The other day, while getting groceries, I saw a well-loved first-generation Toyota Tacoma with a camper shell. Walking past it, I realized that even though I hadn鈥檛 seen the owner, I had them pegged. This was the type of Tacoma that a young person would drive all across the American West. I was confident there was a homemade wooden sleeping platform and a pair of well-used hiking boots somewhere in the back.

This was all conjecture, of course, but it got me thinking about how each Tacoma, more than any other kind of car, develops a certain look and feel that often says something about their owner鈥檚 ethos, interests, politics, and lifestyle. I should know: I鈥檝e owned two Tacomas over the past decade and both trucks definitely reflected who I was, or at least who I wanted to be.

You may think your Tacoma is just how you get around, but I believe every one reveals something about the owner. I put together a random collection of Tacomas and made up descriptions of who would drive each truck. Read on to see if you find yourself in one of these stereotypes.

The Stock Classic

Even though it鈥檚 bone stock, this truck has seen more dirt miles than any overland truck out there. It鈥檚 creeping past 200,000 miles but doesn鈥檛 eat any oil and still cruises on the freeway. It鈥檚 had three owners, and the current one (which could be a man or woman) works for some kind of crunchy nonprofit that allows them to spend a lot of time outside. They had always wanted to go to NOLS, but never had the time or the money and instead got their WFR and did a three-day avalanche training course five years ago. They鈥檙e not a mountain biker because it’s too much gear, but love to in the summer (they particularly love trail running hats) and backcountry ski in the winter. There鈥檚 a sage bundle somewhere on the dash that鈥檚 never been burned, and they鈥檝e been guilty of stringing up Tibetan prayer flags at their rental house.

The Techie鈥檚 Toy

This type of Tacoma owner lives somewhere in Southern California and works in tech. They鈥檙e not at Google, but instead have an engineering position at a smaller company that contracts for the larger ones (a fact that irks him and hurts his ego a bit). The owner is a slightly overweight man, who is married but doesn鈥檛 have kids so he doesn鈥檛 feel guilty about spending thousands on his truck (there are, however, occasional fights about money with his wife). It鈥檚 his daily driver, and he secretly loves the way it stands out while stuck in freeway traffic on the 5. He鈥檚 also part of an informal Tacoma club that goes for trail rides on the weekends. In that group, he鈥檚 known as a timid driver, but is still welcomed because he鈥檚 generous and often buys dinner for the gang at a local brewery post-ride. His garage is immaculate, and he鈥檚 done some of his own modification work, but sends the truck off to the local overland shop when things get complicated.

The Lifetime Love Affair

This truck has only had one owner and they bought it new back in 1985. The owner, now 72 years old, is happily retired after a 30-year career as an accounting professor at the local community college. At least twice a week, someone leaves a note on their windshield offering to buy the truck, but they鈥檒l never sell because it only has 105,000 miles and they still love driving stick shift to get groceries (even if they now have trouble finding the gears at times). That, and the truck is full of memories. They loved the summers when they and their lifetime partner (loyalty runs deep) used it to tow a little camper out to various national parks for early-morning hikes and late-night hankypanky. They also love to talk about that one time the truck safely got them up a high-alpine Colorado four-wheel-drive road that scared the shit of them and was probably more than they should have chewed off.

The Redneck鈥檚 Rowdy Ride

This Tacoma鈥檚 owner has a Ford F-250 for their daily driver because they need more power for towing and hauling, and because they鈥檝e modified this Tacoma so much that it sucks to drive on the freeway. But when the owner, who鈥檚 very much single at the moment, is not at work, they spend hundreds of hours tinkering with this truck and love driving it at stupidly high speeds on dirt roads, rock crawling at their local spot, and standing in the bed to drink beer, listen to Kid Rock at high volume and shoot AR15s with their buddies out in the middle of the desert. The owner did all the modifications and even custom-fabricated the front bumper based on their own design. Politically, they鈥檙e on the exact opposite end of the spectrum from the first-gen owner above, but they both appreciate Toyota engine reliability in just the same way.

The Low-Key 国产吃瓜黑料鈥檚 Rig

You can tell this owner is completely unpretentious because there are zero modifications on the truck other than a simple gear rack. The on the rack also shouts 鈥渄own to earth鈥� because canoeing is such an easy-going outdoor activity (unlike jet skiing, or rock climbing) and one that鈥檚 easily shared with spouse or friends (even if he has to go solo much of the time). There were kids in the picture, but they are off to college so there鈥檚 no need for a quad-cab setup. That makes him feel a bit old, but he reinforces his youth and vigor every time he lifts the canoe off the rack and carries it on his shoulders past the trucks with trailers waiting their turn at the state park boat landing. When the canoe isn鈥檛 on the truck, there鈥檚 usually a steel-frame Jamis hard-tail in the back. The owner likes that the truck is four-wheel drive because they live down a dirt road and have to battle mud and snow. They鈥檝e never upgraded to all-terrain tires, however, because he prides himself on how well he knows their road and has never been stuck鈥攅xcept that one time when he over-estimated his skills, slid off a washout, and they had to call a neighbor to pull them out with a tractor.

The Midlife Image Change

After decades of driving boring-ass Camrys, this is a splurge by a 55-year-old man who鈥檚 wanted a truck since he was eight years old. He鈥檚 spent years obsessively researching and finding the exact truck he wants. His wife has long encouraged him to shut up and just spend the money, but he鈥檚 resisted because he prides himself on his frugality. He鈥檚 going with a Tacoma because he knows they鈥檙e legendary for being reliable and that makes him feel better about spending more cash than he ever has on a car. It鈥檚 not new, but has low miles and never been in an accident. He would never put bigger tires on (which would lower the fuel economy) and doesn鈥檛 want a camper shell because he wants to use it as a truck to haul landscaping supplies, lumber, and other materials for DIY home improvement projects. He鈥檚 meticulous about maintenance鈥攃hanging the oil every 3,000 miles even though the dealership said 8-10,000 is now the norm鈥攌eeps the interior spotless (he has a monthly membership to the do-it-yourself car wash), and isn鈥檛 bothered by the fact that the truck has no get-up-and-go because he drives defensively on city streets and never goes above 70 on the freeway.

