Overland Expo is always a showcase for the latest and greatest in adventure builds, from big global travel rigs to ADV bikes to creative takes on vintage iron and even seeing what the OEMs cook up for their newest models; there’s always something for everyone. Below, we have a selection of some of the top rigs from the 2024 edition of Overland Expo Mountain West. My eye is usually drawn to the off-beat and under-appreciated, but there were some other dominant themes this year in Colorado among the exhibitors and out in the campgrounds.
The Ineos Grenadier continues to be a hot new model, with plenty of brands, like Leitner Designs, showcasing products engineered specifically for the old-school/new-school SUV. The usual Tacomas and Jeeps were widely represented, of course, and Toyota, Lexus, Ram, GMC, and NISMO Off Road stood up for the big manufacturers. Conspicuously absent were any of the major motorcycle brands (like Honda, Yamaha, or Royal Enfield that often show up for Expo), and, in fact, the entire moto vendor area felt quite thin this year. Is there a shift in the moto community with regard to Overland Expo? Time will tell.
2o24 Lexus GX 550
In comparison to some of the other OEMs, Lexus had a fairly modest presence in Colorado, with one exception—this GX 550 with a color-shifting wrap and Dometic’s TRT 140 Air inflatable shelter (look for a full review of the TRT on Expedition Portal soon) was impossible to miss. Lexus models aren’t necessarily known for their bold color schemes, and the other earth-tone GXs at the stand only made this extrovert stand out even more.
Quake LED Custom AMC Eagle
When I grew up in Wyoming in the 1980s, the AMC Eagle was a fairly common sight on the roads of the Equality State. It was a remarkably sophisticated all-wheel drive wagon (also available as a sedan, coupe, and even a convertible) that is often credited with being the first “crossover” on the American market. Something of an ugly duckling, the late 70’s design cues, and boosted ride height made for an odd mishmash of a vehicle, but the reliable Jeep-sourced engines and all-weather capability meant substance triumphed over style. Colorado-based Quake LED’s Eagle wagon caught my eye not only for its Wyoming tags but also because it was so thoroughly overbuilt—not a common overland platform by any stretch of the imagination.
Ural Motorcycles Gear Up Ultimate Overland Build
Ural’s two-wheel drive sidecar motorcycle, the Gear Up was tapped this year to be Overland Expo’s “Ultimate Overland Motorcycle Build“. A shocking number of accessories and a mountain of farkle were thrown at this three-wheeler, including a full complement of Mosko Moto luggage, an Iceco 21-quart fridge/freezer, Denali Electronics auxiliary lighting, as well as Kalaber Creations crash bars, winch mount, and a luggage rack. After its continent-spanning tour to all of the Overland Expos, this Gear Up will be auctioned to benefit the Overland Expo Foundation charity on Bring a Trailer.
VW Doka Pickup
I love to see a blank slate parked on the Expo grounds, and this VW T3 “Doka” (Double Cab) Syncro pickup definitely fits the description. Never sold in the United States, Dokas are a rare sight, but with four-wheel drive, seating for five, and a bed with removable drop-down sides, it really fires the imagination for a potential adventure build. It’s unlikely that you’d see another one on the road. This one was parked at the booth of Fort Collins-based VW specialist Van Cafe.
Overlander Global Mercedes 1428 with Custom Habitat
With the venerable global expedition vehicle builder EarthCruiser closing its doors earlier this year, there is a small vacuum in the market for large, high-end adventure trucks that a handful of boutique builders are looking to fill. This Mercedes 1428 commercial platform is built by Allan Ivy at Overlander Global, and within the aluminum/composite habitat is a fully custom and stunning pine-wood interior. These big, European-style bruisers are not everyone’s pint of Pilsner, but there’s no denying that if you plan to live on the road full-time, they have massive appeal, especially if you have yours built on spec by a talented outfit like Overlander Global.
Storyteller Overland GXV Epic
Speaking of shakeups at the pointy end of the adventure vehicle market, van purveyor Storyteller Overland has been on something of a tear recently, acquiring trailer manufacturer Taxa Outdoors, as well as folding in GXV and Global Adventure Vehicles to build quite a constellation of swank and capable rigs for explorers with healthy budgets. The GXV Epic is a 30-foot long Kenworth-based behemoth that features the industry’s largest wet bath, 44-inch Goodyears, a 200-gallon fuel tank that affords the Epic 1,800 miles of range, triple-locking differentials, and nearly 2,000 watts (!) of solar power juicing an 18 kilowatt-hour energy system. It can all be yours for a smidge under $700,000.
Intrepid Camp Gear Toyota Land Cruiser
Intrepid Camp Gear is another Colorado company, and their display vehicle for Overland Expo this year was this modestly equipped yet highly appealing Toyota Land Cruiser. With a clattery turbodiesel under the hood and Intrepid’s Geo 2.5 hybrid roof tent on top, it looked ready for any high-altitude adventure you could throw at it. That roof tent can support quite a bit of weight on its optional load bars, so you don’t need to leave the mountain bikes or kayaks at home.
1991 Land Rover Defender 110 200 Tdi
The original Land Rover Defender 110 is one of the most versatile platforms on which you can build an overland vehicle. The three-door version (like my own) is particularly adaptable to many different custom configurations. The long slab sides can accommodate big windows, the easily removable roof (just a handful of bolts hold it on) means pop-tops or high-top habitats are a possibility for adding living space, and the robust payload rating can handle tons of gear. This 1991 Defender was parked in the featured vehicle area at the Expo, and the owner took the high-top route with a cozy home-built interior that includes upstairs sleeping quarters for the kids and a full-featured kitchen. The winch-equipped ARB bumper and Old Man Emu suspension with double rear shocks mean business for the more challenging trails.
Read more: Overland Expo Mountain West 2024 :: Top Gear
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