Here at Toyota Cruisers & Trucks we have been car camping, four-wheeling, and exploring for years. So why is ͞overlanding͟ better? We don’t care what its called if we get out in our trucks! 12,000 people attended Overland Expo in 2017 and the figures were expected to grow this year. From what we saw, they did.
Overlanders like Toyota for all the same reasons we do. At Expo we got to see Land Cruiser models and modifications most people only dream about. Proffitt’s Resurrection Land Cruisers brought their SEMA build - a Toyota FJ80 blended withOverlanders like Toyota for all the same reasons we do. At Expo we got to see Land Cruiser models and modifications most people only dream about. Proffitt’s Resurrection Land Cruisers brought their SEMA build - a Toyota FJ80 blended witha Cummins R2.8 Turbo Diesel wearing a non-USA HZJ79 body. The Proffitt family drove it for 8 hours and 430 miles each way from Austin, CO to Flagstaff. We could fill an entire magazine just describing the cool rigs!
This was the second year at the Fort Tuthill County Park just outside Flagstaff, AZ, and we love this venue. We were also happy to see everyone respecting the fire ban. The camping area was full, but everyone got along and noise was minimal. We hope the poor cell service is addressed next year since our ͞live from the Expo͟ coverage was almost non-existent. We also heard stories of people waiting in two hours of traffic to get through the entry gates. Luckily we registered early, camped on-site and enjoyed a short walk to the show. We would like to see porta-johns dispersed more widely and a few more in the camping area next year. These are first world problems for sure and the growing pains of our community. Plan ahead and be prepared for anything - true never-give-up explorer fashion.
A freshly paved and landscaped section provided the Expedition Overland showcase with ample space for its hive of activity, not only hosting the XO crew and amazing Toyota builds, but the booths of their sponsors Equipt and Maxtrax. XO events were nonstop, hosting talks, the E7 Expeditions - Greenland: E7 Global Adventure press conference, Ladies Night (a women-only gathering to see friends, make friends, share stories, inspire, and be inspired), and the legendary Equipt hosted Saturday night party.
Equipt Expedition Outfitters (www.equipt1.com) has been with Overland Expo since the start. Equipt brought a new trailer to showcase their product line. Goose Gear built in kegerator enclosures remind us that we are all here to have fun. Equipt is the exclusive US distributor for great gear, with South Africa being a major source. The Kariba Shower in particular grabbed our attention. It’s available in various sizes and configurations, and is equipped with a micro-sized electric pump that seemed to move plenty of water, also, the powerful burner can do double duty as a stove. Are the days of boiling pots of water, filling a solar-shower bag, lugging it to a tree and having all the water dump out when the nozzle falls off gone? This is an expedition grade tankless instant hot water heater and we can’t wait to get our hands on one to test.
As expected, ARB had a large and well stocked booth. With ARB products installed on the majority of the vehicles, the entire show was a testament to ARB’s support of the overlanding community. In may ways ARB helped to create overlanding as we know it. ARB is brand we trust and we know its products willdeliver what they promise. Its great to see they are up with new products and trends. We spotted Overland Expert’s (www.overlandexperts.com) non-USA diesel Hilux hiding behind the ARB booth and wondered why wasn’t it front and center! Also... how did they get Connecticut plates on it!
Metal-tech debuted their Ghost Rider front bull bar for the 2008-2014 Toyota 200Series Land Cruiser. The 200 series is as tough and reliable as any Land Cruiser, having proven itself in rock crawling, Baja 1000 racing, and remote travel adventure. Still, bumpers are one of the first modifications anyone wants before venturing off-pavement. The Ghost Rider front bull bar features a two-piece construction to facilitate winch installation, integrated 3/4" recovery points, openings for three included LED lights, tabs for limb risers, and more.
Metal-tech’s Overland Expo Chef Competition is sure to grow next year after seeing the excited competitors and judges bringing out their best. Let’s be honest – some people overland simply as an excuse to cook and eat, and those make the best travel mates!
Related Articles
Care for the environment was a major theme. With more and more places requiring you to pack out all human waste rather than bury, the choice of portable facilities keeps growing. The Australian made Jimmy's Thunderbox toilet packs flat yet promises a deluxe experience. Next to the Thunderbox was the PooLahhoop (www.poolahoop.com). In a review for Gear Junkie, Bryon Dorr called it ͞utterly ridiculous but kind of awesome at the same time.͟ And admit it, where do YOU put the roll while in the wild? I’m still waiting for the magazine rack.
