The Absolute Best Overland/Off-road Camping Vehicle!

The best Overland/Off-road Camping Vehicle.

There are so many choices in so many price points for vehicles that can be used as an Overland vehicle on the market.  Some purchase an older vehicle because there are less electronic devices and they are much easier to work on while on the trail.  Others want some creature comforts the electronics and bring like heated seats and traction control just to name a few.  Of course most of us most likely fall somewhere in the middle of these thoughts.  But what vehicle makes the best Overlanding/Off-road camping vehicle? 

Toyota has a long lasting reputation of long lasting reliable products.  We have all heard "it has 250K miles,well then it is just broken in now."  They have been the vehicles of choice by most "overlanders" in the USA, well and around the world.  These vehicles are well built and the aftermarket products are easy to find.

Jeep has the best out of the package off-road vehicle available in the USA for sure.  Reliability has been questioned.  Although I do know of Jeeps that have well over 200K miles and are going strong.  Most of the time it all depends on how you take care of your vehicle, getting proper maintenance done is key for all vehicles.  We know that the Jeep Wrangler with the solid front axle is capable of more than what most people will ever put it through but it is nice to know it is there if we get into trouble on the trail.  Jeep does have some IFS vehicles out there.  These vehicles can be more comfortable that the Wrangler but there is very little aftermarket products available.  This can make it very hard to build up a vehicle.

These are the two most popular choices in the USA, but there are several more options out there.  Nissan, Range Rover, Chevrolet, Ford, Dodge......   You can go full-size rig or small pickup.  SUV or pickup trucks.  Even Subaru's are making their mark on the Overlanding/Off-road Camping world.  With so many choices how can someone ever know if they picked the best Overland/Off-road Camping vehicle?

Well the best Overland/Off-road Camping vehicle out there is......... DRUM ROLL.....  Its the one you use.  I know that's not the sexy choice always but it is true.  The point of Overlanding and Off-road Camping is to get out there, period.  I have never cared what vehicle someone is using.  In fact I love to see vehicles most would not think of, as long as they are safe and capable.  We as Overlanders and Off-road Campers do not really need a Rock Crawlers or Mud Bog Trucks.  We travel on backroads and trails just to get away from the masses.  Yes we love a challenge but we also don't want to jeopardize our vehicles in a way that would leave us stranded in the middle of no where.  So you don't need "the best" to Overland.  You just need something capable and safe. 

I drive a 2010 Jeep Liberty, this is not the choice vehicle for most to Overland with, it is not mine either.  It was simply the vehicle I already had when I discovered this passion of Overlanding/Off-road Camping.   Get out with what you have in the drive way and GO ALL OVER.

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Major news for 2018!

We are excited to announce that Midwest Expedition Outfitters out of Tulsa, OK is the new title sponsor for ALL OVER OVERLAND.   https://www.facebook.com/midwestexpeditionoutfitters/

What does this really mean?  It means I get to tag along on some really cool adventures with these guys.  We have several things coming up in 2018.  The first to share is the MEO Wednesdays Series we will be doing every 2 weeks on, you guess it Wednesday.  We will check out what is new at the shop, go eat some awesome food, watch new builds, talk about upcoming events, and you never know who might show up at the shop!  Check out our YouTube page to watch this new series, episode one has already been posted.  https://youtu.be/4XjVOERId3U

We also have the MEO Adventure 2018 event coming up January 24th-28th.  With the addition of Sam Patton to the crew they have decided to start an adventure series.  This will be an off-road camping event for every type of vehicle.  Sam has a ton of experience with these types of events and I cannot wait!  Only a couple of the trail leaders will know where we are going each day.  At each location we will have a full group trail ride and after that you can split up and wheel with whom ever you choose.  Dinner will be severed each night.  We will also be filming a short series of videos for this event to be released on our YouTube page, so be on the look out.

Other events will be our Camp and Meet, finishing the Oklahoma Adventure Trail, Natural State Overland's Bonfire Rendezvous 2018, and many other awesome events with different groups.  I am so excited about working with the guys at MEO Freddie Fondren, Mike McGhee, Sam Patton, and Chris McCune.  We will have several guys that will be there often Rob Giger is a guy that seems to know everyone and when I say everyone I mean famous people.  These guys have become really good friends and I cannot wait so see what kind of trouble we all get into this year. 

Thirst for More!

Thirst for More!

We all look back on our travels from the past year.  We look back on the adventure they brought us, the freedom we felt, and the escape we needed.  Last year you either continued your journeys in this overlanding lifestyle or you just began to embrace this wondering outdoor way of travel.  Where ever you are in your adventure we all long for the same thing, for adventure.  We want to see how far we can go, how far we can push ourselves, and how far we can get away. 

