The Sprocket makes the great outdoors even more accessible. As an off-road trailer that is modular in its design, you can start small and work your way up by adding more creature comforts & accessories to your rig.
The all-new Sprocket by Off Grid Trailers is a lighter-weight, more affordable overland camping trailer built on their popular Expedition chassis. This all-metal off-road capable camping trailer is built to last with the same quality craftsmanship and engineering you would find in their other models. With fewer standard features than their other models, they have designed the trailer with modularity in mind, to make way for the after-market and passionate D.I.Y enthusiasts at an affordable entry price.
This lightweight sleep-in camping trailer is R10 insulated and has a queen-size polycarbonate honeycomb sleeping area and pass-through rear storage. The base model will come standard with no kitchen or onboard water, but they offer options for outfitting the trailer to your needs. The 2 optional roof racks have a static load rating of 1000 pounds. The standard Timbren 3500 HD Axle-less suspension is quite capable, but you can also upgrade to the OGT Evolution Series Suspension for 8 inches of wheel travel and an additional 4 inches of ground clearance.
As the adventures change and develop, you can purchase new accessories for the trailer at your own pace. When the kids require their own sleeping space, you can add a full-length roof rack to support a rooftop tent. When you decide to opt for more storage, you can install additional side boxes. If you choose to tackle tougher terrain, you can upgrade to the OGT Evolution Series Suspension.
When most people think of Overlanding, they think of RTT’s. That said, not everyone wants to sleep on their rig’s roof and a Ground Tent makes perfect sense. There’s plenty of great styles, brands and price points out there and here’s a selection that are waiting for that next Overland adventure. The tents we’ve personally tested are marked as such and are linked to our TAP Trail Tested review.
You will love how easy it is to transport your Gazelle Portable Gazebo or Camping Hub Ground Tent. We offer a variety of sizes to ensure that you can transport your shelter with your vehicle whether in your trunk, back seat, or roof rack. Each Gazelle product comes in an oversized, durable, and convenient duffle bag making pack up a breeze. Our Portable Gazebos and Camping Hub Tents come pre-assembled. They feature a durable and lightweight fiberglass pole and all-metal hub framework that easily pops into place and folds back down. Simply pop out each side and roof hub and you’re all set. Gone are the days of looking at diagrams, managing several loose parts, and trying to figure out which pole goes where.
The multi-award winning, Australian-designed OZTENT RV-5 can be easily setup by one person in less than 30-seconds. Made from high quality, waterproof, 8oz Ripstop polycotton canvas and a heavy-duty, heat-sealed PVC floor. Every OZTENT ground tent is made with guaranteed waterproof material and are covered by a full 2 yrs warranty. It comes with side and rear windows and zippered power inlet. All necessary awning poles, pegs and ropes are included. Comes complete in a heavy-duty carry bag.
The SHIFTPOD is not like any other ground tent. It is the ultimate shelter solution for fire fighters, emergency responders, outdoor enthusiasts, festival-goers, and preppers alike. The SHIFTPOD’s unique design is not only visually stunning, but it also boasts an impressive set of features that make it the “best tent on “this” planet”.
First and foremost, the SHIFTPOD’s setup is incredibly easy and fast, taking only 15 seconds to stand up. The tent’s patented frame system eliminates the need for cumbersome tent poles, allowing for a hassle-free (fast) setup experience. Additionally, the SHIFTPOD’s streamlined design ensures it remains quiet inside, without any buffeting or flapping in the wind. But that’s not all – the SHIFTPOD’s reflective properties set it apart from the competition. Its silver-coated fabric reflects UVA and UVB light, effectively shedding heat and preventing the tent from becoming a hotbox during the day. Meanwhile, the same reflective material also works to reflect your body heat at night, keeping you warmer in even the coldest conditions. The SHIFTPOD is made from high-quality, durable materials that are built to withstand even the harshest outdoor conditions. Its weather resistant 12-layer composite, fire-resistant fabric ensures that you and your gear stay dry and safe in any weather, while its sturdy construction ensures the shelter will remain standing even in high winds. In short, the SHIFTPOD is the best shelter on this planet because it combines ease of use, durability, and unique reflective properties to create the ultimate outdoor shelter. Whether you’re camping, attending a festival, or prepping for an emergency, the SHIFTPOD is the perfect choice for anyone who wants the best of the best.
