Overlanding and Offroad articles

A heater sized too small leaves the van cold on the worst night of your trip. A heater sized too big cycles on and off, which builds carbon on the burner. Van heater sizing keeps you between those two failures, and it starts with one number: the BTU per...

Quick Facts: Recall: Ford speedometer recall, NHTSA 26V653 (Ford 26C46). Trucks: 102,159 Ford trucks, mostly 2025-2026 Super Duty and 2026 F-150 trucks. Defect: Analog tachometer and speedometer needles stick or move erratically. Risk: A wrong speed reading raises the risk of a crash, per NHTSA, but the record shows...

Quick Facts: Topic: Electric cooler vs compressor fridge for overlanding. Cooling limit: Thermoelectric units reach about 36 to 40°F below the surrounding air. Thermoelectric draw: About 3 to 5 amps at 12V, running nonstop. Compressor draw: About 25 amp-hours per day at 90°F on a Dometic CFX3 45. Price:...

Quick Facts: Model: 2027 Kia Sorento PHEV, a three-row plug-in hybrid SUV. Trim: One, the X-Line SX-Prestige AWD. Price: $53,890 MSRP, plus $1,495 destination. Dropped: The EX trim, listed at $48,290 for 2026. New for 2027: Standard head-up display, Pale Gray paint, X-Line seat backs, and wood inlays. Power:...

Quick Facts: Opened: August 20, 2026, after Recall Query RQ26001. Vehicles in scope: 997,743 trucks and SUVs from model years 2021 through 2026. Post-remedy complaints to NHTSA: 499, with 473 after the oil change and 26 after a new engine. Later-built engines: 191 failure reports from engines built after...

Quick Facts: Topic: Diesel tuners and programmers for Duramax, Cummins and Power Stroke pickups. Federal law: The Clean Air Act bans removing or disabling emissions controls on road vehicles. DOJ shift: On January 21, 2026, DOJ said it would no longer pursue criminal Clean Air Act charges based on...

Quick Facts: Topic: 2027 Ford Ranger engine change for the XLT and Lariat. Reported change: a 3.0L EcoBoost V6 replaces the optional 2.7L EcoBoost V6. Output: not confirmed. The 2026 2.7L makes 315 hp and 400 lb-ft. Possible figures: 380 hp and 440 lb-ft with the Bronco tune, or...

Is a 300-square-foot tent overkill? The number sounds ridiculous at first. A twin bed takes about 20 square feet and a queen takes about 33, so a bell tent with 304 square feet of floor looks like far more tent than anyone needs. For a solo trip or a...

Quick Facts: Model: Pathfinder Special Edition, a 40th-anniversary trim of the 2027 Nissan Pathfinder. Price: $47,390 with front-wheel drive or $49,390 with all-wheel drive, plus $1,575 destination. On sale: The 2027 Pathfinder reaches U.S. dealers in November 2026. Nissan gave the trim no separate date. Engine: 3.5-liter V6 with...

Quick Facts: Topic: A National Park Service proposal on off-road vehicle use in Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve in Alaska. Who qualifies: Local rural residents of Anaktuvuk Pass, a village of 395 people in 2024. Recreational use: Not authorized under the proposal. Federal Register: Document 2026-21300,...