You know how people always say, they just don’t make them like they used to? Well, in many cases they are probably right. Planned obsolescence has run amok in our society, and the concept has transitioned from a hushed secret to a key component of business strategies everywhere. There are plenty of examples from phones to…
Overland Routes | Northern Arizona Traverse
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Fall 2016. Picture Arizona in your mind; imagine traveling the back roads and observing its landscapes. What do you see? For many people, it’s a sprawling desert dotted with cacti—a place of desolation where sunbaked sands cover endless miles of countryside. But this state has a secret,…
The State of Overlanding: Preservation, Treading Lightly, and the Instagram Influx
In 2018, environmentalism, conservation, and preservation are common terms. Most of us are aware of the damage society has inflicted on the natural treasures we love, and, in turn, we make conscious efforts to save these wonders. But it wasn’t always so. Back in the late sixties, pollution was rampant, lake and rivers were treated…
Video of the Week: Five People, 16,000 miles, and One Old Land Rover
How adventurous is your family? Do you think you’d survive a nine-week road trip together in a small car? How about a nine-month road trip in a tiny 60-year-old Land Rover that breaks down every day? Well, the Hyland family did just that, and their route took them from London to Singapore across some of…
Curtiss Knives ODT Flipper
I’d venture to say that by now, the knife has earned the right to be called a legendary tool. It can truly do it all, and despite hundreds of years of technological advancements, it has managed to stay relevant in today’s world. I mean, how cool is it that an item used in ancient Egypt…
Everyday Four-Wheel Drives of Australia
G’day, mate! If you’ve come here to take a squizz at some of the four-wheel drives rolling around Australia, you’re in the right place. On our last trip to this speccy country, we picked up more than just some ripper new slang. We also brought back heaps of photos of cool fourbies from coast to…
Land Rover Celebrates 70 Years With Defender Outline
On April 30, Land Rover will be celebrating a huge milestone in their company history: its 70th anniversary. While most manufacturers would choose to throw a big party or rip around a racetrack, this British icon has opted to commemorate the occasion a little differently. They decided to drop world-renowned artist Simon Beck off at…
Join Triumph From Atlanta to Alaska
If you’re anything like us, you occasionally find yourself sitting at a desk on Friday wondering, what the heck am I going to do this weekend? Well, if you like motorcycles, good food, cold drinks, and hanging with like-minded people who love adventure, then fear not, we have an event for you. Starting on April 21,…
Video of the Week: First 4×4 Crossing of Greenland Ice Cap
Let’s take a moment to travel back to the turn of the millennium. It was 1999, a gallon of gas was $1.22, Napster had just been released, Britney Spears was on the top 100, Bill Clinton was on trial for impeachment, and half of the world was in a panic that the Y2k computer glitch…
Full-Size Overland: ExPo’s Diesel Excursion Project
What is the ultimate overland vehicle? Plenty of people have voiced their opinions, but from Defenders to Jeeps their responses couldn’t be more diverse. Out of everyone I’d say Jonathan Hanson was the closest when he wrote “The best overlanding vehicle is the one you already have”, but it still left something to be desired. In my opinion the ultimate overland vehicle…
Video of the Week: Undisturbed Norway
Do you ever stare at a landscape and think, “I could watch this all day.” We certainly have, but sadly, on most occasions, there just isn’t enough time to stand around and watch the clouds float by. There are places to be, things to do, and schedules to keep, which is why this week’s video…
Full-Size Overland: The Excursion Part Two
A little over seven months ago we introduced our latest project vehicle: a low -mile, 7.3-liter turbo-diesel Excursion. It had spent the last 17 years living the easy life in a small town garage, but with our purchase came a second chance for a life of adventure. The plan was to turn this low slung SUV into…
36 Hours of Adventure: Slopes and Summits
Contrary to popular belief, those of us working at Expedition Portal and Overland Journal do actually exist outside of our jobs. Much like young students assume their teachers magically vanish into some other dimension after class, many of our readers seem to think that if we aren’t typing away at our keyboards or out on…
Field Tested: Buckstop Bumpers
When Ford designed the Excursion, it’s clear that they had a few things in mind; durability, reliability, and versatility for example, but somehow I doubt overlanding made the list. Despite its solid axles, massive payload, abundant storage space, and diesel motor, this truck has a couple issues that can make four wheel drive touring difficult,…
The Last “New” XV-JP
Some years back EarthRoamer made a small batch of vehicles they called the XV-JP. These Jeep Wrangler based campers included all of the luxuries you’d want for comfortable road living wrapped in a surprisingly compact and capable package. It was an extremely cool concept, but unfortunately the platform never took off, and they were soon…
ExPo Classifieds: An Ugly HJ45 Camper
Today, we find a very interesting vehicle for sale on the forums. It’s a right-hand drive 1978 Toyota HJ45 diesel pickup that was originally sold in Africa but has somehow found its way to Kodiak, Alaska. The “old Landy” as the name on the camper shell suggests, should be rather cool, but there’s a catch….
ARB’s Game Changing Jack
Since its introduction in 1905, the Hi-Lift has been the go-to for off-road enthusiasts. You see them mounted on roof racks, bumpers, hoods, and darn near everything else these days, and while you might think that’s because of how useful they are, I’d disagree. Don’t get me wrong, there’s no questioning the effectiveness or versatility…
Video of the Week: History of the Toyota Land Cruiser
When it comes to overland vehicles, few are as loved or revered as the Toyota Land Cruiser. These legendary trucks can be found in the most remote corners of the globe, and command an almost fanatical following of enthusiasts, but it wasn’t always so. Back in the fifties, the Land Cruiser was simply an imitation…
Adventure Interview: Advanturing
If you follow vanlifers on Instagram, chances are that you’ve spotted Advanturing’s flat black sprinter along the way. It looks a little like Batman designed a delivery truck, and we’re digging it. Apparently, others do as well, because over the last few years this adventurous couple has accumulated over 20,000 followers on Instagram, and that number…
On the Lizard’s Tail
I took a deep breath, letting the cool mountain air fill my lungs. The crisp smell of snow and pine was invigorating, and I inhaled again, letting the sensation wash over me. It was a perfect morning. A fresh layer of powder was coating the ground from the previous night’s storms, and it muffled the…