The XOVERLAND Podcast

“Outdoor Recreation Planner” for the BLM (Bureau of Land Management), Erik Lundin, joins us on this episode to discuss all things associated with recreating and adventuring on BLM lands. Whether overlanding, fishing or hunting, bicycling, heading out on horseback, riding motorcycles, river running, or studying songbirds, Erik will help us answer fundamental questions like these:  Where can I camp? Is this trail open or closed? What do I do with my poop? Can I have a campfire here? Erik takes joy in providing clear, actionable answers to these questions and more so that all of us recreating and adventuring BLM lands can do so confidently.In this episode, Erik further shares how to discover the best recreational opportunities on BLM lands to suit your particular outdoor interests, taking a close look at the BLM’s “Multiple-Use” philosophy and at S.R.M.A.s (Special Recreation Management Areas).Finally, learn how you can volunteer to make a difference in keeping your favorite BLM recreational areas clean, healthy, and open to further public use.See Full Show Notes HERESee Video of this Podcast Episode HERE

What do you get when two guys who grew up knee-deep in the RVing industry decide to build a compact, well-constructed truck camper perfect for vehicle-based adventuring and overlanding? The “Skinny Guy Camper” of course!For this episode, we sit down with Skinny Guy Campers co-founders, Jason Bontrager and Donavon Fredrickson along with Chief Operating Officer and co-owner, Austin Bontrager to discuss what it looks like to take your dream for an innovative product from an idea to a manufactured reality. The grandson of Jayco RV founder, Lloyd Bontrager, Jason knows a thing or two about RVs but his passion has always been for remote, overland-style camping far away from parking lots and established campgrounds. The son of the owner of one of Jayco’s most successful dealerships, Donavon Fredrickson (aka “Skinny Guy”) has always shared the same passion. That’s why these two teamed up to build an all-new truck camper concept manifested in the “Skinny Guy Camper.” Along with telling the story of the business they built, these two and Austin share details about the SGC that make it unique to the degree of having its own patent. An R.V.I.A. (Recreational Vehicle Industry Association) certification, a patented jack system, the ability to fit on nearly any pickup platform–and even a flushable toilet? Somehow, this team has found a way to make it happen. It’s been far from easy though, and Donavon, Jason, and Austin still face new challenges every day as they press on to bridge the gap between the amenities of an RV and the rugged reliability of a compact overlanding platform. See Full Show Notes HERE!Watch the Video HERE!

For this episode, Jimmy & Leah sit down for an expansive conversation with MAK (Mary Ashley Krogh) and Owen of Bound for Nowhere.MAK & Owen share the details of how they became close friends with other traveling creatives like Karissa & Linhbergh of gondirtin and Chase & Aimee Bartee of Tight Loops Fly, and we discuss the unique qualities of the overland travel community.Then jump in with us for a very deep dive into MAK & Owen’s particular traveling philosophy and how it manifests itself within their work featured in the content of Bound for Nowhere.Finally, enjoy catching a glimpse of what’s next for this adventure-artist couple, learn how they have fun and stay safe on the road, and find time for activities like journaling, photography, hiking, and other activities while full-time traveling.See Full Shownotes HERE!Watch the Video of this Podcast Episode HERE!

What is it like to go from being successful L.A. professionals living in the suburbs with two kids to being full-time family overlanders traveling out of a beautifully restored 1972 Ford Bronco on the adventure of a lifetime? Find out in this epic episode featuring Christine & Evan DeHaven of Family Overland Adventure.After pushing hard to become successful in the highly competitive media environment of Los Angeles, California, the DeHavens realized that what they had worked so hard to achieve left them lacking connection as a couple and a family. They decided that the answer was a new family challenge: a life of full-time family overlanding.  So working together with their two sons, they made a family decision to sell their house and hit the road. Throughout this episode, we hear of their adventures as they traveled from the southern-most tip of Baja to the shores of Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, learn about their decision to pivot from the Bronco to their 2016 Toyota Tundra, and discover why after three years of full-time overlanding they decided to settle down in Bozeman, Montana.See what there is to discover from the triumphs and challenges of thousands of miles and more than three years of family overland adventure in this unique story told by the DeHavens!This podcast is brought to you by onX Offroad!See Full Show Notes HERE!See Video Version of this Podcast HERE!

XOVERLAND CEO, Clay Croft, jumps in as host for this special episode with photographer/social media influencer, Chris Burkard. Chris and Clay share a common bond through a life of making media around the adventures they pursue. We connect with Chris from his home in Iceland, where he and his family enjoy a life of fresh experiences both cultural and physical as Chris pursues next-level photographic journeys into the island nation’s most remote and extreme environments.Throughout their conversation, Clay and Chris discuss their experiences in Iceland, their origin stories as adventure-photographer/filmmakers, and the role overlanding vehicles play in their lives.The two further discuss fatherhood and parenting, the hard and challenging road to success, mentorship, and the wisdom they have learned along the way.Join in for a conversation in which you are sure to find inspiration and a few pro tips to success no matter what you have your sights set upon.See Full Show Notes HEREWatch the Video Version of this Podcast Episode HERE

