Everything I knew about towing a trailer told me we were screwed. The ledge was too tall to roll over, our speed was too high to swerve, and our angle of approach was a perfect offset to flip the trailer. Even if we miraculously managed to stay upright over the jump, the dip and mud…
The Best Deal You’ll See On A 2016 EarthCruiser
There are plenty of seriously cool mega-overlanders out there these days: Global Expedition Vehicles, Acela trucks, and, of course, EarthRoamers will make any four-wheel-drive enthusiast’s heart beat a little faster. But when it comes to traveling, there’s one vehicle I would take above the rest, and that’s the EarthCruiser. While their Fuso-based expedition trucks may…
The VW Multicamper Is the Modern Westy You Actually Want
I still remember handing over the $500 for my first Volkswagen van. It was a 2WD 1980s Vanagon, with no pop-top, no back seats, and to be honest, hardly anything that actually worked. The color? Light brown on dark brown on rust-brown, the latter taking over more of the two formers every day. The fuel…
Texino Will Build Your Custom Campervan, and Manage Rental of it Too
Campervans enable amazing travel experiences and the ability to escape to remote destinations in a self-contained home with everything needed for comfort. But many of the challenges that accompany ownership can be non-starters for would-be adventurers. Storage, maintenance, and cost are a few unavoidable roadblocks which, for the average user (who won’t ever live in…
Expedition Portal Classifieds: 1984 Defender 110 Dormobile
It would not be an exaggeration to say that this is the cleanest example of a Land Rover Dormobile that I have ever seen. From the Limestone top and Emerald Green paint to the hand-crafted German cabinetry and Scheel-Mann seats, it is a dream truck from boot to bonnet. So let’s take a closer look,…
Sorry VW, Mercedes Says You’re Wrong About Selling Vans In the USA
Had you talked about Vanlife in the United States with anyone 10 years ago, it would have been almost certain that images of a VW Westfalia would have come to mind. Movies and TV shows depicted them cruising down the California coast or through the redwoods, outdoor brands printed them on T-shirts, and they dominated…
Gramp Camp: Jon Burtt’s 7.3L Overland Truck Camper
There has always been something about old trucks with bed campers that captures my imagination. Maybe it’s the Texan in me or my childhood readings of Travels with Charley, but every time I see one, I long to leave the world behind in pursuit of an endless horizon. How could I not, though? A pickup…
A Turnkey 7.3L Diesel Camper for Just $33,000
Seriously, the fact that no one has snatched this truck up blows my mind. What we have here is a high-payload vehicle, freshly tuned and painted, with one of the most reliable powertrains ever produced, and a nearly ideal collection of upgrades and overland modifications. This thing is ready to drive around the world tomorrow,…
Featured Vehicle: Goose Gear’s Overland F-350
It wasn’t all that long ago that many people would have laughed at the idea of a full-size truck for overlanding. But these days, they’re all the rage, and it’s not hard to understand why. While many mid-size trucks are struggling with a lack of power and feeble payloads, their siblings offer an abundance of…
The Chobe Tec Overland Trailer Sleeps Four
The Chobe Tec overland trailer is a new and unique caravan for North America, providing sleep-inside comfort for four, with stand-up height and escape from most inclement weather. Pros: Comfortably sleeps four Full stand-up height inside Durable, lightweight construction Independent, long-travel suspension Full outdoor kitchen Cons: Limited compression travel Limited tire size due to wheel…
Peugeot’s Boxer 4×4 Van Concept
While Peugeots are not sold in America (currently), they have been a favorite for European travelers for decades. The brand itself has been in existence since 1810, during the reign of Napoleon. Some of their first products were coffee mills and bicycles, both products that overlanders can certainly appreciate. And this week, they introduced an…
Main Line Overland’s Norweld Tacoma
Main Line Overland demonstrates that the art of building tough, versatile four-wheel drives is far from dead.
Hymer’s Vision Venture Sprinter Might Have The Coolest Interior Ever
If you’ve been perusing Instagram lately, chances are that you’ll have spotted Hymer’s Vision Venture concept floating around. This beautiful adventuremobile is based on the new Sprinter and has a lot to brag about, including features such as four-wheel drive, an inflatable pop-top, a redesigned body, and more than 20 innovative materials from BASF which…
Expedition Portal Classifieds: 1986 4×4 Pathfinder 54K Original Miles
In a day and age where people don’t even blink at a van that costs $150,000, I find it refreshing to return to the movement’s roots. Back to the dream of a cheap van, the open road, and the freedom of a life not tied down by massive car payments or rent. Maybe that’s why…
The Desert Ops Patriot X1-N :: Overland News
When the best* Australian trailer gets better. . . and more affordable. Australian backcountry roads are brutal, and they manage to rip apart nearly any trailer sent down their corrugations. Because of that, Aussie designs and engineering focuses on durability- serious durability. And that was when I first encountered a Patriot Camper, watching one survive…
The Raddest Rides of Adventure Van Expo
Ladies and gentleman, boys and girls, step right up for your chance to see the latest and greatest in adventurous rides. On display today are delectable Delicas, superb Sprinters, excellent E-350s, and a smattering of nearly every other van and four-wheel drive in between. Are you looking to drop a few hundred thousand on a…
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.
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…
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…
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…