Snow Camping in the Blue Mountains, WA
Snow Camping In Sub Zero Temps:
Professional Photographer, Nick Page takes us on a frigid but beautiful winter camp/photography trip in the Blue Mountains, WA. Sit back and turn that heater up now!
The Arkto Campers G12 Overland Trailer
The Arkto Campers G12 is a well-rounded overland travel trailer, combining rugged durability, innovative features, and exceptional comfort and quality. With an all-composite construction, hot dip galvanized chassis for extensive rust resistance, and independent suspension with 21 inches of ground clearance, this trailer is built to conquer rough terrains with ease. Equipped with 17” alloy wheels, 33″ all-terrain tires and a 360-degree articulating off-road coupler, it ensures a secure and smooth towing experience in most terrains, allowing you to reach your favorite camp spots effortlessly.
Interior:
Inside, the G12 offers a deceivingly spacious interior with a hybrid-style pop-up roof design, aluminum cabinetry with plenty of storage space, and an adjustable dinette table and seating area. The sleeping arrangements consists of a 6” thick residential queen mattress (80” x 60”), and a 64” long bench which can then be extended to the single seat, to accommodate two children. Which means this compact trailer can help build awesome camping memories for a family of 4!
Exterior:
Outside, the trailer features one of the most functional outdoor kitchens on the market. There is no need to haul tote bins to store all the dry goods and pots/pans, as the kitchen features a massive outdoor-accessible pantry. The slide-out kitchen features a folding countertop extension, sink with hot/cold water, dual burner stove, and spice and cutlery drawers. On the other side of the u-shaped kitchen, past the fold down prep deck, is a slide out 75 Liter chest fridge/freezer. The entirety of the kitchen is covered by a large 270-degree awning, with the optional walls to be zipped in, providing excellent coverage from the elements, enhancing your outdoor living experience.
With a hybrid-style design, pop-up roof, an optional insulated canvas, and an interior standing room of 6’8″, the G12 offers flexibility and comfort during your camping trips. Additionally, it includes an indoor and outdoor-accessible portable toilet, an outdoor shower enclosure, and the largest storage capacity in its class, ensuring maximum convenience throughout your adventures.
Upgrade your camping experience with the Arkto Campers G12—a rugged travel trailer equipped with top-notch running gear, class-leading storage, a super functional outdoor kitchen, and unmatched comfort for unforgettable journeys into the wild.
To Learn More CLICK HERE
The above article is a Sponsored Post. TAP does NOT receive any commissions from sales originating from this article.
Moore Expo – The Ultimate Overland Expo
The MOORE Expo, or the Midwest Overlanding and Off-Road Expo, is the ultimate outdoor showcase for nature lovers and adventure seekers. It stands as a beacon in the Midwest, attracting thousands of outdoor enthusiasts with its dynamic blend of thrilling activities, educational seminars, and extensive range of exhibitors.
Location:
Held at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds in Springfield, Missouri, the MOORE Expo is a vibrant hub of all things overland and off-road. From seasoned explorers to novice adventurers, the expo offers something for everyone. The event provides an extraordinary platform to connect with like-minded individuals, exchange ideas, learn new skills, and fuel your passion for the great outdoors.
At the heart of the MOORE Expo is the commitment to provide an immersive experience. With over 200 exhibitors from around the globe, attendees can explore the latest gear and accessories that the industry has to offer. These exhibitors represent the best in the business, showcasing cutting-edge products and services that cater to every aspect of overlanding and off-roading.
Experiences:
But the MOORE Expo isn’t just about gear; it’s about experiences. The event features action-packed entertainment that keeps the adrenaline pumping. Attendees can witness thrilling demonstrations, participate in hands-on workshops, and attend informative seminars led by industry experts. Each activity is designed to educate, inspire, and entertain, making the expo a truly enriching experience.
S2M Rally:
Bolstering its offerings, the MOORE Expo also hosts the S2M Rally. This rally sets the stage for a fierce competition where participants can test their mettle, challenge their limits, and emerge victoriously. It adds an extra layer of excitement to the expo, making it a must-attend event for anyone with a love for competition and adventure.
Community:
Beyond the thrills and spills, the MOORE Expo is also a community. It’s a place where friendships are formed, stories are shared, and memories are made. Attendees leave the expo not just with new gear and knowledge, but with a sense of belonging to a larger community that shares their love for exploration and adventure.
In 2024, MOORE Expo is set to return with even more excitement and adventure. We invite you to be a part of this extraordinary event and experience the thrill of overlanding and off-roading like never before. Mark your calendars for April 19-20, 2024, and join us at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds in Springfield, Missouri. Unleash your adventurous spirit and immerse yourself in the ultimate outdoor showcase at the MOORE Expo 2024.
