We evaluate the 2021 Mercedes Sprinter Diesel 2WD 170 for overland travel.
Brat Class 2 E-bike Coming from Volcon
Volcon ePowersports, the first company to make all-electric off-road powersports machines, announces a new Class 2 electric bicycle they call the Brat. The single-syllable moniker follows the lead of their Stag UTV, and the fat-tired, two-wheeled, go-most-anywhere Volcon Grunt, reviewed by Scott Brady. Volcon states the Brat is built “for any adventure, on or off…
Featured Bikepacker :: Michael Dammer
It’s important to recognize that overlanding is not exclusive to the world of internal combustion, and in fact it more broadly refers to self-reliant travel to remote destinations. Bikepacking a valid form of overlanding, and in many respects, it’s one of the most authentic. After all, bikepacking bikes are designed specifically for off-grid travel from…
Lectric Bikes Folding XP 2.0 Goes 28mph with 45+ Mile Range
For travelers who are on the road consistently (both weekend warriors and full-timers), having an auxiliary method of transportation like an e-bike can be a fun and valuable addition to your setup. For instance, using an e-bike to scout the trail ahead before committing to hauling your trailer down that new road could potentially save…
Yamaha’s First Full Suspension e-MTBs are Here
While Yamaha might not exactly be a household name in the bicycle world, it probably should be. Back in 1989, they were already prototyping e-bikes, and in 1993, they introduced the first commercially-produced power-assisted bicycle (PAS), which debuted in Japan. Often when new technology is introduced, it can take a while to catch on, and…
The 2021 Yukon Has a Turbo-Diesel, Skid Plates, and a Lot of Off-Road Potential
What SUV has a 34-degree approach angle, an optional diesel motor, skid plates, and an air-suspension that raises up to 4 inches? If you read the title, you’ll know it’s not a new Land Rover, Ford, or even Toyota, but rather GMC’s 2021 Yukon. Trust us, we’re just as surprised as you. They dropped the…
Building a Hilux to Travel From Norway to South Africa
Making the jump from two wheels to four was not a decision we entered upon lightly. We purchased a Toyota 4WD, guiding it through its transformation for our current expedition from Northern Norway to South Africa. I’m hoping all our efforts and choices will reap the rewards from Cape to Cape, and that the gear…
Feature Vehicle: RAM 1500 EcoDiesel
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Summer 2019. Regular readers may recall that I have spent a great deal of my flexible time as an amateur poisonous snake wrangler and own a Ford F250 that was purpose-built for this task. I know this will come as a shock to many, but I’m considering…
The Last Manual Transmission 4x4s
Is this the beginning of the end for the manual transmission in North America? Some of us just enjoy rowing our own gears. Others may call the manual transmission legacy technology, or even more accurately, a millennial anti-theft device. The reality is that automatic transmissions have surpassed the manual in not only sales, but in…
Long Term Wrap Up: Salsa Mukluk Carbon XO1
The former vanguard of fatbikes gets a much needed, and comprehensive makeover.
Lexus Unveils GXOR Concept
When Lexus launched the GX back in 2003, I doubt that anyone on their team would have guessed it was destined to become one of the overland industry’s most popular platforms. It was comfortable, quiet, and refined, not the sort of vehicle you’d select to kick up dust on an old backroad. Yet enthusiasts all…
Expedition Portal Classifieds: HZJ77 Pop-Top Land Cruiser
Today’s classified is something pretty special. Not only are you looking at one of the few HZJ77s here in the states, but this one is freshly completed with a pop-top and custom camper interior. The seller states that this specific truck was being outfitted for rental service here in the USA, and as you’d expect…
Expedition Portal Classifieds: 2006 4Runner
The fourth generation 4Runner is one of my favorite used four-wheel drives. They’re rock-solid vehicles with bulletproof drivetrains, look great when properly built, and the slightly older body style doesn’t attract the wrong kind of attention while traveling. The biggest challenge these days is finding a clean one that hasn’t been driven into the ground,…
The Last “New” XV-JP
Some years back EarthRoamer made a small batch of vehicles they called the XV-JP. These Jeep Wrangler based campers included all of the luxuries you’d want for comfortable road living wrapped in a surprisingly compact and capable package. It was an extremely cool concept, but unfortunately the platform never took off, and they were soon…
Dodging Gunboats and Taming Elephants
Deep into the Colombian savanna, a ragtag team of adventurers get caught in a quagmire of mud, sand, piranha, and gunboats.
First Ride: REI Co-Op DRT 2.1 Mountain Bike
Although it had been around for ages, it was high time for REI to retire the Novara bicycle line. Discerning cyclists never really warmed to the label, quick to dismiss it as an entry-level house brand. To be fair, that is essentially what it was. For 2017, REI made the decision to give their bike department…
Trail Tested: Diamond Back El Oso Grande Fatbike
Give into it. Get fat this year.
Long Term Wrap Up: Salsa Beargrease with Lauf Carbonara Fork
My hyper light fatbike gets a funky front end and carbon fiber hoops.
Trail Tested: Rocky Mountain Instinct BC Edition
Born on the North Shore but perfectly at home in the Southwest.
Trail Tested: 2016 Salsa Spearfish XO1 Carbon
The chili pepper bike built for logging long miles