When Juve, Margie, and their children Zara and Max left their driveway in Vancouver, BC, their travel schedule was all planned out. A spreadsheet was filled with countries, areas to visit, and activities they would do during their overland trip from Canada to Europe. “[In the beginning], we over-planned and overpacked,” Margie says. Half an hour into their epic adventure,…

Highway 101, or the Pacific Coast Scenic Byway, is a legendary road trip route that draws visitors from all over the globe. Typical postcard-worthy spots feature expansive beaches, weathered lighthouses, and rolling dunes. For those heading to the Oregon coast this summer, the Holy Toledo rendezvous might be a fun addition to your road trip schedule. Seven miles east of…

The Journal of Lost Time’s newest meetup in its Lost Places event series, BuenaVantura, will take place at Emma Wood State Beach in Ventura, California, from March 25th through 27th. Billed as a celebration of gathering in beautiful places, founder Josiah Roe described the event to me as a “love letter to the city of Ventura”. He went on to…

Over 500 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute, and over a billion hours are consumed per day. It begs the question, how does a creator get their voice heard when the metrics are stacked against them? I sat down with Chad DeRosa, full-time overlander, award-winning filmmaker, and professional YouTuber (Living the Vanlife), to learn more. Chad is…

I’m sure many of you will already be familiar with Chad DeRosa’s Youtube channel Living the Vanlife; after all, his “Winter Storm in a Van” episode received over 14,500,000 views. During the pandemic, Chad transitioned from his trusty 1990 2WD Vanagon Westfalia to a Mercedes Sprinter 4WD with the goal of creating “the ultimate overlanding vehicle possible on the Sprinter…

Escapar a la Baja, an Overlanding and Vanlife Meetup Baja season is approaching quickly, and for those heading south of the US border this winter, you’ll definitely want to check out Escapar A La Baja Tres. This weekend-long vanlife and overlanding rendezvous at Playa El Tecolote (just 30 minutes outside La Paz) is scheduled for February 4-6, but it’s not…

Are you looking for a one-of-a-kind van so you can hit the road for an off-grid adventure? The good news is, you’re not alone, and there are lots of companies out that are eager to work with you to build that perfect getaway vehicle. But while most upfitters are working toward standardized models to streamline their build processes, Vanlife Customs,…

The open road, a tank full of fuel, and no deadline for a return home; that’s a dream many travelers share. We imagine ourselves roaming the world from the crests of cascading sand dunes to the shores of remote mountain lakes, fulfilled by the vast riches our Earth has to offer and the memories we’re creating along the way. Unfortunately,…

The Sprinter is a commercial powerhouse and vanlife icon, and more recently the 4WD variant has become a popular platform for overlanding. It’s a desirable choice on our forum with recent adventure-ready examples including this 2017, a 2018, and a 2022. The first generation (or T1N) is considered by many as one of the very best and often the pick…

The only thing standing between vanlifers and a lifestyle upgrade to the realm of “overlander” is where they are willing to drive their vans. Vanlife is Nickleback, overlanding is Hendrix; just sayin’. A well-equipped, well-driven van can take you around the world, and what better foundation for an overland van than a 144-inch wheelbase Mercedes Sprinter van? Orange County-based Vanspeed…

It’s commonplace to see vanlifers and overlanders lift their vans and add bigger wheels and all-terrain tires. In addition to the rugged look, these modifications open up the possibility for more backcountry adventures and the ability to reach secluded camp spots that you may not have attempted otherwise. However, this approach will only get you so far, especially with a…

The E-350 4×4 is a fantastic option for overlanding and is one of the most popular vans on our forum. Recent adventure-ready examples include this $127,000 2010 Sportsmobile, $95,000 2006 with a Stahl Service Body, and $65,000 2004. Comparatively, today’s 2010 Ford E-350 with 130,000 miles, a U-Joint 4WD conversion, premium modifications, and a camper interior is a bargain for…

The Mercedes Sprinter 4×4 bridges the gap between vanlife and overlanding and is a great choice for those planning a long-term trip or living on the road full-time. The first-generation Sprinter or T1N is considered by many as one of the best and is often the choice for around-the-world trips. Today’s 1998 Mercedes Sprinter 312D 4×4 is no exception. This…

A wide array of overland vehicles is posted to our forum every day, ranging from a few thousand dollars to the best part of a million. However, it’s the affordable rigs that impress me the most, as they serve as a reminder that we don’t need to spend a fortune to see the world and that money is much better…

European vanlifers rejoice! Eriba, the caravan specialist division of the Erwin Hymer Group, unveiled the Eriba Car camper at the CMT Holiday Exhibition held in Stuttgart, Germany, earlier this month. Building on six decades of expertise in creating iconic caravans, Eriba has extended its design philosophy to the camper van segment. The Eriba, based on a VW Crafter chassis, is…

The Mercedes Sprinter is arguably the van by which all others are measured, and the 4WD variant is widely considered the most desirable. It’s a powerhouse of the commercial sector with a proven engine and drivetrain that regularly exceeds half a million miles with basic servicing. The Sprinter has long been a figurehead of the vanlife movement and, in more…

Vanlifers rejoice! The Westfalia Wave Camper marks a significant return for the iconic Westfalia brand to the North American market after nearly two decades. The Wave Camper, based on the ever-popular Ram Promaster (the new gold standard for Vanlife conversions), reintroduces the Westfalia experience with modern enhancements and a design tailored for both comfort and practicality. One of the standout…

The Lamborghini Huracán is a 630 horsepower, 3.2-seconds-to-60-mph rocket sled of a carbon fiber origami kit that is, by all accounts, an absolute joy to drive. The sounds the 5.2L V10 bellows from its hexagonal tailpipes many find worth the price of admission alone (MSRP $335,000). There is also an off-road version. The Huracán Sterrato bumps the supercar’s ride height up…

Dan and Marlene, along with their three children, Ava, Mila, and Luka, travel the world in their 170 Mercedes Sprinter van. The journey began 16 years ago when the couple chose to bundle up 10-month-old Ava and hit the road, towing a 25-foot Airstream as their first casa on wheels.  Epiphanies came in waves on the initial three-month trip (not…

A 4WD van is a great option for people who seek a comfortable live-in vehicle that’s suitable for backcountry adventures. The Toyota Hiace 4WD is a great example and the workhorse of choice in many developing parts of the world due to its bulletproof reliability and robust 4WD system. Despite these credentials, the Hiace has remained something of an underdog…