The Handyman鈥檚 Toolbox

We all love when this Tacoma shows up in front of our house because it means the local handyman has arrived. He鈥檚 missing a few teeth, smells like cigarettes, is kind of hard to get a hold of because he鈥檚 not a proficient smartphone user, but does amazing work, can fix anything, and always undercharges, especially if you pay him cash. The back of his truck is full of tools that are organized in his own special way, and there are definitely some fast-food wrappers scattered around the cab. There鈥檚 a Steely Dan CD stuck in the stereo that still works and he drives around without a spare because he blew a tire and never got around to replacing it. He intentionally bought a rear wheel drive version of the truck: It gets much better gas mileage and the only dirt he drives on is in the alleys behind houses he鈥檚 working on.

The post What Does Your Tacoma Say About You? appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Entering the world of overlanding can often be overwhelming. Seasoned guidance goes a long way when you鈥檙e curious about how to start off-road touring adventures. It鈥檚 easy to find at Overland Expos, ideal gathering places to dream big and discover the ideas and equipment to fuel your next escape. At this across the country, Hankook Tire shares in the spirit of exploration, offering hands-on driving experiences and connecting with adventurers.

But don鈥檛 worry if you can鈥檛 make it to an Overland Expo stop. We鈥檝e captured the best moments from the series, plus outlined why to start (and how). A trio of expert overland adventurers provide all the inspiration and insight need to plan your trip, rig your ride, enjoy your camp, find your way, and upgrade your tires. Start here with some key, initial guidance from one of them鈥�国产吃瓜黑料 contributor Bryan Rogala鈥攁nd then jump-start your next journey with .

Modifying Your Rig in 5 Stages

Stage 1: Get Gas and Go

Most pickups and SUVs that have true 4WD with low range are capable of doing way more than you think straight from the factory.

Stage 2: Upgrade Your Tires

Tires transfer your vehicle鈥檚 power to the ground and give you traction. Switching to an all-terrain tire, like Hankook鈥檚 , is the single best off-road performance upgrade you can make. (Check out the full Hankook designed for every off-road need.)

Stage 3: Camp Better

Ditch the ground tent and boost comfort. Options range from a simple sleeping platform inside your rig to adding a slide-in camper, a tow-behind, or building out the interior of a van.

Stage 4: Big Mods

If you want to get wild off-road, things like suspension lifts, steel bumpers, and winches are all good options to help you get even farther off the beaten path.

Stage 5: Bespoke Vehicles

If you鈥檙e planning to travel the world and unwilling to compromise on your rig, it might be time for a full-fledged expedition vehicle like a or .

How to Find a Killer Campsite

With a capable overland rig, you can get away from crowded campgrounds and claim the most amazing sites of your own.

• When planning your route, opt for BLM or Forest Service land. Both jurisdictions allow dispersed camping nearly anywhere there鈥檚 an established site or pullout, so you鈥檒l have the most options for finding cool (and usually free) campsites.
• A mapping app like can help you easily identify what type of public land you鈥檙e traveling through. BLM land, national forests, wilderness areas, state trust land, national parks and preserves, wildlife refuges, and more have their own color on the Public Lands layer in Gaia.
• Make sure you download maps for offline use onto your phone before you go.
• Apps and websites like , , and can help take some of the guesswork out of finding a campsite. They鈥檙e loaded with information about everything from established, reservation-only campgrounds to Forest Service roads with known sites along them.
• Use the satellite layer on Gaia GPS or Google Earth to e-scout for campsites before taking a rough road. The imagery is often good enough to tell whether the area has campsites.

Dynapro is a tire brand designed for SUV/Light Trucks with strong driving and braking performances on all terrains and through every type of weather, including on- and off-road conditions.

The post How to Start Overlanding appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

The post Make Your Escape appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Most of the vehicles displayed in the booths at Overland Expo West are showpieces. They鈥檝e been built to catch your eye and highlight the newest gear. There鈥檚 nothing wrong with these adventure rigs鈥攖hey鈥檙e works of art that any overlander would be excited to drive. But, because they sit at the very top of the overland gear pyramid, they don鈥檛 exactly represent the reality of everyday overlanding.

Consequently, our team always spends a day out in the nearby campgrounds. It鈥檚 out there, under the trees and in the dirt, where you find trucks, vans, and other creations that represent the best of DIY culture and showcase the kind of rigs that people actually use on global adventures. Here are our favorite DIY overlanding rigs from this year.

Also check out: The Best Trailers, Campers, and Van Conversions of 2025 and The Best Tents for Car Camping

The post The 7 Best DIY 国产吃瓜黑料 Rigs from Overland Expo West 2025 appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

If you鈥檙e a regular reader of this column or have followed my adventures over the years, you鈥檝e no doubt realized that I have a habit of changing adventure rigs quite often. My wife says I have a problem, but I think it鈥檚 fun to try new camping rigs and, as with most other outdoor gear, constantly tweak and dial them in.

Our latest rig is a camper van. Sarah and I tested a Wayfarer Vans Walt conversion last summer, and we liked van camping and traveling so much that we pulled the trigger on a van of our own late last year. After five months with it, I have a better sense of how a van compares to different types of rigs, and thought I鈥檇 break down why we made the switch.

Watch: Inside a Wayfarer Vans Conversion

Why We Made the Switch

First, some quick background. I spent six weeks last summer riding the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR), and Sarah joined me in the Wayfarer test van for the last two weeks of the trip. While planning the adventure, we began discussing logistics and what vehicle she鈥檇 take. The natural choice, to me, was to take our Tundra and 19-foot Airstream鈥攂ut after talking it through, it became clear that towing the trailer would be too much work and create a lot of unnecessary headaches. I suggested she just camp in the Tune M1 that lives on the back of our Tundra, but we haven鈥檛 built out the inside, and she rightly pointed out that living and working out of it for several weeks wouldn鈥檛 be comfortable.

