I’ve owned my live-in overland rig for a decade, and during that time, I’ve spent the majority of my income maintaining and upgrading it. At this point, I’m locked in, like a captain bound to his sinking ship, but I often ponder how things could’ve been different. I love my Vanagon but I wouldn’t recommend it to others without a…

The G-Wagon, like the Toyota Land Cruiser, is considered a pinnacle overland vehicle. The Geländewagon was originally developed in Austria by Steyr-Daimler-Puch to be a hardcore military off-roader. However, in more recent years, the platform, much like the new Land Rover Defender, has become something of a status symbol and has subsequently pandered to the luxury market. Prices have reflected…

The cost of Land Cruisers has skyrocketed in recent years, with the point of entry becoming increasingly out of reach for many of us. However, fear not because there are 4WDs on the market offering many of the same benefits as the Land Cruiser but at a fraction of the price. One such example is the venerable Mitsubishi Montero, which…

The Toyota Sequoia is often overlooked for overlanding, with the vast majority opting for either a 4Runner or Land Cruiser. However, while these alternatives do have their advantages, they’re significantly more expensive. Hence, the Sequoia represents excellent value despite featuring many of the same desirable features. If you’d like a better idea of this vehicle’s backcountry credentials, then check out…

The Tacoma is, without a shadow of a doubt, the most popular overland platform on our forum, and for good reason. They offer well-equipped interiors and class-leading build quality, reliability, and capability, but in short, they just work. This is a vehicle that you can trust to get you out there and get you home, and while they’re not infallible…

Let’s face it, if a vehicle has a Toyota, Isuzu, Mazda, Honda, Subaru, or, indeed, a Nissan badge, there’s a good chance it’s just going to work. Japanese car manufacturing has become a byword for class-leading build quality and reliability. That’s not to say the vehicles produced by these companies are void of issues, but generally speaking, they’re very well…

I’ve become somewhat obsessed with micro-campers after being inspired by several builds, including this 2013 Wrangler Sahara Unlimited with Ursa Minor pop-top system. The further I travel in my vehicle, the more I value time and experiences above all else, and I believe micro campers are a great option to maximize both. Allow me to explain. Most of us travel…

During the pandemic, the price of used vehicles skyrocketed, with many rigs selling for considerably more than market value. It was a sad state of affairs as vehicle travel and adventures close to home boomed, but more people than ever were priced out of affording a suitable vehicle. Fortunately, I have some positive news: the used vehicle market has slowed…

Ford’s E-Series vans are a desirable overland platform thanks to their spacious internal dimensions versus modest external footprint, durable motors, interior comfort, and availability of OEM parts. In addition, these vehicles enjoy access to heavy-duty 4WD conversions and a vast catalog of aftermarket components and accessories. We’ve featured numerous expedition-equipped examples, including this 2006 Super Duty with Stahl service body,…

I recently listened to Ashley Giordano’s conversation with Bound for Nowhere on the Overland Journal Podcast. It’s a great discussion during which they touch on vehicle choice and how the wrong decision can completely ruin an adventure. They explain that owning a Tacoma after a series of unreliable rigs made them fall back in love with travel. They previously drove…

The Tacoma is comfortably the most popular truck on our forum and despite some impressive competition from the likes of GMC, Chevrolet, and Ford, it shows no sign of handing over its mid-size crown. In short, it’s a Toyota, and while many of the alternatives are cheaper, better equipped, and more powerful they can’t compete with the Tacoma’s class-leading reliability…

The cost of used 4WDs suitable for overlanding can be prohibitive, with many examples priced between $50,000 and $100,000. However, there are still some outliers that tick all the boxes for remote vehicle travel yet are available for under $20,000. A few recent examples would be this $15,500 1998 Mitsubishi Montero, a $13,000 1999 Toyota 4Runner, and a $20,000 1997…

Despite its posh reputation, the Lexus GX is a rugged 4WD platform and a popular choice for overland builds, with recent examples including this 2005 GX470, 2006 model overland build, and 2005 Sport. It’s also a favorite with the team here at Expedition Portal, and Overland Journal featured one as a project vehicle. The finished build exceeded our expectations, and…

 You really can’t go wrong with Toyota’s current 4WD line-up, whether that’s a Land Cruiser, Hilux, Tacoma, 4Runner, Sequoia, or a Tundra. With excellent reliability, capability, and comfort across the range, the main consideration is which model works best for you. The Land Cruiser is generally regarded as the ultimate overlander (check out Expedition Overland’s 200 Series for inspiration), but…

The Toyota Hiace 4WD is often overlooked when it comes to overland vehicles, which is surprising considering the van’s global popularity, proven capability, and fabled reliability. It’s not that the Hiace lacks respect, but rather has been eclipsed by the immense popularity of Toyota’s more popular 4WD options (e.g., the Land Cruiser, Tacoma, Hilux, Tundra, 4Runner, etc.).  It’s safe to…

While the second-hand SUV market continues to burn hotter than Hades, finding a well-maintained Toyota for a reasonable price is like finding a needle in a haystack. Perhaps you’re looking for something similar in size to the 3rd Gen 4Runner or 80-Series Land Cruiser, something that you can trust and that performs well off-pavement. When well-maintained, the Mitsubishi Montero can…

The Toyota Hiace is an unsung hero, a vehicle that’s rarely mentioned amongst the vanlife and overlanding communities yet is widely considered one of the most reliable vans in the world. My dad bought a 2.4-liter diesel 2WD Hiace when he left the army and became a carpet layer. The van never broke down during his 26-year ownership, covering 275,000…

The FJ Cruiser is one of the few 4WDs that looks as fresh today as it did when originally launched (revealed as a concept car back in 2003 at the North American International Auto Show). I’m a big fan and have shared several examples over the past few months, including a 2007 Supercharged FJ and a 2008 FJ Cruiser. This…

The Toyota Land Cruiser needs no introduction and remains the 4WD by which all others are measured. Bombproof reliability, whatever the weather or terrain, global parts availability, class-leading build quality, excellent all-terrain capabilities, and a generous suite of driver comforts are just a few of the Land Cruiser’s offerings.  I recently featured this 2005 Toyota 4Runner and discussed the benefits…

It’s no secret that the Toyota Tacoma continued its reign last year as the top-selling midsize truck in the US. While Tacoma owners seem to have moved on to the next trend (has anyone noticed a significant number of Raptor lights affixed to Tacoma grills?), a proper understanding of appropriate payload principles seems to be slowly catching on in the…