It’s easy to get caught up in the business of overlanding and actually forget to travel. But Basil Lynch never stopped. In this episode, we sit down with the founder of Basil’s Garage—an overland outfitter based in San Diego—to talk about why staying on the road matters more than ever. From international travel to local weekend getaways, Basil’s real-world experience continues to shape how he builds vehicles, advises clients, and runs his shop. We dig into his background, his favorite travel moments, and why firsthand experience is still the best way to know what gear works—and what doesn’t. This is a reminder that in an industry built on adventure, the best advice still comes from those who live it.
The Overland Journal Podcast is brought to you this week by Tredder and Hankook Tire.
Guest Bios
Basil Lynch
Basil Lynch grew up in East Hampton, New York, a beach town on the very end of Long Island. He spent his summers lifeguarding and chasing waves, and his winters skipping class to go surf in snowstorms. In 2013, Basil moved to Boulder, Colorado, for his freshman year of college, where his love for the outdoors and exploring began. He started using his Toyota FJ Cruiser to access remote areas in the Rocky Mountains, and the vehicle modifications quickly followed. Basil was hooked on off-road travel. After a year of college had passed, he decided it wasn’t for him. So Basil and a friend drove west to San Francisco and turned south until they were happy, finding themselves in San Diego. He spent the next five years living in southern California, working oddball jobs, interning for Chris Burkard, traveling when he could, and working for Mad Media. In 2018, Basil moved into a camper full-time and started wandering around North America, looking for remote campsites and empty waves. He has visited nearly every corner of the continent and spent three months living in Baja. https://www.basillynch.com/
Host Bios
Sinuhe Xavier
The man who’s been there, done that. He’s seen the inside of a jail in Colombia. Doesn’t brag about knowing how to handle firearms because they’re not his identity. There’s no over-compensation. Raced the Mexican 1000, then immediately drove from Panama to Guatemala in a 50-year-old Land Rover. He knows the underground fight clubs in London. Will navigate through the souk in Marrakech as if he were raised there. Can throw on a blazer and hang with the upper crust at The Explorers Club. Then take off his jacket and help a driver change a tire outside the front door. He is as comfortable sleeping in a snow cave as an Aman. Automotive companies hire him to convey a premium interaction with the brand. He is the “man of unimpeachable experience.” @sinuhexavier
Matt Scott
Matthew is a leading expert in automotive adventure. He has extensively explored the world’s most remote places by 4WD and is considered an industry authority on overland travel. He is the only American to ever become an editor of a major Australian 4WD publication and has over 15 years of competitive auto racing experience. @mattexplore
Read More: Feature Vehicle :: 2005 Toyota Tundra from Basil’s Garage
Listen More: Graham Jackson: At the Beginning of American Overlanding
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