Overlanding and Offroad articles

Quick Facts: Topic: Free dispersed camping in Oregon Spots covered: 13 (Cascades, high desert, coast range, Blue Mountains) Land managers: U.S. Forest Service, BLM, and Oregon Department of Forestry Typical cost: $0 to camp (Oregon has no Discover Pass) Passes: Northwest Forest Pass covers fee trailhead parking, never the...

Quick Facts: Topic: Starlink Mini power consumption and off-grid setup Average draw: 20-40 W active, around 15 W idle Startup surge: up to 60 W for a few seconds Input: 110V AC or 12-48V DC, 60 W maximum USB-C PD: 100 W recommended, 65 W minimum Daily energy: roughly...

Quick Facts: Vehicle: 2026 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ with Modellista kit Modellista kit price: ¥965,800 (about $6,100) FJ base price: ¥4,500,100 (about $28,500) Engine: 2.7L four-cylinder, 161 hp, 181 lb-ft Wheels: Matte Olive 18-inch seven-spoke alloys Drivetrain: Part-time 4WD, 6-speed automatic Seating: 5 Availability: Japan only (no US, no...

Quick Facts: Topic: Reading a Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) to find legal dispersed campsites Skill level: Beginner to intermediate overlander or camper Time to learn: About 30 minutes to read a map confidently Tools needed: Free MVUM PDF, a phone app like Avenza or onX, a backup paper...

Quick Facts: What it is: Dispersed camping on public land, outside developed campgrounds Best for: Overlanders and vehicle-based campers who want solitude and freedom Cost: Free on most BLM and U.S. Forest Service land Typical stay limit: Often 14 days per 28-day period, though it varies locally Main land...

Quick Facts: Topic: Free dispersed camping in Washington Spots covered: 13 (Cascades, Olympics, and the dry east) Land managers: U.S. Forest Service, BLM, and Washington DNR Typical cost: $0 to camp (parking sometimes needs a pass) Passes: Northwest Forest Pass for fee trailheads; Discover Pass ($45/yr) for DNR Stay...

Quick Verdict: Dutch oven cowboy beans feeds 8 overlanders with 6 strips of bacon, 1 pound of ground beef, diced onion, 4 types of beans (kidney, pinto, navy, black), BBQ sauce, and brown sugar. First, render the bacon and brown the beef. Next, simmer with beans and BBQ sauce....

Quick Facts: Vehicle: 2027 Chevy Silverado 1500 (full redesign) Off-road trims: Custom Trail Boss, Trail Boss, ZR2 Engines: 2.7L TurboMax, 5.7L V8, 6.6L V8, 3.0L Duramax diesel ZR2 hardware: 35-inch mud-terrain tires, 2-inch lift, front and rear lockers, Multimatic DSSV dampers Trail Boss hardware: 2-inch lift, 34-inch mud-terrain tires ...

Quick Facts: Topic: Best off-road GPS app picks for iOS and Android Apps covered: 9 (onX Offroad, Gaia GPS, Trails Offroad, onX Hunt, RV LIFE, NPS, Avenza, CalTopo, Organic Maps) Platforms: Every pick runs on both iPhone and Android Best overall: onX Offroad Best free option: Organic Maps Best...

Choosing between steel vs aluminum overland trailers shapes every trip you take into the backcountry. For years I have overlanded out of California, and the frame under my gear has always mattered more to me than the badge on the tailgate. Similarly, both metals build capable rigs. However, they...