten or deported. How utterly depressing. I want to write the story about how, that one time in Tanzania, I had…
Expeditions 7: Northern Extremes
Prudhoe Bay to Cape Spear—The Expeditions 7 team transects North America on a trek around the world.
Jim Ratcliffe and Why You Might Want to Know His Name
When Land Rover ended production of the Defender, the assembly line had not yet come full stop before an eccentric billionaire began making claims he was going to single-handedly bring the vehicle back to life. The uber-rich are prone to such musings, but Jim Ratcliffe is not your garden variety rich guy, he’s a genuine…
Wander Libre: Land Cruiser Troopy Camper Conversion, Part 1
As I write this post, it’s almost a year since we completed our camper conversion of Maggie, the Land Cruiser 78 Series Troop Carrier we’re currently using to explore the world overland. For us, Maggie’s the ultimate go-anywhere overland vehicle. An expedition tiny home, which serves as our transportation, home on the road, and mobile…
I Can. I Will. Women Overlanding the World
Before we left, we were repeatedly discouraged by others and by the media. Everyone said these were not safe countries for women to travel in, that a trip like this would be too physically demanding for women, one person even said we would come home in pine boxes. Despite these messages, we overcame our fears and…
Automotive News: September 2017 Edition
This is the time of year in the automotive world when we start to see hopeful teases become official announcements and anticipated concepts reduced to crowd-groaning flubs. September is, of course, the launch of the auto-show season with the Frankfurt event in Germany the belle of the ball. Vehicles worthy of the public’s attention don’t…
Featured Vehicle: Dustin Miller’s 2008 4Runner
Well, there’s certainly no shortage of 5th-generation 4Runners gracing the pages of websites and magazines these days. It seems like everywhere you look there’s a new one being built up with the latest and greatest gear, and another 10 more waiting to follow it. Don’t get me wrong, it’s cool to see so much excitement…
La Aduana: 1991 Turbo Diesel Syncro Doka
Few vehicles are as iconic or sought after as the VW van. Regardless of the year, body style, or drive train, the Bus and Vanagon platforms have been the gleaming symbols of wanderlust for generations, and will likely continue to be for generations to come. Unfortunately, solid running examples have become difficult to find, which…
Long Term Review: Falken Wildpeak M/T
Snow whirled out of the darkness, disappearing into the night as quickly as it came. My weary headlights were hardly up to the task, and the mountain roads seemed to curve sharper and harder as the weather raged on. We were in Colorado, and just a few hours ago I had asked my girlfriend, now…
Mercedes-Benz G-Class
For this first installment of the Overland Journal G-Wagen project vehicle, Scott Brady installs several subtle modifications to address trail performance and utility for remote travel.
Fiat-Chrysler to Produce 2018 Model Year Jeep JK
As the world holds its collective breath for the release of the latest generation Jeep Wrangler, fans of the current JK will get another year added to the timeline. In an announcement made last week, Fiat-Chrysler plans to carry the JK forward for 2018, although it wasn’t made clear if that will translate to a…
How to properly align your lights
There’s a reason that auxiliary lights are used on expedition vehicles around the world, and it isn’t because they look cool. Well, not entirely at least. A high quality set of lights allows drivers to see obstacles and animals ahead of them before they become a problem, and that can be the difference between a safe…
Expeditions 7: Outfitting the Expeditions 7 Vehicles
Outfitting the Expeditions 7 vehicles for a trek around the world.
Building a Pinnacle Vehicle: Overland Journal’s Land Rover Discovery I SD – Part II
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Gear Guide 2009. Modifying a vehicle is nearly always a compromise. Adding horsepower typically comes at the cost of efficiency. Lifting a vehicle often comes at the cost of high-speed stability, and each new modification usually adds more weight and complexity to a platform that…
Building a Pinnacle Vehicle: Overland Journal ’s Land Rover Discovery I SD – Part I
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Fall 2008. I still remember the article about the 1991 Camel Trophy. The words and images are as visible in my mind today as the first time I saw them. I had casually picked up a 4WD publication from a newsstand. Thumbing through its pages,…