We were near the front of the pack now, the lead vehicle in a caravan of eleven dust-strewn vans. I looked to my left and found my gaze dropping straight down the immense weather-worn walls of the Grand Canyon. There was no escaping its magnitude this close. Even as we carefully navigated along its outer…
Expedition Portal Classifieds: HZJ77 Pop-Top Land Cruiser
Today’s classified is something pretty special. Not only are you looking at one of the few HZJ77s here in the states, but this one is freshly completed with a pop-top and custom camper interior. The seller states that this specific truck was being outfitted for rental service here in the USA, and as you’d expect…
The Off-Road Wedge Camper Shootout
We put five of the market’s most popular shell campers in a head-to-head test to determine which one might be best for you.
This Van Is For Sale, And It Comes With A Matching Sauna Trailer
We’ve seen a lot of crazy builds over the years, from Land Rover Discovery II’s turned into custom RVs to enormous 8×8 campers, but this Sportsmobile might take the cake. It’s not the van itself which is so unusual, but rather the fact that it comes with a matching trailer, and inside of that trailer…
The Newest Overland Gear At Outdoor Retailer 2019
If you caught Scott Brady’s recent article, you’d know that overlanding is officially in at Outdoor Retailer. It’s hip, it’s hot, and it was happening across every corner of the show. From Series Land Rovers to Earth Cruisers, vehicles of every kind were being embraced by brands to showcase their products in a new and…
Outdoor Retailer Show Adopts Overlanding
Expedition Portal and Overland Journal first attended the Outdoor Retailer show in 2006, over 13 years ago. Initially, we were met with reserved curiosity, the outdoor industry unsure about its relationship with vehicle-based adventuring. However, in the subsequent years, we have received more and more attention and adoption from the community, and the outdoor industry…
How The Vanlife App Could Change Life on The Road Forever
The open road, a tank full of fuel, and no deadline for a return home; that’s a dream many travelers share. We imagine ourselves roaming the world from the crests of cascading sand dunes to the shores of remote mountain lakes, fulfilled by the vast riches our Earth has to offer and the memories we’re…
Featured Vehicle: Overlanding Brute
There are fundamental elements of a good overland vehicle: the combination of serviceability (or ultimate reliability), capacity (payload and cargo volume), capability for when the terrain gets technical, and enough comfort to keep driver fatigue at bay. For the last 15 years, American Expedition Vehicles has been trying to pull the Jeep Wrangler into the…
Adventure Van Expo: The Free Overland and Van Event You Need To See
Thanks to social media and a new generation of travelers, both overlanding and vanlife are flourishing here in North America. The negative connotations of living out of your truck or sleeping in a van down by the river are deteriorating, leading many people to ditch their sedentary lives for a path of adventure. But learning…
Field Tested: RedArc Manager30
The scenario is all too familiar, the anticipation of a long weekend of camping interrupted by the click, click, click of the starter and a truck filled with dead batteries because that one light was left on. Or the remote camp on the beach and days of sunshine and fun followed by a dead house…
A Look Back at the Trucks and Campers of Overland Expo West 2019
Overlanding is about the journey. It’s about traveling to new places to experience different views, foods, and cultures while creating memories that will last a lifetime. Yet, if we’re honest with ourselves, it’s also about the trucks. Yes, yes, I know we’re never supposed to acknowledge the dirty truth that many of us modify our…
The Coolest Products You Missed At Overland Expo West 2019
We’re being told that this year’s Overland Expo West was the biggest ever in terms of attendance, but I’d say it’s a pretty safe bet that it was the largest in terms of square footage as well. Food trucks filled the square, off-road test courses dotted the Arizona landscape, and over 360 exhibitors filled in…
Overland Expo West 2019: A First Look
Overland Expo West is back, under new management, and bigger than ever. After spending nearly all of day one walking across the Fort Tuthill fairgrounds, we have barely scratched the surface of the amazing vehicles, gear, and people spread throughout this event. There are innovative new campers, stunning restorations, and a heap of brand new…
Garmin’s Overlander GPS Can Replace All of Your Off-Road Apps
These days it seems like there’s nothing a smart phone can’t do. From listening to music and taking pictures, to answering emails and browsing the internet, they’ve become integrated into nearly every aspect of our daily lives. It’s no wonder why most of us have ditched the old GPS units for an array of navigation…
Field Tested: AMP Research PowerStep
The overland community certainly has its debates: Toyota versus Land Rover, wide tires versus tall skinny tires, roof tent versus ground tent and so much more, but there’s one thing that almost all of us can agree on, and that’s the removal of factory running boards. That’s because they significantly reduce the breakover angle and…
The Overland Vehicle Inspection Checklist You Should Be Completing
I’m happy to say that traveling by four-wheel drive is safer today than ever before. Our modern vehicles are more capable and reliable, navigation equipment is more accurate and easier to use, and communication via satellite devices can bring help in even the most remote of locations. Yet, we’d be fooling ourselves to say that…
Field Tested: Baja Designs LP6 Pro
Whenever I’m lucky enough to spend time with experienced overlanders, I try to glean some knowledge from their travels. I’ve heard tips on packing, tricks to help win favor with border agents, and even recommendations on a leather hat selection for repairing engine gaskets, but there’s one piece of advice that seems to be universal,…
Expedition Portal Classifieds: 7.3L Diesel Sportsmobile $44k
The vanlife movement has led to a lot of great things, but it certainly hasn’t made it easy to find a good deal on Sportsmobiles. Most of the ones cropping up for sale these days are either fetching absurd price tags or have an even more absurd amount of miles—often both. It’s little wonder then…
Overland News :: Dream Job in Colorado
Big Bucks for Working in a Western Paradise News Posting: Grand Junction, CO, April 22, 2019-incredible opening in Grand Junction, Colorado for the Executive Position of City Parks and Recreation Director. It does not get much better at $125,000-$140,000 a year for a low stress, time and holiday packed time off executive position with your…
Overland Expo East Moves to Arrington, Virginia and Announces Dates
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…