Dan Grec has been featured a number of times on Expedition Portal and is perhaps best known for his epic overland adventures in a Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator. If you’re not familiar with his work, I highly recommend checking out his website, The Road Chose Me, and his books Two Years and 40,000 Miles from Alaska to Argentina and Three…

Editor’s Note: We are honored to work with Dan Grec of The Road Chose Me, who has been a longtime Expedition Portal forum member and friend to our organization. In the days of Instagram and tag-a-long journalists, Dan is the real deal, having planned and executed his own circumnavigation of both South America and Africa. Dan also founded WikiOverland and…

The man behind theroadchoseme.com tells us where he’s been and where he is going.

A unique Jeep purpose-built for a trip around Africa.

The Wrangler is an overlanding icon, with a whopping 156,581 units sold in North America last year alone. It is one of the few contemporary 4WDs that has remained true to its origins and not relinquished its rugged backcountry credentials in exchange for luxury mall crawler status (*cough* new Defender). It’s remarkable that to this day, there are so many…

The popularity of the Jeep Wrangler within the overlanding community continues to go from strength to strength. It’s undoubtedly one of the most popular 4WDs on our forum with recent builds such as this 2018 American Fastbacks Badlands, 2017 with an Ursa Minor, and a 2020 AEV Upfitted Rubicon. The Wrangler is widely considered the definitive backcountry 4WD in the…

The Jeep Gladiator is, in many ways, the definitive mid-size truck for overlanding. It carries forward the legendary 4WD attributes of the Wrangler while introducing key advantages. Subsequently, it featured in our Mid-Size Truck of the Year awards, with Scott Brady stating, “The Gladiator is all I love about the Wrangler, plus nearly all I love about a Power Wagon….

I wake with a splitting headache, my body hurts all over, and I feel disconnected from reality. It takes a full 20 minutes to overcome heavy lethargy before I can crawl out of the swag and confirm Katie feels no better. With nets over our heads to block the unrelenting blowflies, we only feel worse while trying to eat breakfast…

In a recent Overland Journal podcast, Scott Brady and Matt Scott pitch their Top Ten New Overland SUVs. The Jeep Wrangler is discussed with Matt Scott stating that configured with the Ursa Minor pop-top camper, it’s one of the best options for rugged backcountry exploration (referencing the international travels of Dan Grec aka The Road Chose Me). However, while it’s…

The Jeep Wrangler is one of the few vehicles optimized from the factory for the backcountry. Subsequently, it has become a figurehead of the overlanding movement and one of the most desirable platforms for adventure (reference Dan Grec’s aka The Road Chose Me extensive travels using this platform). As the industry continues to encourage a more luxurious overlanding experience, the…

The Jeep Wrangler mated with the Ursa Minor pop-top is micro-camper perfection. If you’d like a better idea of how this configuration can be outfitted for travel then check out the inspiring builds from Blue Ridge Overland Gear, Trails Offroad, and Mainline Overland. Building an overland rig is a balance between comfort and capability, which is why the Ursa Minor…

The Jeep Wrangler is an overlanding icon and is considered by many as a pinnacle vehicle for backcountry adventure. Subsequently, it’s a desirable rig on our forum with recent examples including this 2007 Rubicon, a 2012 Sahara with an Ursa Minor J30, and a 2016 Unlimited Sport. If you’d like to know more on why this 4WD is such a…

Images by Matthew Yeoman @ToyotaWorldRunners Parked on the beach in Mexico, my ears pricked to the hum and rattle of a Tdi motor, a sound which we know all too well and, coincidentally, the auditory prelude to another great Defender (Featured Vehicle) that of New Zealander Tom Marriot). We were to learn soon enough that the Defender belongs to a Canadian…

Show notes for Overland Journal Podcast Episode 148: Dan Grec on circumnavigating Australia, and the importance of connecting with family Summary: Scott Brady interviews Dan Grec, our very first podcast guest on the Overland Journal Podcast Episode 148. Dan has recently completed his trip around and across Australia, along with traveling with his partner and father. Dan also announces his…

Renogy, a globally recognized leader in off-grid and mobile energy solutions, recently announced the widespread availability of its innovative flagship smart solar system, REGO. In a press release today, Renogy highlighted the advanced capabilities of the REGO system, designed to deliver an unprecedented power experience and control for off-grid living. Renogy’s latest technological innovation, REGO, is powered by the novel…

Editor’s Note: This Fieldsheer article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Spring 2023 Issue.  Dual-isolated batteries have been a fixture of overland vehicles for decades, and in recent years, the price of solar and lithium batteries has dropped enough to become the go-to choice. Correctly isolating batteries is essential to preserve the vehicle starting battery, and keeping batteries fully charged is a necessity…

The Wrangler is a legendary platform for overlanding and a favorite on our forum. We’ve recently featured a number of well-executed rigs on the forum, including this 2016 Unlimited Sport, a 2015 expedition build, and a 2018 Rubicon AEV camper. The Wrangler’s capability is nothing short of extraordinary, and there’s no shortage of field tests online from the likes of…

The Wrangler is a desirable vehicle for off-grid travel and is subsequently a favorite on our forum. We’ve showcased a wide selection of expedition builds with recent examples, including this 2016 Unlimited Sport, a 2016 w/ Ursa Minor J30 camper, and a 2015 expedition build. If you’re in any doubt whether the Jeep is a valid around-the-world travel companion, then…

The Wrangler is one of the most well-liked vehicles for overland builds on our forum, with recent examples including this 2016 with an Ursa Minor J30 camper, a 2015 expedition build, and a 2018 AEV camper. The Wrangler remains function-first despite many alternative 4WDs transitioning away from rugged exploration and instead pandering to the luxury market. Highlights include front and…

The Wrangler is one of the most desirable vehicles on our forum, with recent adventure-ready examples including this 2013 Unlimited Rubicon, a 2018 AEV camper, and a 2013 Sahara Unlimited. Since its conception, the Wrangler has been designed from the ground up to be an uncompromising rugged, go-anywhere vehicle. Over the years, Jeep has improved refinement and interior comforts but…