The 102L 23 Zero Overland Gear Box™ is the tough, go-to storage solution to keep your Overlanding gear organized and 23 Zero now offers it in black as well as gray.
This rugged case allows your recovery and camping gear to be safely locked away and protected from the elements. As a premium overlanding storage box, it has an added level of protection with a superior waterproof and dust-proof seal so it’s perfect for mounting outside or inside your vehicle.
It is made from a durable LDPE shell and features durable handles, lockable latches, pre-installed gas struts, and rivet nuts in the lid. It even has a drain plug for when you need to clean out spills.
23 Zero offers a range of sizes of the Overland Gear Box to suit any camping set up ensuring your equipment can accompany you on all your expeditions. The beauty about the 102 Liter is that it fits larger, essential overlanding equipment such as traction boards or Hi-Lift Jacks.
Optional accessories are available for the 102L Overland Gear Box including molle panels (set of two) – a lightweight, rigid two panel split system constructed from High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) weighing only 24 oz per panel, allowing you to attach 1″ webbing mounting straps and handles. This provides you with the flexibility to configure and secure your bags and gear according to your specific needs, ensuring optimal organization and accessibility.
Also available as an optional extra is the 102L stainless steel mounting bracket (set of two) which is custom made for this Overland Gear Box yet it’s universally compatible with any roof rack. It offers a quick-release mechanism for the rapid mounting and removal of the 102L gear box and the bracket is padlock-ready for added security.
The capacity is 102 Liters, it weighs 30 lbs, the outside dimensions are 50″ long x 19” high x 9.5″ wide and inside dimensions are 46.5″ long x 15″ high x 8″ wide. So check it out and keep your gear safe and accessible wherever your travels take you.
Discover the perfect slide-in Truck camper for your next adventure with BundutecUSA From rugged base campers to luxurious RV models, we have a wide range of models designed to fit the Toyota Tacoma to the 3500 standard bed or tray. Our campers are proudly made in the Midwest and sold factory direct, ensuring exceptional customer service and the option for semi-custom adaptations.
Introducing our latest model Slide-in Truck Camper, the Cape, a testament to comfort and convenience for solo travelers and adventurous couples. With its all-electric Pop-Up roof, 2-person café style seating, a queen-sized mattress, 12v Nova Kool Refrigerator, and the Truma Combi Water Heater/Furnace, the Cape is not just a camper, it’s your ultimate travel companion, ensuring a comfortable and hassle-free journey.
For those seeking more room, the 100” long BundutecUSA Free model is a family-friendly space, the perfect choice for 2-3 campers. The Free is offered for both the 6.5 ft and 8 ft bed lengths. It features a 75” side dinette that pulls out for a bed and an interior wet bath with cassette toilet.
Discover the endless possibilities with the BundutecUSA truck campers. Start your build with essential amenities, including the standard sink, stove, refrigerator, battery, and exterior jacks. But why stop there? You may want additional roof-mounted solar panels, lithium batteries, or a special-size cabinet to fit the gear you already have. It all starts with an email from you to get things started. We value your preferences and are here to make your outdoor adventures truly yours without compromising on quality or breaking the bank.
At BundutecUSA, our unwavering commitment to innovation drives us to continuously plan for the future. We are thrilled to announce a new, smaller, hard-sided design that will launch this autumn. Escape the hustle and bustle of the city and embrace a journey of comfort and convenience with BundutecUSA’s sleek and contemporary campers. Crafted as your home away from home, our campers are your passport to a stress-free and delightful adventure.
Today TAP is sitting down with Aimee Higgins CO-Founder and CEO of Tern Overland. You’ve either heard about Tern Overland or seen their Arctic Tern Product Collection around the industry since their start in 2017. Maybe you’ve seen the iconic nickel Arctic Tern sticker on their category-leading components in many, if not most Adventure Vehicle builds in the Overlanding industry.
Aimee, last year you unveiled you had built out a new rig and camper and it’s also become your company’s show rig. Tell us about it as it’s quite an impressive beast.
Thank you, Andy. We have a new AT Overland Aterra XL Flatbed Truck Camper that sits atop 2022 Dodge Ram 2500 with an OEV flatbed. This camper is a complete off-grid vehicle and is extremely capable and lightweight. It is a composite camper and features quite a few Arctic Tern Products making it the perfect show truck for us. It is fully equipped with a Truma furnace & water heater, 30-gal freshwater tank, 2 burner stove/sink combo, Wrappon waterless toilet, 90-Liter National Luna fridge freezer, king sized bed, tons of storage, a dinette, 200 Ah lithium battery system with 400 Watts of solar, all within a bright, spacious interior living space. It’s great for those long drives to different shows and an incredible battery system makes it easy to work remotely as well. My team is also really enjoying not lugging around displays to all the shows this year. The truck makes set-up and take-down at shows easy. It’s just super functional and comfortable!
