Attending an Overland Expo provides the opportunity to see the latest and greatest gear from vendors throughout the country. With 246 exhibitors showing off thousands of products, you’d be hard pressed to see everything on offer in Arrington, Virginia this year. Fortunately, we spent the weekend scouring the vendor area looking for standout products. Here’s a short list of some of our favorite gear from Overland Expo East 2024.
GP Factor – Bull Bar
The fabrication masters at GP Factor debuted some new parts for the INEOS Grenadier at Overland Expo East. The Bull Bar Grill Guard is made up of five separate pieces, so it’s easy to replace if damaged; plus, the middle tube can be swapped out for various light mounting options. The five-part construction greatly decreases shipping costs as well. The Bull Bar is constructed from 3/16” (0.187) HRPO A36 Carbon Steel with 1.9” diameter tubing featuring 0.125” (1/8”) thick walls. This bull bar is built to withstand the demands of rugged use. The main pillars boast an I-Beam construction for added strength and an impressive look. With pillars and bar mounts all measuring 3/16” thick, when assembled, the combined thickness reaches 9/16”. It mounts to the bumper using eight factory mounting holes to ensure stability and support without modifying any factory components. It’s finished in Black Oxide for added corrosion resistance, and not only does this finish match the Grenadier components, but the overall aesthetic makes it seem like this component could have easily rolled off the INEOS assembly line.
Significantly more out of sight but just as important for a fully overland kitted rig, the Grenadier Hidden 12.5K Winch Kit ensures that the Grenadier drivers are ready for backcountry recoveries. It features a Come Up 12.5k SealSlim winch 65ft. of synthetic line and a GP Factor Fairlead. Just like the Bull Bar, it seamlessly integrates with the factory bumper to increase the Grenadier’s capability. And just like all of GP Factor’s products, these INEOS accessories are made in the USA.
Crooked Finger Designs – Battery Pack
The Crooked Box is a next-level auxiliary battery system for van and truck campers designed for quick off-grid adventures. This compact, easy-to-install power solution combines high-performance features with effortless usability, making it perfect for camper builders and DIY enthusiasts. The Crooked Box includes a built-in MPPT solar controller, DC-DC charging, and fused outputs for 12 circuits, allowing seamless integration of inverters and shore power. Its tough aluminum case and aircraft-grade hardware ensure durability, while the fully serviceable design means you can maintain it with ease.
Inside, you’ll find a powerful Expion 360 LiFePO4 battery, a Redarc BCDC charger, and a smart shunt with Bluetooth monitoring. At 14” x 10.75” x 11” and 45 lbs, it fits perfectly into tight spaces. Battery options include 100, 120, or 132AH (expandable), with a charge rate of 25A or 40A and a maximum discharge of 1200W. The Crooked Box is hand-built in Washington and designed to make your DIY dependable and convenient.
DrawerSystems.com – LR3 and Grenadier Drawer Systems
DRAWERSYSTEMS.COM is known for its expertly crafted custom-made drawer systems for a number of SUVs. Their builds can range from the wild to the mild, depending on the customer’s needs. Owner Chad makes a number of bespoke drawer inserts for different models of SUVs, and at Overland Expo East 2024, he had a Land Rover LR3 and an INEOS Grenadier on display. Both rigs featured well-constructed drawers, onboard water, and fridge options, electrical system, and best of all, they’re easy to remove if you need additional cargo space.
With a DRAWERSYSTEMS.COM buildout, you can choose between a 30-liter drawer fridge or a traditional fridge slide. Chad also offers water systems that integrate with in-vehicle tanks, or you can opt for a hook that works with an external tank. Everything about his products encourages the customer to dial in their organization system to meet their needs. We can’t overstate the build quality of these bespoke drawers.
Thule – Outset Hitch Mounted Tent
One of the more interesting things we found at Overland Expo East was the Thule Outset hitch mounted tent. Weighing in at a svelte 160 lbs., the new tent design takes the benefits of a quick deploy roof top tent and puts it on your towbar. While stowed, the tent packs down to a modest rectangle sitting a little less than 30 inches from your bumper. When unfolded, the assembly provides a three-person tent with a 2-3/4″ thick mattress. Adjustable legs allow you to level the tent independent of the vehicle. The Outset will be available in early 2025.
Boxo USA – Metric and SAE Combo Tool Roll
Boxo USA had its new metric and SAE combo tool roll on display. The new 82 piece set includes a curated selection of the most commonly used tools for vehicle maintenance and repair. The tools are all organized in an easy to find and labelled format in their Cordura nylon tool roll that packs up surprisingly small for such a diverse collection of tools. The set comes with a dry bag to further protect your precious tools. If you are on the hunt for a tool set for your vehicle, be sure to check these out.
Decked – Cargoglide
The recently released CargoGlide 1000 from DECKED brings a number of new features to the already convenient and heavy-duty product. As you might expect, the CargoGlide 1000 has a weight capacity of 1,000 pounds. The old model offered 70% extension, but the new CG 1000 bumps that up to 75%, which translates up to 13 more inches depending on the truck bed size. The new look of the CargoGlide goes far beyond aesthetics. The rounded edges and rubber bumpers eliminate snag points, and they’re still compatible with accessories like the optional high sides. The handle release has also been updated to be easy to access and utilize. If you’re looking for even more customization of your truck cargo system, there’s a half-width slider available as well.
Ironman 4×4 – Delta Wing Awning
Ironman 4×4 had their new Delta Wing Awning on display this weekend. Available in 90, 180, and 270 degree models, the awnings were notable for a couple innovative features, as well as a compelling price point. The first thing you notice about the new awning design are the built-in tri-color LED strip lights at the underside of each of the awning arms. Powered from a USB power source, the low-profile lights can be set to three different illumination levels.
The 320 gsm ripstop nylon blackout fabric lived up to its name and provides an understated aesthetic that matches Ironman 4×4’s new design direction. The stout aluminum awning arms are attached to a steel L bracket and have swing out, extendable (and removable) legs for extra support when its needed. The 270-degree awning weighs in at a modest 44 lbs. and an MSRP of $799.00.
Tusca Outdoors – HitchHiker Camper
With the cost of campers and overland trailers skyrocketing, Tusca Outdoors has a new take on the classic camper box – their HitchHiker Camper. The teardrop-esque design comes in at roughly the cost of a higher end rooftop tent at just under $3,000 and is designed to be bed or trailer mounted depending on the mounting kit you pair with it. The boxes come in two standard lengths – 79 and 89 inches to fit a variety of mounting platforms. If the standard lengths don’t fit your application, Tusca also offers a customized version that modifies the length and width to fit smaller vehicles and trailers.
The boxes tip the scales at a surprisingly light 190 and 200 pounds, respectively, despite offering four season rigid insulation and an abuse-resistant interior and exterior lining. The HitchHiker is made in Lebanon, Pennsylvania and can be shipped anywhere in the United States. If you are looking for a lightweight, customizable camper solution, Tusca Outdoors may have the solution for you.
