“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.