We think of Off Road Warehouse as an awesome source of other people’s products and some private-label items, so we took notice of their in-house designed lockable spare tire Maxtrax mount. (www.offroadwarehouse.com)
PahaQue (www.pahaque.com) is a brand we have not seen before at overland events, even though they have been around since 1997. We enjoyed their Pamo Valley tent for many years before deluxe tents were the norm. We bought one of their hammocks on the spot and wished we’d had more time to learn about their current and upcoming product line.
This year we managed to attend three classes and the Change Your World Fund presentation and raffle. The Mexico/Central America round table featured a typically stellar panel including longtime friend Kurt Williams (of Cruiser Outfitters, Expedition Overland, Canguro Racing, and most recently the E7 Expeditions - Greenland: E7 Global Adventure). Change Your World Fund grant recipient Maggie McDermut (See page 58) spoke to a packed tent on ͞Overlanding Minimalism: Tips and Tricks for Traveling in a Compact 4x4 (in Maggie’s case in ͞Beastie a diminutive BJ70). The all-star panel for ͞Localanding Spotlight: Expedition Utah͟(www.expeditionutah.com) was also very informative.
Delta Vehicle Systems (www.deltavs.com) 80 series Cummins diesel conversion was too irresistible to pass by. Dave Schenker walked us through the truck. A cargo area overhead storage shelf makes useless space useful, panhard bars offer another option to retain stock bushings, a rear bumper with side steps and fold out kitchen. The attention to design and detail was outstanding. [DeltaVS (6)] We first heard of Get Lost Box (www.getlostbox.com) in the fall of 2017 and we were skeptical. We’d heard of other ͞monthly surprise box͟ products so how would this concept work in the overland space. For one, most of us carefully research and select the gear that suits our needs. Space, utility, and quality all need to be carefully considered. But how many times have you discovered some of the piece of kit that you did not even know existed and which has become your favorite go-to? The Get Lost Box offers monthly subscriptions for the adventure enthusiast. Each month you receive a box of gear oriented towards recovery, tools, cooking, and camping. And, get this – you never know what’s coming. We were pleased to see the gear was good quality and things we’d actually use.
Dometic (Dometic.com/CFX) had their CFX line of portable compressor fridge/freezers on display and running. Running, meant some were stocked with cold water, and others with ice cream sandwiches. The Dual Zone CFX 75 had both water and ice cream, the "dual zone" allowing a true simultaneous fridge and freezer experience. It was great to see these in action since we've been interested in dual-zone units for some time. Some Dometic models have wireless functionality that allows you to monitor and adjust the temperature of each compartment from your smartphone. The variable-speed compressor is said to optimize running efficiency. Dometic brought it’s a-game to Expo and we look forward to what they are bringing to the overland community.
The Java Can (www.thejavacan.com) brought Ren Tao Roasting of Sedona to Expo. What could be better than great coffee on the trail? Drinking it while admiring Solano Tao’s 1986 Toyota pickup, of course. Greg Suekoff showed us the truck but gave all the credit to Solano. Tearing our self away from the ’86, Java Can operations director Jacques Decaire gave us a tour of the Java Can. Trail coffee kits are rare in the US, but it’s an essential piece of kit I learned to appreciate from trips in Israel and Jordan. Java Can founder Daisson Hickel created the Java Can with inspiration from his service as a Green Beret. Fellow Army Special Forces buddy Jacques was an instant fan and on retirement from active duty, he is serving up the coffee skills.
The variety and plethora of many great products seems to be the ever-expanding theme at Overland Expo. In many ways Expo has become more consumer and trade show than over lander gathering. Like so many other things in life, its up to you to create your experience. I could have spent all day talking to the camper next to me with his homemade travel trailer. I spent an hour one evening learning about lifted Subarus. And yet, there are not many places where you find yourself waiting in the shower line next to a young man one week into a motorcycle trip around the world.
To get your copy of the
Spring 2018 Issue:
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to get up-to-date industry news, events, and of course, amazing adventures, stories, and photos!