Founded in 2011, HEIMPLANET is committed to creating innovative, sustainable, and user-friendly products that make outdoor adventures more comfortable and accessible for everyone. In 2003, when the idea for a new design for tents was formed during a surfing trip in Portugal, the basis of Heimplanet was created. In 2011 THE CAVE, the first inflatable ground tent by HEIMPLANET, was launched. Since then HEIMPLANET has designed and manufactured a wide range of new hiking and outdoor products using highly advanced technology. HEIMPLANET offers bags for every type of trip along with camping gear for various environments. HEIMPLANET’s goal is to offer the best possible travel equipment for any destination. Using inflatable technology and geodesic design, tents by HEIMPLANET are set up easily using a pump and have special wind stability, so can be set up in any type of weather. HEIMPLANET aims for functionality of outdoor products with innovative design for outdoor living.
The Habiscape 4: For adventurous families and groups looking for a perfect ground tent basecamp, the Habiscape 4 offers everything you need and want. Made for three-season adventures that don’t stray far from the car or boat, it’s the ideal mix of comfortable performance and thoughtful features. Designed to make tent life comfortable and organized, the Habiscape offers plenty of space, standing height and pockets for everyone. Light up the interior with ceiling loops, perfect for lanterns or string lights. And a balance of mesh and solid fabric provides both privacy and airflow.
The tent features a unique bugproof pocket that’s accessible from both inside and outside – perfect for essentials and items you need quickly, like car keys, sunscreen and headlamps. It also features two doors making choosing a setup spot easier and streamlines in-and-out for the whole group. The symmetrical design makes pole placement and setup intuitive and easy, even for one person and the 62.5 square feet of floor space and 73 inches of headroom, is spacious enough that even taller adults have room to stand.
You’ll be amazed at how easy it is to set up this large tent, even by yourself. Get large mattresses or cots inside easily through the two large doors. And the large front rainfly door can be set up three different ways depending on how you want to use the vestibule space. For home-away-from-home comfort and space, the Habiscape 4 is the perfect basecamp tent basecamp for any adventure.
MSRP: $499.95 BUY HERE (Coming Soon! – Sign up for notification of when in stock)
We’ve all been there: it’s 28 degrees at 3:15 a.m. Your boots are by the fire pit…your pants are…somewhere…and your toastiest extra layer is in the car. That’s exactly why we cooked-up the Caboose: the brilliant hybrid shelter that invites your vehicle (and all of its tempting contents) to the party. Just attach the extended awning to your open hatch, and you’ve got a free-standing tent with an extra rumpus room on wheels! Kelty Quick-Corners make setup a breeze, and a Shark-Mouth duffle lets you hit the road in record time. And did we mention, the extended awning turns into a massive vestibule when not connected to your car. Not too shabby.
Features include:
Quick Corners for lightning-fast and easy setup
Semi-universal vehicle attachment
More wind, sun and rain protection than traditional automotive awnings
Heavy duty stakes and guy lines included
Shark Mouth duffel for easy pack-up and cross-body transport
Ikos TR Tent: Building on the design advances made in the award-winning ultralight Telos Tension Ridge ground tent range, Sea to Summit introduces the Ikos TR 2 and TR 3 Tent, which offers the same great livability and versatile setup options for everyday backpacking and vehicle-supported camping. The Ikos features typical Sea to Summit material quality and attention to detail. Tension Ridge places a wide vent at the highest point of the tent, helping minimize condensation build-up. Unlike most vent designs, the Apex Vent doesn’t require a mesh panel to maintain tension across the fly—allowing up to 70% better airflow, unrestricted by mesh. Four inner pockets and two gear lofts provide plenty of storage space, while machined-aluminum pole feet/rainfly C-clips make pitching easy. A DAC MX poleset supports a 68D polyester ripstop rainfly that is flame retardant-free and treated with a C0 non-PFC DWR. This tent comes in two sizes: a two person and a three person – both with a rectangular floor (large enough for – 2 or 3 – regular rectangular sleeping mats). The floor is a 68D polyester with a 4,000mm hydrostatic head; a footprint which extends to the tips of the vestibules is available. Multiple configuration options mean the tent adapts to the weather or your activity. Campers can enjoy Fly Only Mode, Inner Only Mode, Dry Set-Up, Partial Fly Mode, and Classic Mode. Spread out in this amazingly spacious home away from home.
The Kamaboko: DOD Outdoors’ multi-functional super ground tent, the Kamaboko, is the center piece of the perfect base camp. Comfort in camp requires more than just a place to sleep. You also need a place to get out of the sun, out of the rain, away from the bugs, or just get some privacy. The Kamaboko offers all that.
A base camp tent needs space and the Kamaboko has it. The Kamaboko medium has a covered area of 200+sqft before you extend the awnings and an inner height of six and a half feet.
