Outdoors

In Pictures: Over land to Overland Expo 2014

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Overland Expo 2014
After about five hours of highway driving, I continued south on Skutumpah Road in Grand Staircase
US Air Force Jeep set-up
Morning view from my Day 1 campsite in Grand Staircase
The "Lizzybus" has been on a grand trip across all seven continents
After getting back onto pavement on Day 2, I found myself in the middle of a cattle drive - very slow and steady
Another bright Unimog camper from Global Expedition Vehicles
US Air Force Jeep set-up
This yellow camping truck pairs a 2003 Unimog U500 and a GXV Safari camper
This GXV Unimog camper was built for a cross-continental trip across Asia and Europe
This 1996 Land Rover Defender 110 300 TDi-based camper is nicknamed "Lizzy"
Another Land Rover Defender with roof tent
You can read more about the vehicle and voyage at whiteacorn.com
The hydraulic system separates the bedroom into an upper loft, leaving the entire downstairs for other activities
The Perky Mog
Host Industries campers and expedition vehicles offer slide-out modules that increase living space
The Perky Mog was one of several featured vehicles at the show
Unimog dump truck
Host Outback expedition vehicle
Host Outback expedition vehicle
In addition to expedition vehicles and motor coaches, Host industries makes slide-out campers for trucks
Bed in the Host truck camper
Inside the Host truck camper
The Host Industries slide-outs create a roomier interior, complete with fireplace
In 2007, Bend, Oregon-based Host credited itself with "America's first triple slide truck camper"
The Moby1 C2 is designed to be towed by motorcycles and small cars
The Moby1 XTR off-road expedition trailer
A peek inside the Moby1 C2
Moby1 options include an air conditioning unit
The Moby1 C2 starts at US$6,500
A Moby1 XTR set-up with roof tent for added sleeping capacity
Moby1 XTR
Moby1 trailers offer cozy sleeping quarters
The Moby1 XTR starts at $18,500
Cascadia Tents pickup set-up
Cascadia Tents pickup set-up
This Defender camper looks ready for anything
Aftermarket love
The Grub Hub is a portable camp kitchen unit
Another Land Rover Defender camper
Trike spotted in the parking lot
A few off-road camper rigs tackle the skills area
Rugged MAN camper
This MAN isn't quite as big as the 8x8 with slide-out we saw in Dusseldorf, but it's still a big, capable machine
Trike spotted in the parking lot
Ambulance converted to a camper
The owners said that the cabinet doors have a tendency to rattle and bust open, so they replaced them with webbing
Food storage and pass-through in the ambulance camper
Part of the money-saving strategy behind this camper is being willing to leave your camper and possessions behind
Outside of adding the bed, removing the cabinet doors and shortening the rear cabinet to make more room, much of the work was already done
1945 Jeep CJ-2A
What was once an ambulance is now a camper
Inside the Jeep CJ-2A
1945 Jeep CJ-2A
1945 Jeep CJ-2A courtesy of the Walter P. Chrysler Museum
Overland Journal Brute Double Cab Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
Overland Journal Brute Double Cab Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
Recaro seats in the Local Motors Rally Fighter
The Local Motors Rally Fighter may not camp anyone, but it's certainly ready to drive over land
Inside the Local Motors Rally Fighter
Inside the Local Motors Rally Fighter
The blue one was nice, but this is what the Local Motors Rally Fighter should look like
Goodyear tires
The Rally Fighter is planted on a tubular steel space frame
Local Motors Rally Fighter
Local Motors describes the Rally Fighter as a "50-state street legal off-road desert racer"
The $99,900 Rally Fighter is powered by a 430-hp 6.2-liter LS3 engine
A Toyota Land Cruiser pickup camping rig
This Toyota Land Cruiser pickup was one of our favorite finds at the show
Bellingham-WA based VMI offers the X-Tender line of off-road trailers
The VMI X-Tender Ox
The VMI X-Tender Ox starts at $18,995
One of VMI's new add-ons is this slide-out tray that makes gear access easier
VMI Off Road truck camper
Vulture Equipment Works
VMI Off Road truck camper
Inside the Stout Bell Tent
Going old school: The canvas Stout Tent
Inside the GXV Pangea LT
Inside the GXV Pangea LT
The GXV Pangea LT uses a hydraulic lift roof and starts at $229K
Inside the GXV Pangea LT
GXV Pangea LT floor plan and specs
The Pangea LT's roof lowers to cab height, allowing it to ship to your overland destination of choice
Land Rover G4 Challenge vehicle
The raised roof on the Pangea LT did not appear as high as the one on the Perky Mog, which is a GXV Pangea build
Inside a Sportsmobile
Inside a Sportsmobile
Sportsmobile van campers
Sportsmobile van campers
The latest Sportsmobile cutaway Ford camper van
This Sportsmobile's fiberglass camper offers a wider interior (up to 74 in/188 cm)
