Overland Journal Podcast Episode 216 Join Overland Journal Podcast host Scott Brady as he welcomes Land Cruiser legend and off-road driving expert Kurt Williams from Cruiser Outfitters for a wide-ranging discussion on how best to modify the Toyota 200-Series Land Cruiser for long-distance overland travel. They discuss which models to consider, what to look for if…
Amongst Predators: Camp Safely in Unfenced Campsites Around Africa
Camping and self-driving in Africa’s national parks is one of the best ways to get to know the rhythm of the ecosystem. Each park on the safari circuit from South Africa to Kenya is different and unique in some way. What they mostly do have in common are the predators. Africa’s big cats stand at…
Cool Vehicles of the 2024 Rebelle Rally
Photography by Richard Giordano, Regine Trias, Tim Sutton, Paolo Baraldi, and Ernesto Araiza After traversing over 2,600 kilometers of desert terrain, 128 women left California’s Johnson Valley in mid-October, bound for home. Hailing from 114 cities, 27 states and provinces, and six countries, they drove Jeeps and Fords, Toyotas, and Land Rovers. Some chose Subarus,…
Principles of Overlanding: Living on the Road Full-Time
Overland Journal Podcast Episode 208 Join Scott Brady as he welcomes seasoned travelers Graeme and Luisa to this Principles of Overlanding episode. With 15 years of experience, they share the principles, challenges, and rewards of full-time overlanding, from traversing Africa’s rugged tracks to enduring Arctic extremes. Gain insights into family overlanding logistics, vehicle choices, budget…
International Vehicle Shipping with Lithium Batteries—New Regulations
Overland travelers have always pushed the limits of vehicle travel, and in many instances, their hunger for exploration has included shipping expedition vehicles to the far reaches of the globe. Unfortunately, over the past year, there have been numerous fires aboard transport ships, and two vehicle carriers were lost at sea due to fires aboard…
Principles of Overlanding :: Vehicle Electrical Systems with Mark Bruce
Overland Journal Podcast Episode 201 When you’re embarking on an overland vehicle build, the electronics side of things can seem awfully intimidating. Alternators, inverters, converters, AGM, solar, induction, fuses, MPPT, LiFePO4, volts, amp hours, watts, DC-to-DC—where does the madness end? Fear not. Overland Journal Podcast host Scott Brady touches base this week with Redarc Electronics…
Getting Unstuck: Recovery Items to Keep You Moving
Okay, let’s be honest. Just because I’ve been driving four-wheel drive vehicles for 50 years and just because I’ve covered most of the major four-wheel-drive events in the United States (including numerous trips over the Rubicon Trail, the Jeepers Jamboree, All 4-Fun, Sierra Trek, and Moab’s Easter Jeep Safari), I am not a “four-wheeler.” Getting…
Alpha, Bravo, Charlie: The ABCs of Overland Convoy Etiquette
Photography by Richard Giordano, Eglė Gerulaitytė, and Lila Shaw There’s a kid driving a Corolla at 120 kph, waving a note at me with the words “I love you” scrawled across the paper. Normally, I would be flattered at this declaration of affection, but the teen’s foot is jammed to the floor, sending his beat-up…
Tires for Overlanding Episode 6 :: Overland Vehicle Preparation and Treading Lightly
Join us for episode six of our educational series on Tires for Overlanding, where we review selecting various tires, driving and recovery, vehicle preparation, Tread Lightly, and more. For this sixth episode, we discuss the importance of Overland Vehicle Preparation, including the ABCs and other essential items to make overlanding safe and enjoyable. We also…
Tires for Overlanding Episode 5: Recovery Techniques
Join us for episode five of our educational series on Tires for Overlanding, where we review selecting various tires, driving and recovery, vehicle preparation, Tread Lightly, and more. For this fifth episode, we discuss the fundamentals of overlanding recovery techniques, including using traction boards, a vehicle-mounted winch, and conducting a vehicle-to-vehicle recovery using a kinetic…
Tires for Overlanding Episode 4: Driving in Sand and the Dunes
Join us for episode four of our educational series on Tires for Overlanding, where we review selecting various tires, driving and recovery, vehicle preparation, Tread Lightly, and more. For this fourth episode, we discuss the fundamentals of driving in sand and the dunes, including tire pressures, leeward and windward side of the dunes, tire selection,…
Tires for Overlanding Episode 2: All-Terrain Tires
Join us for episode two of our new educational series on Tires for Overlanding, where we review selecting various tires, driving and recovery, vehicle preparation, Tread Lightly, and more. For this second episode, we discuss the fundamentals of all-terrain tires for overlanding, including construction, lug design, and tread features for sand, rock, ice, snow, and…
Overland Events and Rallies You Don’t Want to Miss This Summer
Feature Image Courtesy of The Journal of Lost Time AMERICAN NORTHWEST Northwest Overland Rally When: June 20-23, 2024 Where: Leavenworth, Washington The Northwest Overland Rally caters to keeners curious about anything from winching to photography, off-pavement driving skills, or seasoning your cast-iron pot. Join a wine-tasting, whiskey-sharing, or happy hour session before the evening’s lively…
Tires for Overlanding Episode 1: Mud Tires
Join us for our new educational series on Tires for Overlanding, where we review selecting various tires, driving and recovery, vehicle preparation, Tread Lightly, and more. For this first episode, we discuss the fundamentals of mud tires for overlanding, including construction, lug design, and basic driving techniques. Presented by Hankook Dynapro Tire How to Select…
A Family Adventure Around The World – Lessons Learned
Something changed inside of us when we had our first kid. In hindsight, they were those typical feelings that come with becoming new parents. Excitement, trepidation, fear, joy, hope, and every other emotion you knew was there but didn’t know could arrive all at once. People said after having a baby we are going to…
10 Things to Know About Overlanding Morocco
Photography by Richard Giordano In Marrakech’s House of Photography, time stands still. Silver photographs, glass plates, and autochromes capture market scenes and hooded figures from 1879 to 1960, confirming what I already know to be true about the country: it evokes a sense of timelessness. I feel it most while shopping in the souks or…
Overland Events and Rallies You Don’t Want to Miss This Spring
Lead photo courtesy of Weird Wild West SOUTHWEST USA Adventure Van Expo When: April 13-24, 2024 Where: Scottsdale, Arizona The Adventure Van Expo series returns for 2024 with a packed schedule of events, including the first of the season in Scottsdale, Arizona. Lively music, food trucks, vendors, and camping converge in this all-ages celebration of…
Rebelle Rally Run with Expedition Portal’s Paula Burr
Registration is already open for the 2024 Rebelle Rally competition, an eight-day, 2,500-kilometer slog through the California and Nevada deserts by map and compass. Founded in 2015 by Emily Miller, it’s the first women’s endurance off-road rally and the longest competitive off-road navigation rally in the United States. Self-described as a “movement built on community…
How to Prepare for and Survive Inclement Weather While Overlanding
Lead photograph by Michnus Olivier, Piki Piki Overland More than a decade ago, we camped in a large wooded campsite in Punta del Este, a coastal town in Uruguay. Despite extensive overland travel in Africa, we were relative rookies. It was our first night in South America, the Defender had been released from the port…
Is Your Overland Vehicle Overweight? Here Is a Possible Solution
Editor’s Note: Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) is a carefully determined specification developed by auto manufacturers in conjunction with the federal government to determine a particular vehicle’s legal status. It also indicates the absolute engineering limits of the vehicle in question for all its materials and systems, including the frame, suspension, brakes, and other components….