“There’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad gear!” – Yes, it may sound like a cliche, but to a large extent it rings true. Being cold, wet and uncomfortable will ruin your trip despite how well your rig is built. That said, here’s a focused list (but by no means exhaustive) of some great overlanding apparel companies that absolutely produce trail worthy gear.
The Launch camper shell is a rugged 4 season wedge camper that is built to withstand the rigors of overland travel. Hand crafted in Reno, Nevada, Catapult meticulously designs and tests each part of the camper. Durability and serviceability are paramount, and the level of service you get from buying a camper from a small local manufacturer is excellent.
The Launch camper combines a sturdy, minimal aesthetic with progressive features such as front LED marker lights, rear Baja Designs light pods, and L track mounting points. The interior features 30” of stand up space with the bed down, or raise the bed panel and have the entire length of the truck bed as living space. The super plush Nemo Roamer 4” mattress comes standard.
What truly sets the Launch apart is the patent pending 3 layer insulated tent material. Paired with our FRP composite roof construction, the Launch camper shell provides year round comfort.
Want a turn key light weight shell camper system? Catapult manufactures aluminum L track based floor plate systems, and all aluminum wheel well storage boxes. Their system easily integrates, you can go from empty truck bed to adventure camper in minutes. In addition to the camper system, they can integrate your 12 volt power components, giving you a fully functioning camper that’s ready to hit the road.
This is a robust off-road hybrid caravan that builds upon the smaller E2 model, offering enhanced space and comfort for those who love to explore the outdoors without sacrificing the conveniences of home. With its standard queen-size island bed and full ensuite, the E4 is perfectly suited for couples or families seeking both adventure and comfort in a caravan.
Lifestyle Campers has built a solid reputation as one of Australia’s top off-road camper trailer and caravan manufacturers, thanks to over two decades of innovation and craftsmanship.
Exterior
The Iconn E4 is packed with features to make off-road adventures as comfortable as possible. With 700W of roof-mounted solar power, a 200Ah lithium battery, and three 21-gallon water tanks, the E4 is prepared for extended stays off the grid. The exterior design also includes an automatic roof-raising and lowering system for quick setup and takedown, as well as a full side awning that provides shelter for the outdoor kitchen, storage space, and entry door.
The kitchen includes a three-burner stove, a generous amount of storage space for cookware and supplies, and easy access to the internal fridge/freezer from the outside. Whether you’re whipping up a quick meal or setting up camp for the evening, the E4 ensures everything is at your fingertips. For ease of towing on rugged terrain, the trailer is fitted with a Cruisemaster DO35 hitch and coil spring trailing arm suspension, allowing for smooth handling and stability on uneven ground.
Interior
The interior of the Iconn E4 is designed with comfort and functionality in mind. It can accommodate up to five people and features a thoughtfully designed layout that maximizes space. The centerpiece is a queen-size island bed, offering a restful night’s sleep after a day of exploration. The interior also features a fully equipped ensuite, including a toilet and shower, bringing the comfort of home to your off-grid experience.
To ensure your comfort in any climate, the E4 comes with a roof-mounted air conditioning unit, keeping the cabin cool in hot weather. The layout also includes ample storage, with space for your gear and personal items so you can stay organized during your travels.
Options
When customizing your Iconn E4, there are several upgrade options available to further enhance your camping experience. From layout adjustments to additional creature comforts, Lifestyle Campers offers a range of choices to meet your specific needs. You can add more power to extend your trips, or upgrade interior features to suit your lifestyle. Whether you want extra storage, added sleeping space, or more luxury, the Iconn E4 can be tailored to make your adventures even more enjoyable.With its rugged build and numerous features, the Iconn E4 is the perfect hybrid caravan for those who want to explore the great outdoors without giving up the comforts of home. Lifestyle Campers’ commitment to quality and innovation ensures that this caravan is ready
Since he was a kid watching his father build hardtop campers, Lucas Schubring has carried the seed of what would eventually become Camp King Industries. That seed remained even as Lucas and his partner, Sarah Wilson, launched their award-winning sheet metal fabrication business (Ausmetal Engineering) back in 2013.
The decision to launch Camp King Industries came in 2015 when a new canvas production business moved in next door. This was the catalyst, the gentle nudge that Lucas and Sarah needed to realize Lucas’ long-held dream of building incredible Australian made campers. Camp King Industries was born.
Camp King’s range of products has evolved since it started building offroad trays and canopies in 2016.
Customer demand and a drive to innovate has seen Camp King Industries add products like Peak Series canopies, Outback Series canopy campers, Roof Top Tents (RTTs), freestanding 270 awnings, and canvas products. Everything Camp King does has you and your adventures in mind, and their products will always be 100% Australian Made.
Camp King Industries’ Outback
This is not your typical canopy camper. From the premium Australian raw materials to the unrivaled design and convenience, the Outback stands apart in an increasingly crowded field. The Outback is fully TIG welded, premium powder-coated, and secured with a specialized Orlock riveting system making it one of the most structurally solid units out there. The full tent body is composed from Australian-Made Wax Convertor Coolabah Tear-stop Canvas AS2001.2.18.1987 (military grade). Look closely and you’ll find precision-engineered reinforcements throughout.
This canopy camper is designed to be set up or packed down in as little as 2 minutes. The Outback was made with adventure and convenience in mind featuring ample space for all of your bedding, and a platform bed that lifts up to allow for spacious standing room.
Features:
New 4” thick high density memory foam mattress – great for side sleepers!
10 mm closed-cell foam (water resistant) insulated roof and high-quality seals to prevent dust and water entry.