To Learn Moore CHECK HERE
Editors note: TAP will be attending this year and presenting daily “A beginners guide to shooting captivating video on the trail” at the Education area: Hope to see you there!
TexasXlander – The Overland Adventurer Series
“The Overland Adventurer Series,” TAP’s monthly feature on individuals who genuinely embody the Overland Life. We start the new year with Scott Willeford, also known as @TexasXlander.
Let’s dive right in.
Thanks for sitting down with us Scott. Tell us a little about yourself and what’s behind the handle @TexasXlander
I am a professional photographer by trade with a background in product photography and branded story telling. TexasXLander was born out of my home base of Texas. The X in my Social Media has two meaning. First, it means I’m at home wherever my X on a map is. Secondly, the X represents traveling cross country by using the roads less traveled. My happy place is somewhere, anywhere off-grid with my wife and a story to tell.
What rig are you currently driving and why? Give us a quick run-down on what’s been the best and maybe worst, major upgrades?
This is a great question because there is no real perfect overland rig. The best rig is the one that takes you on an adventure and brings you home safely.
My rig has been purposely built to handle some of the most extreme conditions I could imagine. From the ground up, my 2018 Jeep Wrangler JLU has been built to take me deep into the back country. I love the offroad capability a Jeep Wrangler has as it comes off the lot. With a few modifications, a stock Wrangler can become an amazing platform to take you beyond the horizon. For me, my top upgrades would have to be the 37” Nitto Ridge Grapplers and Currie Enterprises HD60 and LP60 One Ton Axles. This tire and axle combination provides me with stability and confidence when the trail get difficult. To complete the functional side of my build, the Jeep is equipped with a 3.5” Rock Krawler X- Factor Mid Arm Lift. As far as my worst upgrade goes, getting my steering components dialed in after my axle upgrade was a bit painful. But Don at RPM Steering came through and got me sorted out nicely.
You’re a dedicated trailer guy and pull the Boreas XT. Why a rig+ trailer and not a single platform that does it all?
I am absolutely dedicated to overlanding with an adventure trailer in tow. For me, it doesn’t make sense to drive into the middle of nowhere to set up camp just to tear it down so you can explore further. Having a trailer, allows us to set a basecamp and extend our adventures deeper into the back country. The type of places we like to go, I dont believe there is is a single platform that does it all. Well, maybe a Earth Roamer with a pair of Dual Sport motorcycles. But my income doest quite support that yet.
Let’s give a shout out to Boreas trailers. With so many trailer brands to choose from, why them?
Why a Boreas XT? This is probably the most popular question I get.
After doing months of research, I found the Boreas XT built by Boreas Campers in Pueblo, Colorado checked all the boxes. American Made. Family Owned. A true Offroad Trailer. Light and Nimble. And a cabin to sleep in, not an Roof Top Tent. Matt and Maggie Reichel have taken their passion of backcountry adventures and built the best offroad camper in North America. Apart from the trailers they make, the #1 thing that puts them head and shoulders above the competition is their superior customer service. I am definitely a devoted customer to Boreas Campers.
How often do you hit the trails and what’s been your most eventful or exciting trip to date? (Editor’s Note: I think I may know which one it is?)
In a perfect world, we’d like to be on the trail about 3 months out of 12. We took a hard financial hit in 2023 and cut back on some of our adventures. But we still managed to knockout some epic trips. To narrow down the most eventful or exciting trips to one is challenging. The Badlands of South Dakota and central Wyoming were certainly one of my favorites. Taking 8 days to travel overland back to Texas from Overland West in Flagstaff, showing a new friend around southern Utah was phenomenal. Then there is Baja California with Marco OVRLNDX and very special group of people. This trip is by far the most memorable and exciting. You can check out a past issue of The Adventure Portal and “When Things Go South In Baja: Part 1” to see how Baja played out for us.
Overlanding has seen massive growth in the past few years. What trends are you seeing and where’s the future heading?
Overlanding and the outdoor industry is strong and continues to evolve. I’m seeing more people, more families ditching traditional vacations in search of the greater and more meaningful than a trip to an amusement park.
In 2024 and beyond, you’ll see us on more international vehicle supported adventures. We hope to find ourselves in a new rig, somewhere in Southern Africa by late 2024 or early 2025.
There’s so many rig platforms and gear to choose from, so any sage advice for folks who are looking at taking up the lifestyle?
