As many of you have already heard, Overland Expo is under new management, and this year it seems that they’ve wisely chosen to change venues for Expo East. The new location, which was revealed to be Infinity Downs in Arrington, Virginia, will include accessible electricity in the main event common areas, WiFi connectivity, and hard…
The Expedition Portal Diesel Excursion Wrap-up
At one point or another, we’ve all asked it. That one question that never fails to stir up a fight on four-wheel-drive forums and social pages the world over, What is the ultimate overland vehicle? Plenty of people have voiced their opinions, but from Jimnys to Unimogs, their responses couldn’t be more diverse. Some might say that…
Expedition Portal Classifieds: A Turnkey Nissan Camper for $19K
Whether it’s Unimogs, EarthCruisers, or fully built Land Cruisers, we feature a lot of beautiful overland vehicles on Expedition Portal. Unfortunately, most of them are well—expensive. So if you’re looking for a four-wheel drive with most of the comfort and capability of the larger rigs at a fraction of the price, this week’s classified ad…
Yeti Hondo Base Camp Chair Review
Yeti is an impressive company, based on a simple ethos: “Build the cooler (i.e., product) you’d use every day if it existed.” They certainly made their name constructing extremely robust coolers that endure full-tilt adventure travel, but they have also extended their product line to include soft coolers, drinkware, bags, and now chairs. Pulling the…
EarthCruiser’s EXD Camper
If you’ve ever looked into overland vehicles, you’ll almost certainly know of Earth Cruiser. This Oregon-based company builds expedition-grade trucks specifically designed to address the needs of international travelers. They’re rated for four-season camping, capable of tackling remote terrain, and provide a rather large living space while still fitting inside a container for shipping. Unfortunately,…
Overland Routes | Pacific Crest: California Segment
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Summer 2018. What do you envision when you think of California? Shimmering oceans, warm beaches, and a stunning coastline? Perhaps towering redwoods or sparse deserts filled with Joshua trees? You wouldn’t be wrong to think of any of these things, but what if I told…
Overland Routes | Pacific Crest: Oregon Segment
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Spring 2018. A cool wind whistled through the pines around us, and I took a deep breath, filling my lungs with crisp mountain air. We had only left the hustle and bustle of Portland’s streets that morning, but the city’s traffic jams and red lights…
Organizational Alchemy
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Fall 2018. “Junk show” were the words used to describe one camper’s vehicle, the back seat and storage area a cascading pile of sagging Rubbermaid containers and crisscrossed bungee cords. While the words were harsh, the Internet, and community forums in particular, often show little…
Beast From The East: 1980 Unimog 416
“What?” I yelled back at Tom Henwood for the third or possibly fourth time since we left the shop. He laughed and handed me a headset to deaden the cacophony swirling around the cab. It helped, but to quote Uncle Lewis, the thing still sounded like “a dump truck driving through a nitroglycerin plant.” Its…
Look Out Mercedes, Ford’s Releasing an AWD Transit Van in 2020
For quite some time now, Mercedes has enjoyed nearly unrivaled sales in the factory all-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive van market. In fact, they have been so successful in the space that they have occasionally had trouble keeping up with demand, a problem Ford hopes to help them remedy by throwing their hat into the ring. That’s…
RawHyde Adventure Days 2019
If you haven’t heard of RawHyde’s Adventure Days yet, it is an overland and adventure motorcycle training event planned for February. Their location is about an hour north of Los Angeles in the beautiful Mojave Desert. This location provides easy access for all of our friends in the Southwest, especially SoCal.
Celebrating International Women’s Day
“…as woman, I have no country. As a woman I want no country. As a woman, my country is the whole world.” -Virginia Woolf Six months ago I became the “woman behind the phone” managing the Women Overlanding the World Instagram account. On that site, I share tales and photographs sent from women adventuring all over the…
Treeline Outdoors Tamarack Constellation
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Summer 2018. Camping is one of the most enjoyable aspects of overland travel—nothing beats pulling up to a remote lake with no other vehicles or buildings in sight. Certainly, sleeping in the wild can be a simple affair, using a bedroll unfurled beneath the stars….
Expedition Portal Classifieds: Basecamp F550
When I was a kid, I remember seeing a mountain bike that I wanted more than anything in the world. It was green, my favorite color, with knobby tires, big shocks, and a price tag that seemed impossible to an elementary school student. Every time I went to the store with my parents, I would…
How to Prepare for an Overland Journey in the Depth of Winter
A sound made us look up from our screens. “What’s happening? Did you turn the heater off?” Coen asked me, since I was sitting next to the control panel. “No, I didn’t, but it is shutting down, isn’t it?” It was 11:00 p.m and we were quietly camped in a parking lot. To maximize the…
What We Have Learned From European Overlanders
Parked on the rim of a canyon overlooking Cappadocia in central Turkey we watched bemused as a relatively large white overland truck searched a track riddled hill for a level area to camp. We had the best seat in the house to witness the sun set and for the following days hot air balloon show…
Overland Routes | New Mexico and the Continental Divide
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Fall 2017. When most people envision New Mexico, they picture the outlines of rocky plateaus, desert sunsets, and Native American culture. It’s understandable, as you can certainly find these things in abundance throughout the state, but there is also something more: the Continental Divide. Drivers…
Video of the Week: Bruder Jumps their EXP-4 and 200 Series
Most of us know that trailers don’t handle as well as vehicles off-road. Sure, advanced suspension systems with coil springs, airbags, and A-arms have improved their performance by leaps and bounds over the years, but they still tend to bounce and jar going down the trail. Apparently, Bruder didn’t get that memo though, because they…
ExPo Classifieds: 2013 Nissan NV 4×4
We’ve seen several excellent Nissan NV builds since the platform’s release, but this 2013 has to be one of our favorites. What began as a basic 3500 HD high-top cargo van has slowly been converted into a true overland vehicle, complete with all the niceties you’d want in a home on the road. The owner…
BRUDER EXP-4: A New Breed of Performance Trailer
Nearly three years ago, Expedition Portal took a look at the Bruder EXP-6, a stunning off-road trailer designed and built in Australia. It featured one of the best suspensions in the business, a luxurious interior, and global compatibility for sale anywhere in the world. You could say it made some waves in the industry, but…