The CAMO Convoy Overland Podcast

Episode 50.

Everybody talks about heading West when they want to disappear, but Appalachia still has plenty of places where the pavement ends, cell service disappears, and you can get surprisingly far away from civilization.

In this episode of the CAMO Convoy Podcast, Nick and Aaron dig into some of the best hidden, forgotten, and downright wild places left to explore in the East.

We’re talking remote forest roads, legitimate four wheel drive terrain, dispersed camping, elk country, abandoned railroad tunnels, tiny mountain towns, deep West Virginia backcountry, and places most people drive right past without realizing what’s hiding there.

We also grade each area for both OFF ROAD and OVERLAND potential, because a great wheeling destination and a great overland destination aren’t always the same thing.

PLACES WE COVER:

• Sinnemahoning and the Pennsylvania Wilds
• Hammersley Wild Area and Susquehannock State Forest
• George Washington National Forest
• Bald Eagle State Forest
• Vinton County, Ohio
• Monongahela National Forest and Pocahontas County, West Virginia

Vinton County in particular might surprise you. Some of the best wheeling on the entire list is hiding on old Appalachian backroads in southeastern Ohio. And on the other end of the spectrum, Hammersley contains the largest roadless area in Pennsylvania, where the truck gets you to the edge and the real exploration starts on foot.

A road on the Daniel Boone Backcountry Byway in Owsley County, Kentucky is currently being considered for closure.

If you support continued legal motorized access, please respectfully contact the county officials below and explain why the DBBB, adventure tourism, off roading, and the money travelers spend in small Appalachian communities matter.

Owsley County Judge Executive Zeke Little Jr.
Phone: 606 593 6202
Email: [email protected]
Mail: P.O. Box 749, Booneville, KY 41314

Owsley County Attorney Henley McIntosh
Phone: 606 593 6233
Mail: 100 Mulberry Street, P.O. Box 68, Booneville, KY 41314

Keep it respectful. The goal is to show these communities that responsible motorized recreation brings people, money, and support into rural Appalachia.

If you’ve explored any of these areas, drop your favorite destination in the comments. And if there’s a forgotten corner of Appalachia we missed, tell us where we need to go next.

Subscribe for more overlanding, off road travel, Appalachian exploration, gear, trips, and questionable decisions from the CAMO crew.

LOST APPALACHIA. THE LAST WILD EAST.

Rooftop tents. RotopaX. Awnings. Traction boards. Giant tires. How much of the overland industry is selling you expensive gear you absolutely do not need?

In this episode of the CAMO Convoy Podcast, Nick and Aaron put popular overland gear, vehicle modifications and entire platforms on trial. Some equipment earns a permanent place in the truck. Some only makes sense in very specific situations. And some of it is expensive Instagram decoration that makes your vehicle worse at actually traveling.

We debate:

Rooftop tents and awnings
RotopaX and fuel storage
Traction boards
Snorkels
DECKED drawer systems
Onboard air
Jetboil style stoves
Loud exhaust systems
Regearing
Oversized tires
Jeeps as overland vehicles
Diesel heaters
And plenty more

No sponsor-approved answers. No pretending every expensive accessory is essential. Just two experienced overlanders arguing about what works, what does not and what people buy because it looks cool.

What piece of overland gear do you think is completely overhyped? Drop it in the comments. We may read your answer on the show.

Subscribe for honest overland discussion, vehicle builds, trail stories and questionable financial decisions.

#Overlanding #OverlandGear #OffRoad #CampingGear #CAMOConvoyPodcast

You do not need a Tacoma, Wrangler, or Land Cruiser to start overlanding.

In this episode, we dig into unconventional overland vehicles, including Subarus, crossovers, minivans, old Kias, Astro vans, forgotten SUVs, and other cheap oddballs people are using to get outside.

We break down which vehicles actually have useful potential, which limitations can be managed, and which cheap platforms are cheap because they genuinely suck. We also talk about AWD systems, CVTs, payload, ground clearance, tire size, rust, aftermarket support, sleeping inside the vehicle, and why the right vehicle depends entirely on the trip you are trying to take.

Whether you already own something unconventional, are shopping on a limited budget, or just like building weird vehicles, this episode will help you figure out what is worth investing in and what will become an expensive learning experience.

What unconventional vehicle would you build into an overlander?

Follow the CAMO Convoy Podcast wherever you listen, leave us a five star review, and send us photos of your ride for a chance to be featured on the show.

