Cinematographer Bruce Dorn prepares his Ford F250 for a drastic mid-life carrier change.
Jeep JL ICON Suspension
It is easy to list the specs of a new product and publish the press release, but what is too often a secondary thought is how will a product perform in a month, four months, 7,000 miles and longer after installation. At Expedition Portal, we prefer to review and report on products after we have…
Heart of a Range Rover Stage III
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Gear Guide 2013. There are certain events you never forget. While some drift away on the winds of memory, those that stay with you define your attitudes and perceptions for life. Camping by the banks of the Boteti River in the Kalahari Desert, Botswana, when I was…
The Modern Classic
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Gear Guide 2018. Photography by Chris Cordes, Scott Brady and Sarah Ramm The grass is greener on the other side, at least when it comes to Land Cruisers. As of 2014, Americans were able to begin importing the venerable 70 Series into the United States…
The Modern Explorer: Land Rover LR4 – Part III
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Winter 2014. I will be the first to admit that the introduction of a Land Rover Discovery with an independent suspension system sounded like the death knell to a brand I have come to love. Over the past few decades, each new model seemed to become increasingly…
The Modern Explorer: Land Rover LR4 – Part II
Overland Journal addresses wheel diameter and ground clearance on the LR4.
Heart of a Range Rover Stage II
Building a Range Rover Classic for reliable, economical expedition travel. Senior Tech Editor Graham Jackson continues the restoration of his childhood steed.
Full-Size Overland: ExPo’s Diesel Excursion Project
What is the ultimate overland vehicle? Plenty of people have voiced their opinions, but from Defenders to Jeeps their responses couldn’t be more diverse. Out of everyone I’d say Jonathan Hanson was the closest when he wrote “The best overlanding vehicle is the one you already have”, but it still left something to be desired. In my opinion the ultimate overland vehicle…
Full-Size Overland: The Excursion Part Two
A little over seven months ago we introduced our latest project vehicle: a low -mile, 7.3-liter turbo-diesel Excursion. It had spent the last 17 years living the easy life in a small town garage, but with our purchase came a second chance for a life of adventure. The plan was to turn this low slung SUV into…
Field Tested: Buckstop Bumpers
When Ford designed the Excursion, it’s clear that they had a few things in mind; durability, reliability, and versatility for example, but somehow I doubt overlanding made the list. Despite its solid axles, massive payload, abundant storage space, and diesel motor, this truck has a couple issues that can make four wheel drive touring difficult,…
Tool of the Trade
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Spring 2018. Throughout the history of our publication, the Toyota Tacoma has remained the most popular vehicle among our readers, a reflection of the model’s reliability and accessibility. As travelers, we ask a lot from our 4WDs, expecting durability, capability, comfort, and capacity, all the while hoping…
Heart of a Range Rover
Building a Range Rover Classic for reliable, economical expedition travel. A family road-trip in the desert leads to a long-term fascination with Solihull metal.
The Modern Explorer: Land Rover LR4 – Part I
Determined to vet the reliability and performance of a modern Land Rover, Overland Journal secures a 2012 LR4 and modifies it for serious exploration.
Long Term Review: Falken Wildpeak M/T
Snow whirled out of the darkness, disappearing into the night as quickly as it came. My weary headlights were hardly up to the task, and the mountain roads seemed to curve sharper and harder as the weather raged on. We were in Colorado, and just a few hours ago I had asked my girlfriend, now…
Building a Pinnacle Vehicle: Overland Journal’s Land Rover Discovery I SD – Part II
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Gear Guide 2009. Modifying a vehicle is nearly always a compromise. Adding horsepower typically comes at the cost of efficiency. Lifting a vehicle often comes at the cost of high-speed stability, and each new modification usually adds more weight and complexity to a platform that…
Building a Pinnacle Vehicle: Overland Journal ’s Land Rover Discovery I SD – Part I
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Fall 2008. I still remember the article about the 1991 Camel Trophy. The words and images are as visible in my mind today as the first time I saw them. I had casually picked up a 4WD publication from a newsstand. Thumbing through its pages,…
36 Hours of Adventure: Sand and Seas
Our plan was to make it to the beach before dark, so naturally we arrived well after it. I had expected as much. Something about keeping to a schedule while escaping meetings, emails, and calendars just doesn’t jive with me. Unfortunately, navigating the unfamiliar shores of an island at night doesn’t jive well either, so…
Field Tested: Rhino Rack Pioneer Platform
For decades the welded steel roof-rack has enabled automotive travelers to carry the fuel and supplies necessary for long journeys, but as the needs of enthusiasts change, so to must their equipment. Modern adventurers now expect a lighter and more aerodynamic cargo system—one that is as well suited to their daily commute as it is…
Field Tested… A lot: The ARB Bumper
The year was 1975, and on the horizon a travel worn Land Rover sent clouds of dust swirling into the air. Behind the wheel, an off-road enthusiast by the name of Tony Brown shifted gears, while mulling over a very big idea. You see Tony was fed up with the sub-par standards of Australian four-wheel drive…
36 Hours of Adventure: Hills and Horns
The bull was less than pleased to see me approaching the edge of his fence. He snorted as I slowly knelt for the photo, and then proceeded to stare disapprovingly as my shutter clicked once and then twice. Lowering the camera to read the sign once more, a smile crept across my face. Prayer is the…