Photos by Justin Wade Orton Tommy Campervans is an Arizona-based campervan and adventure vehicle upfitter. Their skilled crew converts standard cargo vans, but they also upfit decommissioned Hotshot buggies for use as overlanding and adventure rigs. To give you a little more context, Hotshot buggies are crew carriers used by BLM and Forest Service firefighters….
Behind the Wheel: 2021 Ford F150 King Ranch
What do you do when a shiny new Ford F-150 King Ranch arrives at Expedition Portal HQ? Naturally, you hand the keys to the guy who drives a Prius and tell him to write about his experience. I know it sounds illogical, but I’m actually in a perfect position to deliver some opinions, primarily because…
Terranova Expedition Truck Joins the EarthCruiser Ranks
As the demand for purpose-built overland trucks continues to rise, EarthCruiser has answered the call with its new Terranova expedition truck. This cab-over-style composite adventure rig is built on one of three domestic 1-ton chassis including the 2020 or newer Ford F-350, Ram 3500, or Silverado 3500. “The EC Terranova is the culmination of years…
Test Drive: Jeep Wrangler 4xe in the Texas Hill Country
Testing the Jeep Wrangler 4xe in the Texas Hill Country I just returned from the beautiful Texas Hill Country, outside Austin, Texas, where I had the opportunity to jump in the driver’s seat of Jeep’s new Wrangler 4xe Rubicon. Driving this innovative (but charmingly familiar) vehicle on hundreds of miles of pavement as well as…
Aether Apparel Alpine Alfa
Che Bello! Aether Apparel has unveiled their all-terrain restomod of the legendary 1985 Alfa Romeo GTV6, dubbed the Alpine Alfa, and it’s beautiful. This “safari-ready” machine “was born from a desire to create an unorthodox tool for adventure that celebrates the space where streetcar meets backcountry skier.” Well, it’s arrived (unusual for an Alfa; sorry, couldn’t…
The 2021 Ram TRX Review
So, why are we talking about a 702-horsepower truck for overlanding? Because you can drive everything from a 9-horsepower Citroen 2CV to a 702- horsepower TRX around the world. Eccentricities can and do exist on either end of the spectrum. More importantly, we find it relevant to test a broad spectrum of off-road vehicles to…
Is the Monocoque Darc Mono the next “Ultimate Expedition Vehicle”?
The Darc Mono is billed as the ultimate expedition vehicle, but what exactly makes this new monocoque carbon-fiber globetrotter stand out from the rest? And is it deserving of its self-proclaimed title? Having seen a flurry of recent web coverage, I decided to dig into the Darc website and see what I could discover. …
Feature Vehicle: 2002 Suzuki XL-7
Looking at some of the overlanding vehicles roaming the wilds of Instagram, one might think that kind of adventure is financially out of reach. It’s not! If your desire is to get out into the world and you don’t necessarily care how you do it, building a rig to get you there doesn’t have to…
The Apocatron – 1986 Volkswagen T3 Syncro
I remember six years ago when I initially began the hunt for a Volkswagen (Vanagon) T3 Syncro, a wise man once said, ‘he who seeketh a Syncro will always pay £15,000 ($20,000) regardless of initial purchase price’. As I gazed up from one knee in awe of the stoic, I finally understood. I may have…
Featured Truck Camper :: Kimbo Camper
Drawing his inspiration from the USS Alabama (a nuclear submarine), Mark King, founder of Kimbo Camper, designed his first truck camper back in 2016. At that time, there was nothing on the market that perfectly met his needs as an inventor and entrepreneur, so he was motivated to create something new. His goal was simple:…
4Runner Ironman 4X4 Suspension
There are few modifications that improve a backcountry vehicle like the installation of a proper suspension. The 4Runner, in particular, benefits from increased spring rate and firmer shock valving. One of the great strengths of the North American Spec 4Runner is that it has a legitimate payload, some models having a rating as high as…
TruckHouse Unveils Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro Composite Expedition Truck
TruckHouse BCT Luxury Overland Rig The BCT from TruckHouse is a composite expedition truck built on a Toyota Tacoma TRD PRO chassis. This niche market has traditionally featured full-sized and heavy-duty trucks but the BCT bucks that trend, filling the void of mid-sized expedition vehicles. But just because the BCT is smaller doesn’t mean that…
Featured Vehicle: Torsus Praetorian
Personally, I picture myself white-knuckling the wheel as I smash through a wall of zombies, quickly swerving away from the pavement and bombing down a rutted-out two-track to make my escape into the forest. But to be fair, the Torsus Praetorian was designed to be more than just a post-apocalyptic bug-out vehicle. Its creators have…
Building A Wrangler For Someone Who Gives
These are challenging times, with hardly a week in 2020 passing without a notable disruption to normalcy. However, there are also wonderful joys that have transpired, like reconnecting with family, or the daily acts of kindness and sacrifice from public servants, neighbors, and medical professionals. Recognizing this, our team sought out a small way to…
Classifieds 2013 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road
Are you preparing to go on your first overland adventure? Or, are you a seasoned traveler looking for a previously built ride to take you where you want to go? If you are like me, you have been planning your trip for a while, and if you haven’t built your rig, this 2013 Toyota Tacoma…
Classifieds 2009 F250 Lariat FX4
We all may have customary vehicles we think of when building our first overland rig, but Adam chose a less conventional starter vehicle. Ford separates the Lariat as its luxury model and as an overland vehicle. Who wouldn’t appreciate added style and comfort to their long adventures? This is a comfortable and capable choice that…
The Lexus J201 (Land Cruiser) Project
There are few vehicles on the planet that have earned the respect of a J-Series Land Cruiser. Having toured the Toyota plant in Nagoya, quality was evident at every corner, even the janitor had the power to stop the production line if something was amiss. While most OEM manufacturers have parking lots filled with vehicles…
Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4×4 Brings the Fun
By and large, the modern-day car has become a tool or a fashion accessory, taking us to the grocery store, or the bank, or hauling our family to and from soccer practice. But in this pursuit of functional design, one key element has been neglected: fun. OK, also character. Fortunately, not every vehicle that leaves…
Expedition Portal Classifieds :: 1989 VW Syncro Camper
Modern vehicles certainly have some advantages when it comes to performance, reliability, and available parts. But it’s hard to beat the character of a classic adventure rig, especially the Volkswagen Syncro. The beloved, boxy T3 body style was produced from 1979 to 1991, with production of the 4WD Syncro continuing into 1992 at VW’s Austrian…
The World’s Fastest Production 4WD? The Ram TRX
For those looking to cross the Gobi Desert really fast, look no further than the newly announced 702-horsepower Ram 1500 TRX. (Editor’s Note: Manufacturer’s unedited press release below) All-new 2021 Ram 1500 TRX: Quickest, Fastest and Most Powerful Mass-produced Truck in the World With 702-horsepower 6.2-liter Supercharged HEMI® V-8 Engine 2021 Ram 1500 TRX Engineered…