All of that led to our interest in trying a van. We quickly learned that a van was not only the right rig for that particular trip鈥攚hich involved moving to a new location every day and lots of highway driving鈥攂ut it made more sense for the majority of our trips than the Airstream. Here鈥檚 why:

1. We averaged 20mpg over a couple thousand miles, which is nearly double what our truck gets pulling the trailer.
2. Navigating cities, small towns, and even gas stations was infinitely easier with a van half the length and with a better turning radius. While the Airstream was only 19 feet long, when you add it to the truck鈥檚 length, you鈥檙e piloting a 38-foot rig versus a 19-foot van.
3. We worried significantly less about getting stuck or having to back up for long distances on Forest Service roads. Even though our trailer has a 3-inch lift and all-terrain tires, the whole rig was much more difficult to fit in tight spaces than a self-contained van.
4. The van, despite being front-wheel drive (FWD), proved quite capable and went anywhere we needed to go. The GDMBR is made up of mostly dirt roads, some of which get pretty gnarly鈥攅specially in New Mexico and Montana. There were some particularly rough, rocky, and rut-strewn sections of Forest Service road between Seeley Lake and Whitefish that the van probably had no place being, but Sarah took it slow and made it through without issue.
5. The build was simple, high quality, and offered most of the amenities we were used to with our Airstream, such as running water, lights, a heater, and a fridge鈥攋ust with much less required maintenance.
   

   

Choosing the Van

When we got home from that trip and returned the test van, we were surprised by how much we missed it. We didn鈥檛 just miss camping out of it鈥攚e missed all the little advantages that come with having a campervan, like the passthrough from the cab to the living area and ability to make quick snacks in the kitchen on the road. So, we decided to sell the trailer and look for a van.

We were set on a Wayfarer conversion after spending so much time in one, which limited our van choice to either a Ram Promaster or Ford Transit. I labored over the decision mainly because the Transit is available in all-wheel drive, and I thought that might be necessary for some of the places we go. Ultimately, we decided that a van with all-wheel drive would still be nowhere near as capable off road as the four-wheel-drive Tundra in our driveway. The low clearance, limited suspension travel, overall size, and lack of low range really limits where an AWD van can go compared to a truck, so we decided to skip it. Besides鈥攚e鈥檇 already found the Promaster鈥檚 FWD to be capable of getting to most places we wanted to visit on our trip along the Divide.

Promasters can cost significantly less money than AWD Transits: A brand new, starts just over $50K, while a starts around $57K (though when you dig into it, it鈥檚 very difficult to find a 148鈥� High Roof, AWD Transit for less than $65K). Used Promasters are even less expensive, and when we were shopping it was easy to find a slightly used Promaster with 30,000 to 40,000 miles on it for $30K, which was a big factor in our decision. What really sold me on the Ram was . First of all, Promasters are more square inside and feel much more roomy to me than Transits, which get narrower toward the roof. At their widest points, Promasters are about 7.5 inches wider. A high-roof Promaster has about 6 feet, 2 inches of standing room inside after a Wayfarer conversion, but its exterior height is a full 8 inches shorter than a high-roof Transit (which, despite the tall height, only offers 2 more inches of interior head room). That might not sound like a big deal on paper, but I can assure you it makes a difference in high winds on the highway, low overhangs around town, and low-hanging branches on dirt roads. Heck, a mid-roof Transit, which only offers 5 feet 8 inches of standing height, is only 3 inches shorter than a high-roof Promaster.

There isn鈥檛 really enough of a difference in payload and towing capacity between the two makers to really matter, but Promasters get better fuel , which was important to us (we average around 18 to 20mpg in ours, while the AWD Transits usually average 13 to 15mpg). They also have about two more inches of ground clearance from the factory than the Fords.

There seems to be a consensus on the internet that Transits are more reliable than Promasters. While data from does sort of back that up, the Ram鈥檚 listed annual cost of ownership number is only $200 more, which wasn鈥檛 enough to sway me in the Ford鈥檚 direction given the Transit鈥檚 higher purchase price and lower fuel economy. I also asked the folks at Wayfarer about their experience with both vans, and they said from what they鈥檝e seen and heard from customers, there really isn鈥檛 that much of a difference between the two in terms of reliability. Both vans are sold all over the world, and there are plenty of examples of people traveling extensively out of each van with great success.

Ultimately, we chose to buy a used, 2023 159-inch wheelbase, high-roof Ram Promaster 2500. We opted for a 2023 because that model year came with a new, nine-speed transmission, which helps the van鈥檚 3.5L V-6 on the highway and in the mountains. We really appreciated the amount of space it had inside over the Transit, and were able to save a bunch of money by finding a great deal on a used van. Side note: Wayfarer is one of very few van conversion companies that will actually convert used vans.

The Build Process

Wayfarer Vans is based in Colorado Springs, and they have their conversion process down to a science. They can help you source a van, and once you鈥檝e got one, lead times vary from two to eight weeks for scheduling your install. Installs themselves usually take just two to three days.

Each is based on the van model you bring them, so our high-roof, long-wheelbase Promaster meant we鈥檇 be going with the same Walt conversion we tested. We optioned ours a little differently than the test rig, but it鈥檚 quite similar overall. The biggest-ticket options we wanted were the windows, bug screens, and heater.

Because we were moving from a 19-foot Airstream to a van, we really appreciated the Walt鈥檚 extra storage space for gear and extra seating. The Walt has one extra 鈥淏oot Box鈥� in the back compared to the Transit models and a larger galley cabinet for more storage. We often camp with friends, and being able to easily seat four or five people for dinner or board games inside the van if it鈥檚 nasty outside is awesome. As a side note, you can also spec either van with a if you have kids or travel with more than two people.

You can read a more detailed account of the van鈥檚 interior build in this article I wrote last year, but the moral of the story is that Wayfarer builds simple, high-quality camper vans that are completely modular and allow you to change the layout of the van depending on your needs.

Top Takeaways

We鈥檝e had the van for nearly five months now, and it鈥檚 already gotten more use than our Airstream did in the several years we owned it. That鈥檚 because now, in addition to a sweet camper, we also have a supremely practical vehicle that we use for other things than just camping trips. We鈥檝e hauled appliances and kitchen cabinets, driven to visit family across the country, used it as a production vehicle for my video business, and even used it as a daily driver because it gets better fuel economy and is easier to park than the truck.

