SEMA continues to be a bellwether for the overland industry and a venue for new product launches, particularly from larger companies with broad distribution channels. SEMA is also the place to be for multinational companies that need a single destination for their dealers. I love that part of SEMA (SEMA reported attendees from 140 countries), as I get to connect with many of my friends from around the world. Most of the 4WD and overland gear is concentrated in West Hall, which extends for city blocks deep into the event center. Important vendors like ARB, Mopar, and Yakima fill the space, making it ripe for great product features like these:
ARB is on a roll, launching a broad spectrum of new products, including a few premium camping/overland accessories. The new drawer system is feature-rich, with central drawer locking, a membrane switch lock release, and LED lighting. The side panels are configurable to plumb compressed air and electrical ports on one side and a water pump, level gauge, and shower connector on the other. In front of the drawer system, you can mount its 10-gallon water tank, all ready to wire up with a pump and easy fill. On the fridge slide, ARB had an early production sample of its new Elements fridge, with several updates (and less weight) over the outgoing unit. The outgoing Elements fridge won our fridge test.
ARB showcased its premium Ascent truck cap at the show, engineered to be model-specific (like the F-150 shown, Tacoma, etc.). It uses central locking and has gullwing side windows for access to gear or filling the water tank. The automotive finish is impressive and comes color-matched to your vehicle. The mounting system includes additional support, allowing for use of its roof racks.
Pelican came out in force with its new Crate line, which is designed to work mounted to a drawer system (or seat delete) along with a roof rack. Made to its typical standards of durability and weatherproofing, the cases can nest together for stacking while helping to organize gear with easy one-handed latch access. The ModRail system allows for additional mounting accessories like the MOLLE lid panels, trays, and dividers. These are specifically engineered for overland conditions and vehicles. Pelican cases have also been used for custom applications for decades, like the Starlink STAR-BATT that they had on display next to the Pinzgauer.
Yakima continues to elevate its hard-shell roof tent line with the premium SkyPeak HD. It is billed as a four-season-capable tent, and it looks like it. The T-slot channels allow for easy fitment of accessories, and it is fairly lightweight for a hard-shell tent at 180 pounds.
Field Van continues to innovate in the space, recently launching its new Field Adventure Vehicle (FAV) with a completed interior. Field Van has decades of experience building E-Series and Sprinter vans, and I have used their units throughout the desert Southwest, Baja, and Copper Canyon, Mexico. In an industry flooded with options, Field Van is the OG!
Ark Corporation has been a well-respected electrical system company, building high-quality battery management systems, switches, and portable power packs for decades. Its newest battery management system (BMS) is fully integrated and slimmed down to best fit in an expedition camper or trailer. As shown, all the power and ground wires attach to robust posts (with heavy-duty fuses). The display shows how the DC-DC charger (50 amps) is running, along with a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) solar charge controller and optional shore-power module (23 amps). It is also easy to monitor the system from a smartphone or tablet using the integrated Wi-Fi. A clean cover snaps in place, protecting the terminals and making for a professional installation.
Mohab (Mobile Habitat) has really come onto the scene with a wide range of habitats, including its notable hard-shell rooftop tent called the Altus XL (make sure the vehicle is rated for the 276-pound weight). Mohab launched its new slide-in camper module with hard sides and an entire interior buildout.
Bliss Mobil has been manufacturing expedition campers for years, becoming a standard of quality and durability for around-the-world overlanding. It specializes in shipping complete camper habitats to the USA and using a local partner to install them on numerous truck platforms. One of the benefits of the camper is that it can be (fairly) easily moved from one truck to the next. The fit and finish is world-class.
Thule is a legendary rack company known for producing high-quality load bars, bike racks, accessories, and, of course, roof tents. Its Widesky hard-shell model sets up quickly and weighs only 147 pounds without the ladder, featuring a clever hinge system that lifts the tent from one side while adding additional room in the footbox.
Wild Land brought a series of truck modules and roof tents, but its slide-out coffee bar was the thing that made me stop in my tracks. You had me at espresso…
