Australia is a continent of contradictions, with crocodile-filled billabongs, ancient rainforests, and snow-dusted mountains. And it is vast, covering over 7.69 million square kilometers that include approximately 11,000 beaches. It features a desert (Great Victoria) nearly the size of France, and has more wild camels than anywhere else on Earth, along with a decent showing…
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Category Archives: Featured Vehicles
2008 Toyota Tundra and OEV Alpine Camper :: Feature Vehicle
Our 1990 Toyota Pickup, affectionately named “Little Red,” has been our go-to adventuremobile since 2013. It has seen a couple of continents and a few revisions along the way, but it remains an antiquated, underpowered, 36-year-old minitruck. It does a wonderful job of scoot-ing through moderately sized whoops, narrow trails, and soft sand while the…
Refuge II Jeep Camper :: Feature Vehicle
Photography by Dan Grec and Michael Fuchs Mad scientists, the Bermuda Triangle, and quicksand. According to Disney movies and cartoons, a person exploring the globe will inevitably have to deal with these from time to time, like it or not. In my personal experience, that has not been the case. Until recently, that is. Thanks…
BMW 1150 GS Adventure :: Publisher’s Project
It was sometime around 2000 when I walked into the REI store in Phoenix, Arizona, to buy a kayak. What was parked under the entry awning stopped me in my tracks: a bright yellow BMW GS resting on its sidestand, a chunky, knobby tire sticking out onto the sidewalk. I had never seen a big…
Storyteller Launches The Grenadier Micro Camper
Storyteller has spent nearly a decade building its reputation as one of the most respected and comprehensive overland vehicle manufacturers on the planet. Their lineup includes the ubiquitous van conversions, massive expedition campers (formerly GXV), and now their first micro camper. For the base vehicle, they chose the INEOS Grenadier, then incorporated their extensive camper…
The OutFit’s 1975 6×6 Volvo C304 :: Feature Vehicle
Photography by Chris Beight and Ange Feton There’s nothing subtle about the Volvo C304 6×6. Boxy, with clearance for days, and big, square front windows, the vehicle champions Volvo’s design philosophy of clean lines and minimalist aesthetics. Produced between 1974 and 1984, the ex-military truck sports a classic ladder frame, portal axles with leaf springs,…
The Brown Bird & Co. Skafta Land Rover Defender Campervan is Ready to Make Dreams Come True, In Style
For the last two decades, I have been telling anyone who would listen that the nearest to perfect overland vehicle for an adventurous couple is the Classic Land Rover Defender Hardtop. With three doors and a cavernous interior, this old Landy will take you there, bring you back, and ensure that you have the space…
The Rescue Truck: A 2024 Ford F-350 Built to Save Lives in King County
When King County Search and Rescue (KCSARA), a nonprofit organization that has served Washington State since 1965, heads out on a four-wheel-drive rescue mission, the circumstances are rarely predictable. The team of volunteers must be prepared for any eventuality. KCSARA brings together nine independent member units under one umbrella, creating a coordinated network of motorized…
Travel Beasts’ 1993 Toyota Land Cruiser HZJ73 :: Feature Vehicle
It happens to the best of us; we purchase a vehicle and kit it out for a long-distance overland journey, only to find that our needs change as we fall deeper into overlanding and commit further to a life lived on the road. A rooftop tent and daily outdoor existence are fine for a few…
1966 Land Rover Series 2a Marshall Ambulance :: Feature Vehicle
The namesake of British explorer Ernest Shackleton is suitably the stuff of legends. This wheeled Sir Shackleton, who we’ll call “Shack” for brevity’s sake, is a 1966 Land Rover Series 2a Marshall ambulance. But we’ve already entered a shrouded realm of mythology. Though Shack’s registration papers designate his build year as 1968, the error in…
Video :: Overlanding a 2WD Mercedes Sprinter Diesel?
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.