Simplicity affords adventure, as the more we reduce complexity, the greater the opportunity for discovery. This is true of most things in our lives, but it is even more significant with the gear we use. Any opportunity to reduce, combine, consolidate, or simplify will typically reward us with more time to enjoy the moment. It starts by determining what is…

Are you looking for a go-anywhere, one-of-a-kind overlanding vehicle? Then this F-550 chassis, with its custom, pop-up, flatbed-mounted cabin could be your new off-grid home. Expedition Portal forum member Scott designed the living quarters of this rig in Solidworks and molded the composite cabin for this project himself. The main pop-up roof provides 6’10” of standing room when extended. With…

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Fall 2020 issue.   On an evening in July 1985, Fat Paul Wonsok met Bros at Stan’s Bar at the Babanango Hotel in distant Zululand. Wonsok, so named because a goat once ate his other sock, had a proposal. Over brandy, he spoke of the Kgalagadi, the great semidesert of Botswana, which…

The phrase “the best camera is the one you have with you” is attributed to photographer Chase Jarvis who wrote a book about smartphone photography. Basically, he’s saying that even if you own the highest-resolution camera with the best-quality lenses, it won’t do you any good if you don’t take it along on your trips. I’d wager a bet that…

The cash deposit I’d paid was all the ATM would give me, and a handwritten receipt was all I got back. So once I’d landed back in the UK, I transferred some money to my new Bulgarian bank account and jumped on the bike back to the European Union’s most easterly member. I was on a mission to turn the…

By and large, the modern-day car has become a tool or a fashion accessory, taking us to the grocery store, or the bank, or hauling our family to and from soccer practice. But in this pursuit of functional design, one key element has been neglected: fun. OK, also character. Fortunately, not every vehicle that leaves the production line has suffered…

This 2015 Ram MegaCab 3500 Cummins is the kind of truck that many of us dream of building. With its mix of comfort, power, towing ability, and cargo capacity, it’s one heck of an adventure vehicle. Quinn, the seller of this awesome rig, originally listed this vehicle for sale in the Expedition Portal Forum classifieds section. Quinn purchased this truck…

  Legendary female racer and world record holder Jessi Combs lived to push the boundaries of what was possible. And now, a year after she established the new land speed record as the World’s Fastest Woman according to the Guinness Book of World Records, the Jessi Combs foundation is continuing her work of pushing boundaries with the newly founded Jessi…

Modern vehicles certainly have some advantages when it comes to performance, reliability, and available parts. But it’s hard to beat the character of a classic adventure rig, especially the Volkswagen Syncro. The beloved, boxy T3 body style was produced from 1979 to 1991, with production of the 4WD Syncro continuing into 1992 at VW’s Austrian manufacturing facility. Over the years,…

In preparation for our overland journey from Cape Town, South Africa to Vladivostok, Russia we have been accumulating gear that will be employed to make the journey easier, safer, and more secure. The following is a first impression look at four products which will be put to the ultimate test on the world’s longest possible overland route (if we are…

For those looking to cross the Gobi Desert really fast, look no further than the newly announced 702-horsepower Ram 1500 TRX. (Editor’s Note: Manufacturer’s unedited press release below)  All-new 2021 Ram 1500 TRX: Quickest, Fastest and Most Powerful Mass-produced Truck in the World With 702-horsepower 6.2-liter Supercharged HEMI® V-8 Engine 2021 Ram 1500 TRX Engineered to Handle the Most Punishing…

By Nena Barlow Photos by Nena Barlow and Dan Holmes Lead Image Caption: One of the best things you can learn how to do is to learn to assess things subjectively and pay attention to the changing conditions around you. These skills are important anywhere, but especially when your party is the only one within an hour or more. The…

It’s an emotional time for Dos and Wamuyu of Throttle Adventures. Like many overland travellers, COVID-19 has thrown a wrench into their travel plans. After two years, five continents, 24 countries, four months of quarantine in Managua, Nicaragua, two bikes in a shipping container, and COVID-19 restrictions lifting just enough, the couple is set to return home to Kenya in…

Published in Overland Journal Europe, Summer 2019 Time travel to Portugal—2,000 kilometres forward; 100 years back. Daylight was fading fast as we took a last exploratory walk through the twisted alleys in the almost deserted village of Antigo de Sarraquinhos. We stopped in front of the only house with a dim light shining through an open door at the top…

In 2011, Rachelle Croft was in the midst of an intense period of motherhood. Her youngest of three sons had just turned one. Her husband, Clay, was on the road and traveling frequently. “Honestly, I was definitely a little depressed. I loved our boys but missed adventure. At that time, I didn’t realize that being a mom doesn’t mean losing…

Editor’s Note: We elected to feature this editorial as a service to our readers, recognizing that so few of us know the dangers of asbestos in older vehicles, often encountered during the restoration process.  The Jeep is without question the original off-road vehicle. Still today, all kinds of Jeeps are highly sought after. Whether to be used as daily drivers,…

If you ever come across Candice of Be Old Later, you’ll likely find her in the midst of various art supplies, drawing cartoons, catching up on freelance artwork, or teaching a group of children how to draw. Her enthusiasm for art developed at an early age, eventually leading her to become a professional illustrator and concept artist.  Candice and her…

Craig’s candor caught me off-guard as he described the experience of narrowly avoiding death in Afghanistan, but then again, elite Marine Corps members have a unique lens through which they interpret their experiences. Craig went overseas as a CI/HUMINT (counterintelligence/human intelligence) operative, but little did he know that going to Afghanistan to serve his country would also allow him to…

By Scott Jensen Editor’s Note: This article was penned nearly a decade ago, and it remains just as relevant today. It is also important to note that the 2 meter frequency 146.460 has become ubiquitous, and unfortunately has been adopted and promoted among groups without attribution. The frequency originally gained popularity nearly 15 years ago by the 4WDTrips.net community. We…

We have been travelling for a long time now and I am a large man who loves a cold drink, my family consumes more meat than even the most carnivorous Uruguayan. What do cold drinks and meat have in common? Well, they both need to be kept cold, or at the very least cool. Until early 2017 we used two…