Johnson Valley, California, a sunny October day, and we have the keys to six Chevy ZR2 Trucks. We started out at Lasertown, a desert oasis surrounded by some of the most popular off-road terrain in the United States. This is where King of the Hammers happens every year. The lineup included three 2024 Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bisons and three 2024…

A shot rang out, followed by a scream, loud and very close—too close. Our new Nigerian friends scattered as one without hesitation, cowering as they ran as if expecting a hail of bullets. They disappeared into the building beside which we were camped, leaving us bewildered, on our feet, and alarmed. There had been a murder, and this was one…

Show Notes for Podcast #165 Scott Brady and Matt Scott discuss era appropriate vehicle modifications, classic 4wds, and even investing in collector models. Most overlanders appreciate the simple and vintage travel equipment, including canvas slingback chairs or a Series Land Rover. They are not suggesting that classic overland gear is better, but it often times puts a bigger smile on…

Some people have an innate ability to learn their lessons from the wise words and experiences of others. As I gazed at the half-empty plastic storage case on my roof with a bewildered stare, I couldn’t help but wish I was one of those people. How long had it been open? For 10 miles, 30, 100? It was impossible to…

Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) has recently announced its significantly expanded participation in the upcoming 2023 Rebelle Rally, doubling its presence at the event with six teams, up from last year’s three. Susann Kazunas, Vice President at Toyota Motor Manufacturing in Texas, said, “Partnering with Rebelle Rally allows us to share amazing stories of resilience, determination, and uncompromised power that…

There are 56 counties in Montana, and each one gets its own unique numerical prefix on the state’s license plates. Historically these were assigned by population—the more people who lived in a particular county, the lower the number. When Montana first started registering motor vehicles, the mining city of Butte was by far the largest in the Treasure State, so…

Show Notes for Podcast #164 Principles of Overlanding: 30 Insights on Traveling the World by Vehicle, an overview of the core tenets of overland travel. Scott Brady and Matt Scott discuss the Principles of Overlanding Tweet Storm. Lessons are often learned the hard way, which in Scott and Matt’s case includes screwing up, getting stuck, carjacked, impounded, detained, delayed, and…

Photography by Frank and Helen Schreider Frank and Helen Schreider were preparing to leave for the island of Flores, Indonesia, when the village chief in Komodo brought bad news. “There is no road at Labuhan Badjo,” he said, running a calloused thumb eastward over their map. “It starts here, at Reo.” Their map of Flores clearly showed a road, but…

Show notes and Summary for podcast #163. In the random show podcast, Scott Brady and Matt Scott riff on recent happenings in the overland sphere, including Matt getting stuck in the EarthRoamer, Scott getting stuck in the Grenadier, Matt going to Goodwood, buying a Tesla, and Scott ranting about payload again. . . Host Bios: Scott Brady Scott is the…

Editor’s Note: This Craghoppers clothing review was originally published in Overland Journal’s Fall 2023 Issue.  In late 2012, we said goodbye to our home in Cape Town, South Africa, and packed the Land Rover for an expedition that would take us around the world without pause. We researched and sourced gear that would serve us best in preparation for the…

Show Notes for Podcast #162 Stanley Illman on Exploring the World by Gwagon and Porsche Summary: Scott Brady interviews Stanley Illman, Co-founder of Front Runner, international businessman, and global explorer. Stanley has driven around the world in Land Rover, G-Class, and classic Porsche. Stanley shares important insights on product quality, vehicle preparation, and travel. His trips have crossed Africa, Europe,…

I’ve never been a “knife guy”. Never mind everyday carry, I barely ever carry at all. With pockets jammed full of keys, wallet, pens, notebook, and phone, who has space to port around one more item? However, I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve been caught out on more than one occasion when I needed a blade, and I’ve…

Editor’s Note: Colorado’s Million Dollar Highway was originally published in Overland Journal’s Fall 2023 Issue.  They say the Million Dollar Highway begins and ends between the Colorado mountain towns of Silverton and Ouray, but traverse it, and you’ll also discover a plethora of dirt road hideaways laced with abundant scenery, lakes and streams, ample camping opportunities, and the rich history…

In Go Grandriders, 17 senior citizens embark on a 13-day, 1,178-kilometer ride by 125cc scooters and small motorcycles around Taiwan. With an average age of 81, the octogenarians take to one of Taiwan’s most dangerous roads: the Su-Hua Highway. Weaving amongst roaring cargo trucks and behind packed tour buses, the group enjoys lush cliffside scenery high above the Pacific Ocean,…

In a significant step towards the goal of a carbon-free future, Toyota has introduced a prototype of the Hilux hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle. The debut of this innovative vehicle is indicative of Toyota’s comprehensive strategy to attain carbon-neutral mobility by employing diverse powertrain solutions tailored to varying user requirements and global operating conditions. These solutions encompass hybrid electric, plug-in…

Editor’s Note: This Eva Rupert interview was originally published in Overland Journal’s Summer 2023 Issue.  “Hey, I know you. You’re famous. I’ve seen you on TV.”  I stood at the entrance to a convenience store in northern Nevada, about to buy food for a week-long motorcycle adventure in the backcountry. As she spoke, the woman looked past me at my…

AMERICAN NORTHWEST Descend on Bend When: Sept 1-4, 2023 Where: Oregon Outback This family-friendly overland event near Pinnacles National Park is accessible to all vehicles, including motorcycles and rental cars. Live music, a daily maker’s market, and morning yoga are some of the highlights, while the event website sold me on its “coffee and affogato offerings.” Luxury amenities include porta…

I remember a time not so long ago when some overlanders would turn their nose up to the prospect of overlanding in a Sprinter 4×4. It wasn’t that the Mercedes was a bad vehicle but rather it had become a figurehead of the vanlife movement and gained an unwarranted reputation for being a bit chintzy. However, in more recent years…

Show Notes for podcast 157 Tom Sheppard on the Nobility of Wilderness, Crossing the Sahara, and Overlanding the Deserts. Summary: Scott Brady interviews the legendary Tom Sheppard, an icon of overlanding, and one of the most accomplished desert explorers in history. With overland projects and many solo, remote region, off-tracks Sahara expeditions to his name, Tom also led the eight-man, first…

It’s a rare product that changes everything about the way you travel. The Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Pro did just that in ways that continually surprise me.  I spent six months building out (well, overseeing the build of) my 2018 Ram Promaster, which is outfitted with three stellar 100ah batteries from the Utah Company Lion Energy and a whole host…