Innehållsförteckning för Spring 2019 från Overland Journal

There are very few items that could claim to have been carried by both ancient Egyptians and astronauts, but the knife is one of them. Their versatility and effectiveness have made them indispensable for thousands of years, but now they face a new threat: overcrowded pockets. Cell phones, car keys, wallets, and mints fill up every spare inch of free space in our trousers,forcing us to leave our edged tools at home. Fortunately, Curtiss Custom Knives has a solution, and it’s called the Original Dog Tag (ODT) Flipper. The ODT Flipper is a 3- by 1-inch pocket tool with a titanium body and integrated frame lock. The blade is made from CTS-XHP stainless steel for strength and corrosion resistance and features two different cutting surfaces for use as a knife…

Two trends are converging now, the popularity of full-size trucks and trailers for overland travel, and the exploding interest in electric anything. While an electric 4WD does not meet our needs yet, there is no arguing the benefits of mounting a lithium battery and a motor to a bike and taking it along for the journey. I still remember driving an EarthRoamer through the mountains of Colorado and inching down a steep shelf road, hoping that the vehicle would squeeze through the narrow passage. Trucks like the EarthRoamer are actually quite capable, but they do not always fit because of their 10-foot height and nearly 9-foot width. This is true of many full-size vehicles, and it is equally compelling with larger trailers, where backing up for a half-mile may be…

THE COMBINATION OF THE ENDURO PRO TRACTION CONTROL, ABS ALGORITHMS, AND ADDITIONAL GROUND CLEARANCE MADE THE 850 A BLAST TO RIDE HARD IN MODERATELY TECHNICAL TERRAIN. As travelers, we are bombarded with messages from vehicle manufacturers with the promise of adventure, escape, and performance. However, we have all learned that few products deliver on these statements, as many offerings only present a facade behind angled plastic and bold graphics. As backcountry motorcycle riders, we need so much more than keyless ignition and electric windscreens; we need a bike that is durable and reliable, with a well-tuned suspension, sufficient power for safe passing, good stability under load, and reasonable aftermarket support to address our individual needs. As the adventure motorcycle segment becomes more crowded, it is rare to find models that…

I still remember how -57°F felt, a cold beyond description, as if all life had escaped along with my body heat. I recall fighting against the cover of the roof tent, the vinyl becoming hard as stone in the frigid temperatures of the northern Canadian winter, and how good it felt to crawl into the tent with its thick mattress and heavy canvas protecting me from the arctic chill. Another time, I distinctly remember the sound of a lion grunting as he paced the perimeter of our camp—it’s burned into my memory, along with how grateful I was to be in a roof tent, far above the South African bushveld. So many times I have praised and cursed these overlander tree forts, bemoaning their weight and complexity, or sighed in…

While roof tents may seem like a recent trend, they have been around since practically the first automobiles, and Eezi-Awn has been around for over 35 years. The founder, Jack Stuhler, and his son Jess are not just manufacturers, but passionate overlanders. This tenure and commitment are reflected in the quality of their tents and their reputation for product durability. I have used Eezi-Awn tents for hundreds of nights. The Series 3 is the latest model of their expedition-class roof tents, combining wood, canvas, and aluminum. Setup is one of the easiest in the test, taking barely three minutes. The 700-denier PVC cover features welded seams and is removed by loosening a ratcheting strap and folding it up; this saves considerable time and energy. With the cover off, there are…

If I could travel through time, I’d go back 160 years to Indian Territory in days antebellum. There, concrete and steel would dissolve into wagon ruts and stone, hewn logs and flowing springs, a landscape familiar in its essence but alien in its rawness. Though I lack a time machine in the H.G. Wells sense, I’ve found a surrogate: a road as old as the territory itself and a vintage Toyota FJ40 for traveling it. My path lies within the eastern reaches of the 2,800-mile route of Butterfield’s Overland Mail service, which began near St. Louis, Missouri, and traveled southwest through Arkansas, Indian Territory, and Texas, skirting the Mexico border before turning north for San Francisco. Operating from 1858 until the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, it was…

I hung my head on the wheel and closed my eyes. I was far too exhausted to show my frustration, but we were all feeling tired and bruised. The Willys had stalled again, and I dared not push the clutch in because the brakes would not hold. A locked gate barred our passage and we were far behind schedule. The sun was hot on my skin as I asked myself why I attempted this journey in a 75-year-old museum relic when I could have had my choice of properly outfitted modern vehicles? I could not accept the answer then, but can timidly remember it now: adventures are not supposed to be easy. There is something romantic about traveling long distances point-to-point off pavement, but let’s face it, Colorado isn’t exactly…

A year ago, the thought of an air mattress was enough to make me cringe with memories of a sore back and uncomfortable nights on the ground. Their poor designs and habits of deflating had ruined my image of inflatable beds forever, or so I thought, but thanks to the Comfort Deluxe mat and Aeros pillow those associations have changed. I started using the combo last December when I transitioned to full-time life on the road. It was meant to be a temporary solution until I could source foam pads for my Excursion, but after a week of use, I knew the Sea to Summit system was there to stay. SEA TO SUMMIT COMFORT DELUXE SI MAT The Comfort Deluxe S.I. pad is the base of the system and in…

