My wife, fellow writer Mercedes Lilienthal, and I decided to run the TransAmerica Trail (TAT) in June of 2025. The TAT spans from Nags Head, North Carolina, to Port Orford, Oregon, and employs as much dirt as possible. We considered a host of vehicles for the trip. The route was originally intended for adventure touring…
Andy Lilienthal Archive
2023 Chevy Colorado ZR2: Moving up in the Midsize Market
The mid-sized truck is dominated by the Toyota Tacoma, a darling of the adventure crowd, which, in 2022, outsold its nearest competitor, the Chevy Colorado, by a ratio of more than 2.5 to 1. However, Chevy is trying to gain ground on the Tacoma with its all-new 2023 Colorado, especially with its off-road-centric ZR2, a…
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 ZR2 Bison: Adding Extra Capability and AEV Accoutrements
In 2022, we asked, Is the new Silverado ZR2 the best overland half-ton? Scott Brady’s article covered the ins and outs of this trail-centric half-ton truck, and he praised the pickup’s capability and power along with a host of other overlanding and off-road amenities. GM recently added upgrades from the well-known off-road company American Expedition…
The Space Tractor: Andy and Mercedes Lilienthal’s Mitsubishi Delica Van
Photography by Andy and Mercedes Lilienthal It’s late afternoon on Waiheke Island, a 30-minute ferry ride from Auckland, New Zealand. We’re aboard a tour bus that takes people around the small idyllic isle, which is complete with lush scenery, wineries, historic locales, and a small central village. Our tour guide and bus driver is Horst…