Start small and see if you even like it. Get comfortable with not having a shower or bathroom for days on end. Overlanding looks glamorous and fun, but it takes commitment and flexibility to have successful trip. Most importantly, love who your with. People can make or break a trip.
Finally, any fun trail stories to share?
There is so many micro stories from your Baja Trip that I continue to tell. The pop up Tiki Bar by Rhino Adventure Gear and learning how to fish for scallops in Guerrero Negro standout. I’ll never eat another store bought or restaurant scallop because of this amazing experience.
Four Wheel Campers Updates for 2024
TAP’s founders started their personal overland journey back in 2007 in a Four Wheel Campers Hawk/Tundra combo, so their’s a special affinity with the iconic brand. That said, it was great to receive the following information on all the new exciting updates coming in 2024.
Products evolve based on the availability of new technology, changing consumer preferences, and new ideas. Improvement ideas come from dealers, customers, prospective customers, and employees. These new products and features from partners like Dakota Lithium, Redarc, Victron, and Truma are the result of Four Wheel Campers crew listening and innovating.
Truma Furnace and Water Heater:
Truma furnaces and water heaters are known for industry-leading reliability and performance. The furnaces are quieter, offer more precise temperature management, and perform better at higher elevations. All campers with furnaces and, or water heaters will now be equipped with a Truma VarioHeat furnace and Truma AquaGo Comfort water heater.
Automatic Roof Lifting:
Two new optional roof lift assist products enable customers to automatically raise their roofs. A heavier roof makes it more challenging for some to manually lift. The new lift assists are a solution for users with a combination of roof racks, solar panels, roof vents, air conditioners, storage boxes, surf boards, sups, canoes, and kayaks. For customers with campers, one of the new lift assist products comes with a kit that includes the required parts, how-to installation instructions, and a how-to install video link. Installation can be done by a FWC dealer or by the camper owner.
Rooftop Air Conditioning:
In some US regions, there is a need for AC to make summer camping more enjoyable. Now, the combination of lithium batteries and a new light and efficient Nomadic Cooling X2 AC product, make optional rooftop AC a reality. AC is now available on 90% of camper models.
Underbed Storage:
A popular feature of Flat-bed camper models, optional underbed storage, is now available for Slide-in camper models. The underbed storage adds welcomed space of 72” wide X 58” long X 4” deep. In addition to the enhanced space, the underbed storage delivers an aesthetic improvement to the camper extension over the truck cab. Also, the extended cabover length translates to a reduction in the slide-out portion of the bed. This means the slide-out bed doesn’t consume as much camper living space. Lastly, on models with underbed storage, the interior height increases from 6’6”to 6’10”, adding to the already spacious feel inside the camper.
For More Information on Four Wheel Campers, CLICK HERE
The AOR Odyssey Series 3 Off-Road Trailer
The 100% Australian-built AOR Odyssey Series 3 is the ultimate hybrid camping experience. Built to be the perfect escape for couples, small families, and solo travelers, the Odyssey is an 11′ pop top hybrid camper that is small enough to tackle the toughest trails and off-grid excursions, while still offering interior living space and the comfort of luxurious Australian caravans.
This interior of this hybrid camper offers a queen size bed, internal kitchen and stovetop, 130L fridge/freezer, and sink. The bed sits atop hydraulic struts revealing a 4-person dinette with a swing out table. The amenities don’t stop there; you have plenty of storage space both internally and externally with a slide out 3-burner cooktop and expansive stainless steel prep space suitable for the outdoor chef in the family.
The AOR Odyssey Series 3 is powered by the RedArc Redvision featuring up to 525W Solar, 300Ah lithium batteries, and 2000W inverter. A Webasto diesel furnace and hot water heater with up to 74 gal of fresh water and an optional grey water tank is available. For your outdoor living, the SupaPeg 180 Freestanding Awning extends to 22 feet, covering the entire kitchen and living area and allows for coverage to the rear mounted enclosed ensuite and privacy tent.
The Odyssey can even be converted to be a ‘toy hauler’ with drawbar extension, dirt bike mount, and GVWR upgrade to make it the ultimate, go-anywhere trailer. The Odyssey has a genuine 30-degree departure angle and weighs in at 3100lbs dry which makes it perfect for a medium size 4WD vehicle.
AOR models are exclusively imported from Australia to the United States by XGRiD Campers.
XGRiD Campers is dedicated to helping customers experience the off-grid lifestyle. Through partnerships with the world’s leading overland camper manufacturers and an in-house team of dedicated outdoor enthusiasts, they help the wanderlust adventurer find and configure the right rig for their journey. XGRiD Campers serve customers across the United States, with locations in Las Vegas, NV and Knoxville, TN.