When it comes to installing new accessories on my truck, I am enthusiastic. That is until it comes to wiring. Then it’s just cheaper to pay a professional rather than my insurance deductible after I burn the vehicle to the ground.The Trigger accessory controller has completely changed that perspective for me. The issues of running wires through the firewall, trying to solder wires upside down, and hoping that hole you’re drilling doesn’t have anything important behind it are gone. I have used the original Trigger controller for years, and while I loved the install, it did leave a little to want. The introduction of the Six Shooter fixed all of the concerns of switch quality and action speed while adding more functionality. The new switch pod now has a nice…

Despite our adventurous spirit, most working Americans have fewer than three weeks of vacation time per year and are always looking for ways to get the most out of their time off. When planning a short trip to Oregon this summer, I knew that we would need to fly there but didn’t want to be relegated to hotels and standard rental cars. For this common reason, and the over 4 million #vanlife posts on Instagram, it is no surprise that more and more campervan rental companies have been popping up across the map. Renting a van from Roamerica is like borrowing one from a close friend. Choosing a rental company almost becomes an art form with a variety of considerations to contemplate. Start with narrowing down the location; since you…

Tepui was one of the first companies to import Asian-made roof tents into North America, and they expanded their product offerings to include some of the most affordable, configurable, and durable tents on the market. Their tents can now be seen throughout the country. The company is also made up of overland enthusiasts, so they understood the desire for a reliable, sturdy, expedition-class tent and designed the Kukenam 3 to meet the requirements of global travelers. Quality materials are plentiful with this model, including a robust diamond plate floor and 360-gram tent fabric (40 percent thicker than most RTTs). Setup is straightforward with the 1000-denier PVC cover removal requiring unclipping two girdle straps on the sides and then unzipping it from the base. I found the zipper to be slightly…

“They just don’t make cars like they used to,” the old man said as he ran his weathered hands along the fender. “We built real automobiles back then. Designed’em to be beautiful and durable—nothing like the plastic junk you see today.”He stared longingly at the Scout, almost mournfully. “That was another time of course,” he muttered softly. Then he turned, and without another word walked off into the rain. He was right; they don’t make cars like they used to. Where a craftsman once bent over his bench sculpting a body panel, a robot now shapes and rolls the edges. Machines spray on layers of perfectly applied paint, while autonomous welding and cutting equipment perform their tasks with incredible accuracy. This level of repeated precision leads some to say the…

Using a manual coffee grinder as part of your morning java ritual not only gets the blood pumping, it also promotes conversation and fuels campsite camaraderie. Forget noisy electric grinders requiring an inverter, or lowering the bar completely and milling those beans at home before the trip. If you’re a discerning overland javascenti, interested in the optimal expedition brew to fill your titanium demitasse, then you’ll appreciate these analog, minimalist, manual grinders. For the instant-coffee drinkers, this is next-level kit essential in your transition to caffeinated nirvana. Here, we call out three modern field-grade grinders and one classic to jumpstart your day, evaluated using a Snow Peak Titanium French press. SNOW PEAK Field Barista Coffee Grinder Other than Made in Japan, scant Western nomenclature accompanies Snow Peak’s newest entry into…

Smitten with life, UK adventuress Lois Pryce has always been on the move. At 13 years of age, an unchaperoned, week-long trip on bicycles through Cornwall’s back roads with friends introduced her to the possibilities of travel by design. And also to the idea of minimalist travel, taking shelter where you can find it, and bringing little more than bare essentials. When Lois was 28 years old, she learned how to ride a motorbike. It wasn’t long thereafter that she decided to take her job and shove it, knowing that life in the corporate world, be it in a cubicle or corner office was not for her. Like many others before her, she found herself declaring “there must be more to life than this.” Lois soon found herself pursuing a…

With upgrades like fridges, roof tents, drawer systems and other luxuries that make your camping experience more enjoyable, it’s easy to push recovery equipment down your list of priorities. Unfortunately, skimping on these vital pieces of gear can lead to dangerous results. Treaty Oak is a small business based in Houston, Texas, and each of their products is made to order right here in the USA.That allows them to ensure a high level of quality, and create custom changes in colors based on your needs. The core of their shackles is a high-strength plasma fiber, which gives their 5/16-, 3/8-, and 1/2-inch sizes working load limits of 5,800, 8,700, and 12,500 pounds respectively, with a tensile strength of up to 62,600 pounds. Those numbers are assuming the shackles are in…

Coffee and hot meals are basic necessities while overlanding, though few people give enough thought to the type of fuel their stove burns. Virtually every country in the world has different fittings for propane bottles, making them a nightmare to fill and use on global expeditions. I have watched people spend days attempting to fill bottles in places anywhere from Argentina to Zambia, often being forced to replace their entire setup every couple of countries. Disposable canisters are virtually nonexistent in underdeveloped nations, so those are also off-limits for the global overlander. Enter the Coleman dual fuel single-burner stove. Compact and lightweight, it can burn either Coleman fuel or, most importantly, unleaded gasoline that is readily available everywhere. I have used this product exclusively for the last two years throughout…