Most of our readers probably don’t realize that your company designed and engineered the Aterra XL camper. That said, why did you partner with AT Overland and not simply manufacture and market the design yourself?
Before David Soza (Tern co-founder & Aterra engineer) retired, we chose to sell the Aterra camper side of Tern to AT Overland and left the manufacturing to the AT Overland Team. Mario has been in the business for a long time and was already set up to produce a vehicle of this type. With Mario’s experience and expertise, it just made sense. It helps that we are both based in Prescott, AZ.
They recently launched the AT Aterra Topper& showcased the vehicle at Overland Expo West with four of our New Flat Windows & a Wildlands entry door. The feedback for both their topper, as well as our Flat Windows(launching July 25th) created quite a stir around both brands. It’s been a great partnership!
So, let’s talk about the Aterra camper specifically. Give us a quick rundown of what Tern Overland products feature in the rig.
Our windows and doors are probably the most used components on a camping rig. Five of the Classic Arctic Tern dual pane acrylic windows including the blind/shade assembly which has a reflective blackout shade and fine mesh bug screen bring in loads of light and fresh air.
My favorite door, the Arctic Tern Wildlands door. It is two doors in one, with an exterior solid panel that connects to the interior heavy-duty screen. On a nice evening, the exterior door can be hooked open, while the interior screen door has a 3-point locking system, making it the most secure door in the overlanding & RV space with the most ventilation.
The Arctic Tern Electric Roof Hatch is a must for air ventilation, blocking out the sun on a hot day or creating an insulatung dead are space on a cold one. It features a dual pane acrylic dome, a high-quality Bosch motor to raise and lower the hatch and LEDs for task lighting. The retractable blind & screen keeps the bugs at bay as well.
Finally, the Aterra XL features two Arctic Tern Cargo Doors; one to store the propane tank and one for easy access to all the wiring and batteries. Both are dust free spaces with triple seals, and they are keyed to match the entry door making it super easy to lock up the rig.
The result of these products is a bright, safe cabin with loads of ventilation in the warmer months and extra insulation in the colder months with little to no condensation. Thanks in part to the FARS system – an AT Overland proprietary air exchange system that is constantly moving the inside air, taking out the moisture. As a solo traveler, I love driving and living in this set-up. As a company, we are fortunate to have such an exceptional show truck!
You’ve just released a new Flat Window spec. Tell us about it and are you going to retrofit your Aterra?
Our Classic windows have been extremely popular since we launched them to the North American market in 2017. In searching for something new last year, we listened to our customers and OEM partners and chose to offer a Flat Window. The acrylic is essentially flipped, and the slight bubble is on the interior and the flat surface faces the exterior. We know it will be an excellent option for those seeking a different aesthetic. We really appreciate getting this kind of feedback because the needs and interests of the market are always evolving. Earlier this Spring, we brought out the Black Blind & Screen Assembly which is a black aluminum frame with a sleek black fabric shade. It still has a reflective facing exterior and is full blackout just like the white units. In the Aterra, we installed both the black and white blind assemblies to show customers the options. We have plans to retrofit a Flat Window, probably after the exp season when the show season quiets down.
Apart from the show circuit, do you have any trips planned and if so, where will you be taking the Aterra XL beast?
We are really hitting the show circuit hard this year with a total of 14 planned shows, traversing the country twice. Most of the trips ahead are for business, however, there will be periods or times when the beast is not on duty, and I’ll be able to enjoy some down time. Arizona is fully loaded with so many beautiful areas, enjoyable in all seasons, well except Phoenix when its 115.
Any upgrades planned or changes you feel you’d like to make to the rig? We all know there’s never a complete platform.
The truck is pretty darn awesome as it sits now! We had not opted for an AC unit initially, but that may be an upgrade worth considering! So far, we haven’t needed one! The awning style windows really provide a lot of ventilation and the Fiamma awning keeps it cool & shady.
Finally, any new Tern Overland product launches we should be looking out for in addition to the new flat windows?
We absolutely have some things in the works. You can expect to see at least two more product launches this year if not more. The new products will enhance or expand on existing products within our Arctic Tern Product Line. We like to stick with what we know best and that is components.