Power comes from a 6.8-liter V10 engine
This military-look Pinsgauer camper has a 16,000-lb (7,257-kg) winch
A 1976 Pinsgauer camper conversion
A peek at the electrical/tool area of the Pinsgauer camper
The Pinsgauer camper sleeps two up top
A classic camper jeep
Land Rover drivers test their mettle
Two types of classics
Military-style camping hardware
Mini campers exist outside of concept cars
Military-style camping hardware
Looking out at the sea of tents and campers from our Overland Expo campsite
The first off-road leg of my journey to Overland Expo
Campfire, Night 1
UT SR12 climbs Boulder Mountain where you can look out onto the canyon country below
This narrow, twisty section of Highway 12 is called the Hogback
Kiva Koffeehouse, Escalante, Utah
The coffee was okay, but the views were what made this worth an hourlong stop
UT Highway 12
View from Highway 12
Driving into Sedona
Schnebly Hill Road opened up a great introduction to Sedona scenery
After rounding a corner on the forest road, a first glimpse of Sedona
My campsite along Schnebly Hill Road just before the descent into Sedona
Sportsmobile campers at Overland Expo 2014
Sportsmobile campers at Overland Expo 2014
Sportsmobile campers at Overland Expo 2014
Slide-out kitchen hardware
In addition to serving as camper platforms, ambulances served out coffee
SUV camper at Overland Expo 2014
Ural Motorcycles
Ural Motorcycles
Ural Motorcycles
Ural Motorcycles
Motorcycle Village at Overland Expo 2014
Motorcycle Village at Overland Expo 2014
Ready to road trip
KTM bikes
Motorcycle Village at Overland Expo 2014
Motorcycle Village at Overland Expo 2014
Motorcycle Village at Overland Expo 2014
Motorcycle Village at Overland Expo 2014
Motorcycle Village at Overland Expo 2014
Motorcycle Village at Overland Expo 2014
Motorcycle Village at Overland Expo 2014
Motorcycle Village at Overland Expo 2014
Back with the dirt and stickers to prove it
Motorcycle Village at Overland Expo 2014
Motorcycle Village at Overland Expo 2014
Jeep Wrangler Habitat
Mobile office: Kanz Field Power Desk
In addition to the kitchen and desk, Kanz also offers the Field Bar
The Kanz Field Bar is ready for all your post-adventure cocktail needs
Under the awning of this Jeep pickup camper
Jeep Wrangler with pickup conversion and full camp kit
Jeep Wrangler with pickup conversion and full camp kit
Maxtrax FJ Cruiser
Maxtrax FJ Cruiser
A peek through the Earthcruiser's pass-through
Aboard the Earthcruiser 4x4 Expedition Vehicle
The Earthcruiser is another camping vehicle based on the Mitsubishi Fuso
Earthcruiser at Overland Expo 2014
Malayan 4x4 from Tiger Adventure Vehicles
Malayan 4x4 from Tiger Adventure Vehicles
Inside the Tiger Malayan 4x4
Inside the Tiger Malayan 4x4
Inside the Tiger Malayan 4x4
Tiger Malayan 4x4
A different look for the Tiger Malayan 4x4
1962 Jeep Willys Underground Concept
The vibrant 1962 Jeep Willys Underground was among several interesting vehicles at Chrysler's display
An old school road trip wagon
1962 Jeep Willys Underground Concept
A vibrant 1962 Jeep was among the vehicles at Chrysler's display
1962 Jeep Willys Underground Concept
The Jeep Mighty FC pickup concept loses its top
Jeep introduced the original Mighty FC concept at Moab Easter Jeep Safari 2012, then showed this convertible version at this year's event before bringing it to Overland Expo
The Jeep Mighty FC at Overland Expo
The plaid interior of the Mighty FC
The all-new Ram Power Wagon debuted at the 2014 New York Auto Show and stopped by for an appearance at Overland Expo
The 2014 Power Wagon rides on new 33-in Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac tires
Inside the 2014 Ram Power Wagon
Inside the 2014 Ram Power Wagon
The Power Wagon comes in three trim levels
The 2014 Ram Power Wagon
The new Power Wagon has 14.5 in (37 cm) of ground clearance and skid plates
The 2014 Power Wagon is powered by a 410-hp 6.4-liter HEMI V8
A classic Power Wagon at Overland Expo 2014
The Ford F-150 SVT Raptor might have something to say about it, but Ram claims the Power Wagon as "the most off-road-capable pickup"
The 2014 Ram Power Wagon makes its first western US appearance at Overland Expo
The RamBox cargo management system is wired into the central locking system
The 2014 Ram Power Wagon uses a new 5-link coil rear suspension
The Power Wagon has front and rear electronic-locking differentials and a standard 12,000-lb (5,443-kg) winch
Unfortunately, no one was around to talk to about this burly trike, so we just had to stare
Heavily modded FJ Cruiser with Tepui tent-topped trailer
Heavily modded FJ Cruiser with Tepui tent-topped trailer
Toyota FJ Cruiser roof-camping set-up
Packed up and ready to go
US Air Force Jeep with trailer
Inside the US Air Force trailer
Inside the US Air Force Jeep
Overland Expo 2014
Refrigerator on the VMI X-Tender Ox
A peek inside the VMI truck camper
VMI Compass trailer
View gallery - 197 images