Perched atop an ominously-named dune 90 miles northeast of San Diego, we peer through the boxy windshield of the next-generation Mercedes-Benz G550 at the craggy drop below. It’s called Devil’s Slide for a reason. Our afternoon calisthenics weaving through the dunes at Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area in Borrego Springs, California, had teased our imagination. But this loop up and down the 200-foot sand slide, punctuated by menacing boulders and hidden mine shafts, would graduate the G550. “When you’re up there, it looks way more challenging than it does from down here,”Jerry Kok, our performance driving instructor, warned us before we ascended the rocky path. He jumped out of the vehicle to stand at a safe vantage, walkie-talkie in hand. “Don’t forget the black magic is in the three…

We rolled up the 20-foot-tall garage door a little bit before 3:00 a.m. The temperature inside the WWII-era steel Quonset hut plummeted as the wind forced snow and ice in around us. One by one we pushed the bikes and sidecars outside, through the loose snow drift that had formed at the entrance to our overnight sanctuary. Under the intense halogen lights, we made our final preparations for the start of our journey to South America. “I have worked here in Deadhorse, Alaska, since I was 19 years old, and we have never seen motorcycles up here in the winter,” an onlooker stated. Standing in the middle of a large, windswept parking lot, I plugged Ushuaia, Argentina, into Google Maps on my phone. “Directions not available to this location” was…

Through the years, ARB has grown from bull bars to suspension to locking differentials and ultimately to soft goods like roof tents, swags, and heavy-duty dry bags. We began testing their first Simpson tent a decade ago and have watched the product evolve in both quality and innovation. In particular, they’ve emphasized a focus on a singular model, adopting features most consumers want while minimizing the number of SKUs they need to manufacture and stock. This all results in a good value for the buyer and wide availability through their expansive dealer network. Removing the tent from the packaging reveals a notably thick and durable cover made from UV-stabilized and welded PVC, held in place by a robust three-side zipper and three girdle straps. Installation was easy using the supplied…

Famous for their aluminum roof racks and overland accessories designed in South Africa, Front Runner has expanded into roof tents and other soft goods in recent years. Across their lineup, their designs are influenced by Stanley Illman, one of the company founders and a lifelong overlander. This perspective resulted in a lightweight and low-profile roof tent priced at a notable value. Unboxing the Feather-Lite requires minimal assembly, as the roof rack extrusions need to be mounted based on the desired orientation of the ladder (to the side or the front/back). The supplied mounting hardware slides into the aluminum extrusions and clamps to the crossbars with thick plates or to a rack with available brackets. The cover is made from PVC and uses two straps over the top to prevent billowing…

Given that a roof tent is essentially our foldable home, nearly everyone will choose a different size, shape, color, and brand, but tests like this really do reveal the strengths and weaknesses of each model. For the Value Award, my selection was narrowed down to the Simpson III, the Adventure M55, and the Feather-Lite. The ARB has acres of interior space when combined with the included annex. The front door window is blocked by the awning, which obscures the view of the outback and reduces ventilation. For the Feather-Lite, I have long appreciated its light weight and low profile, but it falls behind the Adventure M55 in mattress comfort and set-up speed. In the end, I chose the Adventure M55 for the Value Award because of the refreshing ease of…

A field tool kit refers to the tools you keep in your vehicle for roadside and trailside repairs and handiwork; the key is to assemble one that fits your vehicle. Use it at home when wrenching on your truck to get acquainted with what works and what is lacking. It is better to find out that you’re missing a critical item before you set out on that remote shelf road. If you keep a quality set of sockets, ratchets, and wrenches in your garage toolbox but have an inferior set in your field kit, reverse those roles. You don’t want a tool failing when it matters the most (on that remote shelf road). THE HARDWARE EXERCISE Take the time to find and touch every nut, bolt, and fastener on your…

Many people consider themselves trailblazers, but few use their strengths to help others in need. Team 5 does. Composed of medical professionals with a knack for overlanding, this American nonprofit foundation deploys its team members overseas to provide services and training in remote, impoverished areas, mostly in Peru and Guatemala. Team 5 offers patients everything from routine checkups and dental care to treatment for chronic diseases and serious conditions. Preventative care is also important: shoes are given to children to reduce the risk of getting worms, as well as sunglasses to thwart degenerative eye disorders. Team 5 also trains local people in suturing, wound cleanliness, and how to determine what symptoms could develop into an emergency. Their goal is to improve conditions long-term. Identifying whom to train is the key…

Every year, around October, I try to make sure I am not at home. It is my birthday month and rather than being in the city, somewhere in the bush is far more appealing. I guess it is the best gift I can give myself, besides a new camera. Last year, I was late with any planning and preparation, so at the last minute I headed for the civilized Kruger National Park and only managed to get into Satara, one of the central, bigger camps. My preference has always been the northern, smaller, rustic camps but they were all fully booked—it would have to do. Packing was quick and efficient, as I was taking as little as possible. It was not necessary to bring drinking water, extra fuel, power, or…