Every vehicle has a story, some born from necessity, some from vanity, and some even from tragedy. For Walt Wagner, owner of Tactical Application Vehicles (TAV) in New Mexico, it was the loss of his cousin, Vincent, in 2013 that inspired this project. When Vincent passed away, Walt offered to purchase his much-loved 2009 Tacoma…
The Road Chose Me Volume 2 Book on Kickstarter
After years of working a desk, I realized that life wasn’t making me happy and I needed to make a change. I began dreaming, saving, and planning, and finally quit my job and sold all my stuff. Back in 2009, I wound up driving 40,000 miles from Alaska to Argentina, and I’ve been hopelessly hooked…
Nomad Kitchen Module :: Overland News
(Editor’s Note: Unedited Press Release) Berkeley, CA (February 27, 2020) – Nomad Kitchen Co. is excited to announce the upcoming launch of their first mobile camping kitchen. The small startup, based out of the San Francisco Bay Area in California, hopes to cater to weekend warriors and hardcore adventurers alike with their compact slide-out kitchen…
2020 RawHyde Adventure Days
Editor’s Note: The Rawhyde Adventure Days is a popular event in Southern California that brings motorcycle and 4wd adventurers together. Read our overview of last year’s event here: 2019 Adventure Days Press Release :: ADVENTURE DAYS 2020 RawHyde is thrilled to announce that Adventure Days 2020 will be the Grand Opening of our newest and…
Warn Releases Their New Subaru Forester Winch Tray
Warn is on a roll with new hidden winch mount options for popular SUVs, trucks, and even crossovers. While it might seem unconventional to install a 12-volt recovery winch on a Forester, Crosstrek, or Outback, it makes sense. In my travels, I have encountered Subarus nearly everywhere in the backcountry, and they are almost always…
All New Method 704 Bead Grip Wheels
It is difficult to imagine, but one of humanities oldest innovations, the wheel, continues to evolve. Principally, companies like Method are finding ways to make them stronger, lighter, and more effective for use in the dirt. The wheels are available in titanium and black With their new 704 wheel, Method has integrated several new design…
Unimogs Reach 21,961 Feet :: World Record
“After the erection of two shelters in 2017 on the highest volcano in the world, the Ojos del Salado/Chile, we wanted to make a further contribution together with our partners to improve the safety of mountaineers. The High Altitude Truck Expedition 2019 pursued several goals: the installation of emergency radio units in the four high…
Outdoor Retailer Show Goes Overland
The Outdoor Retailer Show continues to reinforce overlanding as a rapidly growing segment. The Winter Market show in Denver this week included an Overland Experience area, and even broader OEM representation. For our “Day One” coverage of the industry-only event, we will feature the products, innovations, and vehicles showcased at the venue. Our day two coverage…
Filson Launches their New Motorcycle Line
It is easy to love the Filson brand, a company steeped in the wax canvas and the forests of the Pacific Northwest. In a surprise release, they have launched several new offerings for motorcyclists, including two jackets, a vest, and pants; all with motorcycle-specific features like abrasion and water resistant materials. I met with their…
Overland Truck of the Year :: The Best Midsized Pickups
Until a few years ago, there were only two suitable choices for a midsize overland pickup: the Nissan Frontier and Toyota Tacoma. That dearth of options resulted in limited innovation and notable apathy among both the OEMs and aftermarket. However, that all changed when Chevrolet, Ford, and finally, Jeep all released trucks into the market….
Off Grid Makes A True Overland Trailer
Overlanding is often about getting remote, and being able to stay longer in the back of beyond. One way to facilitate long periods in the backcountry is with an overland trailer, and there are few companies that make one as suitable as the Off Grid Expedition 2.0. We try to be reserved with our praise,…
Podcast #7: Building a Jeep Gladiator for Overlanding
Matt Scott and Scott Brady share details and insights in this podcast about selecting the best Jeep Gladiator model to purchase and how to modify it for backcountry travel, including suspension, tires and wheels, bumpers, and overland campers. Show Notes: What Makes the Jeep Gladiator So Special? 1. Jeep Capability 2. Proper payload, easily greater…
Ford Now Offers a Factory Warn Winch
OEM engineers and product planners continue to embrace overland and backcountry 4WD travel. The newest Ford Tremor is a significant example of that trend, offering a factory full-size diesel truck with a locking differential, 35-inch tires, and a new Warn 12,000-pound winch. Warn has long supported OEMs with winch and hub offerings, including the wildly…
Our Most Popular Articles of the Decade
Expedition Portal first launched in 2005, and has over 3,000 articles in our archives, and during the past decade, we experienced nearly 1 billion page views. With 2020 marking a new decade, we pulled the analytics for the site and found the most popular articles from 2010 to 2019. We hope you enjoy reading them…
Overland News :: Four New Fridges Hit the Market
For 2020, there are several new fridges to hit the market from respected manufacturers, from the classic and reliable Engel, to the efficient and industrial-grade National Luna. For this news update, we cover the best new units to hit the market for the new year. The first 12-volt fridge I ever owned was an Engel,…
Gear of the Decade :: RedOxx Bags
Editor’s Note: This is our first installment of a new series of editorial focusing on the Gear of the Decade (2000-2019). As overlanding continues to expand, there are products and services that stand the test of time—these are our favorites. Red Oxx Bags I still remember the first time I noticed a Red Oxx bag…
The New Defender Gets A Front Runner Rack
Expedition Portal Exclusive: Front Runner Outfitters Gives the New Land Rover Defender an Aftermarket Upgrade South African overland brand releases roof rack kit for the 2020 Land Rover Defender 110 The 2020 Defender has created a tremendous buzz in recent months, the anticipation building since concept models were teased nearly a decade ago. Now that…
The iKamper Skycamp Mini – Because Lighter
As the roof tent market continues to evolve, there has developed a clear differentiation between the companies that innovate, and those that seem to just copy other designs. iKamper is one of the innovators, creating unique, quality roof tents for the overland and camping customer like their new Skycamp Mini. We have several years of…
Yakima Acquires Road Shower
As further evidence of the rapidly growing overland market, we are seeing larger (quality) camping and automotive brands acquire products that were niche just a few years ago. What better to pair with your roof tent and roof rack then a solar shower system? I have used the Road Showers in the field and they…
Winter Overland Gear Guide
Winter and polar travel present some of the most challenging and rewarding conditions for the overlander, (often) requiring in-depth planning, logistics, and specialized equipment. Even a trip to the local mountains for some four-wheeling in the snow will necessitate an additional degree of preparedness, which we think is all part of the fun. To assemble…