peacekeeping Land Cruiser and neighborhood warlord Hilux gun platforms), Australian outback builds (aluminum flatbeds glinting in the desert heat on the backs of diesel Fords and Toyotas), and a variety of prosaically built Central and South American trucks that simply had to go long distances through tough terrain. That truck building includes primarily blends African Land Rover-based travel (both the classic safari stuff but with a dash of U.N. It makes me so happy.īasically, overlanding as a term and/or concept is a fusion of long-term tourism and international long-distance truck building. I’ve spent hundreds of nights of my life sleeping in vehicles over the years and still wouldn’t consider myself an adventurer, but have every intention to continue vaporizing money to fix small problems largely of my own making. But to be clear: overlanding as an enthusiast car hobby is about as perilous to one’s judgment as stance culture. The general camping scene asks-again, rightly-if it might be cheaper, easier, and just about as good to throw a ground tent in the backseat and spend most of your money on gas and time off from work. And that if the vehicle you’re planning on sleeping in at night is stuck, what then? Lots of people don’t get “overlanding.” The hardcore rock-crawling types rightly point out that a typical overlanding vehicle isn’t as capable on nasty terrain as a purpose-built rig. Be sure to visit for all the details in 2020/21.Without trying to get into a whole history of overlanding, let me try to draw a few circles around camping, travel, and automotive hobbies to add some context before talking about a few things that caught my eye while testing out my Porsche 911 camper at the latest Overland Expo event earlier this month in Virginia. Overland Expo should be on the top of any overlander’s list of events to attend. The seminars included overlanding through South America, basic recovery procedures, along with various open discussion topics.Īs both events have become so popular among the overland community, event organizers added a third event for 2020 – Overland Expo Mountain West – in Loveland, Colorado, approximately 100 km (54 mi) directly north of Denver. Some of the lectures we attended were really well presented and provided diverse, valuable information for both beginner and intermediate overlanders. We took in various insightful training sessions presented by overland and 4x4 experts. We purchased the VIP package, which allowed us to camp on the premises, meet other overlanders, and walk to the venue (and the beer tent). This was our second time attending the event after experiencing the Overland Expo West in Flagstaff, Arizona, and once again, we weren’t disappointed.Įven though the Overland Expo East is smaller in attendance and exhibitors, I found it just large enough to easily roam and visit comfortably with vendors, discussing my current projects and checking out the latest gear. In total, there were more than 12,500 attendees from around the world with 188 registered exhibitors, 200 seminars, plus several demos and activities, which totaled 440-plus session-hours by 125 presenters and instructors. By changing of the venue, organizers estimated that more than 40 percent of the attendance was going to be new people. VIP Ultimate Experience tickets provide full access to the event, the many seminars, and the chance to drive your own rig under the supervision of a professional guide on a challenging off-road track.įor 2019, event organizers moved the Overland Expo East approximately 480 km (300 mi) north from its original location in Asheville, North Carolina to Arrington, Virginia. Held at Infinity Downs last October, Overland Expo East is one of the world’s most unique events for outdoor adventure enthusiasts where industry experts hosted insightful seminars, inspirational programs, roundtable discussions along with a large expo featuring hundreds of vendors of adventure travel equipment, camping gear, vehicles and services you need to further enhance outdoor experiences. Instagram: completing a series of exciting overland trips in 2019, we rounded out our season by attending the annual Overland Expo East, one of the premiere overland and outdoor adventure events that brought together industry representatives, vendors, off-road enthusiasts and adventure travellers for three days in Arrington, Virginia. Hundreds of vendors lined the outdoor grounds.
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