Thanks for your time today, Aimee and I look forward to seeing you and the beast out on the trails.
For more info on Tern Overland Products CLICK HERE
For more details on the AT Overland Aterra XL CLICK HERE
Boreas Campers XT owner Arthur, is an experienced backpacker that wanted to explore the Great North of Canada and Alaska. His objective: Go as far north on a road as you can go. We sat down with him recently to learn about his planning and preparation for the trip and he gave us his insights as a Boreas Campers owner, out on the road.
Arthur, give us the rundown of what were you preparing for and how did you prep for it?
I wanted to reach the Arctic Ocean, which is 300 miles past the Arctic Circle, and the furthest north you can go in Alaska on a road. I started in Colorado in May and the trip lasted 3 months. The entire journey was 12,000 miles, and 3,000 of those were gravel.
I did not have a schedule, timeline or reservations. I wanted to use my 4Runner and Boreas Campers XT to reach out of the way places and take short day hikes or 1–2-night backpacking trips from my XT basecamp. The entire trip I was by myself, but I met many great people along the way.
Turns out, there are plenty of tour books for RVers wanting to go to Alaska and the Yukon, but not any for overlanders. There is an overland route that goes from Prudhoe Bay to the horn of South America that I studied. I also sat in on a class at Overland Expo about overlanding in Alaska.
As an avid backpacker (Arthur has hiked 1000 miles of the Pacific Coast Trail, 1000 miles of the AT and all over the world) I was outfitted with tools such as my recovery gear, Garmin Inreach, CB and GMRS radios. Years of outdoor hiking and hunting have engrained a habit of asking ‘where’s the sun?’ ‘where’s the stars?’ ‘where’s X landmark?’ and using guardrails and backstops to stay oriented.
For the 4Runner and Boreas Campers XT I triple checked that I had everything I needed. I knew with the vehicle I could get out a lot further than I could walk back, so I wanted to be absolutely sure I had everything I would need to self-rescue, since no one is going to come looking for you out there if you need help. This came into reality when I stopped for a woman walking on the side of the road. She had dozed off and her car slid off the gravel. I was able to winch her back up, but it could easily have been me.
I carried 13.5 extra gallons of fuel. The bolt pattern of the Boreas Campers XT is the same as the 4Runner, so I could take those two tires and put them on the 4runner if I needed to make an escape (I brought along the different lug nut). The goal was to take as little as possible while creating as many redundancies as possible.
Beyond that, you just don’t know what you don’t know! I’ll never forget I was backpacking in the Himalayas and really enjoyed the stars in India, so when I returned, I started learning about stars and astronomy. I was so excited I packed my heavy star guide on my next summer backpacking trip to the northern Rockies (at the same time that I was cutting weight with a headlamp that was 2 oz. instead of 3 oz.), only to find out that there was no dark during the summer! So, you can be prepared as possible, and things will still surprise you.
Tell us about the journey!
I went from Colorado to Wyoming and Montana, exiting the US at Glacier National Park and into the Canadian Rockies.
I went to Emerald Blue Lake (filled via melting glaciers) to Calgary, Edmonton, the Continental Divide to Alberta and into the Yukon. The Yukon territory has 35,000 inhabitants, and 25,000 of those live in the main city, White Horse. So, most folks beyond the city are Park Rangers or Inuit.
From White Horse I took the Dempster Highway to Dawson City and the Arctic Ocean. This is the road as seen on Discovery Channel’s Ice Road Truckers show and includes a river crossing that is iced over in the winter but requires a ferry ride during the summer.
I made it to the Arctic Circle and 300 miles later to the Arctic Ocean, where the road ends. There were beautiful mountains all the way up, and incredible animal sightings like caribou, grizzly bears and musk ox.
From there I went west to Alaska, the Arctic Ocean at Prudhoe Bay, and back south through most of the national parks in Alaska – which has more national park land than all the other states combined.
You were obviously on the road a significant time, so tell us about your camping experience.
It was incredible. The great thing about the trailer, I knew it could get to the remote places I was hoping to access. There are no major roads in Alaska, Yukon. Two-track, gravel, mining roads are all that exist and the XT could do all of that. I didn’t have a ground tent to set up, and it didn’t have really high clearance like a van or taller trailer with a roof top tent, so I was able to access some great spots.