I was also used to constantly working on the various systems in our Airstream, given it was 20 years old: I ripped out the black tank and replaced the toilet with a composter, lifted it and added bigger tires, added lithium batteries and a solar system, and more. With the Wayfarer build, we still have running water, a heater, lights, vent fans, solar-powered electricity, and even a portable composting toilet, but it鈥檚 all simpler and everything just works. It has a hand pump that pulls water from a 5-gallon jug, so there’s no winterization required. The electrical 鈥渟ystem鈥� consists of a , which works flawlessly and is simple to replace if it somehow wears out. All of the cabinetry is high-quality, Baltic birch plywood that鈥檚 completely modular and can be easily repaired or replaced if necessary. In practical terms, that means I now spend a lot less time futzing with systems and more time planning trips and actually camping.

We鈥檝e also found that it鈥檚 an infinitely better winter and ski camping rig than the trailer, due to the superior insulation, lack of plumbing to freeze, maneuverability and the fact that we are no longer dealing with trying to tow a trailer on snowy roads. The front wheel drive, paired with the I ran on it this winter, have proven to be totally capable of getting us to our favorite ski hills.

I鈥檝e already mentioned how practical the van is for more mundane tasks like moving furniture, but we鈥檝e also found that it makes for the perfect dog palace at trailheads or when running errands around town. The fans and windows allow us to keep it cool inside if we need to leave the pup in the van for a bit, and he鈥檚 got a comfy bed and a full bowl of water at his disposal. Bonus: The fact that there鈥檚 a always inside means we can keep groceries cool if we鈥檙e in town for the day, or just have cold drinks waiting for us after a mountain bike ride.

Off-Road Capabilities

But what about off-road stuff? You can鈥檛 do that in a Promaster! While the Promaster is an exceptionally practical vehicle, it鈥檚 also true that a huge, front-wheel drive, box on wheels is not an off-roader. But honestly, that鈥檚 part of what I love about it鈥攊t doesn鈥檛 pretend to be one, unlike some other vans out there. Despite that, it will absolutely get you down a gravel or moderate dirt road, which, if we鈥檙e honest, is really what most of us do with our built-out trucks, anyway. I do plan to modify mine just a bit to make it more dirt-road capable, which I鈥檒l cover in an upcoming article.

If I know I鈥檓 going somewhere that the roads will be really rough, I鈥檒l take the truck and sacrifice some camp comfort. I also love that the van also gives me the option to bring my e-bike or tow a four wheeler for further exploration (both of which will get further off road than my truck ever could).

Gear Hauling and Practicality

One other point in the win column for the Promaster is its gear hauling ability. Our van can not only tow more than 6,000 pounds, but has a payload capacity of 3,994 pounds. After the lightweight Wayfarer build, that means we still have plenty of payload leftover for toys and never have to worry about overloading the rig, which is something we鈥檙e constantly mindful of with our truck. If you鈥檙e an overpacker like me, a 戮-ton Promaster is a great option and can usually be found for significantly less money than an equivalent 戮-ton pickup truck.

If I鈥檝e learned one thing in all the years of testing rigs, it鈥檚 that no adventure vehicle is perfect. I always shied away from vans mainly because I assumed you needed at least $150K to buy one. Downsizing from a 19-foot travel trailer to a Promaster and Wayfarer conversion taught me otherwise. It鈥檚 also teaching me that, as with most things in life, simple is better.

More Gear Reviews

The Best Trailers, Truck Campers, and Van Conversions of 2025
The Most Exciting New Gear at Overland Expo West 2025
The 7 Best Sleeping Bags for Car Camping

The post Takeaways from Camping and Traveling in a Van Versus a Trailer appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

I went to my first show for 国产吃瓜黑料 in 2015. At that time, Overland Expo East was held in Asheville, North Carolina, and I begged my editors to let me fly out and cover the event. No one in the office had really heard of the event back then, and a few were skeptical that 鈥渙verlanding鈥� was something the 国产吃瓜黑料 Online audience would care about.

Turns out, people did care. A video tour I shot of an Earth Cruiser ended up being one of the site鈥檚 most popular videos for years, and a decade later, overlanding is more popular than ever.

This year鈥檚 Overland Expo drew more than 28,000 people, and there were 423 registered exhibitors showing off the latest and greatest stuff the industry has to offer. As we鈥檝e done for the last 10 years, we scoured the show for the best gear and most innovative rigs. These are the four new campers that impressed me most at this year’s expo.

(from $39,995)

Durango-based Outpost Campers launched their 6.5 slide-in truck camper last Summer, but this was their first time at Overland Expo West. This company is actually the same team behind 鈥攖hey re-branded and put a pause on van builds due to the demand they were getting for truck campers. After taking a look at Expo, it鈥檚 easy to see why given the impeccable craftsmanship, open floorplan, and the great value they pack into that $39K price tag.

Watch: Inside the Outpost 6.5聽

Made from composite panels, the Outpost 6.5 is a true four-season camper with a very high insulation value. For 2025, the company started using a different composite panel that鈥檚 more durable and lighter than previous models, giving the camper a dry weight of 1,475 pounds. To me, what really sets this camper apart is what you get for the base price: a 5k Wh Ecoflow lithium battery and power station that includes a 3000 watt inverter, 60 Amp DC-DC charger and dual solar charge controllers, 250 watts of solar, a 20 gallon fresh water tank, aluminum cabinetry with bamboo countertops, an 86-liter fridge, an induction cooktop, a Maxxair fan, and more.

I built my own composite truck camper a few years ago, and can tell you that if Outpost had been around then, I probably would have saved myself the DIY trouble. I鈥檓 planning to take an Outpost 6.5 out for a proper test this summer, so stay tuned for a full review.

(from $56,879)

Cube Series launched their pop-up, a few years ago, but this was the first time I鈥檝e seen their new trailer in person. It鈥檚 one of very few on the market, and a super compelling option for anyone who needs their trailer to fit in a garage or just wants an easier towing experience.

Composite and aluminum construction keep the weight down to just 2,730 pounds, so it鈥檚 easily towable behind smaller SUVs and pickups. It comes with 25-gallon fresh and grey water tanks, an 18,000BTU furnace, and a DC-DC charger for charging the battery off your tow rig. Electric actuators lift the roof once you get to camp and give you over 7 feet of headroom inside. I’m hoping to spend some time testing this trailer later this year.

