Editor’s note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Winter 2020 Issue.   As travelers, we embrace the serendipity and randomness of travel, the paper map unfurled on a dusty hood, each direction yielding a wonder. There are also times when we get two flats in one day and just really, really want to find a campsite. Planning and technology…

The Best Overland Trailers of 2020 I began considering the utility of an overland trailer while I was still traveling full-time in my RV, and here’s why. In the RV, I was frequently debating if I should leave the pavement, the lurking fear of needing to back down an off-camber dirt road ever present in the back of my mind….

Photos Courtesy of Two Travelling Aunties   It all started with a Swiss-plated Unimog parked on a dusty street corner in Borobudur, Indonesia. Susie Chua and Norah Soeb spotted the hefty home on wheels during a vacation back in 2018. “We had so many questions!” Norah exclaims. “Which countries did the vehicle need to cross to come all the way…

  Show Notes for Podcast Episode #34 Principles of Overlanding: Recovery Part 1 Summary: Principles of Overlanding: Vehicle Recover Part 1, where Scott Brady, Matt Scott, and Jim West discuss the critical terms and fundamentals of recovery for the overland traveler.   About Jim West: Jim is a retired Fire Fighter/Paramedic based out of Phoenix, AZ. He represented the USA…

UPDATE: check out the UBCO app. Whatever your opinion on electric vehicles, one category is taking off, and that’s the 2×2 UEV (Utility Electric Vehicle). These rugged, on- and off-road e-bikes are so popular that UBCO—a UEV founder—has been backordered for months. Although the bikes are hitting US dealers now, most have been preordered and are sold already. The idea…

Best Campervan of 2020 Best campervan of 2020: my head almost instantly began spinning when I tried to envision what my selection would be. Why the anxiety? Well, to begin with, there’s the challenge of distilling a huge amount of information into a digestible piece of writing for you, the reader. Campervan of the year needs to be succinct and…

  Show Notes for Podcast Episode #33 Interview with Kurt Williams, overlander, Baja Champion, and the Land Cruiser Whisperer Summary: For this interview, Scott chats with overlander Kurt Williams of Cruiser Outfitters about travel around the globe, racing Land Cruisers, building Land Cruiser, and the joys of international overland adventures.   Host Bios:  Scott Brady Scott is the publisher and…

When my husband, Dave, and I were planning our round-the-world trip, one of our biggest conundrums was how to ensure our valuable items were theftproof on our motorcycles when we weren’t there. Helmets, riding jackets, tank bags—we didn’t want to walk around with that stuff all day. For solo travelers, it’s even harder; they don’t have anyone to watch their…

Benchmark def: a standard or point of reference against which things may be compared or assessed. As the definition would suggest, Benchmark Vehicles positions themselves as the standard by which quality campervan conversions are measured, and that’s no small task. There are hundreds (thousands?) of upfitters out there, and many offer high-quality builds for the discerning customer. Given the preponderance…

Sometimes we have to—or even want to—ride in the dark or at other low-light times of the day, which makes it hard to be seen. What can we do about it? Light up that machine! Before we get into some tips for being seen better while riding, let’s first look at some free or low-cost options and work with what…

This 36-Hours of Adventure is Presented by: Origins I remember the first fish I caught, my grandfather smiling as I pulled the heavy (to my six-year-old frame) trout out of the pond. I am not sure how many fish my sister caught, but it was likely several more than me, my reputation as a dubious angler beginning at a young…

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal Magazine, and is available as a back issue here The Hemi barked to life, squatting the rear of the Wrangler, accelerating us up the face of the dune. Dave did his best to navigate the aggressive camber of the slip face and the large bush that blocked the cleanest line…

Expedition Portal reader Howard put years into designing this custom F450 flatbed build with an Overland Explorer cabin. His needs were fairly straightforward: a 4-season camper with off-highway chops. But he made additional smart improvements like a diesel cooktop, water heater, and furnace—all three of which draw their fuel from the vehicle’s primary tank. A 2,000-watt inverter and 800 amp-hour…

Western Mountaineering Flash Hooded Jacket With colder temperatures settling into the Northern Hemisphere, a lightweight down jacket makes a great holiday gift that can be used day in and day out. And the Flash hooded jacket from Western Mountaineering is that jacket. This California-based company manufactures down garments and sleeping bags of the highest quality. Their dedication to sourcing humanely…

  Show Notes for Podcast Episode #32 Planning Your First Overland Journey Summary: For this Principles of Overlanding, Matt and Scott review the fundamentals of planning your first overlanding trip, including basic equipment, vehicle modifications, and route selection. Host Bios:  Scott Brady Scott is the publisher and co-founder of Expedition Portal and Overland Journal and is often credited with popularizing overlanding in North America….

Photo by Matt Swartz: A ski tour to Sister’s hut (in the background).   The 10th Mountain Division hut system is the largest network of mountain cabins in the state of Colorado, and it is managed by the 10th Mountain Division Hut Association, a non-profit formed in the early ’80s. The founding members were Aspen locals and included 10th Mountain…

Editor’s note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Fall 2020 Issue.   Let’s accept that adventure motorcycling means long, unsupported journeys across the world’s developing nations, lately redefined as the Global South. Overlanding is another word for it, as distinct from regular touring vacations or even gnarly domestic adventures that aren’t hard to have in North America. Get over…

On the back cover of her book, Road to Mekong, Jai Bharathi stands in a black motorcycle jacket, one foot propped up on the footpeg of her Bajaj Dominar 400 motorbike. Her look is casual, but Jai is anything but. This woman is a force. From the South Indian city of Hyderabad, Jai’s first experience riding a motorized vehicle was…

  Show Notes for Podcast Episode #31 Interview from the Field with Jon Turner: Engineer, Overland Traveler, and International Businessman Summary: From the Black Rock Desert of Nevada, Scott Brady interviews Jon Turner, accomplished expedition camper engineer, traveler, and global business leader. Guest Bio: Jon Turner Jon is the Founder and Chief Engineer of Nimbl Vehicles. A lifetime traveler with…

Photography by Graeme Bell, Luisa Bell, Keelan Bell.   Designed to enable access to specific and relevant information, travel apps have become an integral part of the modern overland experience. But, is this an entirely positive development? Are these apps essential? And how have these apps changed the overland travel experience? It is 2010 and late in the day—a long,…