Ever since living in the Patagonia region of Argentina for a year as a high school exchange student, I’ve wanted to return. The host families I lived with were absolutely wonderful, as well as many of the great friends I made. Initially I kept in touch with everyone quite regularly, and hoped to one day purchase a plane ticket and take a vacation to get back down there. With the high cost of airfare to South America, I wanted to justify spending that much money by visiting for at least a month or two. When I was a college student, I had plenty of free time, but not the funds. And at various jobs after college, I was able to save up the funds, but never had enough time (with usually just 2 weeks of vacation time each year). So in order to do the type of traveling I wanted, drastic measures would have to be taken. And living a conventional American life, working desk jobs for large corporations, those drastic measures were too far outside of the box for me – and a bit beyond my comfort level.

Jack of all Trades

Bruce Elfstrom of Overland Experts

offers a detailed tutorial on the use of

this most essential tool.

There are towns in the world that shine as frontiers for overland travel: Moab, Ulaanbaatar, Maun, Arusha, Perth. There are other examples, but they all have something in common: superb 4WD vehicles outfitted for true function. Walk down the streets and you see the the different makes—Toyota, Land Rover, UAZ, Jeep, Mercedes, many you didn,t know existed—and the local nuances of preparation: tire choice, roof racks or no, bull bars or no. Winches? Sand mats? All this you compare to your vision of the ideal overland vehicle.

At least, when I hit a town like this, it,s what I do. And the one thing in my mind that always, always elevates one vehicle above another is a Hi-Lift jack. Where is it mounted? Is it well-used and well-oiled and clean? When I need to outsource in-country vehicles for an expedition, film production, or to set up a local operator for one of my company’s trips, I look very closely at the kit they have, and if there is no Hi-Lift, they are put on the shaky end of the list.

Here's a challenge.

Can you name this engine? and what it is mounted to?

The Holiday shopping season is officially upon us. In a season that is sure to be filled with iPads, Kindles, and Justin Bieber. Here's what the Overland Journal Staff is asking for this holiday season.

Chazz Layne

Black Maxtrax may be as rare as Unobtanium, but Chazz wants a set for Christmas!

Website Link

Should an Smartphone be considered an essential Overland travel tool?

It’s midnight, you’re driving the Pan-American highway through a remote area of Panama. Your transmission just lost all but 2 gears, 4th, and reverse, you speak minimal spanish. 10 years ago, you would be in serious trouble. You could be stranded in an area that you more than likely, would not want to be stranded in, with little to no assistance.

But we live in a different age now - Data Roaming charges aside - just grab your iPhone and you have a plethora of applications at your disposal to use, as well as an excellent mapping application, and an internet browser. You’re one google search away from “Land Rover Repair” or at least a translation application to provide some much needed assistance.

via West County Explorers Club: This rare 1975 Volvo Tgb 111 started life in the Swedish military but was later converted into an extraodinarily capable off-road camper with the addition of a Maggiolina rooftop tent, custom cabinets, and a heat exchanger for hot water. Only about 8000 of these trucks were produced worldwide, and none of them were ever imported to the U.S. or produced as campers, as far as I know, making this quite an uncommon find.

This ultimate overlander is being offered for $40,000 in Santa Cruz, CA. The seller estimates that it’s covered about 80,000 miles. Click here to email him directly.