The structure serves as a general shelter during the day. All walls zip open giving you the option of a closed shelter, a mesh shelter, or a completely open shelter. There’s no floor so you can move in and out without removing boots and you you can use any camp furniture under cover of the tent. When it’s time to really relax, throwdown the waterproof floor, pile up some blankets and pillows to longue. When it’s time for bed, clip in the sleeping chambers, or pitch small dome tents inside the Kamaboko, or just setup cots on the ground.
The Kamaboko packs up small, the medium is just 2.6 cubic feet. One person can set up the tent in about 15 minutes; two people can get it up in 10 minutes. A range of accessories sold separately let you customize the tent to exactly meet your needs.
The new day took us further away from any towns or villages and deeper into the unknown of the Baja Divide Trail. That evening after nearly 120 miles of dirt and endless Cardon Cactus forest, we were airing up our tires and saying goodbye to Natalie’s parents as they turned north towards Guerrero Negro on the Pacific Coast. For the rest of us, we continued south to the inland city of San Ignacio. The long distance of the Baja Divide Trailput us behind schedule, causing us to break our rule of no night driving. Due to the narrow roads and loose livestock, driving at night here can be risky. Fortunately, we only had about 60 miles and one desperately needed fuel stop before we were settled for the night.
Located on Highway 1 in Baja California Sur, San Ignacio is a landlocked city and a true oasis in the middle of the desert. Tucked into a forest of dates palms that were planted by Jesuit missionaries in 1728, San Ignacio is a popular stop, and a cultural reward should you choose to experience this amazing city. Our time there was short and filled with wrenching on the Jeeps. Chris was experiencing an alignment issue that was resolved after adjusting his rear axle nearly an inch. For me, I dove deeper into my misfire issue and trying to source the reason I was suddenly burning coolant. This was becoming a mystery in the making. Before leaving San Ignacio, we explored the old town square and Spanish mission before pushing further south down the Baja peninsula.
Our destination for the night was about 45 minutes south of Mulegé. The drive took us through a variety of features that included some mountain passes, The Tres Virgenes Volcanic complex and the eastern Baja coastline. As we came into the industrial town of Santa Rosalia, my motor gave me a gentle reminder it was thirsty for coolant as we were stopping for fresh drinking water. Once again, I was depressurizing my coolant tank and adding coolant while the group resupplied our drinking water.
Flexibility is the key to keeping your sanity when traveling. This especially applies to beach hopping in Baja. As we arrived at our destination of El Requeson, we found the beach to be packed with countless motorhomes, transit vans and an abundance of generators. It was quickly decided we would backtrack a bit to scout a secluded beach in a quiet cove surrounded by mangroves on one side and a little sliver of sand that connected us to a tiny island on the other. Our five jeeps made quick work of the rocky trail that descended down to our home for the night. It was still early afternoon and with camp set up quickly, it was time to break out the kayaks so we could explore our quiet little Baja cove. With hopes for fresh fish for dinner, I cast a line or two, sadly with no luck.
With everyone back at camp, preparations were started for the night’s dinner. The Tembo Tusk Skottles were heating up. A South African Boerwors was cooking as an appetizer on my skottle while Marco was hard at work preparing the fish, we bought from the fishermen for fish tacos. It was at this Baja beach Joost’ Gladiator became known as the Rhino Tiki Bar. On a remote Mexican beach with a group of like-minded people, we were in our element.
Although we could have stayed at this beach for several days, Marco’s promises of better beaches further south continued. It was time to pack up and move further off-grid. As perfect as the setting was at El Requeson, the promise of the magical beach of Agua Verde lured us beyond the horizon.
Along the way, we stopped in the Mexican resort town of Loreto for groceries, water, fuel and to top off my coolant. Dotted with luxury resorts and golf courses, many American and European expats call Loreto Home. But the pampered lifestyle of resort living was not for us as we continued down Highway 1 in search of a dirt road that would eventually lead us to aqua green waters and white sandy beaches. For the last time on this trip, we left the comfort of the blacktop, aired down our tires and headed down a dirt road with the thought of a beautiful beach waiting for us at the end. Not for the faint of heart, the road descended over 1,200 feet with exposed switchbacks and catastrophic consequences for those with a short attention span. With views that seemed to go on forever, it would be easy for the Sea of Cortez to hypnotize a driver over the cliff’s edge. But for the cautious driver, the rewards that awaited at the end was worth the heart stopping efforts.
