When I built my Land Rover Defender-based camper, I spent endless hours designing a capable, practical, go-anywhere vehicle that would be as tough as it looked. When designing the interior, my focus was not on wallpaper and color schemes but instead on beds, seats, storage, cooking, and survival. My wife, on the other hand, was preoccupied with comfort. After living…

The eating experience ebbs and flows. There are times in life when there’s no better feeling than sitting down for a luxurious meal. Every bite tastes like a slice of heaven on Earth melting in your mouth, and you take your sweet time with each swallow in a desperate effort to make the flavors last just a bit longer. Triple…

The F-250 is a favorite on our forum with recent examples including this 1997 with a Bimobil camper, a 2018 Lariat with an XPCamper V2, and a 2021 Tremor with a Northstar Liberty camper. Today’s (124,000 miles) 2004 Ford F-250 Super Duty has to be one of the most unique to date and showcases a “bulletproofed” 6.0-liter Power Stroke motor,…

I am pretty sure that the designer of the Hogzilla Xpander is a Cool Hand Luke fan. They must be, as the very first thing I thought of when I watched the video of the lady reclining in the Xpander bed was Arletta and her bed in the back of an old pickup truck. A mattress thrown in the back…

In the same way that there’s a distinction to be made between a supercar and a hypercar, there’s similarly a differentiation between most premium expedition trucks and those produced by Global Expedition Vehicles (GXV). Based in Springfield, Missouri, the company has built a reputation for producing the ultimate luxury expedition vehicles. Founder Michael Van Pelt had grown frustrated with the…

What is the point of rubbing the noses of our American readers in the awesomeness that is the Toyota IMV 0 Champ, knowing full well that the vehicle will not be available in the USA. It does seem ever so slightly mean, but the vehicle should be available in Mexico by 2025, and that means that intrepid international overlanders will…

As more overland details of the new Land Cruiser 250  emerge, we are even more excited by the prospect of the model. It is clear that Toyota is taking performance seriously, but it is also good to dig into their “all in on overlanding” mantra these past few years. Let’s deep dive into the recently released specifications and compare them…

As someone who owns and lives in a 40-year-old overland vehicle, I’m unquestionably a fan of old-timer rigs, but I’m also not shy of pointing out their shortcomings. Fortunately, there are some outliers, which provide all the vintage charm without the constant headaches, and the FJ-40 is one of them. In fact, despite being available from 1960 to 1983, very…

There is a sublime campsite a few miles east of the South African town of Swellendam. The camp is called Umshanti and is nestled between the mountains and a large dam brimming with large, tasty fish. We have camped there many times over the years and visited again a short while ago. Just off the N2 national highway, and at…

Triumph’s new 400 singles are ready to duke it out in the light-middleweight market. Sized right to encourage new riders and large enough to cross the continent, they’re also priced to be tempting. Very tempting: the Speed 400 roadster starts at $4995.00, with the dirt-ready Scrambler 400 X fetching $5595.00. Others in the 400cc arena range from Suzuki’s pricey-but-proven DR-Z…

Here in Europe custom expedition vehicles are commonplace and can be a relatively cost-effective solution for overlanders considering long-term trips or living on the road full time. I have to admit that initially I had reservations about these big trucks and dismissed them as way too uneconomical and impractical. However, over the years I’ve had the pleasure of meeting the…

The 80-Series Land Cruiser is legendary and finds a sweet spot between mechanical simplicity and modern refinement. Interestingly, while you could option this vehicle with a plethora of modern comforts, you could also specify a Poverty Package, which, as the name suggests, stripped the Land Cruiser back to basics. Toyota recognized that they’d built a do-it-all vehicle that could be…

Navigation giant Garmin has launched a new docuseries initiative on its YouTube channel. The first series, 7 Days Out, is now live. 7 Days Out follows “two regular guys” who parachute into the mountains of Nepal for a 7-day hike. Along the way, they discover the power of friendship, perseverance, and, of course, Garmin smartwatches. With the help of fēnix…

The Ford Ranger is, without doubt, one of the most desirable mid-size trucks for overlanding. In the past, if you wanted to invest in a rugged backcountry pickup, then you bought a Toyota, and while that remains a solid choice, the Ford Ranger has not just leveled the playing field but, in some markets, taken the crown. In 2023 the…

Overland Journal Podcast Episode 189 Overland Journal Podcast host Scott Brady and Overland International’s Brian McVickers discuss the new Lexus GX550, Ford Ranger, and Ford Ranger Raptor, as well as the Ducati DessertX Rally. Additional conversation includes Scott’s latest from his Africa crossing, new Eezi-Awn products, and more. Special thanks to our sponsor this week, Kuat Racks and their new…

Pol Tarrés Sets Motorcycle World Altitude Record In this week’s, Overland News of the Week, we celebrate Pol Tarrés’ most recent accomplishment. Two years after making history and setting an altitude world record on a Yamaha Ténéré 700, Pol Tarrés recently revisited Chile, surpassing his achievement. Not only did he break his previous record, but he also established a new…

I’m currently reading Julian Sancton’s riveting Madhouse at the End of the Earth: The Belgica’s Journey into the Dark Antarctic Night, an account of the trials of the Belgian/Norwegian/American expedition to Antarctica in 1897. The Belgica’s voyage was the first to make multiple landfalls on the continent and the first to overwinter South of 71 degrees of latitude. It’s a…

With 30 days off work, Wiebke Lühmann embarked on a 3,500-kilometer solo bike journey from Hamburg, Germany, to Norway’s North Cape. The idea came from her father, who had traveled to the Arctic Circle by bicycle in eighth grade. Filmed by Luhmann’s longtime school friend Fabienne Engel, On Her Own documents the highs and lows of a bikepacking journey through…

In this installment of the Expedition Portal series on brands that inspire us, Associate Editor Stephan Edwards profiles Washington-based Ignik Outdoors. He talked with co-founder Peter Pontano in an expansive conversation about Ignik’s origins, its lineup of warmth-focused outdoor products, and the company’s commitment to doing more for the planet. Across the vast reaches of the Arctic, a landscape that…

Ford’s E-Series vans have become an unlikely overland icon thanks to 4WD conversions and extensive aftermarket support. It’s remarkable to see how enthusiasts have transformed this 2WD platform into a capable live-in expedition vehicle. If you’d like a better idea of how these vans can be configured for travel, then check out the builds from Colorado Campervan and Timberline Vans….