Now in its sixth year and at its fourth location, Overland Expo East managed to dodge the extreme weather that has plagued the event for so long. Under new management and ownership, the expo is better organized at its new home at Infinity Downs Farm in Arrington, Virginia. I visited with the nearly 200 vendors displaying the latest gear to dig up the latest and greatest from the overland world.
CBI T3 Tacoma 1/2 Bumper
CBI makes a wide range of exterior hardgoods for the off-road-focused Tacoma, 4Runner, and ZR2. Its latest product is the T3 Tacoma 1/2 Bumper. It’s a clean winch bumper for the modern Tacoma.
The CBI T3 Tacoma 1/2 Bumper will be available in late 2019 and cost around $700.
Four Wheel Campers Project M
The new Four Wheel Campers Project M pop-top truck topper camper made its overland audience debut at Overland Expo East. This new lightweight pop-top camper is entering a crowded market space but offers up some interesting differences to its competitors. Read our full thoughts on this new camper here.
The Four Wheel Campers Project M starts at $8,995 and is now in production.
Alu-Cab Shower Cube
A super-hot segment of products lately has been the exterior vehicle changing room. Basically, it’s a small four-walled room that expands and collapses from a small roof rack mount. This product is perfect as an outdoor changing room, shower, or bathroom.
Alu-Cab just launched its version of this product, which the brand calls the Shower Cube. Its design is quite refined, well-made, and durable. It’s quick to set up and take down, has two zippered entries/exits, offers a shelf area in the mount when set up, locks in the open position, and holds its shape well (thanks to a weighted bottom). The station weighs 29 pounds and will set you back $599.
EvoCourse Land Rover Wheels
EvoCourse makes top-quality wheels in Italy. They are used around the globe and even won the Dakar Rally last year. EvoCourse’s latest offering is an 18 x 8.5-inch fitment for Land Rovers.
The idea is that these treads are small enough to offer a good amount of sidewall to the tire while also being large enough to fit over large factory modern disc brakes. I love the clean design and that they look stout enough to hold up to any abuse you can throw out them.
The EvoCourse Dakar Zero 18 x 8.5-inch Land Rover wheels will set you back $370 apiece.
50Ten Campers
We’ve talked about the 50Ten Camper before, but it’s now a fully outfitted masterpiece. Goose Gear has worked its interior cabinet and system magic on this already top-notch camper.
A Goose Gear fully outfitted 50Ten full-size camper, with flatbed, will cost around $65,000. Midsize 50Ten campers are also now available, even for the new Jeep Gladiator.
MLO 4Runner Center Bumper
The front end of the fifth-gen Toyota 4Runner is a complicated mess that is extremely hard to make a good bumper for. A big reason to add a bumper is to carry a winch. Main Line Overland (MLO) has taken the best of what’s out there and designed its own streamlined center bumper for the 4Runner.
This bumper is a powder-coated steel unit that offers integrated recovery and high-lift jack points, a 30-inch lightbar mount, and a clean, solid winch mount. The MLO 4Runner Center Bumper will set you back $799.
23Zero Light Suppression Technology
23Zero is best known for rooftop tents but also makes a full line of quality overland gear. At Overland Expo East, the brand debuted its latest technology, which it’s implementing across much of its product line.
23Zero’s new “light suppression technology” offers a true black interior to the brand’s RTTs, starting with the Breezeway and Walkabout series tents. The technology not only provides a nearly complete blackout, but also offers a much cooler interior temperature than tents without the technology. Never again worry about the sun waking you up at camp after a long night around the campfire!
The Trail Creeper
The Trail Creeper is a 24 x 36-inch CORDURA and truck tarp-covered folding mat. It is reinforced internally with sheets of plastic for rigidity, while neoprene foam filling helps keep it soft. It weighs about 3 pounds and packs down pretty small. It is brand new and costs $79.
The idea behind this product is to offer a rugged and comfortable all-purpose mat for use around your vehicle and camp. A few of its uses include an RTT ladder mat, changing mat, range mat, dog bed, winch line damper, firewood tote, knee rest, and as a creeper for working under your vehicle.
