Going off-road. Way off-road.
Sep 28, 2009
Traveling around with BFGoodrich Tires, we’ve met all kinds of off-roaders – rock crawlers, desert racers, weekend wheelers. Until we caught up with Todd Pope and his Expeditioneers club in Phoenix, though, we didn’t know a lot about off-road expeditions. Brian McVickers from Overland Journal came out to meet us too, and help explain this unique brand of wheeled adventure.
From what we heard, they draw on the same inspiration as many off-roaders – “Because-it’s-there.” But instead of an overcoming an obstacle, or a navigating a trail, they’re interested in traversing the better part of a continent.
“Think Phoenix to Los Angeles without driving on any roads,” Todd told us. That’s the kind of challenge that interests the Expeditioneers. Expedition driving, also called overlanding, is about being totally self-sufficient. Journeys can go for days without a hint of civilization, so everything the Expeditioneers need goes with them. As you’d imagine, vehicle preparation is crucial.
The Toyota FJ40 is the rig of choice for the Expeditioneers, but McVickers’ Land Rover Discovery also gets the job done. In preparing a vehicle for expedition driving, suspension upgrades are a must for ground clearance and to help overcome off-road obstacles. Winches are standard equipment, too, and all the trucks we saw had auxiliary lighting. Being based in Phoenix, the club prefers to go out at night when temperatures aren’t so brutal. (That helps explain the trick light bar that Todd can rotate 270º from a wireless remote.) The trucks also carry fuel, food and provisions, and a stockpile of spare parts. If you break an axle in the deserts of Mexico, you’re a long way from a Toyota dealership.
On a recent excursion, the Expeditioneers traveled 1300 miles from the Sea of Cortez to the peak of Picacho del Diablo in Baja Mexico. They went from sea level to above 10,000 feet. And from 100-degree heat to freezing cold and snow. “People don’t think it snows in Mexico,” Todd said, “but at 10,000 feet it does.” Those extremes give you an idea of how important it is to come totally prepared.
Beyond the Lewis-and-Clark sense of adventure, expeditions offer club members a closer connection to nature. Traveling across vast expanses of uninhabited land seems like a good way to gain appreciation for the natural world. Both the Expeditioneers and Overland Journal emphasize conservation along with exploration. They don’t go out to conquer the wilderness, they go out to experience it.
We spent the better part of an evening with Brian, Todd and the rest of the club. First in the Arizona desert and then sharing stories around a much-needed sit-down dinner. Hearing the Expeditioneers talk about all the fun they’ve had trekking across North America got us thinking about an overland adventure of our own. We do have the van for it.
Get your own look at the Expeditioneers. Check out our flickr gallery.
Comments
Great pics and video. I’ve looked at their site and I wish I could go on Expeditions with them. No wonder they have BFs to take them where few men attempt to go. Great report ! Way to go Nation of GO!
By Juan Pablo on 2009 10 05
Awesome, guys. Kudos to your editors. Hope your expedition across the U.S. was the adventure you were looking for. If not, when do you want to take that van to Baja?
By Todd Pope on 2009 10 05
Great video and fantastic photography. Thanks for covering this important segment of the 4WD community. I think it’s important to clarify that when Todd said “Think Phoenix to Los Angeles without driving on any roads,” he meant paved roads. It’s absolutely imperative that we only drive on existing and legal dirt roads (not cross-country on undisturbed terrain). I know the guys at Expeditioneers are serious about maintaining this ethic, so I thought I’d mention that. And yes, you should definitely take that nice van on an overland adventure.
By Chris Marzonie on 2009 10 10