I hope this past year gave you a thirst for more.  For more knowledge, more adventure, more dirt, and more camp fires.  I hope that you gain more friends to learn from and to travel with.  I hope you will share the things you have learned to others so we can all can grow.  These are the reasons why I do all of this, for us. 

I will continue to do more.  My hope is that you will continue this journey with me.  We have a lot of new things coming up for 2018.  To start we will be partnering with Midwest Expedition Outfitters as our title sponsor for 2018.  We will be right there with them for the Midwest Expedition Outfitters Adventure 2018 that will be January 24th the 28th.  I look forward to an awesome year with these great guys.  I will also be getting out more.  Each month there will be new adventures, and I hope to go on with some of you.  We will be finishing the East Half of the Oklahoma Adventure Trail.  The OAT will be split into two quarter sections one in the spring and one in the fall.  The Camp and Meet last year was a huge success and we will have another one in 2018.  This time it will be in a more open space and not at a state park.  It will show people more of what to expect from an overlanding trip.  I also hope to see more of you post events on the our FaceBook page.  This page is for us and it is all of ours. 

You all have been awesome and I cannot thank you all enough.  GO ALL OVER in 2018! 
Thank you.

Day 4,and the last day, of the Oklahoma Adventure Trail the West Half

Day 4, and the last day, of the Oklahoma Adventure Trail the West Half

This would be the last day of our adventure on the West Half of the Oklahoma Adventure Trail.  We were not in a big hurry so we explored our camping area with a hike over to the dam.  Quartz Mountain is great place for families, they have things for everyone.  There is so much to do here for every age, this place is fun.  As we packed everything way we decided to drive around the park area for a while.  Quartz Mountain is also used for teaching.  They have schools come from all over to take part in classes ranging from painting to yearbook.  This place is truly magical, there is even a bat cave.

After we left the park it didn't take us long to get back on dirt roads.  These roads lead us to some single track trails.  We found some down trees on the trail, remember it is be to remove the trees rather than drive around them.  Driving around fallen trees and make a "trail" around them is not ideal, we want to make as little impact as we can off the normal trail. 

It might have been a couple hundred yards from the downed tree we when found our biggest water crossing on the trail.  We talked long and hard before we even sent DJ out to check the depth.  To be honest the depth wasn't bugging me as much as the sanding angles on each bank.  They were soft and steep.  We decided we would give it a try if Justin would go first.  He had the most capable vehicle and well built Jeep JK.  His 35in tires and lockers should make this an easy crossing for him.  He also has a winch and we knew if there was going to be trouble it would be trying to get up the other side. 
Justin crossed the with ease, after he took a better line the second attempt to climb out of the river.  It would now be my turn. 

My Liberty has 31in BFG All-Terrains, I had just replaced my Duratrac MTs, and no lockers.  I slid down into the river and the crossing was simple the ground was hard, well until I reached the far bank.  I could feel the river bed soften as my front tires hit the bank.  I tried to back up and get a better bump and angle on the steep bank, but was too soft and I was stuck.   The wheelbase was just too short to get back to the hard river bed.  It was a good thing we had planned before attempting this crossing.  Having Justin go first was awesome.  He winched me up with no issues.

Mark's long wheel base, 33 in MTs, and powerful V8 made short work of the crossing.  We found out it was the deepest crossing Mark and Justin had done and the first time Justin had used his winch.  We celebrated once Mark got out, it was a great moment for the group.  After catching our breathe we got back on the dirt roads.  Mark calls out "Wait" I think I'm suck.  I was trying to figure out how, we had only passed a 20ft long small mud puddle, yep it got him.  But a quick switch into 4 wheel drive and he was out on his own.  We laughed so hard that a small mud puddle got him after he had no issue with the river crossing. 

The rest of the day was easy.  Smooth dirt roads awaited us.  We drove for most of the morning and around lunch time we decided to head back home.  A couple of the guys had to get back home so we pulled up the map and found the fast way home, with a lunch break of course.  This was the first real adventure for All Over Overland and it was a blast.  I cannot thank the guys, and gal, that came and make it special for me.  Thank you for coming along.   And a big thank you to everyone that read about our first trip as All Over Overland, watched it on our YouTube page.  https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=all+over+overland, and follows us on FaceBook. 

As always GO ALL OVER!

Molly's report of Spring Break to her school.  It was very full of adventure for her, horse camp and then camping with deer and bats!  LOL Love my sidekick.  

