The E-Series may not be the first vehicle that comes to mind when we discuss American automotive icons, but that’s not to say it shouldn’t be considered among the greats. Automotive expert Chris Cordes states: “The Econoline helped build America, and once it had, it stuck around to help maintain it … when it’s done…
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Jeep Confirms Two-Door Scrambler Pickup
For years, fans have asked Jeep to build a shorter wheelbase version of the Gladiator. Now it appears the company is finally preparing to make it happen. Buried within Stellantis’ recent FaSTLAne 2030 presentation was a teaser image that immediately caught the attention of enthusiasts everywhere. Labeled “Wrangler Scrambler,” the image appeared to show a…
Jim Oostdyk on the Adventure of Business, Family, and History
Overland Journal Podcast host Scott Brady interviews Jim Oostdyk, founder and president of OK4WD, discussing his nearly 47 years in the four-wheel-drive industry. Jim shares the origins of OK4WD, which began in 1979 after he rebuilt his rolled Jeep, growing from a small garage to one of the country’s most respected off-road shops. The episode…
Overland News for the Week of June 5, 2026
The Ford Bronco Filson Has Made its Debut Ford and outdoor outfitter Filson have teamed up to introduce the Ford Bronco Filson. This collaboration is rooted in the American legacy of outfitting pioneers, the US Forest Service, and search-and-rescue organizations, culminating in a premium version of the 6th-generation Ford Bronco SUV. Featuring a twin-turbo 3.0-liter…
2026 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport Offers Traditional SUV Capability and Hints at a Possible US Return
Have you ever wondered why the Mitsubishi Pajero was sold as the Montero in the United States and much of Latin America? The answer lies in one of the automotive industry’s most famous naming mishaps. While Mitsubishi named the vehicle after the Pampas cat, the word pajero carries a very different—and rather inappropriate—meaning in Spanish….
Chinese Brands Continue Their Push Into Contested “Off-road” Territory
China’s modern automotive industry faces a challenge that has little to do with engineering and everything to do with perception. For decades, Chinese-made products were often associated with low-cost manufacturing, mass production, and inconsistent quality. During that same period, many Western companies shifted production to China in pursuit of lower costs, helping accelerate the development…
2024 Toyota 79-Series Land Cruiser :: Feature Vehicle
Australia is a continent of contradictions, with crocodile-filled billabongs, ancient rainforests, and snow-dusted mountains. And it is vast, covering over 7.69 million square kilometers that include approximately 11,000 beaches. It features a desert (Great Victoria) nearly the size of France, and has more wild camels than anywhere else on Earth, along with a decent showing…
XOVERLAND’s 2020 Patriot Campers X3 (Gen 1) Overland Trailer :: Featured Classified
Overland trailers are a great way to elevate the versatility of an existing adventure rig and provide additional storage, amenities, and accommodation for bigger trips. They’re also ideal for one-car households, since they can be hitched to most vehicles, turning a daily driver into a fully outfitted travel rig (this is especially useful if the…
Stellantis Lays Out €60 Billion Strategic Plan
On May 21st Stellantis unveiled a new five-year strategic plan to accelerate growth and profit. Dubbed FaSTLAne 2030, the ambitious plan is slated to cost some €60 Billion ($70 Billion). It outlines where the company believes the global automotive industry is heading over the next several years, and more importantly, how brands like Jeep, Ram,…
Celebration of Life: Coen Wubbels, Landcruising Adventure (1969-2026)
Coen Wubbels lived a life defined by curiosity, creativity, and an unwavering belief that the world was meant to be explored—not rushed through. Best known as Landcruising Adventure, Coen and his partner, Karin-Marijke Vis, left the Netherlands in 2003 in a LWB 45-Series Toyota Land Cruiser, setting out on what was meant to be a…
Eva zu Beck on Overlanding Mauritania
Overland Journal Podcast host Ashley Giordano welcomes adventurer, storyteller, author, and National Geographic Host and Director Eva zu Beck to discuss Eva’s recent overland trip to Morocco and Mauritania in her Land Rover Defender 110. In this episode, Eva shares more about the inspiration behind her National Geographic SuperSkilled series, and how, in life and…
Jeep Recon Won’t Be EV-Only After All
The long-awaited fully electric Jeep Recon has not even reached dealer showrooms yet, and already the brand is changing course. Originally unveiled in 2022 as a fully electric off-roader meant to bridge the gap between the Wrangler and Jeep’s electric future, Stellantis’ long-term roadmap confirms Recon will now also receive an internal combustion version for…
Toyota Expands Engine Recall
Toyota has expanded the recall campaign for the 3.4-liter twin turbo V6 found in the latest generation Tundra. What began as a large recall in 2024 has now grown into one of the most extensive engine recalls in recent Toyota history, with nearly 270,000 vehicles now affected. The latest expansion adds another 44,000 model year-2024…
Crossing West Africa with XOVERLAND: Final Miles, Fuel Range, Teamwork, and Truck Lessons
The Overland Journal Podcast host Scott Brady and Clay Croft discuss XOVERLAND’s 40,000-kilometer Africa crossing, recorded with just 300 kilometers remaining to Cape Agulhas. They navigate West Africa’s uncertainties—coups, elections, and border hurdles—while managing sickness and tight schedules. Key practical lessons include maintaining a 1,000-kilometer fuel range due to local shortages. They credit their multi-skilled…
2022 Mercedes Sprinter 4×4 :: Featured Classified
There’s no such thing as the perfect overland vehicle, but some rigs come close. Those considered pinnacle travel platforms do not ordinarily excel in any single area, but rather perform respectably across the board. To this end, the Mercedes Sprinter 4×4 is one such example and has subsequently become a figurehead of both the vanlife…
2026 Summer Overland Events and Rallies You Don’t Want to Miss
AMERICAN WEST Backcountry Offroad Expo When: June 13–14, 2026 | Where: Castle Rock, Colorado “A weekend built for the people who live outside, however they do it” is the motto of the Backcountry Offroad Expo. Attendees will find a variety of adventure vehicles, educational talks, and outdoor gear from over 100 exhibitors, along with community…
Jeep Beach 2026 | Inside America’s Largest Jeep Gathering
There is no place in the USA like Daytona, Florida, during Jeep Beach. With a total attendance of 250,000 people and 40,000 Jeeps over 10 days, no other event in the Jeep community has such a significant impact on a locality. Daytona welcomes and embraces participants, as made clear during the Sunday Parade on Daytona…
Defender Service Awards Winners Hold Training Weekend
Sarah Hall had never driven off-road before, and now she was sitting in the driver’s seat of a brand-new Defender 130, facing an icy hill climb in the mountains of Vermont. The Defender, wrapped in the livery of Jacksonville-area non-profit Feeding Northeast Florida, was a hard-won prize: the result of the organization’s winning entry in…
American and Canadian Defender Trophy Finalists Announced
Last month, Land Rover sent 120 American and Canadian adventure enthusiasts to British Columbia to compete for spots in the Defender Trophy, the modern answer to the revered Camel Trophy. These competitors took part in trials of physical strength, off-roading acumen, and teamwork to decide who would get a chance at the final event, to…
Lilli Mixich Reflects on Nearly Five Decades of Overland Travel
For this week’s episode of the Overland Journal Podcast, host Ashley Giordano welcomes German overlander Lilli Mixich to discuss her lifelong love affair with the African continent. Currently overlanding solo in a 1988 Toyota Land Cruiser HJ60 named “Toyo,” Mixich shares what she’s learned from various vehicle platforms, including the Land Rover 109, Magirus Deutz…