As we made the final descent into Agua Verde, our eyes were wide, and jaws dropped as we gazed out over the beach below. With the Sea of Cortez on one side and a calm bay with a dozen anchored yachts on the other, they were separated from each other by a beach no more than 100 meters wide. This was the beach Marco had been promising for the last thousand miles. With our little silver of sand staked out for the next 2 nights, we turned our attention to a late lunch and a bit of exploration. To say Agua Verde was spectacular or amazing would be doing an injustice to this magical beach deep within the Baja Peninsula. The green and blue water that filled the bay was postcard perfect. The rocky outcrop at the end of our little peninsula played host to an abundance of wildlife from seagulls and pelicans to mammals of all shapes and sizes. This beach was truly special and worth the effort and the challenge to get here.
Sadly, all good things must come to an end. We all wanted to extend our time in Baja, but after six nights of beach hopping around the Baja Peninsula, it was time to head back north. Our route back to the United States would take us across many of the same roads we took to south. The plan was to make it to Guerrero Negro where we would stop for the night. With a brief stop in Loreto for fuel and to top off my coolant, we continued north on Highway 1. As we pulled into San Ignacio, the temperature gage on my Jeep once again spiked, forcing a stop. By this time, the process of depressurizing the coolant reservoir had become muscle memory for me. With the coolant topped off and one last fuel stop, we pushed for Guerrero Negro.
We continued north into the town of Guerrero Negro without any further incident…. until the Jeep overheated once again. However, this time, things went from bad to catastrophic with one turn of the ignition. After refilling the coolant, I attempted to start the motor only for it to do nothing. I was dead in the water. My jeep wouldn’t turn over. Our entire crew stepped up from trying to diagnose the problem to sourcing a local mechanic. A short time later, Nestor, the owner of Built Rots Automotive in Guerrero Negro was on scene and running diagnostics via the OBD2 port and checking my electrical. With it being late in the day, we agreed it would be best to pull my Jeep into his shop a few blocks away where he could dive deeper into what the issue was with my motor. My emotions were all over the spectrum, with frustration leading the charge. As my Boreas XT trailer was disconnected from my Jeep and hooked to the Rhino Adventure Gear Gladiator, the feeling of defeat started to settle in.
At Built Rots Automotive, I turned my key fob over to Nestor, hopped into the Gladiator and headed off into the darkness in search of a patch of sand to call home for the night. Several miles outside of town, we found a little island inhabited by a local fishing family who allowed us to camp there for the night. The next morning started out like all the others in Baja. Coffee and tea were made. Breakfast duties were divided and plans for the day’s activities were figured out while we awaited word on the Jeep. Natalie and her mom somehow managed to secure last-minute seats on a whale watching boat for later that morning. With the exception of me, Marco and Chris, the entire group went off for yet another adventure. Meanwhile back at camp, we patiently waited for a phone call from Nestor.
Just before noon, Nestor called and gave us the bad news. I had a blown a head gasket which was causing the excessive burning of coolant. In addition to that, over the last week, small amounts of coolant managed to pool in cylinders 3 and 5, causing the motor to eventually hydro lock. If there was any “good news”, it was that the motor was in good shape and Nestor believed he could temporarily fix it to get me across the border. I was instantly relieved and filled with optimism. This would be just a band-aid and the Jeep really needed extensive work. But in the meantime, Nestor and his team worked through the day tearing down the motor, draining all the fluids and putting everything back together. Instead of coolant, he added water with a sealant solution designed to close the gap in the head gasket. This was going to be a temporary fix so I could drive 7 hours north California. Just after 4pm I got the call my Jeep was ready. Marco, Joost and I went into town to find my Jeep idling and sounding like a new motor. I was ecstatic and anxious to get on the road. But first, I needed to test drive the Jeep.
When I returned from my test drive of a few miles, I was pleased with how my Jeep ran. But things weren’t as good as they seemed. There was a severe leak coming from my water pump. By now, it was late Saturday afternoon and there was no way to source the part until Monday. It was time to make some major decisions. Would I go back to San Diego with the group and wait for the Jeep, or would I stay in Mexico?
On Sunday morning, I checked into a hotel in Guerrero Negro. For the next few days, I would be solo and on foot in this sleepy Mexican fishing village while Marco and the rest of the group returned to the United States. Marco and I believed he could be more help if he were back in San Diego, helping to source the parts I needed to get me back on the road. Come Monday morning, this turned out to be the case as no parts were available anywhere close to me. With help from Shift Autoworx in Escondido, a water pump was located in San Diego. Marco quickly picked up the water pump and drove it to Tijuana where it was placed on a bus heading towards Guerrero Negro. Best case scenario, the part would be in Nestor’s hands the next day and I would be driving Wednesday. I spent my time Tuesday walking the streets of Guerrero Negro and visiting with some new friends. Late in the day, Marco updated me on the tracking of the water pump, telling me it would not arrive until late Tuesday night. I was starting to get a bit concerned.