We sit down with Brad Kowitz of TrailRecon to discuss how to get started driving more technical, 4WD-themed “trails.” What we’re thinking here is that there may be people who have traveled the entire length of the Pan-American Highway but have never considered attempting a challenging 4WD trail in the U.S. like the Rubicon, Magruder, or Colorado’s famous Black Bear or Imogene Passes. We decided to reach out to Brad to help all who can relate get started down the trail!Brad jumps right in to share what he has learned about taking a variety of 4WD vehicles into America’s backcountry, from fully-built Jeeps to Sprinter Vans, offering tips on how to have fun getting started safely and responsibly.To dig further into this topic, we explore the oft-underrated capabilities of O.E.M. vehicles and why it’s important to get to know your vehicle as it is before jumping into extensive modifications and accessorizing. Listen in as Brad defines what a “trail” is, exactly, and what you can learn from how the U.S.F.S. identifies the roads it manages throughout our national forests. You will learn how to find trails in your area to get started on, off-road communities to learn from, and classes and courses you can take to improve your off-road driving skills.We also chat a bit about the popular “BDRs” (Backcountry Discovery Routes) now found in the U.S., and how these can be a great opportunity for those interested in getting started in vehicle-based, off-road adventure.Finally, Brad has some fun sharing some harrowing stories of his own adventures and misadventures along his path toward becoming an experienced off-roader and why he has come to push back against peer pressure when it comes to choosing his trails.Whether you’re an experienced off-roader looking to get more into overland-style wheeling or an experienced overlander excited about hitting up more technical 4WD trails, you will find something of value in this episode with Brad Kowitz, who has found a happy middle ground within these two pursuits.See Full Show Notes HERE!Watch the Video Version of this Podcast Episode HERE!

This is one of our most extended and complex episodes to date–and for good reason. We have Rebelle Rally founder, Emily Miller, on the podcast for the first time and she has volumes of information to share about navigation, the Rebelle Rally, and driving skills, along with crazy stories about her experiences designing the Rebelle course with the likes of off-road motorcycling legend, Jimmy Lewis.An expert in navigation, Emily provides our listeners with insight and knowledge gained through study and hard-earned experience in various forms of navigation, from traditional paper-and-compass methods to state-of-the-art GPS. Join the conversation, as Emily explains her holistic philosophy when it comes to navigation and teaches proven, race-winning strategies for reading terrain and using primitive and modern navigation tools to find one’s way across remote landscapes efficiently and effectively.In this special episode, we also learn all about the Rebelle Rally:  Where is it held? Who can participate? What vehicles are allowed to enter the rally? Emily answers these questions and more about the first and only navigation-based rally to be held within the U.S.Emily also explains the top-secret, “classified” nature of planning the Rebelle Rally and how this has put her and her colleagues into some extreme behind-the-scenes situations. Listen in as she shares some of her best stories, including camping at the epicenter of an earthquake that registered a 7.2 on the Richter scale!😬And if you’re interested in improving your off-road driving skills, Emily has some pro tips and suggestions. A protege of one of the most famous figures in off-road racing, Rod Hall, Emily has insight and knowledge gained through both study and experience.This is an episode with one of the world’s greatest trailblazers creating pathways not only to empower women interested in discovering the joys of off-road driving but also anyone who is interested in challenging themselves in this increasingly popular outdoor pursuit. See Full Show Notes HERE!Watch the Video Version of this Podcast Episode HERE!

Join us for an episode on auxiliary power with Mark Bruce, Manager of International Training and Development at REDARC Electronics. Mark defines terms like Amp-hours, watts, and volts, and provides math to figure out power needs. They discuss solar panels, battery optimization, and the benefits of smart chargers. The chapter explores the differences between full house battery systems and portable power systems for vehicles.

Chase and Aimee Bartee are extremely hard-working filmmakers with a passion for fly fishing, overlanding, and conserving the beautiful and wild country they love.The story of the Bartees is the story of two artists pursuing an uncompromising path toward their artistic vision. Finding success with their first film Journey On, the couple has developed a devoted YouTube following on their channel, Tight Loops, and received critical acclaim for their wilderness expeditionary film, Big Land. Their most recent project, For Wild’s Sake: The Rare Trout Chronicles, showcases their unique, cinematic blend of entertainment, education, and inspiration.We sit down with Chase and Aimee at the XOVERLAND hangar to discuss their philosophy as artists, current projects, adventures in their 1985 Volkswagen Vanagon Westfalia Weekender Van, and transition to a 2023 Toyota Tundra featuring a Four Wheel Camper Hawk. Our discussion features everything from harrowing tales of Baja adventure to approaches to minimizing our impact on the outdoor environments and resources we cherish. We hope you enjoy our conversation with the very talented couple, Chase and Aimee Bartee of Tight Loops!This podcast is brought to you by onX Offroad!Read the show notes here!Watch this podcast here!

It’s one thing to head out camping and traveling for a few days, a few weeks, or even a few months, but what about heading out on a 15-year full-time overland adventure around the world while raising your newborn child? Enter the world of Eric and Brittany Highland of Hourless Life.Eager to spend more time together after inhabiting the world of professional marketing, Eric and Brittany purchased a Jeep Gladiator they dubbed “Dauntless,” outfitted it with a solid kit of overlanding gear, and began their multiyear journey throughout the globe. Their son, Caspian, was literally “born to the road” as Brittany puts it, as she left the maternity ward in the U.S. and immediately jumped into the Jeep with Eric to begin their adventure into Mexico.Talking with Eric and Brittany is a revelation into the gritty and sometimes very challenging realities of overland travel. In this episode, the couple shares what life looks like on the daily as they travel throughout Latin America en route to Ushuaia.This unforgettable conversation explores everything from misconceptions about Mexico, to potty training along the Pan-American Highway, along with a close look into the cultural differences between Latin America and the U.S.Whether you enjoy domestic overland travel within the U.S. or have your sights set on a R.T.W. (Round-the-World) journey, there is over a decade’s worth of full-time travel to learn from packed into this lively and candid conversation. This podcast is brought to you by onX Offroad!Read the full show notes here!Watch this podcast here!