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Our exploration community came together last week for four days of exploring, training, and best of all, camaraderie in southern Arizona’s beautiful Aravaipa Canyon. Forty explorers joined us and our sponsors—Graham Jackson’s Overland Passage, Goose Gear, Exploro, Swarovski Optik, and Sonoran Rovers—arriving as strangers and departing as friends. With smaller numbers we were able to host overland training workshops with experts Graham Jackson, Jim West, and Jonathan Hanson in winching, non-winch

The last couple of weeks have seen the release of some awesome overland and adventure-adjacent gear. Namely, some updates and new versions of some of our favorite gear have hit the market, and we’re excited to check them out in person at Overland Expo Mountain West. If you walk through the Overland Expo campground, you’ll notice a trend amongst ground tents. A high percentage of them are of a particular hue of orange or green, and that’s because the Gazelle T4 tent series is incredibly popul

If you’re overlanding and adventuring with a canine companion, you don’t want to miss the latest addition to Overland Expo West. Dogs and Donuts happening at Overland Expo West, May 17th, 10 am -12 pm. It’s a great chance to ensure that you’re better prepared to address dog emergencies. This session is led by Dr. Stacey Thomas, a frequent exhibitor and instructor at Overland Expo events, and we couldn’t be more excited to have her back at Overland Expo West this year. Dogs and Donuts at

Fifteen years later we still get these emails. “The Overland Expo is great, but we miss the first ones!” “The Expo is still fun, but the camaraderie isn’t there any more.” “Lots more stuff to look at and buy, but less community spirit.” Of course Roseann and I were thrilled—and more than a bit stunned—at the success of the event she started in 2009. In fact it eventually became just too big for her to manage, and its very success hindered our own travels, which was not the plan . . . Now we are

onX recently announced the addition of a new layer to its suite of onX Offroad products: onX Dispersed Camping. The layer pinpoints close to 140,000 miles of roads and trails in the US National Forest System where dispersed camping is legal. For those not familiar with the term, dispersed camping, also known as free camping, refers to camping outside of designated campgrounds on public lands. It’s typically off-grid, meaning there are no facilities; these campsite require campers and overlanders

It should come as no surprise to anyone who has attended an Overland Expo that the overlanding community is a tight-knit group with friendships that span years, miles, and social media. Recently, at Overland Expo SoCal, we caught up with Nolen Yapp. Nolen has been a part of our team; he’s currently working with the passionate Land Rover experts at Classic Overland, and before all of that, he was no stranger to overland trips far and wide. Read on to learn more about his story. OE: Thanks

Ever since we bought our 2014 Tundra, it has exhibited a slight pull to the right, despite the fact that the used-car dealer from whom we bought it claimed to have performed an alignment. Taking it in to a professional alignment shop was one of those tasks that are just so easy to put off—like for three years? A few months ago I installed a complete parabolic suspension on our FJ40. After such a swap it’s smart to have an alignment done. Especially important is checking for caster, which will c

For several generations of the legendary SUV, the Toyota Land Cruiser has become a bit of a luxury vehicle. Even 25 years ago, US-based LCs included features that didn’t trickle down to more utility-focused vehicles for decades. However, in most of the world, that hasn’t been the case, and based on a recent release from Toyota, this trend is continuing with the new 250. As usual, this barebones 4×4 won’t be making its way to the United States. The apt

It should come as no surprise to anyone who has attended an Overland Expo that the overlanding community is a tight-knit group with friendships that span years, miles, and social media. Recently, at Overland Expo SoCal, we caught up with Nolen Yapp. Nolen has been a part of our team; he’s currently working with the passionate Land Rover experts at Classic Overland, and before all of that, he was no stranger to overland trips far and wide. Read on to learn more about his story. OE: Thanks