National Luna Legacy Fridges
National Luna is a South African company that has been making some of the very best 12V fridges for decades now. It just launched the new Legacy line. National Luna Legacy Fridges offer the same premium look and feel as the classics. The big changes include a more efficient compressor, better insulation, true dual-zone control (on dual-zone models), and an amazing price point.
The National Luna Legacy Fridges start at $995, come in a wide range of sizes, and are offered by Equipt Expedition Outfitters and Equipt retailers in North America.
ClearView Easy Slide Drop Slide
If you carry a fridge in your vehicle, it’s important for it to be securely attached to the vehicle. This will help prevent it from flying around in an accident and make it easier to access — enter sliding mounts.
Many overland and off-road vehicles are lifted, which often makes accessing a top-load fridge on a straight slide impossible for all but the tallest amongst us. Fortunately, a drop-slide solves this issue. It allows you to slide the fridge out of the vehicle and lower it down to an accessible height.
Atlantic British is now importing ClearView Easy Slide drop-slides into North America from Australia. These slides come in at a good price, have a great build quality, and offer good fridge cord management.
Orion Kennel Cot
Orion has been making top-quality coolers in Tennessee for many years now, and just last year started making dog kennels as well. Its latest product is the Orion Kennel Cot.
This is a fabric-wrapped, aluminum-frame cot designed to be used in and out of kennels, on its own, and even on the latest Jackson fishing kayaks. The covers are replaceable and tensionable for easy cleaning, replacement, and optimal doggy comfort.
The Orion Kennel Cots range from $49 to $79 depending on size.
Port-Lite
The only truly new camper system on display at Overland Expo East this year was the Port-Lite. This full-composite camper is scheduled to be available next year for both short- and long-bed trucks. It features full-composite furniture, diesel appliances, integrated solar power, and a custom flatbed with built-in storage. The short-bed unit will have a dry weight of about 1,350 pounds, which is perfect for half-ton or larger full-size pickups.
Basic pricing will start at $65,000 for the short-bed version and $70,000 for the long-bed. That price includes nearly everything you could want, including the flatbed.
AT Habitat Dragonfly
While just a first prototype, the AT Habitat Dragonfly makes an awesome product even better. The AT Habitat is a flip-open truck topper with a built-in tent. The Dragonfly system turns the underside of the Habitat into a large, enclosed outdoor living space. If you have an AT Habitat on your vehicle, you’re going to want this sweet new accessory.
OTG Torch Jacket & Hideout Jeans
Off The Grid (OTG) continues to expand its quality adventure clothing line. The latest offerings are the Torch Jacket and Hideout Jean.
The OTG Torch Jacket is a 98-percent cotton, 2-percent elastane everyday jacket. It has a flannel-lined body and offers nylon taffeta-lined sleeves. This makes for a bit of warmth in the core while still being easy to put on and take off. There is a rear dump pocket that is perfect for phones, snacks, headphones, or whatever else you need to get out of your hands while on the go. The Torch Jacket is available now in three colors for $99.
Coming soon is a full line of stretch denim jeans. The OTG Hideout Jeans will have a tapered fit, lots of hidden pockets, plenty of stretch, a gusseted crotch, and come in at a reasonable $72.
BROG Mt. Rogers Backpack
Blue Ridge Overland Gear (BROG) makes high-quality innovative, American-made softgoods for the overland adventurer. The brand’s latest product is a unique daypack with integrated organizer pouches, called the Mt. Rogers Backpack. Originally designed as a range bag, it’s a versatile backpack that’s finding many uses.
The Mt. Rogers is made of all-American materials in Virginia. It features leather-padded strap accents, a high-viz orange liner, lots of Velcro, and a lifetime warranty. The 4 x 12 x 6-inch pouch kit is optional but, in my opinion, one of the coolest parts about the bag. The unique front dual-zippered opening makes getting the pouches, or anything else, in and out of the bag super easy.
Omnia Oven
While the Omnia Oven has been around for more than 15 years, it’s new to me and seems like a really cool product that is perfect for life on the road. The Omnia Oven allows you to bake on your camp stove. The basic stove is $67, with a number of useful accessories are available at an additional cost.
Cinnamon buns on a cold camp morning were never this easy — or tasty!
