KC Hilites Platform One Roof Rack for Full-Size and HD Trucks KC Hilites has expanded its Platform One roof-rack system to fit full-size and heavy-duty pickup trucks. The low-profile platform uses proprietary aluminum extrusions and precision-formed steel components, combining a broad cargo surface with multiple mounting points for overland equipment. Its modular design lets owners…
Graeme Bell Archive
2026 Jeep Recon Brings Trail Rated Capability to an All-Electric Platform
“Nobody wants this.” I read that comment from a respected voice on an Instagram post after a fellow journalist shared his time with the new Jeep Recon EV, which was revealed to select media in Healdsburg, California, in early September. That statement has been bugging me all week. Why would people not want a vehicle…
Motsmann Engineering Introduces the 2027 Outranger Fiberglass Off-Road Camper
The ultimate long-term overland vehicle, in my admittedly biased opinion, is a classic Defender with a galvanized chassis beneath its aluminum body. Lightweight and resistant to rot and corrosion, it is the kind of vehicle that can last for decades while continuing to serve faithfully. And who does not love the Defender’s boxy profile? Motsmann…
Defender Dakar Translates Rally-Raid Engineering Into a Road-Legal 4×4
The “new” Defender has faced controversy since its launch, having been given the nearly impossible task of replacing a legend. Critics (myself included) argued that it was too modern, relied on too many electronic control units, and would never prove as dependable or capable as the classic model. My experience with the L663, however, has…
2027 CFMoto Ibex 950 Brings 112 Horsepower and Long-range Equipment to the Adventure Market
CFMoto has officially confirmed the 2027 Ibex 950 for the United States, introducing a larger and more powerful flagship to its expanding adventure motorcycle range. Having owned and traveled with an Ibex 450 for the past few months, I have been impressed by its build quality, practicality, and performance both on and off pavement. That…
Ford Confirms Sub-$30,000 Starting Price for Upcoming Fathom Electric Pickup
Ford has confirmed that its forthcoming midsize electric pickup will carry a starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $28,350, excluding a $1,595 destination charge. The resulting entry price of $29,945 places the four-door truck just below the $30,000 threshold and positions it as an electric alternative to compact gasoline-powered pickups and crossovers, and as a…
Geotrek Flatiron Balances Compact Dimensions With Practical Off-Grid Capability
It is no secret that we are not a #vanlife kind of family. A while back, I wrote an article for my website that may have included an introduction comparing overlanding to Hendrix and #vanlife to Nickelback. It might also have mentioned that the good news for #vanlifers—after they had been berated for 500 words—was…
Trail Feast and Benchmade on the Alvord Playa
The Alvord Desert is one of our favorite locations in the entire USA, so when an invitation from knife maker Benchmade popped into our inbox, inviting us to a weekend of food, fun, and friends, we jumped at the opportunity. We loaded our gear into a Geotrek van and headed east from Bend, a little…
Overland News of the Week, July 31, 2026
AEV FX370 Upgrades the Ford Super Duty American Expedition Vehicles has introduced the FX370, an upgrade package for Ford Super Duty pickups. Designed around 37-inch BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO3 tires, the conversion adds a 4-inch DualSport RT suspension with AEV-tuned Bilstein 5100 shocks and 18-inch Salta XD wheels. Stamped-steel front and high-clearance rear bumpers provide…
Addax Outdoors Introduces 2027 Basecamp Jeep-Licensed Camping Trailer
Trailers have recently become part of my travel lifestyle, and the more time I spend towing a conventional model, the more I find myself wanting something more robust, with greater ground clearance and capable off-road tires. The newly introduced 2027 Addax Basecamp may answer that need. Manufactured in Salt Lake City, Utah, this compact, configurable…
Airstream Expands World Traveler Lineup with More Affordable 17RB
Airstream has expanded its World Traveler lineup with the introduction of the new 17RB, a compact single-axle travel trailer designed to offer a more accessible entry point into the iconic American brand. With a starting price of $64,400, the 17RB becomes Airstream’s least expensive aluminum travel trailer while targeting solo travelers, couples, and first-time RV…
Norton Atlas Brings a Historic British Name to the Middleweight Adventure Market
I was barely six years old when my old man took me to the outbuilding of our home in Durban, South Africa, to reveal a rather special Christmas Day present. Sitting there among the stored boxes, garden equipment, and other nonessential but periodically useful items was a duck-billed Yamaha PW50. It was the happiest day…
2027 Toyota Tundra Gains Updated Styling, New Technology, and More Accessible Trailhunter Package
Toyota remains the king of long-distance, self-supported vehicle travel in the US and is updating the Tundra for the 2027 model year with revised exterior styling, a new generation of infotainment technology, and an expanded collection of driver-assistance features. The full-size pickup will also gain a Trailhunter package that brings factory-installed overlanding equipment to the…
Scout Motors Revives an American Classic with the Traveler Spirit of ’26 Concept
The Scout was venturing deep into forests, climbing over mountain passes, and adventuring to the far corners of the United States long before overlanding became mainstream. They were simple but dependable and used to ferry fishing boats, to reach remote trails, and to camp. And as outdoor recreation surged in the 1970s, the Scout became…
Summertime Essentials to Help Beat the Heat
Last summer was a true test of man, machine, and miniature dog. We left our base in Mexico in the spring, pointed the Land Rover north, and spent six months exploring the US and Northern Mexico. It was an odyssey of sweat and perseverance, lived entirely from our trusty Land Rover, with no air-conditioning in…
Chuckles Garage’s 1953 Ford “Nuke Van” Transforms a Cold War Relic into a Modern Overland Camper
Many years ago, an octogenarian English friend of mine—who remains fitter than many people half his age, suggested buying an armored Land Rover for overland travel. At the time, I dismissed the idea. Armored vehicles are heavy, expensive to maintain, and hardly ideal for crossing continents where fuel economy and payload matter. However, after several…
Editor’s Choice: The Best Rigs of Overland Expo PNW 2026
Overland Expo never disappoints when it comes to showcasing an incredible variety of expedition vehicles. From compact motorcycles and classic 4WDs to purpose-built campers and six-figure expedition trucks, there is something to inspire every kind of traveler. As international overlanders, however, we are naturally drawn to practical, thoughtfully designed vehicles that we could genuinely imagine…
The Northwest Overland Rally: Where the Overland Tribe Gathers
The Northwest Overland Rally (NWOR) is special. I knew that to be true the first time I attended back in 2015. Before then, and for the following 10 years, the event was run by Ray Hyland and his family—his wife, Marianne, and sons, Seamus, Declan, and Liam—who brought decades of intercontinental overland travel experience to…
Jaguar Land Rover Considers U.S.-Built Defender Based on Stellantis Platform
The global automotive industry is facing mounting pressure from several directions simultaneously. Manufacturers must contend with intense competition from both established brands and a growing number of Chinese automakers, many of which are entering international markets with competitively priced vehicles and rapidly advancing technology. At the same time, tariffs and shifting trade policies have increased…
2027 Slate EV Truck Arrives With a Confirmed $24,950 Starting Price
The automotive industry has spent much of the last decade moving steadily upmarket. New vehicles have become larger, more complex, and significantly more expensive, leaving many buyers priced out of the new-truck market. Against that backdrop, startup automaker Slate has officially revealed pricing for its upcoming electric pickup, confirming that the 2027 Slate EV Truck…