Massive internal opening height allows for standing upright; that coupled with the pneumatic internal expander panel turns the Outback into a mobile office you can take anywhere.
Optional Camp King crossbar system allows for carrying additional gear on top of the lid.
Available internal Molle panels for each of the three door hatches.
Available Fitments Include:
Jeep Gladiator; Toyota Tacoma (5ft bed; 2005-2023); Toyota Tundra (5.5ft bed; 2nd Gen); and Ford F-150 (5.5ft bed).
Camp King Industries’ Protector Series 270 Awning
Nothing could complement the Outback more than the Camp King Protector Series 270 Awning. These incredibly strong awnings offer easy setup and pack down with their totally freestanding design. No more poles. Each awning is hand crafted in Brisbane, Australia. The frame is all TIG welded and joined, and the canvas is hand sewn to ensure the right fit. Aussie materials and Aussie workmanship help create a truly premium product.
With high profile extrusions and an incredibly sturdy 6mm bracket, the Camp King Awning is going to survive even the harshest of environments. If you’re looking for the best 270 awning, you might just have found it.
Cinematographer Jeremiah Oschwald takes a group of guys that have never seen mountains to the Alpine Loop. Colorados highest drivable mountain passes. He also brings along and documents his LAND Moto Scrambler Electric Motorcycle to see how it preforms in extreme mountain conditions.
Overland Pioneers is an overland travel/product focused production company.
I’ll never forget it. Driving down a crowded Southern California freeway with my 1984 Panasonic ATB on the roof rack when the entire rack suddenly became airborne and landed upside down, sliding across multiple lanes and (luckily) coming to a halt on the shoulder of the freeway instead of being smashed by a semi. My bike dodged a bullet with only a torn up handlebar grip and seat, but that experience taught me a valuable lesson; don’t ever skimp on a bike rack.
Fast forward from the 80’s to 2024 and bike racks have kept up with the evolution of bicycles over the years with expensive carbon fiber bikes becoming rather common. Most of us have an emotional attachment to our bikes and we want to protect them from damage round the clock. Some designs make contact with straps or latches on the frame, resulting in scuffs to paint and iffy security going down rough roads, while others touch only the tires to hold them tightly without damage.
The folks at Kuat have been busy taking all this into consideration when designing the new Piston Pro X. From packaging to paint and visual aesthetics, they left no stone unturned when dreaming up this bike rack. I think the engineers were experts at Tetris in their youth and the packing materials could’ve come from Space X. All items in the box were protected from any shipping mishaps with each item in perfect condition on arrival. Assembly was extremely easy and the rack was ready to use within 30 minutes of opening the box. All necessary hardware and tools were included and a quick scan of a QR code took me to assembly instructions.
You’d be hard pressed to find a more secure way of moving your beloved two-wheeled friend from point A to B. I’ve had the opportunity to run the Piston Pro X in a variety of situations with fatbikes, gravel bikes, and mountain bikes loaded in the trays and it was refreshing to drive down a rocky road with my mind at ease. Looking out the rear view mirror, I saw the bikes were always solid and secure and I had total confidence in the design of the rack. Even the most wash-boarded roads were no match for the Piston Pro X.
The Piston Pro X rack is stout with the most durable paint and coatings. The all-metal construction is capable of carrying the lightest of road bikes and beefiest of e-bikes with a load rating of 67 lbs. per tray. The ingenious adjustable chock slides can fit any tire size from 18 to 29 inches and move with a simple pinch, no tools necessary. The trays are wide enough to hold tires from 23mm road skinnies to 5” fat bike tires so it’s plenty capable of carrying your entire quiver with no contact to any frame. Simply tap the lever and the Kashima coated pneumatic arms rise in V for Victory, load up, and hit the road with confidence.
Now the icing on the cake; the integrated LED taillights mounted neatly in the tray. They sync perfectly via the 4-pin trailer outlet on most SUV’s, trucks, and RV’s and bring one more element of visibility and security on the road. Speaking of security – the kit includes an integrated 12mm cable lock as well as a beefy hitch lock so everything stays put.
Using the Piston Pro X for several weeks now, it reflects a premium build quality across the board. The release lever and pivot points on the trays are smooth as silk when lifting them up to my tailgate, and the fit and finish is as good as it gets.
But there are a couple of niggles. When I lower the PPX trays to the lowest setting, the tailgate on my stock Gen 3 Tacoma hits the rack before reaching full extension. I could add a swing out for the rack, but…
My Tacoma already has a long departure angle, occasionally scraping my hitch on steepish climbs. The main beam on the PPX extends the hitch considerably and greatly reduces the departure angle. Something to keep in mind if your overland trip includes your bikes. There are many vehicles that won’t have this problem, but be sure to investigate what works for yours. Broncos, Jeeps, and similar SUV-style vehicles with rear spare tires should be fine with a swing out.
Overall, the Kuat Piston Pro Xoffers everything you’d ever want in a bike rack and I’m sure it will last many years with its incredible build quality and styling. The $1,389 retail price reflects it’s premium status, but with such a durable build, features, and the value of what it’s carrying, the PPX is worth the price of admission.
In-Field Contributor: Bill Freeman – 2017 SR5 Tacoma 4×4
Bill is a native Californian and has been shooting outdoor activities for over 30 years. Spending most weekends climbing in Joshua Tree in the 80’s, he began his photo career shooting the classic environment that only J-Tree has to offer. Expanding his subject matter into skiing and mountain biking, the camera was brought on most every adventure. Bill and his dog, Leica, now live in Southwest Colorado to take advantage of the epic outdoor adventures… on two wheels or four.
