Sometimes the truck of your dreams is the one right in front of you

 “The real work of an expedition begins when you return.”  –Louise Arner Boyd  Many of us put in the work to plan, save for, and finally embark on a long-term adventure without a single thought as to what we’ll do when we get home. At the time of departure, the last thing you want to think about is your return….

Opening Photo: The author getting stuck in Antarctica (brrr). Photo by Chris Collard. Oh, I remember the first time I got stuck in the dirt. But the very first time I found a vehicle unmovable was the night my dad gave me my car when I got my license. I wrecked that Honda Accord within two minutes of taking the…

I can still remember purchasing my first GSI Outdoors kitchen kit. It replaced the hodgepodge of pots, pans, plates, and cups that had been consuming cargo space in a giant box with one sleek set of nesting cookware. The space savings was spectacular, but so was the reasonable price. Ever since then, I have had a love for GSI products,…

“They just don’t make cars like they used to,” the old man said as he walked up to the Scout. His sudden appearance took me by surprise, causing me to nearly hit my head while stepping out of the small door. He laughed and ran his weathered hands along the fender. “We built real automobiles back then. Designed ’em to…

Recently, there have been a whole lot of rumors flying around about the possible removal of mailboxes on the Mojave Road. As you would expect, political tensions rose, people got in fights, and petitions were signed. The odd thing was that nobody could point to a definite source of this information, though, which is why I reached out to Laura…

“What do you mean the boat is late? How late?” A combination of mechanical delays, bad weather, and agent apathy meant that our 1954 Land Rover (Series 1, 86-inch station wagon) was going to arrive a month late in the UK. This set the tone for two things that happened over and over on our trip: every time we put…

What do experienced overlanders do when a disabled truck needs to be recovered on the trail? Some of North America’s best off-highway driving instructors and vehicle recovery experts showed us their skills when they recovered a disabled truck from the historic Whipsaw Trail in July 2019. My husband, Steve, and I have driven Whipsaw four times, and this will go…

Editor’s Note: This is our first installment of a new series of editorial focusing on the Gear of the Decade (2000-2019). As overlanding continues to expand, there are products and services that stand the test of time—these are our favorites.  Red Oxx Bags I still remember the first time I noticed a Red Oxx bag in the wild. It was…

Dear Santa, I hope all is well up north; I hear that it is unseasonably warm up there. It has been a while since I last wrote you a letter, about 34 years to be precise. My older brother told me then that you didn’t exist, but he also told me that the bottom of a swimming pool smelled like…

The Expedition Portal and Overland Journal staff would like to take a moment to wish our readers and their loved ones a very happy Thanksgiving, and to say THANK YOU for your continued support of our publications and this community. We’d also like to extend a special thank you to those men and women serving our country and communities who aren’t able…

Winter and polar travel present some of the most challenging and rewarding conditions for the overlander, (often) requiring in-depth planning, logistics, and specialized equipment. Even a trip to the local mountains for some four-wheeling in the snow will necessitate an additional degree of preparedness, which we think is all part of the fun. To assemble this list, we referred back…

OFF-ROAD RACING, YEAH!! The smell of gasoline, the sound of thunderous exhausts, the teeming energy drink representatives, and million-dollar tube-chassis race trucks. The Rebelle Rally is, well, none of that. In fact, it’s not a race at all, but rather a competitive and inspiring navigation and driving challenge.  Four years ago, when Emily Miller and her team brought the idea…

If you’re feeling like someone in your life deserves something big this holiday season, and $200 just isn’t going to cut it, then this is the list for you. You can see all of our outdoor gear under $200 here, and check back for our four-wheel-drive parts and accessories list coming soon. Renogy 200-watt Solar Starter Kit – $349 We tend…

                              Thirty-six Hours of Adventure :: The Olympic Peninsula Presented by ARB USA One of the great joys of traveling in the continental United States is the fantastic diversity within our borders, the transition from the densely populated and wooded Northeast to the arid and mountainous Southwest. Within a few days’…

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Spring 2017. Anza–Borrego Desert State Park (ABDSP) is a remote moonscape that beckons the adventurer with technical terrain, expansive geology, and the solitude of desert campsites. It is named for the Spanish explorer Juan Bautista de Anza and borrego (bighorn sheep). At 600,000 acres it is the largest park in…

“Driver training should be one of the first things we buy for our overland vehicle.” A 36 Hours of Adventure Presented By :: 5.11 Clothing and Bags The most elite units in the world rely on training, best-practice, and continuous improvement; yet many overland travelers skip this critical first step towards competency and safety in the field. I first learned…

The best classic compact hatchets for overland and expedition use.

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Fall 2019. I can still remember the smell of the horse shashlik, a tub of meat and indecipherable seasonings that we pulled from a freezer in the remote Russian village of Kosh-Agach. The only way I knew it was horse meat was from the line-art drawing of an equine on the lid,…

After a few trips around the world, we have learned several critical lessons (many the hard way) about properly modifying your overland vehicle for adventure travel.