I’ve been somewhat obsessed with the first-generation Tundra ever since Stephan Edwards featured the 2005 Toyota Tundra built by Basil’s Garage. It’s an inspiring build and did a wonderful job of showcasing the potential of this relatively affordable platform (we recently featured a 2004 SR5 for just $9,000). In terms of overlanding credentials, I’d argue that, in many respects, the…

Soft-shell rooftop tents have a long history, dating back almost as far as the invention of vehicles to which they could be attached. The concept of a canvas roof tent may have been inspired by the covered wagons that played a crucial role in trade and travel for centuries. There’s something undeniably charming about a canvas tent, reminiscent of the…

In this age of hyperbuilt and overcomplicated overland vehicle builds, it is all too easy to forget that, above all else, your build should be affordable, practical, and straightforward. The rooftop tent (RTT) is not a new invention; we have all seen the images of overland vehicles built in the early 20th century equipped with basic but sturdy canvas rooftop…

Full-size trucks are all the rage as overlanders embrace the additional running costs for a wide array of benefits. During our Full-Size Truck of the Year considerations, Scott Brady commented: “When we first started Overland Journal, the compact pickup was by far the most popular choice for overlanding, but that gap is quickly narrowing with full-size variants. The reason is…

Photography by Richard Giordano Heritage brand Royal Robbins was founded in 1968 by American rock-climbing pioneers Royal and Liz Robbins. Together, they tested unclimbed routes in the Yosemite Valley, Royal specializing in big-wall ascents throughout the 1950s, ’60s, and ’70s, while Liz was the first woman to climb the face of Half Dome in 1967. Desiring a pair of shorts…

There are times when products take us completely off guard, our typical vocabulary being reduced to wide eyes and wows. The truck bed racks have been made for a long time, and most of the styling reflects either a dated jungle gym or something best reserved for a 1980s square body. Indeed, there are many great racks on the market,…

When you think of Porsche, you probably think of a sleek 911 GT3 whizzing past you on the Interstate. Or maybe a a Boxster, top down and cruising up the coast. Or perhaps your taste is more vintage, and you picture a little, air-cooled 356 piloted through a mountain pass. You could, of course, have found all of these cars…

Most overlanding enthusiasts equate air suspension to full-size pickup suspensions, which improve ride and handling when towing heavy trailers or hauling slide-in campers. Installing air-helper springs can also benefit the adventurous overlanding crowd who drive smaller vehicles such as all-wheel-drive CUVs (crossover utility vehicles) and smaller SUVs. The suspension under these smaller rigs can be pushed to the limit towing…

The Ford E-350 4×4 is a fantastic live-in option for travelling cross country and exploring backcountry trails. This go-anywhere van finds a sweet spot between driveability and comfort and provides generous interior living space within a modest external footprint. It’s a desirable vehicle for overlanding with various adventure-ready builds posted to our forum, including this $79,500 2004 Sportsmobile, a $98,000…

There’s no shortage of inspiring builds posted to our forum so it takes a rig decidedly unique to stand out. Today’s super low-mileage (8,500-miles) 1996 Mitsubishi Canter Deluxe is one such example that is truly exceptional. The truck was built by the team at JDM Offroad and showcases extensive premium modifications and a custom tray and canopy from Summit Expedition…

KTM  brings their 18th Annual Adventure Rider Rally to Page, Arizona, from October 13-15, 2023. Holding it near the Arizona Strip allows riders to choose from routes in both Northern Arizona and Southern Utah. Rally headquarters will be at the Lake Powell Resort in Page. Getting Started Pre-ride activities will start on October 12. KTM North America, Inc. welcomes KTM…

The Toyota 4Runner is a respected platform for overlanding with the TRD Pro variant being considered by many as the crème of the crop. This package uprates this already capable 4WD with a locking rear differential, skid plates, Bilstein shocks, Crawl Control, and more. In short, it’s a vehicle that from the factory is overland-ready and could be driven off…

The Toyota Land Cruiser is the overland vehicle by which all others are measured. I was recently speaking with an Italian mechanic in the Dolomites who uses Land Cruisers to tow vehicles around the very mountainous Trentino region, and he described it as a truck disguised as a car. Here in Europe, we don’t just use “truck” to mean pickup…

Toyota never intended the Tundra to be fully laden at all times. The stock suspension, gear ratio, and Auto LSD were designed to keep the average consumer happy—someone who normally keeps the bed empty other than an occasional trip to Home Depot or IKEA. The next stage of this build will have us installing a MITS Alloy tray and an…

I always get excited when Adventure Motors post another of their overland builds to our forum. In the past, we’ve featured a number of their creations, including this 2017 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, a 2019 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road, and, my personal favorite, a 2005 Lexus GX470. Today they’re back with a 2021 F-250 showcasing the desirable Lariat Ultimate trim…

By Matt Swartz and Scott Brady  Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Winter 2022 Issue.  Few vehicles offer the overland traveler versatility, utility, and flexibility like a pickup truck. But that doesn’t mean it’s the perfect platform. Pickup trucks are kind of like a blank canvas, offering loads of potential in the way of payload, hauling capability,…

Ford’s F-Series lineup remains the best-selling full-size trucks in the US by a considerable margin, and it’s not hard to see why. In fact, the F-250 Tremor was awarded Overland Journal’s Editor’s Choice Award in this year’s Overland Full-Size Truck of the Year category. The team wrote that the F-250 eclipsed the competition because “it delivers on everything we need…

I interviewed Aidan Klimenko last week, and we discussed the fabled reliability of Toyota 4WDs. In short, we agreed that if you want to travel around the world, then you really can’t go wrong with a Toyota, and the Tacoma is no exception. This midsize truck is considered class-leading, thanks to legendary reliability, build quality, and capability (especially when outfitted…

Have you dreamed of cruising down the trail in a decked-out rig with a seven-slot grill? If the answer is yes, now is your chance to score one for less than the cost of a slab of coldies. For the past 50 years, the California Four-wheel Drive Association (Cal4) has outfitted a Jeep for backcountry travel and given it away. …

iKamper’s Second Annual Sky Camp will take place from October 21 to 23, 2022 at SongDog Ranch, just north of Santa Barbara, California. It’s an opportunity for the iKamper community to get together and enjoy the company of like-minded people. “Nestled in SoCal’s Ballinger Canyon, the event offers 80 miles of off-road trails, live music, food cooked by the iKamper…