Overland Journal Podcast host Scott Brady interviews Jeremy “Thor” Bergh of Alu-Cab about building his South African export-driven business and supporting over 600 employees. Bergh shares a deeply personal account of his health journey, beginning with a seizure diagnosis and a brain tumor (glioma) near critical brain regions. He details the immense challenges of managing…
Category Archives: Gear
Geotrek Flatiron Balances Compact Dimensions With Practical Off-Grid Capability
It is no secret that we are not a #vanlife kind of family. A while back, I wrote an article for my website that may have included an introduction comparing overlanding to Hendrix and #vanlife to Nickelback. It might also have mentioned that the good news for #vanlifers—after they had been berated for 500 words—was…
Trail Feast and Benchmade on the Alvord Playa
The Alvord Desert is one of our favorite locations in the entire USA, so when an invitation from knife maker Benchmade popped into our inbox, inviting us to a weekend of food, fun, and friends, we jumped at the opportunity. We loaded our gear into a Geotrek van and headed east from Bend, a little…
Fix Manufacturing Tools :: Field Tested
Long after my poor father gave up on trying to teach me anything mechanical, he did at least instill one important bit of wisdom: the whole “right tool for the job” thing is real. I spent $39 on a tool whose sole job is to hold my drivetrain in place so I can spin the…
Overland News of the Week, July 31, 2026
AEV FX370 Upgrades the Ford Super Duty American Expedition Vehicles has introduced the FX370, an upgrade package for Ford Super Duty pickups. Designed around 37-inch BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO3 tires, the conversion adds a 4-inch DualSport RT suspension with AEV-tuned Bilstein 5100 shocks and 18-inch Salta XD wheels. Stamped-steel front and high-clearance rear bumpers provide…
Addax Outdoors Introduces 2027 Basecamp Jeep-Licensed Camping Trailer
Trailers have recently become part of my travel lifestyle, and the more time I spend towing a conventional model, the more I find myself wanting something more robust, with greater ground clearance and capable off-road tires. The newly introduced 2027 Addax Basecamp may answer that need. Manufactured in Salt Lake City, Utah, this compact, configurable…
The Bug Wall :: Field Tested
The Bug Wall makes UV-resistant rear and side-door van screens for the Promaster, Mercedes Sprinter, and Ford Transit platforms (among others). I had considered screens like these made-in-the-USA liners for my Ram ProMaster van, but figured them unnecessary, what with the five windows with their own screens I’d installed and the vent fan pulling hot…
Airstream Expands World Traveler Lineup with More Affordable 17RB
Airstream has expanded its World Traveler lineup with the introduction of the new 17RB, a compact single-axle travel trailer designed to offer a more accessible entry point into the iconic American brand. With a starting price of $64,400, the 17RB becomes Airstream’s least expensive aluminum travel trailer while targeting solo travelers, couples, and first-time RV…
2027 Toyota Tundra Gains Updated Styling, New Technology, and More Accessible Trailhunter Package
Toyota remains the king of long-distance, self-supported vehicle travel in the US and is updating the Tundra for the 2027 model year with revised exterior styling, a new generation of infotainment technology, and an expanded collection of driver-assistance features. The full-size pickup will also gain a Trailhunter package that brings factory-installed overlanding equipment to the…
Road Tripping America in Barbara Toy’s 1950 Series 1 Land Rover
Overland Journal Podcast host Ashley Giordano welcomes Bill Cooper, Greg Fitzgerald, Amy Johnson, Tom Pickford, and Laura Stacey to discuss their trans-America road trip in Pollyanna, Barbara Toy’s iconic 1950 Series I Land Rover. In this episode, the group relives the journey, including the importance of Barbara Toy’s overland travels throughout the 1950s, the origins…
Overland News of the Week, July 17, 2026
The Latest Iteration of the Shoei Hornet ADV Helmet Has Arrived “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” applies to Shoei’s established Hornet ASV platform, which has remained essentially unchanged since its inception in over a decade. Shoei’s new Hornet ADV 06 helmet, however, takes tried, tested, true and updates the helmet to meet the…
Summertime Essentials to Help Beat the Heat
Last summer was a true test of man, machine, and miniature dog. We left our base in Mexico in the spring, pointed the Land Rover north, and spent six months exploring the US and Northern Mexico. It was an odyssey of sweat and perseverance, lived entirely from our trusty Land Rover, with no air-conditioning in…
We Tested the Best 12-volt Fridge/Freezers. Here’s What We Found.
East Africa is known for many things, and nearly all of them are the stuff of overlanding dreams. But a few could be classified as nightmares, principally the endless dance with roadblocks, police checkpoints, and military convoys. At times, that includes determined efforts to separate the traveler from their cash. As a result, I would…
Chuckles Garage’s 1953 Ford “Nuke Van” Transforms a Cold War Relic into a Modern Overland Camper
Many years ago, an octogenarian English friend of mine—who remains fitter than many people half his age, suggested buying an armored Land Rover for overland travel. At the time, I dismissed the idea. Armored vehicles are heavy, expensive to maintain, and hardly ideal for crossing continents where fuel economy and payload matter. However, after several…
Overland News of the Week, July 3, 2026
Tune Outdoors Introduces Custom Interior Systems Tune Outdoor has announced Tune Interior Systems, a new lineup of lightweight, modular, and customizable interior configurations. Constructed with advanced materials that balance strength, weight, and longevity. The systems are designed specifically for the Tune M1/M1L platforms and seamlessly integrate with the company’s existing design features. This creates a…
Optima OrangeTop QH6 Lithium Battery :: Field Tested
The best thing you can say about a starter battery is that you never have to say anything about it at all; it should simply work every time you turn the key. An even better one doubles as an auxiliary power source. At just 21 pounds, the OrangeTop QH6 LiFePO₄ dual-purpose power unit punches above its…
Overlanding West Virginia with Jason Specht
Overland Journal Podcast host Scott Brady talks with Jason Specht of Mountain State Overland at historic Camp Cheat about his origins in scouting and gear preparedness. They compare overlanding in the East versus the West, highlighting narrower trails and multi-sport integration. Specht shares route highlights like Canaan Loop and the TransAmerica Trail, emphasizing responsible travel…
2027 Slate EV Truck Arrives With a Confirmed $24,950 Starting Price
The automotive industry has spent much of the last decade moving steadily upmarket. New vehicles have become larger, more complex, and significantly more expensive, leaving many buyers priced out of the new-truck market. Against that backdrop, startup automaker Slate has officially revealed pricing for its upcoming electric pickup, confirming that the 2027 Slate EV Truck…
Forest Service Launches New Recreation Mobile App
The United States Forest Service has launched a brand new mobile app that the agency says provides the most complete and accurate collection of Forest Service recreation sites that has ever been made available to the public. The announcement came as a surprise to some given the recent wide-spread budget cuts and general reduction of…
Overland News of the Week, June 19, 2026
Free Spirit Recreation Updates RTT Line Up Free Spirit Recreation has introduced a fully updated 2026 rooftop tent lineup, featuring upgrades across the Nova, Kali, Aspen Lite, Aspen Pro, and Evo XL models. The revisions focus on durability, comfort, and improved usability based on customer feedback and field testing. All models now feature redesigned floors…