We’ve officially wrapped up the 2025 Overland Expo season, and we definitely went out on a high note. The weather was great, the Blue Ridge Mountains were just starting to show the first signs of fall, and like always, we got to check out thousands of awesome rigs. From the mild to wild, and from brand-new to very retro, here are some of our favorite rigs from Overland Expo East 2025.
BFG & The Boogie Van
Van life is popular, but it’s far from new. This 1989 Ford van, affectionaly dubbed Boogie Van, is about as retro-cool as you can possibly imagine. Outfitted for exploring everything from the backroads of West Virginia to Baja, it features a Warn winch, KC HiLites, comms from Midland, navigation via a Garmin, and a fully custom interior. The rear swing-out carries a spare, a propane, and a tough trash bag. Underneath Torq lockers, Quigley driveshafts, and Sky Jacker suspension ensure the Boogie Van is ready to venture far from the beaten path.
Drawer Systems INEOS Grenadier
Now that the INEOS Grenadiers have been on the market for a couple of years, we’re starting to see some really unique and customized builds pop up. This particular Grenadier is dialed in with a full custom interior from Drawer Systems featuring plenty of storage, room for someone to sleep “downstairs”, and a drawer fridge from Dometic. Up top, the Alu-Cab Silenus Roof Conversion provides space for two to sleep and tons of standing room when the bed is folded.
U-Haul 1974 Scout II
U-Haul was at Overland Expo East to spotlight their new toy hauler, and if they wanted to get attention, having two classic Scouts in the booth definitely did the trick. It was tough to decide which to feature, but this excellent example won out with just the right mix of patina and parts. It’s a 1974 Scout II outfitted with a Free Spirit rooftop tent, Warn locking hubs, a winch, and bumpers and sliders for trail protection. However, you might not notice that it’s powered by a GM 4.8, riding on Dana 44s, and lifted 2.5 inches. This is a great example of a classic rig that the owner has truly made their own.
READ MORE: That’s a Wrap! Overland Expo East 2025 Recap
Trail Feast’s Gladiator and Black Series
This combo is built to prepare a literal feast deep in the backcountry. Leading the way, the Trail Feast Rubicon Gladiator is outfitted with armor, a tent, recovery gear, a Fox suspension, and everything needed to find great campsites in the backcountry. Then the Black Series trailer is bringing up the rear of this well-equipped combo with everything you can imagine in terms of cooking. Pizza oven, check. Fridge, sink, and smoker? Check, check, and check. With plenty of cargo room, the Black Series offers a comfortable space to sleep, plus nearly unlimited options for whipping up great meals.
Go Fast Camper Ford Raptor
Pick-up bed wedge campers are a great option for overlanders looking for comfortable backcountry accommodations while also keeping their bed open for utility use. The camper experts from GFC brought out their recently released V2 Max fitted to a Ford Raptor. This new version of their tried and tested campers features a longer sleeping platform, a constant pass-through for easy bed access, pre-wired solar and internet, and much more.
Alu Cab Khaya Camper Toyota Tacoma
There are about a thousand ways to build out a Toyota Tacoma, and there’s no better place to see all of the options than Overland Expo. This particular example belongs to the Mountain State Overland crews and features an Alu Cab Khaya Camper. This is a unique self-contained unit that can be removed via jacks. Up front, a Victory 4×4 bumper houses a winch, Nomad Wheels are wrapped in Toyo tires. This rig is used to guide and film adventures all over the country, and the MSO team has done a great job outfitting this truck with a great assortment of gear.
From Brush Ambulance to Overland Rig – 2007 Freightliner
We’ve seen a lot of great builds that started out as something totally different, but this vehicle, affectionately dubbed Fugarwi, has to be one of the most impressive. Originally a brush ambulance, it’s now ready for around-the-world travel. It’s powered by a 7.2-liter Mercedes diesel paired with an Allison 3000 EVS transmission. Inside you’ll find a Murphy bed, a full-sized refrigerator, 70 gallons of fresh water, a composting toilet, and a 6.5-kilowatt diesel generator. It’s rolling on 46-inch tires and Axletech 4000 axles from an MRAP. It’s truly a rig you have to see in person to appreciate the scale and how well outfitted it is.
Overland Ready FJ Cruiser
It’s always good to have an FJ Cruiser built out for overland travel. The FJCs are great platforms, and this example is ready to hit the trails. The Bilstein suspension smooths out the bump while the high clearance bumper provides excellent trail geometry. Up top, an iKamper tent provides a spacious home in camp with a relatively small footprint. The topographic wrap not only adds a bit of style, but also protects the paint from scratches. Bonus points for the dark bronze wheels and details throughout the build.