On Wednesday morning, I walked the mile and half to Built Rots Automotive after breakfast. Nestor’s team was hard at work installing the pump and estimated I would be driving by noon. With everything that had happened thus far, I was cautiously optimistic. I patiently watched the team piece my motor back together. Before I knew it, Nestor was in the driver’s seat ready to start the motor. It was 10:45am. With prayers said and fingers crossed, I was beyond excited to hear my Jeep come back to life. After 30 minutes of watching my Jeep idle and a short test drive, it was time to head north.
I quickly collected my belongings from the hotel, topped off with fuel and pointed my Jeep north on Mexican Highway 1. I cautiously monitored how my motor was running, paying close attention to the coolant and oil temperatures. The two times I had to stop for fuel, I left the motor running and checked the coolant reservoir. Even with the coolant levels coding, I was still very concerned about the temporary repairs Nestor’s team had made. Would the fluids hold? Would the motor continue to run? These questions stayed with me every second of the drive north. With every passing mile, I became more and more confident that I would make it at least to the outskirts of Mexicali. After nearly 7 hours of driving, I was within a mile of the International Crossing with Calexico. After several attempts, I was finally inside No Man’s Land, waiting in the queue to enter the United States.
When the Custom Border Protection Agent took my passport and asked his standard questions regarding my comings and goings, I knew I was good. I was back in the United States. I was within range of AAA and all the goodness that comes with it.
On Thursday morning, I drove from Marco’s house in east San Diego County to Shift Autowerx in Escondido to start the process of a more permanent fix. Over the next several days, Edgar removed the old heads and installed a complete new set with valves, oil pump, both head gaskets, thermostat and a fuse array. He determined the lifters and rockers, and the block were all in great shape. Sometime after lunch on Saturday, Edgar handed me my key fob and wished me safe travels. Unfortunately, my saga did not end there!
After collecting my Boreas XT at Marco’s house, I was back on the road and finally heading home to Texas. The Jeep was running great, like new. And then suddenly, it was not! About 30 miles east of El Centro on Interstate 8, I started to experience a rough misfire. I pulled off the highway and connected my OBD2, and pulled and cleared codes P0303, P0305 and P0365. I was experiencing misfires in cylinders 3 and 5 with a Camshaft Position Sensor code. After attempting to clear these codes several times, I decided to use AAA to pull me back to San Diego.
My first call to AAA was at approximately 8pm on Saturday night. AAA’s only attempt to tow me somewhere safe failed when they sent a tow truck that was not capable of towing my jeep and trailer. 19 hours later, Marco arrived with a truck, a trailer and his Jeep 392. We made quick work of loading my jeep on the trailer and attaching the Boreas Xt to the 392. I was once again headed back to San Diego.
Edgar met us at Shift Autowerx on Sunday night to start the process of diagnosing my Jeep all over again. Needing to catch an international flight, I flew back to Texas leaving my Jeep in the trusted hands of Edgar, Jerry and the entire team at Shift Autowerx. Over the next week, they opened up the motor and found a broken intake camshaft. By some small miracle, there was no other damage to the motor. During the original repair, there was no way Edgar could have predicted the camshaft was going to fail. This was just the worst case of Murphy’s Law.
As I write these words from an entirely different coastline in the southern hemisphere, I can’t help but reflect on how blessed I was to be surrounded by the group of amazing people who were with me from when things started going south in Baja California right up to the end with Marco and the team at Shirt Autowerx going above and beyond. Every one of them brought a unique gift to the table to make my ordeal a bit more bearable. What was even more impressive was the global outreach from the overlanding and off-road community offering to help. People in California, Florida, the Middle East and even as far as the African continent reached out and were willing to do what they could to help get me out of Mexico and back to the United States.
In the end, many lessons were learned. But what really shines brightest for me throughout this ordeal is that the reach of the Overlanding community is strong and without borders or limits.
If you missed Part 1 of “When things go south in Baja” CHECK HERE
On a cold day in Iceland I found myself making soup off of a camp stove in a rented camper van, gazing at a waterfall. Around me were other campers strolling around, making their lunches, packing up their rigs, taking pictures of the scenery.
These people just do this all the time? I was intrigued, inspired, and quite envious of them.
I had been in the military for 5 years, waking up before the sun to shine my boots, slick my hair back, press my uniform, and go to work. Every day the same routine. I had taken time off to cross seeing Iceland off my bucket list and decided to rough it in a van to save money. With the life I lived, I figured I could tough it out doing van life in the rugged terrain. In one week’s time, ‘roughing it’ felt like heaven. It was a glorious feeling, waking up in a new place in the morning, deciding where I wanted to explore that day. I was hooked. A little stinkier than normal, but a spark was ignited.