(from $21,449)

This one was a first for me at the show鈥攁 camper trailer specifically designed to be pulled by a UTV or side by side. The founders of spent a lot of time camping around the North Rim of the Grand Canyon out of their side by sides, and grew tired of trying to cram all their gear into the limited cargo space. Their solution was to create a trailer light enough to pull behind their rigs, yet big enough to haul gear and offer a more comfortable place to sleep.

At just 1,100 pounds, these trailers can be pulled behind most UTVs, and the company鈥檚 鈥渨alking beam suspension鈥� allows the little trailers to traverse some seriously gnarly terrain with ease. High Country Unlimited offers , including one with a rooftop tent and one with a Kodiak canvas tent made for a truck bed built in. You can add options like a diesel heater, portable shower system, and more to turn these little trailers into full-on campers capable of going anywhere your side by side will tow them.

(from $109,500)

The Pebble Flow was one of two fully electric travel trailers we saw at Expo this year that were specifically designed to be towed behind an electric vehicle. The Pebble Flow was originally announced back in 2023, and this was the first time we laid eyes (and hands) on one in person. Color us impressed.

The Pebble Flow is a 25-foot travel trailer with a dry weight of 5,800 pounds鈥攚ell within the 11,000-pound towing capacity of a . It differs from its main competitor, the Lightship AE.1 Cosmos, in that it doesn鈥檛 collapse down for driving and has some nifty, automated features like 鈥淩emote Control鈥�, 鈥淢agic Hitch,鈥� and 鈥淚nstaCamp” built in. We didn鈥檛 get to see these in action, but Pebble claims that the trailer will automatically hitch itself to your vehicle and decouple once in camp, can be maneuvered into a campsite via a remote control (without a tow rig attached), and deploy the stairs, stabilizers, and levelers with the push of a button.

There are, of course, built into this thing, like dual motors at the wheels that make towing easier and extend the range of the tow vehicle, regenerative braking, and a high-efficiency heat pump. While we鈥檙e still in the early days of high-tech, electric trailers, I’m excited to see these concept rigs like the Pebble Flow start shipping production units to customers this year.

(not yet available)

Ok, so technically you can鈥檛 buy this rig yet, but it鈥檚 too cool not to be included on this list. At first glance, I assumed this was just a run-of-the-mill Jeep Wrangler with a rooftop tent, but it鈥檚 not. Jeep Performance Parts calls this their 鈥淎RTT鈥� concept. It is a collaboration with Dometic, and is actually an integrated rooftop tent and 270-degree awning housed in an aerodynamic, carbon fiber shell that attaches directly to the roof of the Wrangler without the need for a rack. That saves a ton of weight, and it allows you to access the tent from the inside of the vehicle via the Jeep鈥檚 removable 鈥渇reedom panels.鈥� It鈥檚 pretty cool, and basically turns a Wrangler into a little mini camper without adding tons of weight and ruining the way it drives.

(from $138,000)

This one turned a lot of heads at the show, and it was our first time seeing a Bowlus in person. The Bowlus Rivet is a 25-foot, luxury travel trailer that weighs just 2,800 pounds dry. The company has a pretty interesting history鈥擧awley Bowlus made the first riveted aluminum travel trailer in 1934, which looked a lot like what you see here, but his company went out of business after Walley Byum created a very similar riveted aluminum trailer鈥攖he Airstream.

These days, Bowlus is widely known for building one of the highest quality trailers on the market, and it really shows when you get inside. The base model comes with 4k Wh of battery power (and can be optioned with up to 8k Wh), and 660 watts of solar, so you can literally camp off grid indefinitely without running out of juice. The trailer also features a hydronic heating system with five silent radiators to evenly distribute heat throughout the trailer. We also particularly liked the placement of the door, which allows you to easily load bikes, kayaks and other long, bulky gear into the trailer.

More Gear Reviews

14 Camp Kitchen Essentials
The Best Sleeping Bags for Car Campers
The Best Camp Chairs for Fireside Lounging

The post The 6 Coolest Campers and Trailers at Overland Expo West appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

In 2014, Scott Brady, the founder of Overland Journal,聽became the first person to cross all seven continents by four-wheel drive鈥�a frequently off-grid endeavor that had him tackling some of the most extreme terrain on earth. In 2018, Brady went on to complete the first 4WD crossing of the Greenland ice sheet, south to north. While these kinds of聽 objectives might seem out of reach for the average car camper, Brady begs to differ: He says it鈥檚 way simpler than you think.

Brady has distilled everything he鈥檚 learned about vehicle-based adventure travel into his first book: . It鈥檚 a collection of practical guidance around skills and equipment, mixed with tales of the real-life experiences that taught him all those lessons.

鈥淩ead this and go,鈥� says Brady, who also publishes the magazine and podcast, and聽. The book provides the practical knowledge you鈥檒l need along the way, along with plenty of inspiration聽for trips of your own.

While 256 pages of tips are great, I wanted to see if Brady could simplify his advice. So, I called and asked him for his best tips for new travelers. Here are the five he gave me.

Go As Soon As Possible

鈥淚 think people are afraid to fail or afraid to have mishaps,鈥� says Brady. 鈥淏ut I think that鈥檚 what the definition of adventure is: It鈥檚 when something has gone wrong.鈥�

Brady鈥檚 first piece of advice is that, if you want to start having adventures, the best way is to just pick up and go. If you wait until you鈥檙e able to buy a certain vehicle, or equip it with just the right gear, or think you need to learn some specific skill before taking off, you鈥檙e going to spend time waiting rather than traveling.

鈥淵ou don鈥檛 need to have the entire REI catalog,鈥� he explains. 鈥淕o lighter, go less expensive, and go now. You鈥檙e often better off without all the crap anyways.鈥�

In Overlanding 101, Brady tells the story of the very first overlanding trip he took when he got out o the Air Force in 2002. To tackle Arizona鈥檚 Camino del Diablo鈥攁 140-mile off-road route along the Mexican border鈥攈e geared up with both a roof rack and trailer to carry all the equipment he thought he needed. But it turned out that bringing a portable shower, gallons of extra gas, and enough water to survive out there pretty much indefinitely actually did more to frustrate him than to ease the journey.

