For most people, the end of October and beginning of November is simply a season called fall, but for those of us in the automotive world, it’s something entirely different. It’s that time of year when tens of thousands of enthusiasts and manufacturers descend upon the Las Vegas Convention Center to see the latest and…
Chris Cordes Archive, Page 18
Cool New Products from Overland Expo East
In addition to the hordes of cool four-wheel drives, motorcycles, and campers at Overland Expo each year, there are always at least a few new products on display. This year’s show was no exception, and we spotted everything from Overlander bottle openers to electric motorcycles. Here’s a quick peek at a few of the products that we…
EarthRoamer Releases F-750 based XV-HD
For the last few years, pictures of a gargantuan concept EarthRoamer have been floating around the Internet. They were enough to get everyone excited, but as time passed many of us began to wonder if the brand’s largest undertaking would ever come to fruition. Well, this morning they put our fears to rest. Just over…
Expedition Portal Classifieds: V8 Defender 130
If finding a clean Defender 130 for under $100,000 in the United States is difficult, finding one with a professionally installed V8 and matching drivetrain is nearly impossible. Yet they do show up every now and then, and we recently stumbled upon this great example in the for sale section of our forums. It’s a…
The Road Less Traveled: Unique Vehicles of Overland Expo East
William Cowper once said that “Variety’s the very spice of life, that gives it all its flavor,” and after attending seven Overland Expos I’d have to agree. You see, while the attendees’ experiences can change year to year with new classes and instructors, those of us working the booths wind up seeing the same things…
Off-Road Review: Range Rover Velar
When the new Range Rover Velar was revealed at the Design Museum in London, not many people took note of the name, so it might surprise you to learn that it carries weight in the company’s history. The term was derived from the Latin word velaris, meaning to veil, and in 1969 was used to…
Expedition Portal Classifieds: Basil Lynch’s FJ Cruiser
If you read our home page with any consistency, or browse overlanding vehicles on Instagram, there’s a good chance you already recognize this truck. It belongs to Basil Lynch, an up and coming photographer in the industry, and a contributor to Expedition Portal. Over the past few years Basil has transformed this silver FJ Cruiser…
The Campers and Trailers of Overland Expo East
While there are loads of awesome vehicles and products at Overland Expo each year, few command as much attention as the campers and trailers scattered throughout the show. These capable platforms not only look cool, but have made overlanding more comfortable, and in many ways more accessible than ever before. They enable owners to park…
Texas receives an overland event of its own.
Over the past few years the overlanding scene has truly exploded, giving life to new events all across the country. Yet, despite the large number of enthusiasts in the central U.S., these expos and rallies seem to be concentrated solely along the East and West coasts, leaving those of us in the middle without many…
The Four-Wheel Drives of Overland Expo East
Ah yes, fall has finally arrived. The leaves are changing, the temperatures are dropping, pumpkin-flavored food and beverages are filling the shelves, and Expo East is here. For a few days each fall this event brings together travelers, four-wheel drive enthusiasts, and adventure Moto riders from every corner of the globe, and allows them to…
Field Tested: Primus Onja
Did you know that a camp stove can help you meet new people? I sure didn’t, but it can if that stove is the Onja. It seems bystanders can miraculously appear from thin air just to say, “What the heck is that” or “Hey, now that’s cool,” when you least expect it. It even happened…
Expedition Portal Classifieds: Hemi XV-JP
Imagine for a moment that you have just won the lottery. Hundreds of millions of dollars are now in your bank account, and the world of exotic vehicles and travel are wide open to you. What do you buy? A perfect condition Land Cruiser, a pop-top Defender, a 6×6 G-Wagen, maybe all three? While I…
I Can. I Will. Women Overlanding the World (September 18th, 2017)
Before we left, we were repeatedly discouraged by others and by the media. Everyone said these were not safe countries for women to travel in, that a trip like this would be too physically demanding for women, one person even said we would come home in pine boxes. Despite these messages, we overcame our fears and…
Featured Vehicle: Dustin Miller’s 2008 4Runner
Well, there’s certainly no shortage of 5th-generation 4Runners gracing the pages of websites and magazines these days. It seems like everywhere you look there’s a new one being built up with the latest and greatest gear, and another 10 more waiting to follow it. Don’t get me wrong, it’s cool to see so much excitement…
La Aduana: 1991 Turbo Diesel Syncro Doka
Few vehicles are as iconic or sought after as the VW van. Regardless of the year, body style, or drive train, the Bus and Vanagon platforms have been the gleaming symbols of wanderlust for generations, and will likely continue to be for generations to come. Unfortunately, solid running examples have become difficult to find, which…
Long Term Review: Falken Wildpeak M/T
Snow whirled out of the darkness, disappearing into the night as quickly as it came. My weary headlights were hardly up to the task, and the mountain roads seemed to curve sharper and harder as the weather raged on. We were in Colorado, and just a few hours ago I had asked my girlfriend, now…
How to properly align your lights
There’s a reason that auxiliary lights are used on expedition vehicles around the world, and it isn’t because they look cool. Well, not entirely at least. A high quality set of lights allows drivers to see obstacles and animals ahead of them before they become a problem, and that can be the difference between a safe…
La Lucha: The Fight
Almost 2 years ago, I was sitting comfortably in a leather-backed camp chair, glancing around Scott Brady’s office. He had just stepped outside for a phone call, and I was occupying my time scanning his library, soaking in the titles from authors around the world. One book in particular caught my eye though, a paperback…
What’s in your winch bag? The basic gear you should be carrying
The other day I ran into the proud owner of a well-built four-wheel drive. Eager to talk shop, he began to list a few of the numerous pieces of equipment he had installed on his new vehicle. The list included 37-inch tires, aftermarket wheels, a 4-inch lift, lights, a roof rack, a front bumper, and…
Field Tested: The Overland Kitchen
The sweet smell of carne asada wafted up from the pan below, and I inhaled deeply over the slowly rising steam. It still needed something—maybe a little more lime juice? I turned to the prep table and sliced one open, squeezing it onto the dish with a satisfying sizzle. Perfect. It was hard to believe…