Normal life quickly took over once again, and that time in the campervan had faded into a fond memory. Three more years in the service passed, while I admired nomads from afar. I found my satisfaction fading with each day in my current occupation, no longer wanting to retire from the service. I had twelve more years before I felt like I could really start my life. The Navy had taken a physical and mental toll on me, and I decided it was time to end my service. I counted down my days left on active duty while looking for jobs and a camper, the head battling the heart.
I started traveling full time the day my military service ended in a cheap, old trailer I had found online. I learned how to fix up my new little home and take care of the inevitable wear and tear of life on the road, scraping by as I figured out how to keep going. I visited thirteen states, and camped for free on public land to save money. I woke up next to mountains, hiked to hot springs, explored the desert,
I’ve never been a particularly decisive girl, always wanting more, never quite sure if I’ve made the right decision. Each day spent on the road reassured me that that was something I was meant for. Spending time outdoors gave me something I had desired for a long time – autonomy. I was falling in love with life again and had no intent on stopping. I spent days on end without a hot shower, reading through manuals while I try to fix yet another broken thing in my trailer, questioning my sanity while driving for hours just to find a place to crash for the night, but never ever wishing I hadn’t done this. There is not one wonderful thing in life that comes without challenges. Accepting this reality made the lows feel all right, because the highs were so wonderfully high. I found peace and solace in nature, I discovered who I was outside of a uniform, and I figured out what my life was supposed to be about. I was staying in places that many will never see in their lifetime, and every obstacle felt like a badge earned. I accepted the challenges this lifestyle had gleefully, knowing the reward was well worth it.
Two years later and I am on my second rig, having just returned from a nomadic month in Mexico, my old life now a faded memory and suddenly now the person I envied a few years prior. I got a remote job with Dakota Lithium, where we upgraded my trailer with some new batteries while we got working on something much bigger – building out a new truck camper by four wheel campers with a power bank to last me months on the road.
I had spent many cold nights in my trailer with a dead battery, unable to use anything electrical without running my generator a few hours a day, certainly my biggest challenge that I battled every day. If I’ve learned anything about living nomadically, it’s that it doesn’t take much to live happily on the road.
I could deal with the chilly nights and running into town to fill up on gas for the generator, but much like having a house that you upgrade, the power system was a much appreciated change. Moving into the truck camper meant I could travel further, into more remote places my old trailer would have never made it to, without worrying about running into town to get gas for my generator. Instead of charging my camper every day, my generator collects dust in my back seat while I move from state to state, attending different camping shows and overlanding expos, displaying my truck to fellow nomads and outdoor enthusiasts and talking about my travels and how I am able to live on the road with less stress than before. Sharing the possibilities with people just like me.
I’ve driven this truck camper from Seattle down to the southern tip of Baja California Sur, Mexico and back up again, with plans to travel up to Canada and throughout the western United States, without worrying about batteries or if I can even make it there. I share my power bank with friends who need to charge their devices, pull out my batteries to jump vans that won’t start, and chat constantly about where my rig has taken me with fellow nomads and curious neighbors. I have constant heat and outlets to power everything I need, a luxury I appreciate very much. Every day has been a new adventure living in this rig and has made this journey even more enjoyable than I could have ever imagined. The possibilities here are endless, and with so much to explore, it’s time to get started.
You can plan, prepare and equip yourself and your rig for a 2,000-mile overland adventure and still find yourself completely stranded. That is exactly what happened to me during a recent adventure down the Baja Peninsula.
Overlanding in Baja California has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember. Growing up in San Diego, we would go on family fishing trips to San Felipe and Guaymas. So, when Marco with OVRLNDX extended an invitation for me and Beth to join him in Baja for a week of beach hopping, the answer was an immediate, Heck Yeah!!
As our departure approached, there were several things that needed to happen before we left Texas; all the fluids in the jeep were changed, the transmission serviced and a leaky seal on my Currie HD60 rear axle was addressed. Next up was securing insurance for the Jeep and Boreas XT. There are several reputable companies that will fit your Mexican insurance needs. We chose Baja Bound for their one-stop shopping experience. Not only do they take the stress off you and give you piece of mind, but they make it affordable. For 8 days in Baja, we paid just under $400 for $100k worth of coverage for the Jeep and a trailer. Finally, my 2018 Jeep Wrangler JLU was ready for the rigors of Baja, and with the Boreas trailer loaded, passports in hand, we were excited for the adventure of a lifetime.