I hiked the Kennecott Glacier, Wrangell-St. Elias, National Park with a guide. The experience was far more comfortable because I could sleep and cook at my Boreas XT base camp. I drove 61 miles on a gravel mining road and off-road trail along a former railroad bed from Chitina to McCarthy, Alaska. It is foot travel only from McCarthy to the Kennecott glacier. I was grateful for the ruggedness of the XT as no traditional RVs were making this journey. I was able to spot and watch wildlife including bears, musk ox, caribou, elk, big horn sheep and many raptor birds during my overnights and along the route.It was a great adventure. Long planned, and the trip I had in mind when I purchased the XT. It performed just as I hoped it would.
There was an instance where I was going up a mining road that started getting too rough for me as a solo traveler to feel comfortable, so I turned around on this two-track on the side of a mountain. As I was coming back down this classic, grizzled miner in a Carhartt flannel is standing on the side of the road and says to me ‘I’m glad you made it back. I bet it was pretty hard to turn around up there.’ I’m sure he thought I was another tourist he would never see again when he saw me go up!
From my backpacking days I’m used to eating dehydrated meals for weeks at a time, but you basically suffer through it, and it can mess with your gut. Having the fridge to store fresh meat and vegetables that I cooked on a skillet over the stove was a game changer. Grocery stores are a week apart up there so having fresh food each day was amazing. For breakfast I mostly kept it simple: I’d grab a yogurt out of the fridge so I could hit the road.
Any standout memories from the trip?
Making it to the Arctic Circle is one. Other than that, it’s the people. There were so many adventurous people along the way. One guy on an adventure bike didn’t want to wait for the ferry to cross the river so he paid a local fisher to tie his bike down to his skiff and take him across. I met incredible people that are just willing to go for it. I crossed paths with a couple also from Colorado that had an adventure camper, and as they’re kind of a magnet for like-minded folks we connected and travelled together for a few days. And people that don’t have an adventure camper want to look and check out the XT all the time, it’s like having a puppy ha!
So let’s talk about the Trailer. With that amount of time on the road, what was your favorite feature?
Practically – the articulating hitch allowed me to go the places I wanted to go. But the favorite creature comfort must be the sleeping area. I’m 66 years old so crawling onto a 4” mattress, with the heater on, the fan whirring, and the shades drawn was heaven.
I’ve taken the Boreas Campers XT with me for a few longer trips: Bridger Pass/the Tetons for 3 weeks, Utah and PNW for a month each. But the XT works great for all the weekend trips too.
When I was looking for a camper, I lived in Breckenridge, so the origin story of Boreas Campers caught my eye. But beyond that it was built sturdier and came with everything I needed and nothing I didn’t. Some other manufacturers seem more like a Build-A-Bear process where the XT was turnkey.
Thanks Arthur for taking the time to chat with us today and sharing your insights. See you out on the trail.
With perfect early summer camping conditions hitting Southern California, TAP headed out to our local mountains to test out some new camp gear recently sent our way. Good gear can make or break an adventure, so here’s our first use thoughts on what we tested in the field.
### In full disclosure, TAP was provided these products for free, but does not accept payment for the review or make any commission from sales that maybe as a result of this article ####
The Jetboil Genesis is a great looking 2 burner camping stove with a truly unique foldable design. It scored high marks from us for its lightweight (6.4lbs) and low profile design that is genuinely space saving for those of us with smaller rigs. With a 10,000 BTU spec it performed well in our boil test, taking just over two minutes to boil 2 coffee cups worth of water (estimated at a third of a gallon). In our simmer test, it also performed well and was easy to get a low flame without fear of turning the stove off. The Genesis was also easy to clean by simply removing the grates and wiping everything down. The grates are removed by squeezing two prongs on the side to release them from the housing. Finally, the stove comes in a quality carrying case that keeps everything together in a rattle free package.
So what didn’t we like? The windscreen is poorly designed and feels like an afterthought for such a functional and otherwise well designed piece of equipment. It was fiddly and frustrating to locate the tabs that keep it in place and really didn’t seem to offer much wind shadow. It’s not a deal breaker, but I expected something better.
This is an expensive stove and that will be a barrier for many people. That said, what you are getting for your money is a solid, compact, lightweight camp stove that will last for many years.
We’re always looking for rugged, lightweight and compact camping gear and at just over 2 lbs and with a packed down size of approximately 9’x8’x2.5″, the One Pot Cook Set fits this perfectly. The 5 piece package comes with a 3 liter pot, 2 L bowls and 2 mugs, all made from EU food grade stainless steel and silicone rubber. The stainless steel felt solid and the silicone is heat resistant. After use everything was very easy to clean.