Expedition Overland Alaska vs South America which is better?

Expedition Overland Alaska vs South America which is better?

I know the South America episodes are not yet finished but I have already seen a few people complain that the new series is not like the Alaska series.  I've read that some people are upset that there isn't as much "wheeling" and that there isn't as much raw content in the new South America series.  Some have even said that all they are doing is driving around, lol.  Let us first look at the two different series.

Alaska-

The Alaska series was the first time I had see the Expedition Overland guys.  I was immediately blown away by the filming, editing, and the excitement of the Alaska series.  We followed the guys as the decided to explore Alaska.  They didn't really know what they would find and we loved it.  Would the roads/trails even be driveable?  We watched them struggle with the conditions.  The weather, the roads, the fuel, and unknown.  We witnessed them complete the Dalton Highway, and we were there with them as the failed to complete the Mackenzie Trail.  We saw the highs and lows of the Alaska Expedition.  Alaska was raw and in your face.  A place were not many people live the open spaces are so big messing up was life or death.  Most of us had never seen anything like the Alaska Expedition.   

South America-

The South America Expedition is not even finished yet and so far has been full of beautiful scenery.  The XO team showed us what it takes to have vehicles shipped to a different country.  They have had guns pointed at them and they have taken us to the "death road", watching the drop offs made my hands sweat.  They have met new more people on this trip than any other so far.  We have seen their struggles with getting fuel as international travelers.  Each day we see the sights along and just off the Pan American Highway that they have carefully picked and planned.  They are showing us what to expect if we decide to follow their path.  So far we have seen the longest tunnel in the side of a mountain, the deadliest road in the world, the largest salt flat in the world, mummies, and a crazy steep road in a town I have ever seen.  I watched this team give a ride to an elderly couple that didn't speak English.  We are not even near finished watching this series and I am still looking forward to what adventures are ahead on the South America Expedition. 

Comparing the two Expeditions-

Alaska was wild and new.  We were unsure if they could complete everything they set out to accomplish and we watched them come up short.  Alaska was the biggest adventure they had done and we could see how unsure they were at times.  The South America Expedition is different than the Alaska Expedition because we are watching years of experience at work.  This is no longer and group of guys that sit around and decide hey lets go to "fill in the blank" get in some trucks and go.  This is a group where each person has a job, each mission has a plan, and each episode has hours and hours of editing magic into them after they get back.  South America is not wild in the sense of how Alaska is wild.  South America has been explored by many many other overlanders and people have lived there for centuries.  The two are completely different but the goal is the same.  To go explore places you have never been.  I have bought into the XO team and look forward to what they do each time they go out.  I understand that each place they travel will be different and I appreciate that they do not try to make it all see the same.  Each place will not have the same struggles but believe me they do have their own struggles.  We are watching a team grow and become more and more experienced.  Do not let the fact that they are learning and getting better each time make you think any of this is easy.  If it was we would take off and go drive around South America.  Each Expedition is so completely different I'm not sure I can really do a side by side comparison.  I like both for different reasons.  Alaska's raw wildness and South America's complicated beauty. 

To the guys and gals of Expedition Overland keep GOING ALL OVER. 

Expedition Overland Thank You!

Thank you XO! 

I am lucky to get to explore.  I am lucky to live in a country that has so much to offer me as an overlander.  There are so many different types of terrain that I can reach without having to cross borders, which makes it easy.  As explores we all long for a super long distance, country to country, self sustained overlanding trip.  Unfortunately most of us will never get to experience overlanding outside of our own country, heck a large portion might never overland out side their own state.  And I feel there is nothing wrong with that, and I am stoked that people make the most of what they can and get out, because the point is to simply to get out and explore.  This brings me to a huge Thank You to the Expedition Overland team and what they do.

I just finished the 6th episode of the South American Expedition.  Watching the rigs cross a river on boats that I'm not sure I would feel safe on with just a suitcase was fun and exciting.  The tight and steep street roads of Bolivia were crazy and they did it pulling a trailer!  The Death Road made my hands sweat watching the thousand feet drop offs on sketchy roads where the dirt starts to fall out from under your tire, WOW!  Its even more crazy because this is a road use by people just doing everyday life.  It is called Death Road for a reason and seeing some of the crosses along the side of the road reminds you that people lost their lives on this road just doing everyday life.  One of the best moments was watching them take the older couple down that road to their home and that tells me more about the people of Expedition Overland than any adventure they could ever show us, way to go guys. 

