Overland Expo West just wrapped up in Flagstaff, Arizona, and over the weekend, everywhere you looked, there were some great rigs to check out. From the new to old, and from the practically stock to the highly customized, amongst the thousands of overland-ready vehicles, there was something for everyone. It’s impossible to see them all, but we tried to pick out a few that stood out, so in no particular order, we present our favorite rigs of Overland Expo West.
American Expedition Vehicles Sierra Grande
Full-sized trucks have undoubtedly become more popular as the choice for overland rigs in recent years. And this GMC Sierra Grande takes everything we love about full-sized trucks to the next level. This regular cab, long bed makes an impression with an AEV bumper, a prototype brush guard, four 7000 series lights, an AEV snorkel, and a 12,500 lb. ComeUp winch. It’s riding on a customized and Multimatic DSSV-equipped suspension that provides 1.5 inches of life. That, paired with the High Mark fender flares, makes room for 40” BFGoodrich tires mounted on a set of AEV Salta XD wheels. What you might not initially see is the 9,500 lb. ComeUp rear winch tucked between the eight-foot tray bed and a custom rear bumper. The overland experts at AEV truly outdid themselves with this one.
Arctic Trucks AT37 Lexus GX460
Arctic Trucks North America joined us for the first time at Overland Expo, and they brought along a number of incredible rigs. While it wasn’t the largest, their Lexus GX460 equipped with their AT37 package was still impressive. This modification kit provides 1.5 inches of suspension lift and .75 inches of body lift to fit 37-inch tires. It also includes a wheelbase extension, custom wide fender flares, and a regearing to 4.88. This kit will surely be a hit with overlanders, and we can’t wait to see some Arctic Truck-built rigs out on the trail.
Arizona Wilderness Brewing 1967 Ford Bronco
The fine people of Arizona Wilderness Brewing don’t just bring some great brews to the Overland Expo. They also have a classy and well equipped rig to show off. This 1967 Bronco is the perfect combo of retro accessories and modern updates. Even the cargo is a mix of vintage gear and equipment from some of our exhibitors. While it’s a true classic, it’s still adventure ready with Pro Comp wheels, 35-inch tires, and King suspension components.
Fieldcraft Survival Jeep Gladiator
The team at Fieldcraft Survival is known for being prepared for anything, and this well-equipped Gladiator from their booth holds true to ethos. With Starlink, KC HiLites, storage, and recovery gear are stored up top. On the front a Warn winch and a Factor55 hook are ready for any recovery situation. Staying prepared means you need gear, and the Camp King Industries camper, paired with Goose Gear and a Dometic fridge, keeps everything organized in the living space. Knowing the Fieldcraft team, there’s plenty of gear stashed away for any situation, and
Four Wheel Camper Equipped 1978 Chevrolet K5 Blazer
Some true hidden gems are tucked away amongst the camping and exhibitors at Overland Expo, and this vintage Blazer definitely qualifies for that category. While the base truck is obviously modified, the Four Wheel Camper is practically original minus a few pieces, like the canvas, that had to be replaced. Even the camper is unique in that it’s floorless and seals against the body much in the same way the original removable top would. It’s hard to imagine a more perfectly patinaed retro rig. It’s currently with its second owner and still sees plenty of adventures in northern Arizona.
READ MORE: Industry Spotlight: Midland USA GXT67
Harrison Schoen’s Expedition Ready 1985 Unimog
The Storytelling Pavilion sponsored by K & N was a great place to check out some unique rigs used by content creators from around the continent, including this massive rig owned by Harrison Schoen. Harrison is preparing to embark on a trip to South America in a capable and classic rig. It originally started out as a German army truck and is equipped with locking differentials, 23 inches of clearance, portal axles, a 15,000 lb. winch, 43-inch tires, on-board air, and a whole host of communications equipment, we have no doubts that Harrison is thoroughly prepared to explore wherever he chooses on his journey south.
Mercedes-Benz of Northern Arizona 1964 L 319
This Swiss-built classic definitely drew a crowd at Overland Expo. Given that Mercedes-Benz of Northern Arizona had it restored in 2019, it truly looks like a time capsule. From the canvas cover and wooden bed to the plaid seats and polished chrome, it’s truly a blast from the past. We need more over-cab trucks in the world. You get excellent visibility for navigating the trail, plus bonus style points.
OFFPVMT 1956 Willys
This unique build was hanging out in the Milestar Tires booth and undoubtedly got plenty of attention over the weekend. The builder, Pat, started with a 1956 Willys truck and meshed it with a 1997 Jeep TJ frame. From there, the modifications are significant, including a GM 5.3 LS motor, an NP205 transfer case, a vintage M8274 Warn winch, and a Jeep TJ suspension from Skyjacker. A quick look at Pat’s Instagram confirms this is much more than a showpiece.
OK4WD Alu-Cab Silenus INEOS Grenadier
The number of INEOS Grenadiers at Overland Expo West was truly impressive. Without a doubt, the overlapping community has embraced this new entry into the market. While it was difficult to pick just one to include, this example from the OK4WD booth stood out. This Grenadier was sporting the recently developed AluCab Silenus roof conversion. The Silenus kit turns the Grenadier into a spacious backcountry abode, especially when paired with a seat delete plate like this example from OK4WD. We can’t wait to see how they further build out the interior as they dial in the build.
ICON Ford F250 Tremor
Circling back to our first entry in this roundup, once again, this Ford F250 Tremor featured in the ICON booth shows exactly what a full-sized overland rig has to offer. With an ICON suspension and wheels to match, this F250 will make a great daily driver that’s plenty capable of pulling utility and adventure duty. It’s great to see truck makers pair the luxury and comfort-focused features of the Platinum package with the increased ground clearance and locking rear differential of the Tremor package. Hopefully, the development of overland-ready full-sized trucks will continue.
