One of the biggest dilemmas when beginning a DIY overlanding vehicle build is the trade-off between ready-made components and self-built solutions. There is the most obvious dichotomy of cost versus time, given the prospect of designing, engineering, and building something from scratch, but there are other trade-offs as well. Things like precision, accuracy, and build…
Category Archives: Camper/Trailer
Overland Vehicle Rental Guide: Campervans, Trucks, and Motorcycles
Compiling an overland vehicle rental guide is a challenging objective, primarily because the term “overlanding” has gotten a bit muddy, and I quickly found myself wondering what the most accurate definition is. I chuckled when my initial search led me straight to the Overland Journal podcast and Scott Brady’s discussion with Matt Scott about the…
Featured Trailer :: Timberleaf Trailers Pika Off-road
Designer, builder, and founder of Timberleaf Trailers, Kevin Molick, is a US Army veteran with a background in fine woodworking, furniture making, and home remodels. As the saying goes, necessity is the mother of invention, and in the case of Kevin and his wife, Paula, the couple was looking for a camping trailer but coming…
Featured Campervan Upfitter :: Blue Ridge Adventure Vehicles
With the preponderance of campervan upfitters located in the Rocky Mountains and on the West Coast, it feels appropriate to turn the spotlight back east to BRAV, aka Blue Ridge Adventure Vehicles. BRAV’s team has converted Ford, Dodge, Nissan, and Mercedes vans, so it’s fair to say that they can upfit just about any van…
RSI Smartcap is a Modular Stainless Steel Truck Topper
Hailing from Durban, South Africa, RSI’s design and manufacturing facility exists in a massive 88,000 square-foot space where they build truck accessories that are designed to endure traveling through African game reserves. Designer Mike Voss’ vision was a modular truck topper that would help keep gear organized, cargo secured, and provide a solid platform for…
Searching for Fall in Colorado’s High Country
The snowstorm on September 8 delivered an unexpected coating of fresh white to Colorado’s high country, and I immediately wondered if there would be any leaves left when I made my way into the mountains. It wouldn’t be the first time that I’d seen fall color thwarted by the state’s fickle weather, but it…
Topper Lift Makes Your Truck Topper a Camper
Here is an interesting camper and cargo storage system that can enhance the versatility and space offered by your pickup truck topper. It’s called the Topper Lift, and it’s an electric, universal truck topper lifting system that fits pickup truck beds ranging from 5 feet to 8 feet in length. No Hydraulics or Air,…
The Overlander’s Every Day Carry (EDC)
Host Scott Brady and co-host Matt Scott discuss the Principles of Overlanding for practical everyday carry (EDC) and travel gear for overland travel, emphasizing minimizing items, avoiding overtly tactical-looking clothing abroad, and complying with local knife laws. They describe preferred clothing (durable, understated jackets), sunglasses, and how smartphones have replaced many pocket items, especially for…
Featured Trailer :: Terra Trek TTE Expedition Trailer
The longer I write about trailers and campers, the more apparent it becomes to me that the Aussies really know how to design and build them. Perhaps it’s their easy access to rugged and remote 4WD tracks for product testing or the fact that their country has such a large diversity of terrain, including deserts,…
EarthCruiser Launches the New Terranova Expedition Camper
As the overland and expedition travel market grows, so comes the luxury of choice for the consumer. The industry is filling in the gaps in function, form, and budget, offering a broad range of models to suit the needs of any traveler. And it is most certainly the full-size truck camper segment that has not…
The Living Vehicle 2021: Enough Solar to charge your EV
Some of you may have seen our initial coverage of the Living Vehicle camper back in May, but for those who didn’t, it’s much more than a trailer, it’s a fully off-grid home. Aside from the luxurious finishes that set it apart from pretty much anything else out there, the most unique aspect of the…
Featured Trailer :: OPUS Offroad OP2
Editor’s note: the OP2 is currently undergoing a redesign. The following article is based on available information as of September 5th, 2020. If you prefer your off-grid living quarters to be separate from your vehicle, then the Opus Offroad OP2 trailer could be your home away from home. This high-clearance, low-profile trailer has a…
Sportsmobile West, Inc.’s License Agreement With Sportsmobile IP, Inc. Has Ended
As a significant development in the overland and #vanlife industry, Sportsmobile West’s license agreement with Sportsmobile IP, Inc. has ended. This represents 30 years of vehicle builds and product development from SMB West, including their targeted focus on building highly capable and durable vans for backcountry travel. Alan and Liz Feld are quite literally luminaries…
Featured Campervan Upfitter :: Cascade Campers
Cascade Campers Founder Zach Yeager’s love affair with VW vans (he owns at least four that we know of) began with a post-school road trip. Frequent breakdowns helped him learn how to maintain his vehicle but eventually led him to seek a more reliable platform for road tripping. Insight was gained on a journey through…
Vintage Camper Restoration Dangers and Considerations
Editor’s Note: We elected to feature this editorial as a service to our readers, recognizing that so few of us know the dangers of asbestos in older vehicles, often encountered during the restoration process. No matter where you go to camp, it seems like you can’t go without spotting a restored vintage camper these…
Behind the Builds: Overland Journal’s Latest Projects and Tech
Scott Brady and Matt Scott discuss Overland Journal Podcast project vehicle updates, including a deep dive on Scott’s 2007 Lexus GX 470 (Prado 120-based) build with ARB Old Man Emu BP-51 suspension, AEV Crestone DOT-legal beadlock wheels, plans for an ARB bumper, Warn winch, possible roof rack, ARB LINX, and an effort to retain the…
Expedition Portal Classifieds :: 1989 VW Syncro Camper
Modern vehicles certainly have some advantages when it comes to performance, reliability, and available parts. But it’s hard to beat the character of a classic adventure rig, especially the Volkswagen Syncro. The beloved, boxy T3 body style was produced from 1979 to 1991, with production of the 4WD Syncro continuing into 1992 at VW’s Austrian…
Could eBussy be the Campervan of the Future?
eBussy from German manufacturer ElectricBrands is the electric cargo van we’ve been dreaming of. Its modular design is advertised to be (almost) infinitely customizable, offering both commercial and recreational appeal, with swappable bodies and batteries. But just how soon can we expect to see a real-life eBussy camper cruising down the highway? And what kind…
Secure Anything with Mac’s VersaTie System
L-track, or logistic track, is a tie-down system designed for securing airplane seats and cargo. But L-track is also right at home in RVs, overlanding rigs, campervans, and trucks where it has been used for everything from mounting modular cabinetry to tying down motorcycles. If you are unfamiliar with L-track, it’s a machined aluminum or…
Featured Trailer :: Pin Drop Trailers Road Runner 2.0
Pin Drop Trailers Manufactures Classic Teardrop Trailers in Arizona Arizona-based Pin Drop Trailers produces compact, off-grid travel models. With an old-school American dedication to quality, Pin Drop sums up one of their core business strategies with the simple phrase Build For Tomorrow. “We build our micro campers for longevity from the ground up,” Pin Drop…