Scott Brady and Matt Scott look back on 2023 and discuss the Expedition Portal Overander of the Year Award winner and the best new 4WD of 2023. Matt and Scott share their favorite gear of the year and showcase a few new products from small businesses. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Earlier this year, we published an article that garnered a lot of attention both on Expedition Portal and in our social media feeds. Author Mac Kirkpatrick explained how he was legally able to increase the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of his Toyota Tacoma in the state of Pennsylvania. Of course, anytime you modify your vehicle beyond its GVWR, payload, or towing capacities, you're adding stress and strain that it may not have been designed to handle. Just because it's legal doesn't necessarily mean it's safe.

This is a big part of why we spend a lot of time thinking about the payload and related performance metrics of our overland vehicles. Perhaps nobody in the industry better understands the engineering demands of overland builds more than "the Einstein of overlanding", AEV's Dave Harriton. In Episode 176 of the Overland Journal Podcast, hosts Scott Brady and Matt Scott talk in-depth with Dave about payloads, off-road performance, and the new batch of trucks and SUVs that are overland-ready right off the showroom floor. Dave is always a knowledgable and compelling guest—you won't want to miss this week's episode.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did you know that Expedition Portal articles about overland, expedition, and off-road trailers are among the most popular on the website? It's one of the hottest segments in the overland industry—from tiny teardrops to massive multi-axle toy haulers, there have been incredible leaps in technology across the board in the hitched-up world. In fact, there are so many trailers on the market now and such a dizzying array of options and designs that it can be a real challenge to make sense of it all.

The Overland Journal Podcast is here to help with some real-world expertise. In podcast episode 175, the founder of AT Overland Equipment, Mario Donovan, joins the conversation with hosts Matt Scott and Scott Brady to sort through everything you need to know about overland and expedition trailers. They take a hard look at suspension, chassis development, length, different types of trailers, the importance of electric brakes, and much more.

 
Full show notes available at Overland Journal Podcast

A special thanks to our sponsors:
03 Outdoors and Kuat

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ashley Giordano interviews British explorer and filmmaker Reza Pakravan. Raza's long and impressive CV includes crossing the Sahara by bike in record time, traveling the length of the Sahel region of Africa, and attempting to set the World Record for fastest bicycle journey from the Arctic Circle to Cape Town, South Africa. In this podcast from the field, Reza talks about what he discovered filming his latest multi-part series, “Hidden Frontiers Arabia” and how Tintin was a major childhood influence.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join hosts Scott Brady and Matt Scott on a wide-ranging discussion of the best new overland SUVs on the North American market today.

It's safe to say that explorers who are looking for a modern rig as a foundation for an overland SUV have more choices that are adventure-ready off the showroom floor than ever before. Scott and Matt sit down together at the Overland International Headquarters in Arizona to parse out some of the pros and cons of their top ten new SUVs for 2023.

Does Matt say that the G-Wagen is driven by some "really, really, really terrible people"? He does. Is the G-Wagen also his top pick for a daily driver? It is (take all of that how you will). Did the new Land Rover Defender make the list? Just barely. Where does the Rivian R1S fall in the top ten? Which 4WD takes the top spot? The results might surprise you. When these two start going deep on 4x4s, you know they won't hold back.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scott Brady interviews Ashley Giordano of Desk to Glory about her travels in Europe with their Toyota Tundra and Overland Explorer Camper. The conversation includes Ashley's tips for working from the road as Overland Journal Senior Editor, feedback on the truck / camper, and plans for their next segment. They also discuss the recent trip with XOverland to Southern Africa. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Scott Brady records a update on competing segment two of crossing Africa, lessons learned on the trip, equipment, communication tools and traveling with loved ones. Due to the nature of the trip, this episode was recorded as a monologue. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scott Brady interviews Brian McVickers about his recent experience at the 2023 SEMA Show, including his review of the new Lexus and Toyota overland concept vehicles. We discuss the new ARB trailer and expanded offerings from Ironman and others. The SEMA show has also expanded the overland area to include outside displays of overland campers, trailers, and vans. This included the new Revel and the Hike models from Winnebago.  

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Overlanding Spain & the Balkans: Iberica Overland on Spomeniks, DIY Campers, and Travel Tips

Host Ashley Giordano records from northern Spain with Enrique and Eva of Iberica Overland, who share how they moved from off-roading and backpacking into vehicle-based travel, documentary filmmaking, and creating their YouTube channel during COVID. They describe multiple overland trips through the Balkans to photograph Yugoslav WWII memorial “spomeniks,” remote abstract monuments often overlooked locally, and explain their history, scale, and atmosphere. The pair also detail building a lightweight, compact wedge-style canopy camper for their 2016 Ford Ranger, how the prototype evolved, and how it led to a small handmade camper business in northern Spain. They then offer practical guidance for traveling Spain, including its 17 autonomous communities, regional languages and landscapes, trail access differences by region, wild camping legal gray areas, and cultural tips like meal schedules, tapas, and siesta hours.

Full snow notes available at Overland Journal Podcast

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Host Scott Brady and co-host Brian McVickers discuss the overland industry’s origins and rapid growth, outlining where they see current and future opportunities for businesses, creators, and travelers. They emphasize authenticity as essential for success with a savvy, affluent, quality-focused audience, and clarify overlanding as vehicle-supported adventure travel distinct from road trips, camping, or off-roading as sport. Using audience research, they estimate a global overland vertical market of roughly 30–40 million people, noting continued long-term growth despite a temporary COVID-driven spike and subsequent normalization. They highlight OEM commitment (including Toyota and Grenadier), the importance of stewardship, and practical business guidance: find white space aligned with core skills, avoid generic copycat products, prioritize premium quality and service, use events for feedback, and approach media work with complete, edited story packages. They also caution about the fragility of influencer-only models and recommend diversified income streams.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.