We were early and enthusiastic adopters of the portable 12V fridge concept—first with the classic and dependable Engel, later a series of ARB models, and a superb National Luna model that rides permanently in our 70-series Troop Carrier. I wouldn’t want to travel without one, and I’d certainly never go back to the giant Coleman ice chests and the inevitable three-day slurry in the bottom as 20 pounds of ice melts its way into everything not hermetically sealed. Day trips and picnics are a differ

It’s no secret that the Toyota 4Runner and Tacoma are two of the most popular models in overlanding — and driving at large. Toyota recently introduced a new frontier for its two icons, focused specifically on overlanding; the new 2025 Trailhunter grade, designed to bring overlanding innovation and upgrades to the forefront. Here’s a full breakdown of Trailhunter, from new technologies and upgrades to increased value for the customer. Buckle up. What makes the 2025 Trailhunter grade diffe

So…it turns out I have a bit of a problem with collecting travel and adventure-oriented bags. By last count, I had 37 of them, comprising duffels, totes, roller bags, suit carriers, laptop slings, laptop backpacks, camera bags, hiking bags, backpacking bags, and travel backpacks. They take up a ton of space, I’ve spent a king’s ransom on them over the years, and it is quite inconvenient to juggle gear between bags when I need to go somewhere. As an antidote, I did what any rational person would

First Exploration Quarterly Field Camp – Arizona, USA – April 5–8, 2025 at the beautiful and private Aravaipa Canyon Ranch. Registration is open. Space will be limited.

Garmin is one of the most trusted names in overlanding and navigation. Earlier this month, it added two new navigators to its lineup: the Tread® 2 — Overland Edition and Tread 2 — SxS Edition. Read on to learn all about Garmin’s newest release. Garmin’s newest navigators offer a bevvy of useful upgrades, including brighter displays, larger touchscreens, faster performance and additional mapping options to make off-roading even more fun — and reliable. For overlanders, these upgra

In a couple of short months, Overland Expo PNW returns to beautiful Redmond, Oregon. The Pacific Northwest is home to countless miles of awesome overland routes that provide excellent opportunities for exploration and camping, no matter what kind of vehicle you choose for your overland journey. At Overland Expo PNW, you can check out the latest and greatest gear from 300+ vendors, learn from world-class instructors, and, of course, check out the cool rigs all across the event all weekend long. I

When winter comes around, you’ll need to store your off-roader for the season. Freezing conditions bring snow, sleet, ice and other unwanted conditions. You’ll need to care for your machine correctly to ensure it’s ready for the warmer spring days. With that in mind, here are six tips on storing your rig safely in the off-season. 1. Find Storage The first step is to find a place to store your off-roader. The best option for any vehicle is to lock it up in storage. Preferably, you’ll find one

This week we’ve found some great deals on rooftop tents, a portable shower, traction pads, and more! Spring into action and grab these deals to celebrate the warming weather and longer days. While sales are not forever, this post is — so check back weekly for the latest and greatest in overlanding gear sales and savings. See you out there. Overlanding Deals of the Week Sea to Summit 4th of July Sale Sea to Summit is running its massive July 4th Sale, taking place from June 27

The Off-Road Business Association is an advocacy organization that represents motorized off-road businesses. ORBA’s member businesses represent the full spectrum of entities that support the overlanding, powersports, racing, four-wheel drive, and motorcycle disciplines of off-roading, including OEM and aftermarket manufacturers, retail and e-commerce businesses, installer shops, local and national clubs, professional and grassroots racing organizations, trade shows, and industry professional org

Don’t let 2023 be the year you skip out on having the truck of your dreams! Owning a truck is so much more than just using it for work or to tow things; it’s also about gearing it with mods and accessories that match your style and preferences. The good thing about trucks is that they are specifically designed for versatility, which means being able to equip it with various mods to enhance power, safety, looks, comfort and so much more! So whether you’re all about hitting the show circuits or m

Could This Be The Ultimate Daily Driver Option? It’s no secret that there are many roof rack options for the 5G 4Runner. They’re easy to install, add substantial utility, and... The post upTOP Overland Kilo Roof Rack for 5th Gen 4Runner – Install & Review appeared first on Trail4R.com - 5th Gen 4Runner Mods. View the full article

