Let me preface this whole thing by saying I’m not an expert — there are people who professionally ship vehicles to Europe regularly and are probably better positioned to assist with specific questions about your shipping. But there is also a dire lack of information on this topic on the internet, so I’m trying to fill that void by providing my experience on shipping my 2019 Jeep Wrangler JL overland build to the United Kingdom.
Read MoreAlmost two years ago, we had our friends at Bull Run 4x4 install the first lift kit on our Jeep Wrangler JL Rubicon. At the time, we were just starting to dabble with the concept of overlanding, and it was limited to a rooftop tent and the odd weekend trip. We hadn’t upgraded to heavy custom drawer systems, a winch, full auxiliary power system, or any of the other goodies yet, so the Jeep was relatively lightweight (or closer to stock weight).
Read MoreAs you probably have already discovered, there’s not much you cannot buy on amazon.com these days. It is almost a game to see what sort of curveball request you can lookup Amazon and I’ve learned to not be surprised when that oddity can be delivered in 2 days or less.
Read MoreWe recently added some Goose Gear drawers to our Jeep Wrangler JL overland build, and immediately found need to organizer the organization. The drawers that come from Goose Gear are nice and spacious, but that can be a double edged sword. On the one hand, it means we can cram a lot of goodies in there. But at the same time, it can quickly turn into a mess of junk without good organization inside those drawers. Here are some hacks and DIY tips we’ve used to get our setup clean and tidy.
Read MoreAnyone who has ever gone car camping learns how much gear is needed to make a trip survivable. And if you want to go from survivable to enjoyable…well that takes more gear. Overlanders, who often traverse rough terrain with additional gear considerations quickly understands every nook and cranny that can be used to pack rat equipment.
Read MoreLast year I had a chance to meet Brad Self from Hi-Vis Overland at the Blue Ridge Overland Gear Rooftop Tent Rally. Brad and I instantly bonded, and it wasn’t over our shared love of overlanding and adventure… but because he has an orange Jeep decked out for adventure. I love seeing other orange Jeeps, and other overland equipped orange Jeeps are one of the rarest breeds.
Read MoreWe recently joined John from Fury Training Concepts and Dean from East Coast Overland Adventures for a weekend expedition to hunt for fall foliage in the Blue Ridge Mountains of southwest Virginia. The trip, which was limited to 10 vehicles, as organized and sold through Blue Ridge Overland Gear — if you are interested in doing a trip like this, keep an eye on their website for future offerings.
Read MoreI am constantly annoyed by “reviews” posted by people who have been using a piece of equipment for about 13 milliseconds. You’re not qualified to review something unless you’ve really put it through it’s paces and seen the good and bad of it. This is not a 13 millisecond review… this is a comprehensive review of the Area BFE Aluminum Hardshell Tent based on several different trips over this summer. I have used (and packed) the tent in multiple heavy rainstorms. I have knocked it on branches and trees along the trail. It’s been up mountains, to the beach, and everything in between. This is my independent review - I paid retail price for my tent and am not being compensated in any way for this review.
Read MoreHard shell rooftop tents, like mine from Area BFE and the guys at Spirit of 1876, have a number of advantages over soft-shell tents. High on that list of benefits is that you can attach roof rails across the top of tent tent, allowing you to attach additional gear and equipment to your rig.
Read More“Shit Happens”. Forrest Gump reminds us of that. And that’s a good summary of what happened to our rooftop tent. We recently ordered a new Area BFE Hardshell rooftop tent from our overland outfitting friends at the Spirit of 1876. In the process of shipping the tent to me. however, it was severely damaged by the freight company. Despite the damage, I highly recommend Mike and the crew at the Spirit of 1876, and would absolutely buy another tent from them.
Read MoreTake one overland camping trip out in a downpour and you’ll understand the appeal of a roof-mounted awning. At least, that’s what it took before I appreciated that getting an awning for my setup was going to be high on the list for future upgrades.
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