What is your favorite Overland build?
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By Christopher Tracy
Chris works in marketing by day and writes offroad automotive pieces by night. Chris is the producer/cohost of the Off The Road Again Podcast. A dad trying to get his kids outside more. IG: @overlandingdad.
Jeff Glucker
I’m pretty sure I could go just about anywhere with a converted WW2 duck, although it looks a little top heavy for channel crossings. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/036e84fd42db966673d70fbb6d34d646718e6a22db55ab87a196809b08a68ee6.jpg
Fred Dibnah’s Steamroller / Living Van / Land Rover combo is hard to beat. Though, when he went on a tour of England, Scotland and Wales he took the steam tractor. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Dibnah#Fred_Dibnah's_Made_in_Britain
(Fred Dibnah videos on YerTubes is how my cat and I spend our winter evenings.)
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/0fdab956ed8b852a3692c3507d4c50a6a21bd021cb9fe53d5fa64a33ea187697.png
I call it the Triketer-trailer
https://media.giphy.com/media/MVgKQDu6X5IxCFNIb1/giphy.gif
IDK WTF it is but it was in use in Zambia in the mid ’60s. And I want one.
Dobbertin Surface Orbiter
Yep.
I hope the overland build above has either air or a lot of magic in that craptastic suspension height.
Recently, the Kia Soul EV has been everywhere around here. People are also listening to my advice when it comes to buying Kias, a weird feeling. Might also be related to the alternative “buy Russian built V8’s” being bad advice. Anyway, random driving shot with 3 Kia Souls right after each other, something I see more and more.
https://i.ibb.co/0BKH0Bk/IMG-20190202-153704.jpg
Wothahellizat. An Aussie army 6×6 International AACO truck with a very thoughtful camper build on the back. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/c3011cdb04adf8a9a8b5292c705173fbdfb2206a817641bc4a4c50790c439ff2.jpg
The build thread for that thing is incredible. I’m guessing it’s on Expedition Portal, but it’s been years since I read it.
The guy’s website is still up, I suppose I would have read it about 20 years ago; there wasn’t much else like it on the net then, with how well it was documented.
He built a second slightly smaller version after having lived in the original for a few years.
That ‘Burban is sweet, but hardly an “overland”. It looks like it can barely traverse speed bumps. Maybe “overstreet”?
The downside to a truly good overland build is that you should start with something popular and reliable (for parts availability, ease of repairs, etc.). That in itself is going to make it pretty uninteresting (looking at you, Tacoma and 4Runner). The more interesting the build, the more headaches it would be to overland.
I’d start with something oddball like a Jeep FC, and likely break down two hours outside of civilization.
http://www.thefcconnection.com/photogallery/2007%20Phoenix%20Roundup/Jesse%20Ybarra%20%20FC-150%20Pickup%20Camper.jpg
I saw that pic when I was contemplating making an “Overland” pun with a Willys based build. Now I know all the FC’s are on expeditionportal.com
Then I went down a Mercedes Benz Kurzhauber / Rundhauber hole. Most folks start with the L710 or L 911 Ambulance (It has a turret in the cab!) but I like the bumper mounted headlights of the 1620 (single rear axle) or 2620 (double axle), they were mostly dumptrucks.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/c45a4ced6181bd736b8f10f17f37f80214971bce37349973fdbb6fb427f0a970.jpg
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/d7ceef575bd9d71dd7533c2fd418cb1afaa939eaef8518122e3b73715c5e83fc.jpg
Of course, in one of those, “2 hours outside of civilization” is what, 40 miles away?
If you’re truly overlanding, 20 mph on average is probably a pretty good clip in any vehicle. But honestly, I doubt the FCs could get much faster than 45 mph stock on a paved road.
My favorite? Mine! My venerable Ford Econoline, seen here in the Oregon outback this last fall. I’ve dubbed it the Speed Goat, not for its 2WD prowess or leisurely acceleration, but after the native Pronghorn. It’s taken me on many thousands of miles of explorations and over too many Forest Service roads to count, and this winter, I’m treating it to a fully-insulated camper conversion with a kitchenette, ‘fridge, propane heater and more windows.
So, is it “overland”, or an “adventure van”? I think of it more as a faithful mule.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/c411601a2b896ebb66fb1f2c6841f003cce5ea0a00ef5e960a3390bb992e013b.jpg
I’m still doing body work, inside and out. The worst part has been removing and replacing the factory seam sealant that has aged out and cracked, the source of few leaks around the sliding side door track that have been a chronic nuisance. I have interior plywood, mounting hardware and insulation waiting in the wings.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/400da147196a71d949bf839b61fba3b092070bf9bdc29789da5827937b7c21c1.jpg
I have a ’91 E250 in red and white, too! I have a white van (ex-USPS) with red rear doors (ex-San Francisco Fire Department.)
As far as I can tell, Ford never made a convex mirror for the right side. I zip tied a larger piece of curved glass on mine. Classy.
Every van is a camper van, right? As with my old pickup, the most I’d do in the way of “overlanding” mods is a locking differential.
Jam Econo! Red doors, do they still have the F.D. graphics? Mine’s an E150, 300 six, was a ex-pipefitter’s truck, white and bits of tan, then it was purple, now it will probably be some shade of green.
I always get 6 or 8 ply light truck tires for this beast, and it has good ground clearance. I’ve gone off onto a few boulder-strewn cow paths that I shouldn’t have, but I’ve yet to get it stuck. There were a few spots where that was a very good thing, but at least I would have had food, water and a bed if I did! Now I am getting all fancy and want an actual interior and warmth and stuff.