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,…

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Fall 2020 issue. Photography courtesy of Rebelle Rally   On day two of the Rebelle Rally, my teammate and I found ourselves unexpectedly running in eighth place, ratcheting up both pressure and expectation. With five more days of navigating our way through the desert, could we hold on? Was I…

From Senegal to Guinea Bissau In a small clay hut, behind a crooked, much too low, and visibly worn-out plywood table, Guinea Bissau’s customs officer sits on his white plastic garden chair looking at the carnet. Obviously, he doesn’t know what to do with our vehicle’s customs document lying upside down in front of him. Tourists don’t come here often….

  We weren’t 100 percent sure about the idea of just strolling into a small, local cemetery near Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico, during the week-long celebration of El Dia de los Muertos, but the spirit of the holiday overcame any uncertainties. After all, that’s why we had decided to skip seeing the Baja 1000, take a terrible 16-hour trucker ferry across…

This Range Rover Classic hits close to home, as it is a vehicle that I owned for several years and sold back to the same traveler I purchased it from (Andy Biggs).  Andy spent a few years refurbishing the Range Rover to its current condition, which included significant body and frame restoration. Here are the details on the vehicle, which…

Photos courtesy of Nimmo Bay Resort, OMG Photos, and Gizmodo.   Located on Canada’s remote Pacific Coast, the Great Bear Rainforest is one of the last old-growth temperate rainforests in the world. This 6.4-million-hectare area extends from the Discovery Islands all the way to the British Columbia–Alaska border and includes all offshore islands within this range (except for Vancouver Island…

Berkey Water Filters Finding potable water on extended road trips is fairly easy if you pass through developed areas. But just because water is safe to drink doesn’t mean that it tastes good. I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve filled the tank in our RV only to be overwhelmed by the taste of chlorine when I pour myself…

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…