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Category Archives: Project Vehicles

4WD, Overland Journal, Project Vehicles

The Modern Classic

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Gear Guide 2018. Photography by Chris Cordes, Scott Brady and Sarah Ramm The grass is greener on the other side, at least when it comes to Land Cruisers. As of 2014, Americans were able to begin importing the venerable 70 Series into the United States…

4WD, Featured Vehicles, Four Wheel Drive, Overland Journal, Project Vehicles

The Modern Explorer: Land Rover LR4 – Part III

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Winter 2014. I will be the first to admit that the introduction of a Land Rover Discovery with an independent suspension system sounded like the death knell to a brand I have come to love. Over the past few decades, each new model seemed to become increasingly…

A green Ford Overlander SUV with off-road tires drives over a dirt trail in a forest, one front wheel elevated on uneven ground. Trees and shrubs surround the vehicle, capturing the spirit of overlanding adventure.
4WD, Featured Vehicles, Project Vehicles

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…

A black off-road SUV with Buckstop Bumpers and gear on the roof rack drives along a rugged dirt road through a dry desert landscape, field tested against rocky cliffs under a clear blue sky.
4WD, Camper/Trailer, Gear, Gear, Project Vehicles

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,…

4WD, Featured Vehicles, Overland Journal, Project Vehicles, Uncategorized

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…

Close-up of a rugged Falken Wildpeak M/T tire with deep treads powering through snow, as snowflakes fall and accumulate on the tire and ground.
4WD, Gear, Project Vehicles

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…

4WD, Featured Vehicles, Overland Journal, Project Vehicles

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…

4WD, Featured Vehicles, Overland Journal, Project Vehicles

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,…

Adventure, Adventure, Project Vehicles

36 Hours of Adventure: Sand and Seas

Our plan was to make it to the beach before dark, so naturally we arrived well after it. I had expected as much. Something about keeping to a schedule while escaping meetings, emails, and calendars just doesn’t jive with me. Unfortunately, navigating the unfamiliar shores of an island at night doesn’t jive well either, so…

Gear, Project Vehicles

Field Tested: Rhino Rack Pioneer Platform

For decades the welded steel roof-rack has enabled automotive travelers to carry the fuel and supplies necessary for long journeys, but as the needs of enthusiasts change, so to must their equipment. Modern adventurers now expect a lighter and more aerodynamic cargo system—one that is as well suited to their daily commute as it is…

Front view of a lifted black Ford van with off-road tires, an ARB Bumper, winch, roof rack, and extra round lights—field tested and ready for adventure—parked on sandy terrain under cloudy skies.
4WD, Gear, Project Vehicles

Field Tested… A lot: The ARB Bumper

The year was 1975, and on the horizon a travel worn Land Rover sent clouds of dust swirling into the air. Behind the wheel, an off-road enthusiast by the name of Tony Brown shifted gears, while mulling over a very big idea. You see Tony was fed up with the sub-par standards of Australian four-wheel drive…

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