The latest rooftop tent from Thule, dubbed the Widesky, provides more than just a good night’s rest. Beyond the great living space, it’s relatively lightweight and a great match for almost any overland rig. While it isn’t the first tent we’ve seen with a sofa, it does put a spin on this awesome addition to your backcountry abode. Photo by Thule Photo by Thule Photo by Thule Photo by Thule The Widesky is a pop-up style rooftop tent featuring two struts, a slope r

Off-road trips aren’t like your average family vacation. They take you into the wild, where adventure and danger hide around every corner. The excitement is even greater when you go across the country and tackle unfamiliar trails in foreign environments. Follow these five essential tips to make your long-distance off-road trip a success. 1. Prep Your Vehicle You can start by getting your off-road vehicle ready for a long journey. This isn’t a regular day trip, so you must make some extra prepa

The Next Gen Hybrid Roof Rack System That Can Do It All KC HiLiTES, a legendary brand known for their high-output, high-quality off-road lighting, cooked up something brand new this... The post KC HiLiTES Platform One (PL1) Roof Rack System – First Impressions appeared first on Trail4R.com - 5th Gen 4Runner Mods. View the full article

Graeme and Luisa Bell are long-term overland travelers, authors, and field-tested storytellers who have spent more than a decade living and traveling full-time on the road with their children, Keelan and Jessica, and their dogs, Chewy (a South African Yorkie rescue) and Daisy (a Mexican street dog rescue). The Bell family have circumnavigated South America, traveled from Argentina to Alaska, crossed the United States multiple times, and driven from Europe to their native South Africa via the wes

Whether you’re gearing up for an overloading weekend trip or simply hitting the pavement for your daily commute, our GRID Off-Road GD15 wheels will make sure you do it in style. As a popular off-road rim style for many, the GD15 features custom backspacing/offset and a vehicle-specific bolt pattern and center bore. This means the wheel is blank and specifically manufactured for the vehicle it will adorn. Available in 17×9 and 20×9 sizes, you can opt for three different finishes: Gloss Black w/ M

Made For Off-Road, The New Wolfbox System With 3 Cameras Dash cameras have come a long way in recent years. I had one in my first 4Runner back in 2017... The post Wolfbox G900 TriPro Rearview Mirror & Dashcam On 5th Gen 4Runner – Install & Review appeared first on Trail4R.com - 5th Gen 4Runner Mods. View the full article

Dometic is taking a different approach to experiential marketing this spring, launching a Los Angeles-based campaign that gives consumers direct access to the outdoors with no planning required. Starting today, April 14, the outdoor tech company will offer a limited number of fully equipped off-road vehicles for free 36-hour getaways, positioning the initiative as a frictionless way for city dwellers to step away from daily routines and into nature. The program centers around a small

Off-road vehicles are among the most fun to modify. You can make numerous changes to ride in style on any terrain. One of the most practical mods you can install is a gun rack. Hunters, survivalists and anybody who loves the outdoors could use one, and they can come in handy when you need them most. Here’s what you need to know about gun racks and how to attach one to your off-roader. 1.     Check Your State Laws Check your state or country’s laws about mounting gun racks onto your off-road v

A Deep Dive Into Morimoto’s Latest & Greatest Housing Upgrade Upgrading the headlights is one of the most transformative modifications you can make to a 5th Gen Toyota 4Runner. Not... The post Morimoto XB Evo LED Headlights For 5th Gen 4Runner – Install & Review appeared first on Trail4R.com - 5th Gen 4Runner Mods. View the full article

Dometic is taking a different approach to experiential marketing this spring, launching a Los Angeles-based campaign that gives consumers direct access to the outdoors with no planning required. Starting today, April 14, the outdoor tech company will offer a limited number of fully equipped off-road vehicles for free 36-hour getaways, positioning the initiative as a frictionless way for city dwellers to step away from daily routines and into nature. The program centers around a small