This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Gear 2020 issue.  As an instructor for various overlanding skills, I am often asked what the secret is for encouraging an unenthusiastic partner to appreciate the outdoors and how to make the overland experience enjoyable for them. People wonder if the solution may rely somewhat on buying certain products and amenities to…

If your plan is to travel remotely, capability is a key attribute of the vehicle you choose. While much of exploration is done on dirt roads and trails, the backcountry is filled with challenges and obstacles, including washouts, boulder-strewed washes, deep-water crossings from seasonal rains, thick mud, and soft sand. This is why I personally prepare my vehicles with reserve…

Overlanders are a curious breed. We’ll lament quality versus price, vintage versus modern, what-everyone-else-has versus unique, spending months grappling with the decision as to how to best spend our precious money. Over the years, I’ve observed the items most likely to be quickly upgraded, irrespective of cost, are tires, wheels, and suspension—the predominate logic being that those items are in…

The Baikal Project, Part Two A Guinness World Record for the Longest Distance Traveled Off-road On Ice Photos courtesy of the Baikal Project and Egidijus Babbelis Imagine Russia’s Lake Baikal during the dead of winter: does it freeze over entirely or just in spots? Are the frozen areas smooth like glass or chunky with plates of moving ice? And what…

Mac Mackenney is a legend in overland and expedition planning, completing logistics for major overland endeavors, including several by Ranulph Fiennes (The Greatest Living Explorer). Here are a few of his recent videos for a good skills download. Youtube Channel | driventoextremes.org | maxadventure.co.uk Note: Mac and his organization do a lot to help military members, including those suffering from…

When I first approached Scott Brady about covering the launch event for the 2020 Nissan Titan XD for Expedition Portal, it was a different time. He was just getting ready to embark on a journey to Namibia to drive the new Defender, and I had a full schedule of events planned for the spring. It felt like a lifetime ago…

AK47s, Chicharones, Red Tape, and a Smile

A Special Thanks to Chris Cordes for his time as Editor of Expedition Portal. We wish him all the success in his new role with the OnX Mapping Team. I still remember the first day that Chris Cordes started working at Overland Journal, interning from the management program at Embry Riddle University. We knew he was different, mature beyond his…

Publisher’s Note: We are grateful for all of our Expedition Portal readers, and our subscribers to Overland Journal. These are challenging and defining times for all of us as people and as travelers. Many of our fellow overlanders are stuck behind borders or managing major adjustments to their travel schedules. If there is anything we can do to help support…

These are tough times, with fears of sickness, job loss, and an uncertain future assailing us from every news source out there. When things are darkest, a little good news goes a long way, which is why we’re sharing this release from ROAMERICA rentals out of Oregon. This small business is putting together an awesome program for those impacted by…

There are few automobiles that capture the attention of multiple generations, inspiring everyone from the Greatest Generation to the wonder-filled eyes of a five year old. The Defender has been that vehicle, and even the most die-hard Land Cruiser lover would secretly admit to the charm of a classic Land Rover meandering down a dusty track in Africa. Since 1948,…

The 2000s were a weird time all around, but they seemed a little weirder over at GM. It was like their engineers hunkered down for the Y2K apocalypse, and in their planning, designed bugout vehicles that could be constructed from existing car parts and recycled plastic. When the world didn’t end as they expected, they used the designs anyway, and…

Winding in-and-out of cirio trees and cardón cacti along the remote Baja peninsula trail which leads to Misión San Francisco de Borja, I realized how how versatile the Gladiator really was. I was driving a fully-equipped, four-season expedition camper at a rate of speed that would be unheard of in the overlanding world just ten—maybe even five years ago. The…

Dear Meriwether, Here are a few things I’d like for you to do while you’re out West: Explore the Missouri River, map it, take a look at its southern tributaries, find a Northwest Passage, establish friendly relations with the natives, study the soil, the animals, the geology, the climate, the plant life. Oh, and find the source of the Mississippi…

I still remember handing over the $500 for my first Volkswagen van. It was a 2WD 1980s Vanagon, with no pop-top, no back seats, and to be honest, hardly anything that actually worked. The color? Light brown on dark brown on rust-brown, the latter taking over more of the two formers every day. The fuel hoses leaked, the bushings creaked,…

Every vehicle has a story, some born from necessity, some from vanity, and some even from tragedy. For Walt Wagner, owner of Tactical Application Vehicles (TAV) in New Mexico, it was the loss of his cousin, Vincent, in 2013 that inspired this project. When Vincent passed away, Walt offered to purchase his much-loved 2009 Tacoma from his cousin’s wife. After…

After years of working a desk, I realized that life wasn’t making me happy and I needed to make a change. I began dreaming, saving, and planning, and finally quit my job and sold all my stuff. Back in 2009, I wound up driving 40,000 miles from Alaska to Argentina, and I’ve been hopelessly hooked on Overland travel ever since….

Each year, our staff members spend months exploring some of the best backroads our planet has to offer, from the red sands of the Simpson Desert to the frozen expanses of Greenland. Along the way we’ve discovered there’s no lack of breathtaking adventures to be had, but believe it or not, some of the best are right here in the…

In 2018, I wrote a short article after Colossal titled “It’s All About the People,” in which I reflected on one of my Dad’s many wise insights into life: people are the most important part of everything we ever do. Year after year, I relate more to that ideal as it seems to solidify for me—for life or Colossal. The…

Editor’s Note: The Rawhyde Adventure Days is a popular event in Southern California that brings motorcycle and 4wd adventurers together. Read our overview of last year’s event here: 2019 Adventure Days Press Release :: ADVENTURE DAYS 2020 RawHyde is thrilled to announce that Adventure Days 2020 will be the Grand Opening of our newest and most unique facility – Zakar!…