#Overlanding #Subaru #OverlandVehicles #BudgetOverland #VanLife

I'm not really a camper guy..... But This One Might Change My Mind | MSJ Off-Road

Nick has never been much of a truck camper guy. Aaron, meanwhile, has spent the last two years dragging an MSJ camper through tight Appalachian trails, bouncing it across the country, leaning it into trees, jumping the truck and spraying the whole thing with oil....well...Nick's oil.

So for this episode, we brought in Shayan and Simon from MSJ Off-Road to find out what these campers are actually made for and whether Nick’s overladenophobia justified.

We get into how MSJ started, what makes its lightweight aluminum camper different from a traditional slide in, and how the design has evolved through feedback from early customers like Aaron. Aaron gives an honest long term review of his camper, including what has worked, what he modified, what he would order differently and how he dialed in the Tacoma’s airbags, shocks and suspension to carry it off road.

We also cover:

The difference between wheeling in the East and West

Payload, suspension and the weight people forget to calculate

Why organization may matter more than having every possible camping amenity

Cold weather camping, diesel heaters and sleeping through serious storms

A ground tent getting ripped off a mountain

The new MSJ Sun Seeker shell, insulation options and upgraded mattresses

TRXs, Power Wagons, broken Toyotas, potato guns, deep fryers and Malört

Plus, we introduce our new Listener Rides segment and check out two rigs submitted by members of the CAMO community.

By the end of the conversation, Nick is not ordering a camper yet, but he is considerably closer to accepting his inevitable fate.

Check out MSJ Off-Road:

https://msjoff-road.com/

Have a rig you want featured on the show? Send us a few good photos, your build details and anything interesting about how you use it through the CAMO Facebook or Instagram pages.

Leave us a review and let us know: Are truck campers worth it, or are you still sleeping on the ground?

Where do you actually go overlanding?

Quick note before we get into it: Aaron’s crickets were absolutely losing their minds during this episode, so we had to do some extra audio cleanup in post. If the audio feels slightly off in a few spots, that’s why. We figured it was better than making you listen to a full-blown Appalachian insect orchestra for two hours.

Everybody wants the secret spots, the perfect GPX file, the best campsite, the scenic overlook at lunch, and the secluded camp by 4 PM. But the real answer is not just downloading a route from OnX or Gaia and hoping for the best.

In this episode of the CAMO Convoy Podcast, Nick and Aaron break down how to actually plan an overland trip that fits the kind of adventure you want. Gravel roads, remote campsites, tourist stops, technical trails, dark sky camping, group trips, solo scouting, and everything in between.

We talk through how to pick a region, find points of interest, use maps and satellite views, read MVUMs, plan fuel stops, choose campsites, avoid burning sensitive spots, deal with locals, respect public land, and keep the group happy once you are actually out there.

We also get into campsite etiquette, generators, fire rings, packing out trash, group pacing, social media responsibility, and why some spots are better left untagged.

This one is for anyone who has ever asked:

Where can I overland?
How do I find campsites?
How do I plan an overland route?
How do I find legal trails and forest roads?
How do I avoid being “that guy” on public land?

Send us your build photos and we may feature your rig on the show.

Email: [email protected]

Follow CAMO:
Facebook: Central Appalachian Mountain Overland
Instagram: @cam_overland
YouTube: Central Appalachian Mountain Outdoors

Thanks for watching. Shiny side up, muddy side down. Stay rowdy.

Overland maintenance is not the fun part of the trip, but it is the part that keeps your rig from becoming everyone else’s problem on the trail.

In this episode of the CAMO Convoy Podcast, we break down the maintenance mindset every overlander should have before, during, and after a trip. We talk pre-trip checks, fluids, cooling systems, brakes, steering components, known failure points, trail fixes, post-trip cleaning, and the long-term stuff that keeps an old 4x4 alive.

The big idea is simple: fix problems at home, not in the woods.

We get into real examples from our own rigs, including front main seal leaks, cooling issues, mud-packed radiators, alternators, electrical trail fixes, and why ignoring small problems usually turns into a bigger bill later.

If you wheel your rig, tow with it, camp out of it, or just want to keep your old truck from turning into a pile, this one is for you.

Topics covered:

- Pre-trip overland maintenance

- What to check before leaving

- Trail-side warning signs

- Cooling stack and radiator cleaning

- Brakes, ball joints, belts, and steering parts

- Known failure items for your vehicle

- Post-trip cleaning and rust prevention

- Long-term preventative maintenance

- Why mud is the enemy

- How to keep your rig alive

Subscribe for more overland, off-road, 4x4, and adventure vehicle content from Central Appalachian Mountain Overland.

