I met Nena Barlow in the ponderosa pine-clad mountains halfway between Sedona and Prescott, Arizona. Nena is a 4WD trainer and the owner of Barlow Adventures, a company that offers off-pavement experiences in the American Southwest. As a certified Leave No Trace instructor, she also knows everything and a bit more about environmentally responsible driving….
Field Tested: Conqueror UEV-440
Conqueror trailers are finally on the American overlanding scene after years of seeming just beyond our reach. The videos of these trailers on YouTube have been shared with statements like “If only I could get one here,” and “They are so cool, too bad they don’t import them.” Finally, in September of 2015, they did…
Expedition Portal Classifieds: Tacoma with Habitat
For today’s ExPo classifieds, we have what could be considered one of the most desirable overland setups in North America: a Toyota Tacoma with a paint-matched AT Overland Habitat. What’s more, it’s equipped with an array of accessories and can be purchased for $7,000 less than a TRD-Pro at $36,000. So without further adieu, le’ts…
General Grabber A/TX Hits Market
For most people, tires are just expensive pieces of rubber that they have to put on their cars every few years, but for us, they’re pretty darn exciting. They can make the difference in clearing an obstacle or spinning your tires, navigating a mud pit or being stuck in the slop, and getting a flat…
Cold Weather Camping With Kids
This past month Texas was shocked to its core from a winter storm that left us reeling. Yes, the state shuts down when any cold, inclement weather hits us square in the flip-flops, but you can’t ignore an opportunity to beat the summer heat and explore the backcountry. Winter camping alone demands special attention, but…
Christmas in Utah
I’d been wanting to do this trip for a while now because my girlfriend, Olivia, has never been to these areas and one of my oldest/best friends Charlie has been wanting to go on a trip with me for a while now. We loosely talked about doing it a couple of months ago, but nothing…
From the ExPo Vault: HJ75 Trakka Bushman
There is no denying the fact that I have a serious passion for vintage Toyota Land Cruisers. I bought my first one in 2003, a 1987 FJ60 Wagon, and have owned vintage Land Cruisers ever since. In my opinion, they exude utility, simplicity, and reliability. It is these three fundamental characteristics that appeal most to…
Field Tested: Rally Armor Mud Flaps
Let’s take a moment to talk about mud flaps. No, not the kind with chrome women or the words “Back Off” written on them, but the simple yet effective ones available from a range of manufacturers. These inexpensive products can do much more than keep your door handles clean on the trail. They help to…
Go Fast Campers | Ultra Light Off Road Camper Solutions
The Toyota Tacoma has adapted well to the overland community. Its established reliability, factory selectable locker, and rugged good looks have made it one of the most popular overland platforms in the United States. However, like most of our heroes, the Tacoma also has an Achilles’ heel: payload capacity. Before you go all keyboard commando…
Outdoor Retailer Winter Market
Last week one of the largest outdoor shows in North America got underway, the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market. There were some major changes this year, the largest of which was a shift in venue from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Denver, Colorado, but there was also plenty that stayed the same. Everywhere you looked people…
2018 North American International Auto Show
There were SO many potential overland platforms launched this week in Detroit at the North American International Auto Show, and some forthcoming vehicles that we found out a lot more about. You’ll see these new vehicles hit showrooms over the next year. There are a few updated light-duty trucks with diesel engine options, a new…
Tail Lamp: Camp Fear
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Summer 2017. Anxiety is not a word often associated with overlanding, but if you are adventurous enough to test the limit of your courage, you will experience your fair share of this symptom. I am not merely referring to the pre-departure turmoil (particularly the intercontinental let’s sell it…
Video of the Week: Two If Overland
We’ve been following Two If Overland on Instagram for some time, and these two have given us serious overland envy. Not only are they constantly traveling to new and exciting places, and pursuing their hobbies of biking, hiking, and paddle boarding when they get there, but they also have one of the coolest expedition trucks…
Five Overland Resolutions for Your New Year
With the beginning of the new year, you’re bound to hear plenty of talk concerning resolutions. People will be hitting the gyms, kicking bad habits, and posting lists of goals and dreams on their refrigerator doors. We think this season of positive change is a beautiful thing, which is why we’ve decided to join in…
Video of the week: Choosing an Overland Vehicle
If you’re into overlanding, chances are that you’re familiar with Expedition Overland. Their action-packed YouTube videos have kept enthusiasts hooked since their initial release in 2011, and have inspired many people, myself included, to venture out into the beautiful world around them. But besides their epic trips through North, Central, and South America, which you should…
Featured Vehicle: Land Rover Series III
Everyone has a different definition of “cool” when it comes to four-wheel drives. For some folks, the ideal vehicle is a well-worn Jeep or Toyota with a little trail damage and a lot of heart. For others, it might be a brand new Unimog camper, or a glimmering Brute Double-Cab—it all depends on your taste….
Year in Review: A Look Back at 2017
And just like that, 2017 passed on by. It’s hard to believe that we’re standing at the forefront of a new year, a time that will be filled with endless possibilities, uncharted opportunities, and of course plenty of interesting adventures. As we prepare to begin the newest segment of our lives, we feel it’s best…
Happy Holidays
As we round the final bend into 2018, we wanted to take a moment to wish you and your families a joyous holiday season and a happy New Year. 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…
FJ to Full-Size: Making the Switch
Many overlanders want to live in their vehicle full time, giving them the ability to move with the seasons and wake up to a new view every day. It was certainly my dream, but after taking the FJ on a 2-month-long journey last year, I knew I wasn’t going to be able to live comfortably…
The Ultimate Adventure Gift List
If you’ve seen our home page in the last month, you may have noticed that we published our holiday gift guide a little differently this year. Instead of lumping gifts of every size and shape into one article, we separated them into three distinct categories, one for every budget. Our first guide covered cool gear…