The coolest adventure vehicles in North America recently gathered, and our contributor was on hand to document the event, Overland Expo East, held at the lavish Biltmore Estates in Asheville, N.C. These 20 rigs stood out from the crowd. By Bryon Dorr.
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Land Rover Range Rover Sport
The Robert’s Rally Team Land Rover Range Rover Sport is a unique build. A cross between a luxury Range Rover, classic go anywhere overland outfitted Land Rover, and a rally vehicle. With the addition of the MotoPed, carried on a rear hitch mount, it would be hard not to have fun with this rig!
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Subaru Crosstrek
Adventure-mobiles come in all shapes and sizes. This Subaru Crosstrek was probably the fastest and most fun overland vehicle at the show.
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EEXP Dodge Custom Camper
The Exploring Elements custom build has been a lot of places, but it’s never had such affluent neighbors as on the Biltmore Estates.
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Land Rover Defender
It is easy to argue that the Land Rover Defender is the most iconic overland vehicle in the world. Here you can take your pick between the more nimble D90 or the more spacious D110.
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Custom D130
If you want the pinnacle Land Rover Defender overland adventuremobile, you’re going to want to build a custom D130, like this incredible world ready example, built by Young Rovers.
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2016 Tacoma Overlander
Australians figured out how versatile a ute bed and canopy system were ages ago. Main Line Overland has recently started importing the Norweld system to North America, and this carry all, go anywhere, 2016 Tacoma build is the first on our shores.
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NEMO Tent On Top
The new AT Overland Equipment Habitat system incorporates a NEMO tent into a folding roof-top-tent, which is integrated into a truck topper. The entire system provides a TON of usable interior and exterior living space, and the addition of a fully kitted out Goose Gear interior system elevates this style build to a whole new level.
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Ultimate Tundra Sleeper
Probably the ultimate sleeper at the show this year was this Toyota Tundra build, by Equipt Expedition Outfitters. With a TRD supercharged V8 under the hood, this truck goes anywhere and at any pace you’d like!
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Classic Dormobile
The Classic Dormobile is one of the original pop-top style camper builds, based on the legendary Land Rover Series trucks.
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Diesel Defender
A modern diesel Defender with pop-top camper system, yes please! This MUD UK built vehicle just completed the Trans-American-Trail. Sadly it is way too new to own in America, so must be shipped back to the UK soon.
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Alu-Cab Pop Up Defender
One of the very last Land Rover Defender ever made, this one a Heritage Edition. It is also sporting Alu-Cab’s new Icarus pop-top roof system, installed by OK4WD.
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Pop-Top Troopy
The legendary Land Cruiser Troop Carrier, or Troopy, is probably one of the most versatile and reliable overland vehicles in the world. This diesel example is tastefully modified and features a Trakka pop-top camper system.
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Flat Bed Camper
The Four Wheel Campers flatbed truck campers are making a big splash in the overland world lately. They have a proven build quality history, from a proven company, and provide a ton of living space, especially with the huge Granby Flatbed model mounted to a full-size American pickup, like this Cummins RAM 2500.
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Unimog Beauty
One of the most beautiful Unimogs around, the Main Line Overland Mog takes the truck camper concept to a whole new dimension.
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VW Bus
The venerable VW van, especially in Syncro format, hasn’t lost any of its charm over the years. They are still one of the most in demand overland vehicle platforms on the market.
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Ford E-Series Sportsmobile
While the Ford E-Series is no longer built, you can still get your hands on exceptional examples of the pinnacle of van life dwellings, the E350 4×4 Sportsmobile.
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Earth Cruiser FUSO
The Mitsubishi FUSO, in 4×4 form, has become a quality global overland vehicle platform. The Earth Cruiser is one of the finest FUSO vehicle builds available. Top quality systems in a tidy package, which will fit in a shipping container, for those global overland adventures.
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Custom FUSO
Many travelers are also building their own campers on the FUSO 4×4 chassis, like this well equipped example called “La Bete Bleue.”
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Dodge RAM Camper
Size does matter! While this RAM 5500 custom camper build might not fit down a tight forest road, it can take you a lot of places a typical luxury RV just can’t. This example was for sale, with a price tag north of $300K.
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Pinnacle Global Expedition Vehicles
At the top of the food chain in the US market are the Global Expedition Vehicles builds. Large industrial and military truck platforms, with durable luxuriously appointed campers, are what these builds are all about. This International chassis build even features a roof-top-tent over the cab, which is the kid’s bedroom.
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