#overlandmaintenance #overlanding #offroad #4x4 #overlandtruck #vehiclemaintenance #camo #camosocial #camoutdoors

We’re mad, and we’re finally saying it.

In this episode of the CAMO Convoy Podcast, Nick and Aaron rant through the dumbest things happening in overlanding and off-roading right now. Bad recoveries, sketchy trail behavior, garbage aftermarket lights, half-done builds, alignment shop nightmares, oversized tire obsession, campsite bathroom disasters, and the people who absolutely refuse to take care of their rigs.

Some of it is funny. Some of it is annoying. Some of it is flat-out dangerous.

If you wheel, camp, wrench, overland, or spend way too much time staring at your truck in the driveway, you probably know exactly the people and trends we’re talking about.

Drop a comment with the overland or off-road trend that drives you insane.

Subscribe for more real-world overlanding, off-road stories, gear talk, trail lessons, and CAMO Convoy Podcast episodes.

#overlanding #offroad #4x4 #overlandpodcast #offroadrecovery #trailriding #camo_convoy #centralappalachianmountainoverland

This locked and lifted Subaru Forester off road build has no business working this well.

Brandt joins the CAMO Convoy Podcast to break down his 2008 SG Subaru Forester build, including the rear locker, center diff locker, long travel suspension, HDPE skid plate setup, lightweight wheel and tire combo, spare parts strategy, and how he keeps this thing alive on real off road trails.

We get into Subaru off road culture, the difference between dirt road Subarus and truly built trail Subarus, why the 4EAT automatic actually helps without low range, how he uses left foot braking, and what makes this little Forester embarrass bigger 4x4s and Jeep guys on the trail.

If you are into weird overland builds, budget off road vehicles, Subaru Forester builds, rally inspired trail rigs, or vehicles that should not work but somehow do, this one is for you.

Topics covered:
Subaru Forester off road build
SG Forester overland build
Locked Subaru Forester
Rear locker and center diff locker
4EAT Subaru off road driving
HDPE skid plates
Long travel Subaru suspension
Subaru vs Jeep off road
Budget trail rig ideas
24 hour rally stories
CAMO trail stories

Subscribe for more overland, off road, vehicle build, trail story, and Appalachian adventure conversations from the CAMO Convoy Podcast.

Think overlanding has to cost thousands of dollars before you can even leave the driveway? Not even close.

In this episode of the CAMO Convoy Podcast, we put together a real 3-day overland camping setup with a strict $200 Walmart budget. Tent, sleep setup, cooking gear, cooler, water, food, wipes, lights, fire starting, and the basic stuff you actually need to get out for a weekend in Appalachia.

We also compare some of these budget items against similar gear from REI, Bass Pro, and other big-name outdoor stores to see where the money actually matters and where people are just paying for the badge. The goal is simple: prove that overlanding is still just camping with a vehicle, and you do not need a fully built rig or Instagram gear wall to get started.

If you’ve got a truck, SUV, Subaru, minivan, or honestly anything that can get you to camp, this episode is for you.

Drop your own $200 overland gear list in the comments. What did we nail? What did we miss? What would you never cheap out on?

Follow CAMO:
Facebook: Central Appalachian Mountain Overland
Instagram: @cam_overland
Podcast: CAMO Convoy Podcast

What does it actually mean to be “The Overland Man”?

In this episode, we break down 20 old school skills that are slowly dying out, but still matter if you spend time off road, in the woods, around trucks, or just trying to be a capable human being. We’re talking backing up without a camera, reading maps, handling first aid, staying calm when things go bad, knowing when to shut up, carrying heavy stuff, walking long distances, building fires, reading water, solving problems, and being comfortable when life gets uncomfortable.

This one is part overland talk, part life skills, part comedy, and part hard truth. Technology is awesome, but it is making a lot of people useless when the screen goes black.

Listen in and let us know what skills you think every overland man should still have.

Topics include:
Backing up on trail
Backing up trailers
Reading maps and finding north
First aid and Stop the Bleed
Staying calm in a crisis
Knowing when to turn around
Reading water crossings
Building and maintaining fire
Fitness, carrying weight, and walking distance
Being uncomfortable without falling apart
Learning from failure
Problem solving in the woods