Rigid Industries Announce 2022+ Tundra Kits
Stock lighting is often adequate at best and can feel insufficient when navigating the backcountry in low light (avoid trail driving at night unless absolutely necessary). However, fear not, as a wide array of aftermarket auxiliary lights provide extraordinary output in a compact package. Rigid Industries has long been a pioneer of aftermarket lighting and has recently announced a new lineup of products for the Toyota Tundra, model year 2022 and up. These include a 6-inch SAE SR Light Kit, Bumper Lightbar Mount, and both 360-Series Light and D-SS Aight A-Pillar Kits—everything you need to transform the lighting on your Tundra.
Apidura Lab Cargo Cage
Cages have long been a staple of the bikepacking revolution and offer a fantastic alternative to traditional panniers. It’s a simple but effective luggage solution that allows riders to secure gear to a cage or plate (often to the fork or frame mounts). Apidura’s Lab cargo cage features a two-bolt mounting plate accompanied by an optional foot to extend the cage to fit three-bolt mounts while providing extra capacity), a streamlined design, and a universal strap attachment system. Made using lightweight ADC-12 aluminum, the cage is light, corrosion-resistant, and compatible with the company’s 1.3-liter and 3-liter Expedition Cargo Cage Packs.
$52 | apidura.com
Space Campers Cybertruck Camper
Love or hate it, the electric revolution is upon us. Over the last year, we’ve seen a considerable array of aftermarket parts, accessories, campers, and services ready to outfit the growing number of 4WD EVs, and California-based Space Campers’ Cybertruck Camper is one. While it was announced in 2022, the company has published a video that details exciting new features for 2023. These include a full camp kitchen, a roof rack with an option for solar, an outside shower, a movie projector, and much more. This camper is very impressive, especially considering it’s still in the early stages of development, and the Cybertruck itself is not yet in production
$varies | spacecampers.com
Wolf Tooth Components Pack Pliers
Wolf Tooth Components are visionary when it comes to utilizing wasted space on a bike and creating the most streamlined and versatile products (one of the best examples is their iconic EnCase System Bar Kit One). They’ve done it again with their Pack pliers, which are “designed to provide functions not found on typical multi-tools.” It features master link pliers, a valve stem lock nut wrench, tire lever, Presta valve core remover, and even storage for two sets of master chain links. In addition, it’s compatible with 9-,10-,11-, and 12-speed master links, and has integrated magnets to keep the pliers closed when not in use.
$33 | wolftoothcomponents.com
Bruder EXP-8
Bruder trailers are a regular feature on Expedition Portal, with previous reviews of both the EXP-4 and EXP-6. The company has recently announced the EXP-8, which promises to be “the ultimate off-road, off-grid camper trailer.” Key features include lightweight closed-cell, quad-woven, and epoxy-bonded composite construction, a pressurized air filtration system, and 78 gallons of water with the ability to pump directly from streams. Furthermore, it showcases 1,000 amp hours of battery capacity with 1,600 watts of solar, and a suspension system that has “three times more usable wheel travel than its nearest competitor.”
$varies | bruderx.com
Ford Transit Trail Factory Upfitting Options
The success of aftermarket accessories for overlanding has not gone unnoticed by car manufacturers. Ford has hinted that they are looking to further upfit the Transit Trail to meet the needs of overlanders and vanlifers. In a recent interview, Ray Eyles, Chief Program Engineer for Ford Transit North America, revealed the company intends to explore the possibility of modular camping-focused upgrades. “Customers want to customize their adventure van,” Eyles said, adding, “in the future, we may consider a factory solution for interior upfitting.” Options could include pre-installed storage, shelves, countertops, solar, plumbing, and more.
Pedaled Odyssey Waterproof Jackets
Back in October 2022, I shared the new Odyssey Collection from Pedaled , which is “inspired by great journeys and informed by the needs of ultra-distance athletes around the world.” I was excited to hear they’ve now expanded the line-up with their waterproof jackets that are “designed to provide storm-stopping, breathable protection on your foul-weather outings.” The jacket is made using OEKO-TEX-certified ecological fabrics and features a rugged 10,000mm waterproof rating. Key features include a helmet-friendly hood, hand-warmer pockets, large rear pockets, fully taped seams, dual-sided zipper, pit ventilation, and more.
$375 | pedaled.com
Escapar A La Baja, Vanlife and Overlanding Meetup
If you’re a regular on Expedition Portal, then Escapar A La Baja may sound familiar, and that’s because Matt Swartz previously interviewed one of the event founders (and Journal of Lost Time Editor-in-Chief), Josiah Roe. The event is located just 30 minutes outside of La Paz, Baja, on the beautiful Playa El Tecolote beach. The event began with just a handful of vehicles but has since become an iconic meet-up for the traveling community with live entertainment, food, drink, and much more. It’s also environmentally conscious, with “a responsible amount of infrastructure for the location” and a collective beach clean-up on the final day.
Royal Enfield South Pole Expedition Video Series
On December 16th, 2021, piloting Royal Enfield Himalayans, Santhosh Vijay Kumar and Dean Coxson completed their quest to ride 250 miles from the Ross Ice Shelf to the South Pole to mark Royal Enfield’s 120th anniversary. Coxson explained that “there was talk of doing a lot of modifications, but that detracts from what we were trying to do—use a standard or near-standard bike.” There were only a handful of modifications done to the Himalayans, including a tubeless wheel set-up, studded tires, and removal of the center stand and headlight. The adventure was captured by BBC StoryWorks and is now being brought to life as a multi-part series called 90° South.
All-Electric Land Rover Defender Announced
An all-electric Defender is expected to join the line-up in 2025, according to Auto Express, and Land Rover promises 300 miles of range. The source states: “The move is likely to mean a switch in platform tech, from the current D7 Premium Lightweight Architecture to Land Rover’s advanced new MLA Flex Platform.” Engineers have hinted that the electric version may be more capable thanks to increased ground clearance and sophisticated software and torque vectoring to manage power delivery. Electric versions of the 90, 110, and 130 are expected, and prices will compete with Mercedes’ upcoming electric G-Wagen, the EQG.
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