鈥淚n all the buying and grasping, I missed the point of going in the first place,鈥� he says.

Get Buy-In From Your Travel Partners

鈥淲hat I think people get wrong often, which usually results in the experience going poorly, is that they don鈥檛 talk to their travel companions,鈥� Brady says. 鈥淪ome dude will get it in his mind to drive the TransAmerica Trail, and drag his wife and kids along without ever having a conversation with them about what they want to experience along the way.鈥�

鈥淟ike maybe his daughter鈥檚 super into geology, and she really wants to understand the rocks and the history, or his son really wants to learn how to drive, and if you don鈥檛 have those conversations, then you don鈥檛 have their buy-in,鈥� he continues. 鈥淧eople usually fail pretty quickly as a family when that happens.鈥�

Throughout the book, Brady reiterates that it鈥檚 the people鈥攂oth the ones in the car with you and the ones you meet along the way鈥攖hat are the point. Plan trips around them, not around some artificial goal or empty accomplishment.

Focus on the Trip, Not the Gear聽

Overlanders tend to be overpackers. But in reality, only a few pieces of gear really matter. 鈥淵ou need some form of identification, some form of communication, and some form of commerce,鈥� Brady says. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 truly need anything else.鈥�

Not only do people spend way too much time getting wrapped up in equipment, Brady says, but that investment can ultimately get in the way of the experience as stuff starts to break, get lost, or get stolen. But if you have a passport, a credit card, and a cell phone, you have the tools you need to solve pretty much any problem, no matter where you are in the world.

鈥淚 see people get really bummed out when they lose stuff. They let it ruin their trip. But in the grand scheme of things, if your laptop gets stolen, it鈥檚 OK. Learn to let those things go and focus on the journey.鈥�

Slow Down

鈥淎nd after you鈥檝e done that, slow down some more,鈥� says Brady. That鈥檚 both a philosophy, and practical guidance. Slowing down will make tackling obstacles both easier and safer, while giving you time to enjoy the experience.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 one thing I struggle with,鈥� Brady continues. 鈥淚鈥檓 always in full attack mode. I鈥檝e always wanted to accomplish goal after goal after goal, and a lot of times, I don鈥檛 remember what I did afterwards.鈥�

鈥淪o if I was to give someone advice, it would be to plan a little less,鈥� he says. 鈥淧lan fewer miles, spend more time in that little village. Take an hour to sit in that cafe and just watch people go by.鈥�

Find a Way To Give Back

鈥淭hese experiences give us so much,鈥� Brady says. 鈥淚鈥檝e changed significantly by seeing the rest of the world. Strangers are聽no longer 鈥榦ther鈥� anymore鈥攖hey’re someone I had lunch with, or someone that helped me on my journey. Once you start to spend time with people in other places, you start to be a lot more understanding of the fact that they are different, but in the best ways possible.鈥�

In that spirit, it’s important to respect the communities and ecosystems you travel across, Brady says. 鈥淭read lightly, leave no trace, find ways to minimize your impact,鈥� he suggests. 鈥淚nstead of leaving that campsite super early in the morning, take five minutes to police it for trash.鈥�

If you can, do more than just erase signs of your passing鈥攍eave the place better than you found it.聽Brady says adding value to the people and communities you visit can be as simple as buying someone a beer, then taking the time to enjoy it with them. Or, it can be more involved. On one of his first forays into Baja, Mexico, Brady met some people who run an orphanage in Muleg茅, a small town on the Sea of Cortez. The next time he drove through, he made time to stop by the Costco in Los Cabos, and bring them weeks鈥� worth of shelf-stable breakfasts for the kids. Now he has positive memories of a positive contribution, not just a fun trip.

鈥溾�� is available this week in paperback, audio, and Kindle formats.

The post With These 5 Tips, You Can Overland The Entire Planet appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Overlanders are arguably the most intense gearheads in the outdoor community. They鈥檙e willing to spend months (if not years) and thousands (if not tens of thousands) of dollars dialing in their perfect setup. As such, the overland product market is usually a rich place to find new and innovative gear. Some of it is way too specific and not much use to the general public, but a handful of items have a much broader appeal, and that鈥檚 what we鈥檝e rounded up below. Over three days, we scoured dozens of booths at Overland Expo West to find the gear that will help recreational campers enjoy summer camping trips that much more.

Watch: Our Favorite Rig at Overland Expo West

($269)

Air conditioning and adventure rigs have never really gone hand in hand. Usually, the AC units you see sitting atop travel trailers and RVs require a lot of electricity to run, meaning your rig needs to be plugged into a standard, household 120v outlet (or 鈥渟hore power鈥�). Twelve-volt AC units, like the or portable , are capable of running off your rig鈥檚 house battery, but they鈥檙e very expensive and run times are usually limited to a few hours without a massive battery bank. The Transcool E3, on the other hand, can run for up to 157 hours on a 100ah battery. It鈥檚 an Australian-made, portable evaporative cooler that holds a half gallon of water and only weighs 4.2 pounds. While it won鈥檛 cool down an entire rig or room the way a true air conditioner will, it could be the perfect solution for anyone looking to add a little cool air to their rig鈥攅specially since it costs just a fraction of a 12V AC unit.

($3,299)

, which until recently was called , makes these nifty little camper boxes that are meant to be mounted in a truck bed or on a flatbed trailer. At 180 to 190 pounds depending on the size you choose, they’re lightweight and designed to be easily removed from your truck or trailer when not in use. They鈥檙e also very well insulated鈥攖he two-inch, rigid foam walls have an R12-15 rating, which is incredibly high for a camper and means it won鈥檛 take much to heat or cool this thing. You can pick from either a truck mounting or during purchase, or you can simply strap the box down via ratchet straps.