I departed Texas by myself and would pick Beth up at the San Diego International Airport later that week. As I left west Texas, the drive was met with brutal head winds, gusting up to 35 miles per hour, making the drive challenging and exhausting. My planned stop for the night was a little sliver of BLM Land east of Las Cruces, tucked away on the eastern slopes of the Organ Mountains. When I arrived at the Aguirre Springs campground, I was greeted by a locked gate and a sign explaining they were currently operating under their winter hours and closed at 6PM. It was 7:45PM. I have camped at Aguirre Springs many times and knew the gates locked promptly at 8pm. I was tired and frustrated as I implemented Plan B, a Loves Truck Stop on Interstate 10, west of Las Cruses, NM. Waking up Thursday morning, the goal was to make it to the California/Arizona Border and boondock near the American Canal. Ordinarily, this would have been an easy 7-hour drive. But the winds were still gusting and slowly chipping away at me with each passing mile. When I arrived at my campsite in California between the Alamo and All-American Canals, I was able to tuck the jeep and trailer into wash that was protected from the howling wind. A word of caution, always check the weather forecast when choosing a low-lying campsite so you don’t find yourself in a flash flood zone and in need of rescue.
The following morning, I was delighted to wake up to the sound of silence. The winds were done. The drive into San Diego looked promising. I quickly made breakfast and headed west towards San Diego on Interstate 8. As I passed Ocotillo, California, the skies ahead darkened and winds began to pick up, again. The forecast predicted that I had winter weather ahead, and as the Jeep ascended Interstate 8 into the Cyumaca Mountains, the snow begins to fall. The driving conditions continued to deteriorate until it reached the point where roads were covered in snow and ice and traffic came to a dead stop. After a 45-minute delay, traffic was slowly moving again, and I thankfully descended into San Diego for the night.
After picking up Beth at the airport the next day, we grabbed up some last-minute supplies before heading to Marco’s house where we double checked our gear and finished our preparations. We needed to be ready for a pre-dawn departure the following morning to meet-up with the rest of our group before crossing into Mexico. As we settled in for the night, our emotions were on overdrive, filled with excitement like a 5-year-old on Christmas morning, but also nervous about the adventure that was about to begin.
That following morning our first stop was a gravel parking lot, just off the 8, where we met up with Joost with Rhino Adventure Gear, and Natalie and her parents who would be joining us for a few nights along the way. Before crossing into Mexico, we had one last rig to add to our group. We met up with Chris in Calexico and headed straight to the international border where Calexico and Mexicali meet. It took about 30 minutes to make to the Mexican Border Control after we were briefly pulled aside for a secondary inspection. This is to be expected if you’re pulling a trailer and no cause for concern.
Once everyone was across the border, we regrouped, exchanged some dollars for pesos and headed south for night 1 of our Baja Adventure! When we arrived in San Filipe, we stopped for some street tacos and something new to me, barria. A popular Mexican dish that originated in the Jalisco state, barria is traditionally made with lamb meat, but it is common for people to use beef today, since it is more affordable and easier to find throughout Mexico. I found my beef barria to be a marriage of flavors originating from the dried chilis and other spices that are used to create this delicious stew like concoction. It was spectacular. As we finished lunch, we were all wanting to take it slow and visit a more, but we had groceries to buy and many more miles to go before reaching our destination for the night.
After stopping for fuel one last time, we traded the pavement for dirt. Aired down and filled with anticipation for what lies ahead, we drove east towards the Sea of Cortez. After several miles, we came to a locked gate where we met the caretaker for the private beach that was to be home for the night. We purchased some firewood and proceeded to one of the most amazing beaches I have ever been to. With the rough waters of the Sea of Cortez on one side and the stillness of a protected cove on the other, we circled the rigs, started the fire and settled in for the evening. And then the wind picked up. Our rigs offered little protection from the howling wind gusts in excess of 25 mph which created a horizontal sand blasting. Cooking proved to be a challenge. But the group was hungry, and a plan was made for flat-iron steak tacos. By the time we finished our food, a new hashtag was created, #80gritsteak.
When we woke up the next morning, the wind was gone, and we were excited for the next leg of our Baja adventure. With the promise of an even more spectacular beach, we quickly made breakfast and packed away camp so we could get an early start on the day. Before hitting the road, Joost was excited to show us what the Rhino Adventure Gear Gladiator was capable of as he zipped around the sand.
