If there were a list of vehicles I would recommend for someone to take off-road, a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter probably wouldn’t be on it. At least, it certainly wouldn’t be anywhere near the top. They’re long, tall, heavy, and flex about as much as a skateboard. But they do have a few benefits that make them…
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…
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…
Tired of Carrying a Dozen Keys? Ditch the Extras With Bolt Locks
It was almost midnight, and the weather couldn’t have been worse. The temperature was just above freezing, rain was pouring down, and the wind was gusting so hard that I thought I might fall over. To make matters worse, the hill my Airstream was parked on had turned to mud, and the trailer was now…
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,…
Happy Holidays!
As we round the final bend into 2020, 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…
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…
Say Hello To The United States’ Newest National Park, White Sands!
The stunning gypsum sand of New Mexico’s White Sands National Monument has intrigued and inspired generations of visitors since it opened in 1933. But you can bet things are about to get a whole lot busier because last Friday White Sands officially became our nation’s newest National Park! The changes come as part of the…
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…
From The ExPo Vault: Dust and Snow in the American West
Five months. That’s how long it took me to crack. Just five months and the concrete jungle surrounding my Dallas apartment had driven me insane. A train rolled by every 15 minutes, passing cars echoed in a constant hum, and the view outside my window was nothing but a continuous reminder of the city in…
Happy Thanksgiving!
The Expedition Portal and Overland Journal staff would like to take a moment to wish our readers and their loved ones a very happy Thanksgiving, and to say THANK YOU for your continued support of our publications and this community. We’d also like to extend a special thank you to those men and women serving our country…
2,000 Hours and a Custom Camper Interior Might Make This The Coolest Range Rover Build Ever
I have an affinity for Range Rovers, especially the classic ones. Their timeless design, surprising capability, and abundance of character have endeared them not only to me, but to many enthusiasts around the world, so believe me when I say that I do not take the matter of calling this one of the coolest builds…
The Overlander’s 2019 Gift Guide: Outdoor & Camp Gear Under $200
It seems like every year, we tell ourselves that we will prepare for the holidays long before they arrive, and almost without fail, we find them sneaking up on us anyway. This year is no exception, with trip planning, meal prepping, and, of course, gift buying well underway, but if you haven’t found that perfect…
The Overlander’s 2019 Gift Guide: Outdoor & Camp Gear Over $200
If you’re feeling like someone in your life deserves something big this holiday season, and $200 just isn’t going to cut it, then this is the list for you. You can see all of our outdoor gear under $200 here, and check back for our four-wheel-drive parts and accessories list coming soon. Renogy 200-watt Solar Starter…
A Closer Look At The FiftyTen Camper
Most of us know Goose Gear from the high-quality storage systems, sleep platforms, and interior components they make in their small California shop. But earlier this year, they expanded their operations as the first US dealer for FiftyTen campers. These rugged, lightweight systems replace the bed of a truck entirely and are comprised of three…
SEMA Overland Day 2
The overland theme continues into the South Hall for our coverage of 2019 SEMA day two. The Gladiator was certainly a darling of the show, but Tacomas and Colorados also filled the halls. One theme that was encouraging is a general trend towards functionality, with many of the parts reflecting better durability, improved coatings,…
AT Overland Releases Atlas Camper Shell
The lightweight camper market has been on fire lately, with loads of innovation and fierce competition in the wedge camper segment specifically (you can read our comparison of them all here). But one manufacturer has continued to stand out not only through quality, but by their variety of pop-tops, and that’s AT Overland. They started…
Pacific Crest Overland Route
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Summer 2017. My heart sank as the axe gave way with a resounding crack beneath my gloves. What had felt like hours of chopping had scarcely brought us two-thirds of the way through the downed tree, and now our only cutting tool was gone. It…