($175)

Camping lanterns have been around forever, but Devos is changing the market with their LightRanger series of lights. The LightRanger 1200 is a USB-C rechargeable LED lantern that puts out 1200 lumens and comes with an adjustable light stand capable of telescoping the lantern up to 9 feet in the air. Raising the lantern that far overhead means it’s capable of lighting up a 60-foot area, and it鈥檒l keep the bugs up above you rather than buzzing around your camp table. It can run for up to 80 hours on its lowest setting (60 lumens), and nearly four hours on max.

(From $30)

We love it when someone finds a problem with an existing product and decides to make it better. Case in point, the Rollercam L Track Kit. The founder of Rollercam got sick of using traditional cam straps on river trips, which become difficult to tighten when friction builds between the cam and webbing. He designed a strap with a brass roller (hence the name Rollercam) integrated into it, which alleviates the friction problem problem and makes it easier to tighten the straps securely. Rollercam鈥檚 latest innovation is the L Track kit, which lets you pair different-length straps that come with L-Track fittings attached to the ends. As a result, you easily secure all sorts of gear to L-track systems commonly used in van builds, trailers, truck beds, and more.

While Koni has a long history in the automotive world, the brand is still somewhat unknown in the overland space. This was Koni鈥檚 first year at Overland Expo West, and they were showing off their current line of shocks along with the new , which is the company鈥檚 first overland-specific shock. The Explorer is a 2-inch aluminum, monotube design that features the brand鈥檚 ACTIVE FSD, or Frequency Selective Damping, technology. Basically, it uses mechanical components to automatically switch between low and high damping forces depending on whether you鈥檙e driving on the highway or off pavement. In other words, these shocks will likely be perfect for the vast majority of overlanders out there.

($549)

It can be a little spooky to drive your overland rig out into the middle of nowhere, set up camp, and just hope that nothing goes wrong. Some people bring firearms for protection, but if that makes you uncomfortable, the Byrna is a great alternative. The device, which looks exactly like a traditional gun, fires less-lethal projectiles that are powered by a CO2 canister. Those projectiles, which are round and not designed to penetrate, come out at 400 feet per-second and will deter most humans and many animals within a 60-foot range. If you want added protection, you can also load the Byrna with rounds that are full of a chemical irritant that sprays out when the projectile makes impact. The CL is not classified as a firearm so you don鈥檛 need a permit or background check, but you do have to be 18 years old to buy one.

($122)

When we first walked up to the Kama booth, we were confused by the product on display but drawn in by the beautiful colors and designs. Owner and founder Rachel Dobronyi explained that what we were looking at were high-quality mats made from a 1000-denier nylon shell and lined with marine-grade foam. These mats spreadsout quickly but also pack up into a tight and easy-to-transport bundle. When we asked about their intended use, she gave us a laundry list. She said people use them as changing mats during ski, surf, and bike days, put them outside their vans as a place to hold their shoes, and even drape them over the back of their truck tailgate so they can transport mountain bikes without scratching any paint. We photographed the medium-sized offering but there鈥檚 also a larger mat that would be great for gatherings in the park, and a smaller version that people can use as a place to sit when backpacking or hunting.

($100)

When you head out camping, there鈥檚 always a question about how to transport and store the little stuff. We鈥檙e talking headlamps, walkie talkies, extra cords, flashlights, etc. The best place, based on lots of experience, is in a headrest bag like this one from Onwrd. With two big storage pockets, it will hold a family鈥檚 worth of headlamps, help you keep your cords organized and tangle-free, and also comes with a padded sunglasses pocket so you have a safe space to store your sunnies overnight. There are other companies out there that make headrest bags, but we think Onwrd’s design is the best because it slips over any headrest on the market via elastic bands and then can be tightened down with straps so it doesn鈥檛 rattle around on rough roads.

($699)

We鈥檝e been going to Overland Expos for a decade now and noticed that there鈥檚 a new trend in the market. Some people still want big campers and plush rooftop tents, but lots of other folks want to keep their camping setup as simple as possible. Enter sleeping platforms like the Hideaway, which slides into the back of your SUV or truck and creates a comfortable but ultra-simple way to sleep in your car when you鈥檙e adventuring off the grid. Similar to an extra-large cot designed for vehicles, the Hideaway come in three sizes (single, double, and XL) and is made in the U.S. from durable materials, including 500-denier cordura fabric for the cover and anodized aluminum for the legs. The legs are also adjustable so you get storage underneath, and when not in use, the Hideaway packs away and roll up into a similarly-sized package as a ground tent.

($400)

The Bugout is a wildly popular model from Benchmade because it鈥檚 the perfect size for everyday carry. At just 4.22 inches when folded up, it fits nicely in your pocket and never interferes when you need to grab your phone or keys. But at a respectable 7.46 inches when open, it鈥檚 enough knife for any everyday task鈥攃utting salami at the campsite, gutting a fish, opening a box, etc. This version of the Bugout recently launched and ups the ante by using a higher quality blade (CPM-S90V stainless steel) and by including the red richlite material on the handle that鈥檚 designed to come away with its own unique patina over time. The Bugout is not the knife you want for a hunting trip, or a survival outing, but you鈥檇 be hard pressed to find a nicer knife for everyday use.

($1,719)

Well-known as the premier bike rack company on the market, 1Up just expanded its offerings with a rack specifically designed for motorcycles. The Moto Rack borrows a similar design from the company鈥檚 original bike racks with two arms that clamp down on the wheels but don鈥檛 rub any of the frame compartments. It also comes with included wheel chocks that fit in the trays and sit snugly against the tires to cut down on wobble. If you want even more security, the rack has a mechanism to hold and tighten down ratchet straps that go over the arms (or any part of the bike) to create one more layer of assurance. Rated to carry motos up to 500 pounds with tires up to seven inches wide, the Moto Rack is not designed for big road motorcycles but instead for dirt and enduro bikes or other smaller, two-wheel motorized devices. An included ramp that pulls out of the tray makes loading and unloading a cinch.

More Gear Reviews

The Best Trailers, Campers, and Van Conversions of 2025
The Best Tents for Car Camping
15 Camping Accessories That Aren’t Essential But Are Really Nice to Have

The post The Most Exciting New Gear at Overland Expo West 2025 appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Overland Expo West is always full of amazing adventure rigs, and this year the buzz was around electric vehicles. This was the first time we saw not just one, but two fully-electric trailers. It was exciting to see brands take the technology that鈥檚 been proven in electric cars and find clever ways to bring it into overlanding, and the R&D that went into these products will likely trickle down throughout the overland market.