With the sandy shenanigans behind us, we headed further south on Highway 5. After a few hours of navigating the narrow Mexican highways, we finally arrived in the tiny coastal village of Bahia de Los Angeles. We topped off with fuel, making sure we had extra for the next leg of our journey, grabbed a quick lunch which again was amazing, and left this little bit of civilization behind. For the next 3 hours, we drove along the Baja Divide Trail, a dirt road of varying conditions including miles of washboards, ruts and deep sand. Dwarfed by the towering Mexican giant Cardon Cactus, this section of the trail was magnificent. With the average Cardon leveling out at about 30 feet tall, this slow growing cactus has been known to grow as tall as 60 feet. The cactus forest was thick and went on for miles.
Just as we were about to stop for the night, we encountered our first real mechanical issue of the trip. My jeep overheated about a quarter mile from where we were going to camp. After depressurizing the coolant reservoir and adding about a half a gallon of coolant, we managed to finish the day’s drive and set camp. Using my Innova ODB2 reader, in addition to the overheating issue, apparently, I was also experiencing a misfire in cylinder 5. Unknown to me at the time, this was going to become my new normal in the days ahead.
The beach we stopped at was virtually empty. There was a tiny fisherman shack several hundred yards down the beach from where we were set up, but other than that, there was not a person within miles of us. White sands, blue clear water and not a breath of wind. Sitting there admiring the view and not being able to imagine how anything could be more perfect, Marco announces we are having pizza for dinner and breaks out his camp pizza oven! Everyone pitched in to make this night in Baja one for the books. With our bellies full of incredible Marco pizza and Pacifico, we sat around the campfire, exchanging stories of past adventures and our dreams of adventures yet to come. Suddenly and without notice, two men emerged over darkened sand dunes carrying a white box. As fast as our posture changed, we relaxed as we realized these were the local fishermen bringing us their day’s catch. Fresh lobster, shark, shrimp and other species of fish filled the white cooler they carried. Our dinner menu for the next few nights had been sorted! In true OVRLNDX fashion, the fishermen were fed before they disappeared back over the dunes and into the night.
With the morning sun came the glass like appearance of the bay. Zero wind and a magical sunrise. As Marco, Chris and I launched drones and took pictures, Joost donned a wetsuit, pulled down his paddle board, quickly disappearing around the back of an island at the far end of the bay. The theme of the morning was to move slow and enjoy the present. As Joost returned from the Sea of Cortez, we once again packed up with a promise of better beaches in the days to come. As I reflect on our time at Bahia De Los Animas, only one word comes to mind: BEAUTIFUL.
Based out of California the Adventure Van Expo event series offers a space for van builders and consumers to explore van builds, rental companies, accessory vendors, sell their rigs and connect with the van life community. Since its first event, hosted in Lake Tahoe in 2018, Adventure Van Expo has grown to host ten multi-day events spanning from California, to Oregon, Colorado and Tennessee. Expo guests will enjoy discovering new products, brands, touring open house vans, connecting with vendors all while connecting with other people in the outdoor adventure space
Adventure Van Expo – San Juan Capistrano, CA (April 29-30, 2023)
The Adventure Van Expo series is heading to San Juan Capistrano, CA to host the kick off event of their 2023 tour at the Mission Viejo Riding Park in San Juan Capistrano. The expo is open to all ages and will feature a full weekend of van vendors including builders, rental companies, overland companies, adventure vehicles, food, music, seminars and more. Put on in partnership with The SJC Rotary and host sponsor Mercedes Benz of Laguna. Event goers should expect to find accessories, builds and gear for their adventure all in one location.
“This is the perfect space to check out vendors and accessories for van builds along with discovering new products on the market,” said Neil Morse, Founder. “The expo will be full of unique displays and is a space where attendees can talk with experts on their craft.”
The Expo will run Saturday, April 29 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, April 30 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and feature open house vans, accessories, vendors, custom builds and a variety of rigs beyond vans including roof top tents, trailer tents and cargo trailers. Those looking to spend the weekend at Adventure Van Expo can camp on Friday and Saturday nights and roll in starting Friday evening at 4 p.m. It is the perfect space to hang out with other van owners and connect with the van life community throughout the two-day event.
Saturday will be a full day of live music along with eats and drinks from local food trucks and microbrews. Van builders looking to display their work are encouraged to join the DIY Contest taking place on Saturday, which will be viewed by hundreds of event goers and rated by van build experts. Sunday’s Expo continues with the same packed list of vendors and open house vans along with live music, food trucks and local brews.
Expo tickets can be purchased in advance by visiting Adventure Van Expo’s website. Entry is $20 for both days for ages 18+, $120 for camping (limited tickets available), $90 for the DIY Contest (includes camping) and a dog pass for $10. Entry is free for ages 17 and younger. For more information and to purchase your tickets visit the Adventure Van Expo website.