The team of Expedition Overland works together so well to get the best shots and tell a great story.  This is more than just entertainment for me they have made me feel like I have been with them since day one.  I cannot image the work that goes into planning these long trips, my 5 day trips sometimes can be overwhelming if I am planning for more that just myself.  This team has so much talent when it comes to the editing and the filming of these episodes it is amazing.  I cannot wait for each episode they put out because they are so consistent with the high quality of each video they produce. 

Again Thank You Expedition Overland for the videos.  Please continue to take us with you as you travel and explore the world.  For those of us that can only dream of doing this we thank you.  You have brought these places closer to us.  You have given all of a kid like excitement to go explore our own backyards and you have maybe even inspired some of us to travel the world and explore. 

If you haven't yet checked them out here is a link to their YouTube page they have taken us to Alaska, Central America, and now South America.
https://www.youtube.com/user/ExpeditionOverland

Expedition Overland Team as always GO ALL OVER! 



**images are not mine from the Expedition Overland website https://www.xoverland.com

Day 3 of the Oklahoma Adventure Trail the West Half

OAT Trip Part 3

We started our day with a hike at the Black Kettle Recreational Area Creek Trail.  We lost the trail not to far into the hike, but that didn't matter we just blazed our own.  The kids loved it and ran head of us.  As we got back to camp we packed up and said our goodbyes to Jack, Maggie, and their grandson.  We would miss them the rest of the trip and they would miss the best parts!

The trail was smooth the first part of the day.  We would drive through some ranches passing over cattle guards.  The ranchers were all nice and gave us big waves as we drove by them.  We made great time and put a ton of miles on this smooth part of the trail. 

As we entered the southwest portion of the state it amazed me how different it was from the northwest.  Even as we crossed over I40 we all could see that this part of the trail was going to be great.  The views were getting even better and the trails curved around hills and canyons.  We even got to hear a local Jeep group that happen to be exploring an area called Buzzard Canyon over the CB.  There was a report of a rolled Jeep, we all held our breath for a minute because Justin and I knew a few people that were out there.  The good news is that no one was hurt and they got the help they needed. 

We came up on an old abandoned school, Plain View School.  We decided to get out and explore the inside.  I was blown away that were still tables and other items left behind.  The textures were awesome to photograph and the gym was by far my favorite.  Part of the roof was missing and the old wood floor was still there, although very rough.  As I walked around the outside with my camera I noticed a building next to the school, I had to go explore.  I had just moved my camera from my eye when a large white owl came flying right at me.  I didn't get the shot and almost peed my pants. 

The dirt started to change colors, darker in places and almost white in others.  The trail also would get narrower and the roads rougher.  We made our way to Sandy Sanders Wildlife Management Area and no one in the group had ever heard of this area but we all fell in love.  It felt like we jumped into an old wild west movie.  As we entered in the area I couldn't help but think what it must have been like to be an Indian living in this area or a cowboy riding his horse all alone.  There are some open camping areas in Sandy Sanders and we all agreed we would need to come back and explore this area more someday. We found a private section of the trail that was posted but it also said as long as you don't stop you can pass through.  So far this day has been amazing and we still had more to come.
                                 

We found some more sandy roads that were dusty and narrow.  Mark and Justin had never done a real river crossing before.  This one would not be very difficult but we still got out and checked the situation out.  I showed the guys what to do before you cross water on the trail.  You need to check the depth, even if you have to walk it first.  You need to all be on the same page and have a plan if something goes wrong  The river was a wide but not very deep.  It was awesome that even this crossing, being really easy, brought us all together.  It was good practice because we would need it later.

We came across another old abandoned school, Ron School.  I know nothing about the history and it was completely gutted with the roof removed.  It was in a cattle field and I think it is now used as a wind block for the cattle.  We had to be careful because there was a bull in the field!  I thought the old house across the street was much more interesting and wish I that I could have gotten closer. 
We made our way to Quartz Mountains but not before we grabbed some beer for the camp fire.  As we arrived we were greeted by the mountains, well Oklahoma mountains anyway.  Showers were on the list as well as a good meal.  The girls were happy to go play on the playground and we even had deer walk through our campsite, the girls loved it.  We spent the end of the day around the camp fire drinking some beer telling stories of the day while the girls slept in the back of the Jeep.  It would be the last night of the trip and the best sleep as well. 

The trip was nearing and end.  Tomorrow would be our last day.  It would also be the most exciting day of the entire trip.  Make sure and keep an eye out for Part 4 and read about how I got the my Jeep stuck in the river, yeah way fun.  Thanks for reading my blog and remember GO ALL OVER!