To honor the 20-year anniversary of Overland Journal, we are revisiting special heritage content in the upcoming 100th issue of the magazine. Originally published in Overland Journal’s Gear 2013 issue, this article is part of that celebration. I distinctly remember the moment I became aware of auxiliary lights. I was 15 years of age and…
Archive
2024 Patriot Campers X2 Gen2 Tourer Camper :: Featured Classified
At the Overland Collective, we’ve often advocated that the best travel vehicle is the one you already own. In other words, you don’t need a heavily modified 4WD or truck to explore (obviously there are advantages to platforms such as these), and there have been countless around-the-world trips completed by daily drivers. Another benefit of…
EP326 | From India to Australia (and Beyond) with Moto Trailblazer Candida Louis
Overland Journal Podcast host Ashley Giordano speaks with Candida Louis, an adventure tourer, motorcycle guide, and the first Indian woman to ride solo across all 28 states of India and from India to Australia. Louis shares how she transitioned from finance to professional riding, leading 57 tours. She discusses completing a 32,000-kilometer solo journey across…
Shopping With Purpose: Practical Tips for Finding Meaningful Travel Mementos
Photos by Richard Giordano All I wanted was a pack of Japanese sheet masks. A seemingly simple task, but as I entered Don Quijote’s brightly lit shopfront, welcomed by the store’s familiar jingle, I was met by the crush of people akin to the nearby Shibuya Scramble Crossing. Shoulder to shoulder with my fellow shoppers,…
2026 Rossmönster Baja Plus LX :: Featured Classified
Since 2010, Rossmönster has been producing some of the most desirable luxury expedition trucks within the segment. The company’s Baja Series is especially noteworthy: a range of hard-sided pop-top adventure trucks that blend four-season liveability, amenities, and redundancy, with class-leading backcountry capability and durability. The innovative actuating topper enables a compact footprint and lower center…
2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon JLU w/ Xtreme Recon Package :: Featured Classified
The Jeep Wrangler is a pinnacle overland platform and a favorite with the overlanding community. In stock configuration, it can be driven from the dealership and around the world and is one of the few 4WDs that remains function-forward. For those looking to tackle the toughest backcountry routes, Jeep’s Rubicon package is a great option…
EP325 | Principles of Overlanding: App Navigation with Chris Cordes
Overland Journal Podcast host Scott Brady discusses the core principles of overlanding navigation with Chris Cordes, highlighting primary, secondary, contingency, and emergency backups. They compare three main app categories: turn-by-turn tools like Google Maps, reference/layer apps like iOverlander and Tracks4Africa, and hybrid discipline-specific platforms such as onX and Gaia. While Google excels at everyday routing…
Gear Callout: Laundry at Camp
I haven’t owned a washing machine since 2018, when we sold our first house on wheels, a 40-foot diesel motorhome. Through the intervening years, as my family’s movable homes have shrunk in size, my appreciation for modern appliances has deepened. Some days at camp, when I’m playing catch-up, I relate to Mary Lois Walker Morris,…
2014 MAN TGS 6×6 Unicat :: Featured Classified
In the world of luxury expedition trucks, few names in the segment command as much reverence as Unicat. The first prototype dates back to 1978, when a young tech transformed a military Unimog into an exploration vehicle, which traversed Iceland in 1981 and sparked the idea of using lighter, better-insulated materials like GRP (fiberglass). This…
Deep Breaths at 10,000 Feet
There’s a corner of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem that, until recently, I had only known in winter, except for a few summer trips to ski glaciers and couloirs when the snow had gone soft and gray, and little rivers of meltwater ran beneath your skis. I had passed through Cooke City plenty of times, but…
Ford Bronco Basecamp Combines Extended-range Electric Drive with Integrated Camping Features for Australasia
In a sign of what may be heading to the US market, Ford has confirmed that the Bronco Basecamp will reach Australia and New Zealand from mid-2027, combining an extended-range electric powertrain with integrated sleeping accommodations, a tailgate table, and power for campsite appliances. The five-seat, all-wheel-drive SUV expands the Bronco family with a vehicle…
2018 EarthRoamer XV-LTS #213 :: Featured Classified
Over the years, many expedition truck builders have come and gone, but EarthRoamer (founded in 1998) continues to spearhead the segment. The company’s success is no coincidence but instead represents the obsessive attention to detail, innovation, and uncompromising build quality synonymous with every truck they’ve produced. Automotive expert and Expedition Portal contributor Christophe Noel extensively…
Classic Kit: The Hi-Lift Jack
To honor the 20-year anniversary of Overland Journal, we are revisiting special heritage content in the upcoming 100th issue of the magazine. Originally published in Overland Journal’s Winter 2012 issue, this article is part of that celebration. It is the unsung hero of expedition travel, an essential piece of kit that any mindful backcountry regular…
Celebration of Life: Arden Kysely (1953-2026)
A 1969 Yamaha 125 Enduro launched Arden Kysely into decades of off-pavement exploration, with one simple goal: to camp in the middle of nowhere. Decades of dual-sport and adventure riding followed, as did his adventure stories, motorcycle trials, and ADV accessory testing. Arden’s work was published in print and online for Rider Magazine, Expedition Portal,…
2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser w/ GFC V2 Rooftop Tent :: Featured Classified
I can’t think of many 4WDs that have aged as well as the FJ Cruiser, which, two decades on, still looks futuristic and purposeful. Over the years it has forged a reputation for excellence and is undoubtedly a pinnacle platform for overland travel. This iconic 4WD is underpinned by the legendary Land Cruiser Prado J120…
Autonomous Overlanding?
For almost 130 years, the automobile has been built around the fundamental assumption there would be a human inside controlling the machine. In every vehicle ever made, that human sits behind a steering wheel, presses an accelerator to go faster, and pushes a brake pedal to slow down. They have buttons, switches, and levers to…
Defender Wolf Series II Debuts as Reports Point to a US-built Defender Pickup
I recently spent a weekend surrounded by—and driving—the “new” Defender. While I appreciate the luster and luxury of these vehicles, I’m most drawn to their form and function. My own old Defender is beaten and bruised, carrying the scars of countless adventures while continuing to support my dreams. Wouldn’t a basic, rough-and-ready Defender be exactly…
EP324 | Get Out Go: Bridging Cultures Through Overland Adventures
Overland Journal Podcast host Scott Brady speaks with Christoff and Vanessa Ailert of Get Out Go! about overlanding across Southern Africa and the US. They compare community culture, gear needs, and why items like rooftop tents or extra fuel are less essential in North America. Sharing insights from full-time vehicle travel, they emphasize weight management,…
Overland News of the Week, September 25, 2026
BDR and AMA Partnership Update BDR (Backcountry Discovery Routes) and AMA (American Motorcyclist Association) have signed a memorandum to expand advocacy, responsible recreation, rider education, and community engagement. BDR contributes almost two decades of route development, a huge community of adventure riders, and a platform built on route promotion, guides, and documentary films, while AMA…
Jeep Invasion 2026: Hankook Dynapro in Pigeon Forge
Upside-down buildings, Titanic replicas, wax museums, Dollywood, and over 20,000 Jeeps scattered in between. Smoky Mountain Jeep Invasion is back in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, for its 14th annual event! Just outside Great Smoky Mountains National Park, over 50,000 Jeep enthusiasts flocked to the LeConte Center for a three-day event packed with community meetups, vendor booths,…