According to the folks that organize the annual Overland Expo, "overlanding" is exploring and camping by way of vehicle – "whether 100 miles or 10,000 miles from home, on backroads or highly technical terrain." Gizmag had the opportunity to attend this year's show, and to get in the spirit, we did some light overlanding of our own, driving a few of America's most scenic byways and backways. We're back with the full trip report and a mega-gallery covering everything from adventure motorcycles to multi-story, all-terrain homes.

It seemed downright silly to take a plane and stay in a hotel when attending a show dedicated to journeying and living on two, three, four – and more – wheels. So I abandoned the usual trade-show travel itinerary, loaded my SUV up with camping gear and firewood, and set off on the nine-hour drive south from northern Utah to northern Arizona.

Packed up and ready to go

My Nissan Pathfinder, which I drove and slept in, was easily one of the least interesting camping rigs to make the trip to the expo. But it was a light, simple and inexpensive solution that kept me from having to sleep in a tent on the super-lumpy ground of the show. By removing a few boxes, tools and accessories from the folded rear seats of the passenger side, it went from drive to sleep mode within a couple minutes – something that proved valuable on a trip where I slept at five campsites in the matter of a week.

There is no shortage of scenic, remote high mountain and desert routes standing between northern Utah and Mormon Lake, just south of Flagstaff. On Day 1, I chose to connect highways I-15 and US-89 by cutting across a stretch of dirt road through Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. The rule here is to only camp in previously disturbed areas, so it took a bit of driving to find a proper pull-out with an existing fire ring, but I managed to find a spot just before dark. Despite being in the middle of nowhere, I found myself camped within a few hundred yards of a (rather loud) group. Still, it was a relaxing solo overnight stay.

After about five hours of highway driving, I continued south on Skutumpah Road in Grand Staircase

I got back to the bitumen the following morning and arrived at the show in the afternoon, spending two nights camping in a large grass lot packed with RVs, tents, campers and pretty much every other wilderness living module imaginable. The show was quite interesting and productive, but tiring. I found myself eager to escape the masses and left a night earlier than originally planned, shooting west across the smooth forest road-cum-bumpy switchback descent that connects Mormon Lake and Sedona.

After rounding a corner on the forest road, a first glimpse of Sedona

After a short biking trip in Sedona, I headed back north and detoured off the interstate once again, opting for a scenic side trip up the length of Utah's Highway 12. This 124-mile All-American Road is surrounded by one of the most distinct combinations of terrain in the world.

