Some people have an innate ability to learn their lessons from the wise words and experiences of others. As I gazed at the half-empty plastic storage case on my roof with a bewildered stare, I couldn’t help but wish I was one of those people. How long had it been open? For 10 miles, 30,…
Toyo Open Country Mud-terrain Tire
There’s something undeniably alluring about mud-terrain tires. It could be their aggressive looks or reputation for trail performance, but the romantic in me says it’s something more. Like your grandfather’s ax or an old Willys Jeep, there’s an honesty to them—a rugged quality found only in purpose-built tools designed for one reason: to get stuff…
Can Portable Power Packs Replace Dual Batteries?
For decades, dual-battery systems have been the go-to solution for anyone seeking auxiliary electrical power in their four-wheel drive or camper van. They make it possible to run accessories like refrigerators without draining the vehicle’s starter battery, but they’re also costly, permanent, and complex systems that can be prone to failure or even fire unless…
Kinsmen Hardware Rapid Deploy 270 Degree Awning
Editor’s note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Gear 2021 issue. Kinsmen Hardware is the quintessential example of American small business. Their story doesn’t begin with an angel investor, a flashy viral video, or funding from a multinational conglomerate, but with a need, and a craftsman who was willing to do something…
Nova Scotia | Overland Routes
Editor’s Note: This article was originally featured in the Spring 2020 issue of Overland Journal As a child, there were a few things I “knew” about what lay beyond the borders of Texas. In the States, the Southeast was a land of sugary sand beaches and muggy afternoons; the Northeast was home to big cities,…
Nitro Gear’s Restored Trakka Troop Carrier | Feature Vehicle
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Summer 2020. All too often, the vehicles we love are eventually lost. Old muscle cars are traded in for more practical sedans or wind up in a ditch, road trip vans succumb to high miles and blown motors, and our trusty camping trucks begin to rust after…
Storyteller Overland Mode 4×4 Review
Each year, hundreds of thousands of RVs are sold throughout the United States. The materials they’re built from are often cheap, and their entry prices are as low as their ground clearance, but for the average buyer looking to hit the road for a few weeks a year, they’re just good enough. However, a growing…
Roofnest Falcon XL
I bought my first rooftop tent 10 years ago, a used Howling Moon with a tan cover, weather-worn canvas walls, and a folding floor made of wood. At the time, I thought it was the pinnacle of camping technology, but it was actually a relic. Its bulky design had already been roaming the African and…
Sea to Summit Nails Comfort With Their New Deluxe SI Mat
A year ago, the thought of an air mattress was enough to make me cringe with memories of a sore back and uncomfortable nights on the ground. Their poor designs and habits of deflating had ruined my image of inflatable beds forever, or so I thought, but thanks to the Comfort Deluxe mat and Aeros…
ROAMERICA Offers Free Van Trips For Those Impacted by COVID-19
These are tough times, with fears of sickness, job loss, and an uncertain future assailing us from every news source out there. When things are darkest, a little good news goes a long way, which is why we’re sharing this release from ROAMERICA rentals out of Oregon. This small business is putting together an awesome…
Company Spotlight: Fifteen52 Wheels
“Let me give it to you straight—our production process isn’t any different than our competitors.” I looked at Matt, rather dumbfounded. Surely there was a punchline coming because this was not how marketing pitches usually went. “If you really get down to brass tacks,” he continued, “every good manufacturer is using nearly the same methods…
An Overland Chevy Avalanche?
The 2000s were a weird time all around, but they seemed a little weirder over at GM. It was like their engineers hunkered down for the Y2K apocalypse, and in their planning, designed bugout vehicles that could be constructed from existing car parts and recycled plastic. When the world didn’t end as they expected, they…
Warn Acquires Factor 55
For the past few years, Factor 55’s recovery products have been steadily, if not rapidly gaining popularity amongst overland and off-road enthusiasts. Their line of carefully crafted closed-system winching products have been especially popular, so it comes as no surprise that they eventually caught the attention of famed winch and recovery gear manufacturer Warn. We…
The Brüder EXP-6 Off-Road Review
Everything I knew about towing a trailer told me we were screwed. The ledge was too tall to roll over, our speed was too high to swerve, and our angle of approach was a perfect offset to flip the trailer. Even if we miraculously managed to stay upright over the jump, the dip and mud…
The Best Deal You’ll See On A 2016 EarthCruiser
There are plenty of seriously cool mega-overlanders out there these days: Global Expedition Vehicles, Acela trucks, and, of course, EarthRoamers will make any four-wheel-drive enthusiast’s heart beat a little faster. But when it comes to traveling, there’s one vehicle I would take above the rest, and that’s the EarthCruiser. While their Fuso-based expedition trucks may…
Field Tested: The Benchmade 365 Outlast
When I was a kid, my grandfather passed down a knife that his father had given him as a boy. The blade was worn and the handle stained by the passing of time, but to me, it was, and remains, my favorite knife in the world. I still carry it from time to time, but…
The VW Multicamper Is the Modern Westy You Actually Want
I still remember handing over the $500 for my first Volkswagen van. It was a 2WD 1980s Vanagon, with no pop-top, no back seats, and to be honest, hardly anything that actually worked. The color? Light brown on dark brown on rust-brown, the latter taking over more of the two formers every day. The fuel…
AEV Releases 7000 Series LED Off-Road Lights
American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) is well known for producing tasteful four-wheel drive accessories and upgrades with an OEM-level of quality. Their offerings span from wheels and suspension systems to turn-key vehicles and motor swaps, but now they’re applying their focus to the lighting market with the 7000 Series Off-Road light. The 7,000 is designed with…
Kimberley Kampers Comes to the USA
Anyone who knows anything about off-road caravans in Australia will know Kimberley Kampers. This brand of sleek yet rugged trailers has been conquering the outback for decades, surviving the toughest corrugations and tracks the continent has to offer while providing a serene escape for their owners in camp. Their performance and durability have earned them…
Some of The Best Overland Routes In The USA
Each year, our staff members spend months exploring some of the best backroads our planet has to offer, from the red sands of the Simpson Desert to the frozen expanses of Greenland. Along the way we’ve discovered there’s no lack of breathtaking adventures to be had, but believe it or not, some of the best…