If you like vehicle supported adventures, this show is for you. TAP went to the 2018 Overland Expo West to check out the gear, off-road trailers, rooftop tents, van conversions and much more. Here is a brief overview of the show.
Rigs: Never boring, always plentiful…
Many brands display their products and services via a very cool vehicle display. Here are a few I liked.
Dave Harrington, owner of AEV, created this light weight Jeep-camper, which attracted a lot of attention.Patriot Campers sells off-road trailers and attracted many people/potential customers by displaying this stealthy vehicle.The crew at Hitch Hammock brought this little beauty to serve as their billboard.If this doesn’t get your attention….Falken went Old school with their choice of rig.Bob Wohlers of Off Road Safety Academy came with his Powerwagon and Four Wheel Pop Up Camper.
The Parking Lot was fun to browse through too…
Come the Zombie Apocalypse, these folks are set.Adventure Dual sports are a big part of this show. No enthusiasts here….
Roof Top Tents…
RTT’s are going mainstream and were all over the place! Here are a couple to feast your eyes on.
iKamper was there with their easy up Skycamp RTTAutohome displayed an array of hard top RTT’s.
As I said, there were massive amounts of Roof Top Tents. TAP will be coming out with an updated Roof Top Tent buyer’s guide this fall, so keep your eyes out for it.
Off-Road Trailers…
There are so many to choose from based on your style preference and needs. Here is a taste of a few showcased at Overland Expo West 2019.
Turtleback Trailers was there in force. They manufacture an array of styles catering to multiple levels of rugged off-road functionality.Nuthouse Industries manufacture expedition ready trailers and cab builds.Oregon Trail’R was there with their rugged and ready teardrops.Off Grid showed their compact and ready-to-roll-over-extreme-terrains trailers.The Schutt XVenture series is equipped with a customized trailer bed and elevated roof rack for your RTT.Not sure if a teardrop trailer is right for you? So-Cal Teardrops offers rentals as well as a number of styles to choose from.
These photos and captions are only teasers. TAP will be publishing our 2018 Off-Road Trailer Buyers guide, in the fall, which will give you a comprehensive description, stats, pricing, locations and contact information on a large range of off-road trailer manufacturers in the United States.
Conversions…….a hot topic.
#Vanlife What van life? 4×4 overlanding maniac conversions is more like it. Seriously though, 2018 Overland Expo West gave us a vast array of vendors that cater to a broad range of buyers, from DIY to full lux, all were on display.
Adventure Vehicle Concepts offers DIY to turn-key conversion kits for Vans, trailers, even hatchbacks.The guys at Agile are ex-Baja 1000 racing maniacs. Agile Offroad offers full off-road external conversions for Sprinter Vans and the Ford E-Series. This company, who partners with Fox Racing Shox, will convert your rig into an overlanding animal.Aluminess manufactures winch bumpers, roof racks, tire carriers, storage boxes and off-road accessories for Ford, Chevy, Toyota and Dodge trucks and vans.Roambuilt will convert the exterior of your Sprinter into an adventure vehicle. They configure everything from skid plates to roof racks, custom wheels (for the 2015-2018 4×4) to ladders and nudge bars.Snap! Outfitters manufacture a camper for the top of your truck. Pictured here is their Treehouse, a watertight truck cap with an integrated clamshell RTT.Ursa Minor manufactures conversion pop-up camper packages for the Honda Element and Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 2007-2018.GFC manufactures pop up and platform options for most models of Tacomas, Colorado/Canyons, and Tundras.
Aftermarket Components and other goodies….
AEV manufactures top-notch quality parts and turn-key rigs for the JK Wrangler, Dodge Ram and the Chevy Colorado.AEV’s new Mesa Wheel for the RAM 1500 was on display.Pelfreybilt designs and manufactures aftermarket bumpers, skid plates and more for Toyotas.Satin Pelfrey’s rig is sporting their cargo rack, rear bumper with a tire gate, propane tank carrier and fuel caddy.Leitner Designs specializes in Active Cargo Systems which enable you to carry fuel caddies, RTTs, storage pods and much more.Tembo Tusk was cooking up some mean street tacos on their Skottle grill.They have come up with a more compact Mini Skottle for those who need something a bit more compact.Sea to Summit had its first year at 2018 Overland Expo West. They are a well established outdoor company that specializes in camping and adventure travel gear.We have reviewed fold-a-flame and can attest to its durability and convenience. They produce heavy-duty portable fire pits that can be converted into grills…..or visa versa.
Overland Expo West has really grown in the past few years. It lasts three days and you need that much time to take in all it has to offer. This year, Overland Expo West featured close to 400 vehicle and adventure motorcycle OEMs and accessory makers, a Land Rover driving skills course, BFGoodrich tire tests, overland driving and recovery trainings, adventure motorcycling courses, seminars on international travel, border crossings, first aid training, adventure films and much more. In addition to all of that, Overland Expo provides you with a venue filled with people who are passionate about the same types of things you are. So, get a ticket for Overland Expo West 2019. Go with a smile and a hello to other folks at the show and you are sure to come home full of inspiration and great feelings about the tribe who loves vehicle supported adventure.
Article and photos: Lori Palmer, Editor and Co-Founder, The Adventure Portal.