View from Highway 12

From its start in a bright red, hoodoo-lined canyon, onward through wide open red and white sandstone slashed open by gorges, and up forested mountains overlooking more red rock country, Highway 12 climbs, drops and twists through a number of public lands, including Bryce Canyon National Park, Grand Staircase-Escalante and Dixie National Forest, ending a few miles from Capitol Reef National Park. After an overnight stay on the edge of Grand Staircase's Hole-in-the-Rock Road and a cup of mandatory morning caffeine at the most scenic coffee shop I'd ever been to, it was back to business on the tail end of Highway 12, then the dull, five-hour interstate journey home.

Being in the middle of my own little road trip definitely helped to tune me in to the vast array of expedition equipment at Overland Expo. Stories like leaving traditional life for full-time road living and getting chased out of foreign countries by revolutionary uprisings put my little work holiday to shame but added to my understanding of the importance of finding the right overlanding rig, gear and accessories for the trip(s) at hand.

Unlike other camper shows, such as the Dusseldorf Caravan Salon, the focus of Overland Expo is quite decidedly on off-road-ready camping gear and vehicles. Amidst such a sea of burly, rock-hungry expedition vehicles, it would have been difficult to pick out the most extreme had it not been for one 4x4 camper that made its case loud and clear. It was bright orange, and it rose a story higher than the average monster camper, making its large, but not that large, neighbors look rather puny.

The Perky Mog was one of several featured vehicles at the show

Called the "Perky Mog," the drivable shelter serves as a full-time home for its owners. It was built last year by Global Expedition Vehicles on a 2005 Unimog U500 platform, and the camper body raises in height to open up a loft bedroom – complete with a staircase. The lifting roof also uncovers the windows for extra ventilation. Because it's used as a full-time home, the owners weren't letting folks in to take photos, so all we have is the exterior. You can see interior, build and travel photos on the Perky Mog's Facebook page, however.

Right next to the Perky Mog was a completely different take on the expedition vehicle. The ambulance was converted by a Phoenix couple with pronounced Australian roots planning an expedition to South America with their granddaughter. We mistakenly assumed that the ambulance donor platform was just for visual flair, but after a few minutes speaking with the owners, we saw the merit of the design much more clearly.

What was once an ambulance is now a camper

What we learned was that building on a used ambulance is cheaper than custom-building a camper van or truck, a fact that's an advantage up front but also when encountering the possibility that the vehicle will be stolen, confiscated or otherwise lost during the overlanding voyage (this was the couple that mentioned having to flee Indonesia because of a revolution).

An ambulance is also wider than other common camper vehicles, including a previously used Sportsmobile that proved a little too narrow and cramped inside. It also came pre-equipped with camper-friendly amenities like an air conditioned cabin, which will be switched over to a dedicated power system, and built-in cabinets.

While large, larger and downright massive four-wheeled overlanders took up the bulk of the show, the expo also had a dedicated space for adventure motorcycles. This space had more luggage and accessory companies than motorcycle manufacturers, but seeing some of the bikes all packed up for cross-country travel certainly made me itch to ditch my SUV and head for the horizon on two wheels. One of my favorite motorcycles from the show was this weathered-and-worn BMW F 800 GS, which has clearly seen some mileage.

Back with the dirt and stickers to prove it

There were also a few non-overnight, off-road vehicles there, too. Chrysler brought the all-new Ram Power Wagon west from its 2014 New York Auto Show debut last month and also showed an updated version of the 2012 Jeep Mighty FC concept. The modified Mighty FC features the same Wrangler-based, cab-forward pickup design, but it has lost its roof, making it a large, open-air Jeep pickup – we can think of few things in the world cooler than that.

Jeep introduced the original Mighty FC concept at Moab Easter Jeep Safari 2012, then showed this convertible version at this year's event before bringing it to Overland Expo

You'll find many more snapshots from our trip in our complete Overland Expo photo tour gallery. We snapped everything from converted military vans, to classic Jeeps, to off-road sports cars, to rugged trailers ... and much more.

View gallery - 197 images
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2 comments
BigGoofyGuy
Those are great photos. There is such a wide variety of campers that at least one will fit almost everyones needs / wants.
eMike
Where is the EarthRoamer? Please share it with the target audience.