Lightship AE.1 Cosmos Edition ()

Our favorite build of the show was the Lightship AE.1 Cosmos Edition. The Cosmos is the premier offering from Lightship, featuring its own electric batteries that power the trailer wheels. That means that when you鈥檙e towing the Cosmos behind your electric SUV, you鈥檒l have zero (or very little) range loss and not have to worry that the trailer weight is going to bog you down and leave you stranded. The trailer also has 1,800 watts of rooftop solar panels that help its batteries stay topped off. Inside, it鈥檚 one of the roomiest camping trailers we鈥檝e ever toured, with a huge space for hosting meals, an ample bedroom, a slick kitchen, and a well-featured bathroom.

The post Watch: Our Favorite Rig From Overland Expo West 2025 appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Don鈥檛 let sweltering summer temps stop your next car-camping trip or overlanding odyssey. A portable air-conditioning unit can open up a new season on the road. Or, for a family who lives the adventure life full-time, traveling with the finest new wireless AC unit can be a 鈥渢otal game changer.鈥� So says outdoor filmmaker , currently based on Oahu鈥檚 Ka鈥榚na Point with co-director husband Artem and their toddler Molly. The family trio camps out of an FJ Cruiser rigged with powerful essentials鈥攊ncluding the brand鈥檚 mightiest portable air conditioner yet, .

As longtime users of EcoFlow gear, York is grateful for the upgraded WAVE, especially when it comes to cooling in tough conditions. 鈥淭he difference in real-world performance is huge,鈥� says York, who tested WAVE 3 in the heat and humidity of the wild west side of Oahu. 鈥淚t now cools small rooms鈥攏ot just tents.鈥� She also added that the unit is noticeably quieter and more stable, 鈥渁nd its new one-button drainage system is a major quality-of-life improvement.鈥�

The family began kitting out their camp-mobile with EcoFlow gear starting with a pair of portable power stations (the and ) plus to stay connected and charged while off-grid. When other work and family necessities called鈥攅.g. comfort, cold food storage, on-demand ice, plus climate control for work equipment鈥攎ore EcoFlow solutions swiftly filled the gap. They integrated EcoFlow鈥檚 WAVE 3 portable AC and portable refrigerator into their expanded setup, providing what York calls 鈥渁 full-power ecosystem that allows us to work, travel, and live remotely with flexibility and comfort鈥攁nd without compromise.鈥�

Requiring no installation and about the size of a carry-on, WAVE 3 seamlessly combines power, efficiency, mobility, and wireless convenience. The upgraded unit boasts a whopping 6100-Btu cooling capacity with 6800 Btus of heating power for colder environments (like central Alaska, where the family will be soon heading). A host of other new customizable functions鈥攈igher air volume, remote monitoring, smart聽 humidity and temp control, leak-proof water drainage notification, and even an app-based 鈥淧et Care Smart Switch鈥濃�攃an also help turn demanding outdoor work environments into a (literal) breeze. And easier days for York mean more family fun wherever their car, and cameras, lead them.

鈥淥ne surprise we really appreciated was the built-in dehumidifier,鈥� adds York, noting the humidity in Hawaii. 鈥淚 used to run a separate unit before underwater shoots to prevent fogging inside the dive housing鈥攁nd to dry gear before sealing it in vacuum storage. WAVE 3 now handles both jobs easily.鈥�

She also calls out the new display and controls as much more intuitive, with features like Energy Flow monitoring and charge/discharge limits, 鈥渢hat provide a real sense of control鈥攅specially off-grid.鈥� And when it comes to distance from the power grid, the WAVE 3鈥檚 optional 1024Wh LFP battery pack provides up to 8 hours of uninterrupted AC, and can be fully recharged in as fast as 75 minutes.

Speaking of recharging, the WAVE 3鈥檚 solar charging port now connects directly to the battery鈥攎eaning you can use the sun to charge it while using the AC unit elsewhere, plugged into a wall. 鈥淚t鈥檚 super-convenient,鈥� York says, 鈥渁nd the extra USB-A port is a nice touch too鈥攑erfect for Christmas lights or charging small accessories on the go.鈥�

The latest upgrades to the EcoFlow GLACIER Portable Refrigerator also proved to be a major win for the family. Beyond the industry鈥檚 fastest cooling speeds, they appreciated the unit鈥檚 鈥渨ay more road-trip friendly鈥� redesign鈥攊ncluding handier double-sided doors and space-saving sliding handles.

鈥淚t fits a 6-pack and pretty much all the essentials we usually take on trips鈥攁nd it packs perpendicularly into the back of our FJ,鈥� husband Artem raves of the compact fridge鈥檚 roomy 55L capacity. 鈥淭hat means, if we fold one seat down, we can actually use that space as a sleeping area or fit long gear, like C-stands or a surfboard.鈥�

If there鈥檚 a single epiphany gained from equipping their off-grid occupations with these latest innovations, it鈥檚 just how compatible outdoor living can be with life鈥檚 essentials鈥攁nd just how quickly every member of the family acclimates to it.

鈥淚t鈥檚 funny how normal all this has become for our daughter,鈥� says Artem. 鈥淪he鈥檚 growing up thinking this is just how life works鈥攑ower and comforts-of-home anywhere, anytime.鈥�

Same deal for mom and dad.

鈥淥nce we tried it, we quickly realized how much easier and more comfortable it made our life outdoors,鈥� says York. 鈥淓coFlow didn鈥檛 just change the way we work. It changed the way we live.鈥�

is a leading provider of eco-friendly energy solutions, committed to powering a new world. Since its founding in 2017, EcoFlow has aimed to be the FIRST in power solutions鈥擣lexible, Innovative, Reliable, Simple, and Thorough鈥攆or individuals and families, whether at home, outdoors or on the go. With a smart manufacturing center in China, and headquarters in the USA, Germany and Japan, EcoFlow has empowered over 5 million users in 140 markets worldwide.聽

The post The Unexpected Luxury That鈥檚 Changing How to Camp in the Heat appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.