The Lexus GX 470 is a popular overland vehicle on the forum, with recent offerings including this 2004, 2006, and 2008. The GX 470 demonstrates that uncompromising backcountry durability and interior luxury can exist in harmony, and until recently, was underappreciated for travel. In fairness, I understand that generally speaking, luxury SUVs and exploration don’t go hand-in-hand, but Lexus is…

Last year marked the 40th anniversary for one of the world’s most revered SUVs. The Toyota 4Runner has been not only a stalwart in the Big T’s four-wheel drive lineup for decades, it’s also a highly popular adventure travel rig and a common sight on the Expedition Portal classifieds. Despite susceptibility to the tin worm in some of the older…

Today’s FJ Cruiser Trail Teams (155,000 miles) with the 6-speed manual transmission has to be one of the most desirable examples we’ve featured. It’s a popular choice on our forum with recent expedition-equipped offerings including this 2007, 2009 Supercharged, and 2012. It was first unveiled as a concept vehicle at the 2003 Detroit Motor Show but was such a hit…

The Hilux is a legendary pickup and a popular choice for overlanding with recent examples including this 1993 Galaxy RV and 1994 camper. Wherever you’re exploring, you’re never far from a Hilux, which has long been the platform of choice for traversing the most inhospitable landscapes. Subsequently, parts and services are available worldwide thanks to extensive dealership and aftermarket support….

Today’s well-maintained 2011 Range Rover Sport (163,198 miles) is listed for just $13,000 despite originally costing close to $80,000. That means for less than a fourth-generation 4Runner, you can own this lavishly equipped, V8-powered, go-anywhere 4WD. It’s not commonplace on the forum, but we have featured several adventure-equipped examples such as this 2007, 2008 and this 2008 Range Rover Sport…

I love bargain rigs, with recent examples including a $7,000 1992 Toyota 4Runner SR5, $9,000 1994 Mitsubishi Montero, and $9,000 2004 Ram 2500 with a Leer camper. However, at just $6,000, today’s one-owner 2011 Land Rover LR4 (184,300 miles) has to be one of the best value rigs we’ve featured, period. This luxury all-terrain vehicle would’ve cost the best part…

At a glance, you may be fooled into thinking the Lexus is no more than a luxury SUV, but dig deeper, and you realize it’s a legitimate overland platform. Built on the proven J-series platform (that underpins the Prado), it showcases a body-on-frame construction, up to a 1,500-pound payload, and a 5-link airbag rear suspension. It was for these reasons…

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…