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…
Behind The Ice Roads
In our Winter 2018 issue, we ran a story about the new year-round road to Tuktoyaktuk, which replaced what was arguably the most famous ice road in the world. We mentioned how the new road provided a lifeline to the small community of Tuktoyaktuk, in an era of changing climate conditions and uncertain ice conditions….
GMC’s AT4 HD Takes Off-Road Full-Size
Just a few hours ago GMC revealed their all-new HD lineup on the shores of sunny San Diego, and they opened up the event in a big way, a very BIG way. Since towing is one of the main focuses of their HD line, they decided to roll out the 3500 HD Denali with a…
Roof Top Tents Vs Campers: The Pros and Cons
Four years. That is how long my family and I lived in a roof top tent. The four of us camped almost every day of those long years—cooking outside, living outside, and sleeping between walls of canvas. As the kids grew and our journey evolved from an adventure into a lifestyle, we realized that it…
First Test: The iKamper X-Cover Roof Top Tent
Innovation is a rarity, and quality is even more elusive, but this new roof top tent (RTT) from iKamper has them both in spades. At Expedition Portal, we were given the first access to this new tent and took the opportunity to use it in the field, digging into every feature and fabric looking for…
RAM Breaks 1,000 Pound-feet of Torque, but Kills the Last Full-size Manual
Yesterday will undoubtedly be a day remembered in the history books of heavy-duty trucks. For the first time ever, RAM has broken 1,000 pound-feet of torque with a factory full-size, ripping past their previous numbers, their competition’s numbers, and setting a new standard for performance. It’s all thanks to their 6.7-liter Cummins high-output, turbo-diesel, which…
Behind the Feed: Koda’s Tacoma
I love Instagram for so many reasons. It gives people an open view to the world, breaking down borders and barriers through the universal language of imagery. It inspires people to see new things, try new hobbies, and witness sights they would otherwise never be able to experience. Most of all, it is full of…
New Expedition Portal & Overland Journal Shirts are Here!
We’re excited to say that we’ve just received our full stock of Expedition Portal and Overland Journal T-shirts! This latest update features a vintage Power Wagon in the mountains, equipped with a classic slide-in camper for an old-school look we love. The Overland Journal shirt plays off of our previous design with the Defender, but this…
Expedition Portal Classifieds: Nissan 4×4 Camper
If you’ve ever wanted to explore South America by four-wheel drive, then today’s vehicle could be the one for you. It’s a 2009 Nissan Navara 4WD with a small displacement diesel, manual transmission, and a practically brand-new camper on the back. Sure, it’s not importable to the US, but that’s okay because it is already…
Overland Routes | Pacific Crest: WA
WASHINGTON SEGMENT
A Look Back at 2018
It seems like yesterday that we were sitting down to write this same story on 2017, and now here we are aggregating our favorite trips and memories from 2018. Holy cow, were there a lot. This past year held some of our biggest adventures to date, from right here at home all the way to…
Expedition Portal Classifieds: Syncro Vanagon 55,000 Original Miles
The Syncro Vanagon has become the poster child of the van life movement, and it’s pretty easy to see why. They pack loads of charm, a ton of living space, oodles of nostalgia, and a surprising amount of capability into a package smaller than most modern SUVs. Unfortunately, they’re getting harder and harder to come…
Happy Holidays!
As we round the final bend into 2019, we wanted to take a moment to wish you and your families a joyous holiday season. Wherever you are, whatever you’re celebrating, and whoever you’re celebrating it with, we hope you’re making memories as warm and inviting as a campfire on a cold day. Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, Happy…
Flopped Big Bend Unimog Recovered
About two weeks ago, we reported on a Unimog which had unfortunately been flopped in Big Bend National Park, forcing a closure of Old Ore Road. You can read about it here. With the huge increase in park traffic for the holiday season we knew it was only a matter of time before they’d bring…