The clever pack down design is simply outstanding and it’s crazy that so much can come in such a small package. One slight hiccup we did encounter straight from the packaging, was difficulty in releasing the lock handles that seemed to have become stuck. However, after the first use we did not experience this again.
Every now and then we get to test a product that ends up finding its way into our personal gear for long term use. This new pot set from Sea To Summit is one of those products. Highly recommended!
The Spark Pro is a high end category leading sleeping bag, brimming with well designed features. With 950 fill RDS certified down, expect to be toasty on those cold nights. The baffles are generously filled and have a mixed orientation preventing down slip and eliminating cold spots. There are zippers galore (that all behaved perfectly and never got stuck!) creating an excellent ventilation system. The bag can be completely unzipped to be used as a quilt or a second zipper system allows ventilation in the toe box. The Quilt Lock system and short zip on the right shoulder even allows the user to stick both arms out while still keeping your chest and torso warm. Perfect for drinking your first cup of coffee in the morning, or reading under a headlight. Zippers obviously add weight but for Vehicle Supported camping this isn’t a concern. We tested the 30 degree version (it also comes in a 15 degree version at $649) and at $549 this bag isn’t for everyone. That said, this is a high quality piece of camping gear, that will have you cozy and content on cold nights.
For those of you that need that little bit of extra heat at night, the Ignik Flipside Heated Bed Cover could be just what you’re looking for. The blanket we tested is designed for one person and has a maximum heat output of 48W. The heating element is designed to offer variable heat across the width of the blanket, with extra heat at the upper body and foot positions. The smart controller was easy to use and even remembers your prior settings. It also provides a variable timing device (1-10 hrs) that cuts off the blanket at your desired time period. A great feature if you don’t want to run it all night. The controller offers a wide range of temperatures (1-10) however, to be honest we didn’t feel much difference between them. It feels that it would be simpler with a temp range of between 1-5. We ran the blanket all night and it lost 70% of its charge over 8 hours with the blankets temp gauge set at 7.
At $150 the Flipside Heated Bedcover is well made and performs to its claims. The one caveat, is that it needs to be be operated from an external 12 volt power station with a recommended minimum capacity of 500WH (We wouldn’t recommend running the blanket from your car battery overnight). This adds significant extra expense if you don’t already own one.
Here in California we’ve had a very rainy winter and spring, so unfortunately on this last camping trip the mosquitoes were heavier than normal. The Thermacell marketing quotes that the EX90 provides “hours of scent-free protection within a 20 ft zone”. I was initially skeptical, but also hopeful, as I am one of those people that Mosquitoes love. What can I say, apart from it worked! I like the fact that it’s odorless and not a messy skin application and at $50, that’s a price I’d happily pay to stop the pain. My only hesitation is that the refills aren’t cheap and the costs could add up quickly. ***Three refills (120 hrs worth of coverage) are currently $55 on Amazon.
In full disclosure, I love Helinox and have been using their Sunset Camp Chair and Table One Hard Top in my personal gear for over 24 months. They’ve experienced heavy use and have stood up fantastically to the abuse! They’re lightweight, comfortable and pack down small, so what’s there not to like? (I hear “the price” being shouted out, but in my experience you get that you pay for!). When we were offered the Chair Zero, I jumped at the chance as I do a lot of Astro Timelapse’s which involve long periods of time sitting around (2 -3 hrs for 10 seconds of footage). At just over a pound and only 14 inches packed down, the Chair Zero is easy to carry in a small backpack and simply perfect for this specific function. That said, it would not be my go-to for sitting around a campfire in a vehicle supported environment, where a bigger and more supportive chair can be used.
Gazelle Tents™ rugged design and ease of set up makes the perfect ground tent for your next overland or car camping excursion. The T4 Hub Tent, our most popular tent, is the ultimate pop-up camping tent. It provides 61 square feet of floor space allowing you to sleep up to four people with plenty of room for your extra gear. In addition, its 78” height allows you to move around freely without feeling cramped. The T4 Hub Tent is ready to use right from the bag, no assembly, and no loose parts.
It sets up quickly and easily using unique hub technology in 90 seconds or less. Packing up is just as quick, and it fits easily back into the included oversized duffle bag. Rest assured you will have protection from the Mother Nature when needed. The 210 denier Oxford weave polyester shell material is waterproof up to 2000 MM and features a UV50+ rating.
And the removable rain fly can be used both on and off your tent weather permitting. The floors are durable and constructed from a 300 denier Oxford weave polyester that is also waterproof and simple to remove for easy clean up. Take the Gazelle Tents T4 Hub on your next camping adventure for ease and comfort.
