Offroading

A red Jeep with a camping trailer parked on the edge of the woods. The Jeep is set up for camping.

TrailRecon Explains How to Become an Overlander Overnight

by Mary Cochenour March 9, 2022

written by Mary Cochenour

The easiest way to get into overlanding is to simply just go. Don’t wait for the perfect rooftop tent. Forget those bluebird skies. Save the expensive tires for another day. Just get out there and do it now with whatever ride sits in your garage.

“You need a shelter, you need food and water, and you need some safety gear,” says Brad Kowitz, the creator of TrailRecon, a wildly popular YouTube channel dedicated to all things overlanding. “That’s my advice, just get the basics, get out there, and go have a good time.”

How TrailRecon Got Started

Before starting TrailRecon, Brad recalls taking his stock Jeep on the trail and camping with the hiking gear he had in the basement. Over time, he built up his rig to include more creature comforts: a full kitchen setup, a fridge, and a rooftop tent. While these expensive mods can make a trip more enjoyable, not having them shouldn’t prevent you from going out and making memories today, says Brad’s wife Regena.

“Whether you’re going out with the basics or you’re upping your game with glamping, just being outside is scientifically proven to be good for your mental health,” Regena says.

Helping folks get outside and experience the benefits of nature is the whole reason TrailRecon was born. It all started in 2015 with a video that Brad and Regena’s son Jordan made of their trip to the mud caves in California’s Anza Borrego State Park. The video gained an audience and soon the Kowitzes were posting about all their camping trips. The channel went viral. Now, with almost half a million subscribers, TrailRecon covers every aspect of overland adventure, from camp cooking to vehicle mods to detailed trail reports.

“It’s all part of a whole, right?” Regena says. “When you go overlanding or off-roading, you’ve got to have gear and equipment and you’ve got to eat. Ideally, you have friends who go along with you and those friends have their own vehicles, and a lot of people are interested in hearing about those vehicles.”

As retired Navy Corpsmen, Brad and Regena have been using their extra time to take the TrailRecon brand in new directions. They’ve added a classic Cherokee to their quiver of Jeeps. They’ve developed a new line of TrailRecon Adventure Coffee. Brad also started UnlimitedRecon, a new YouTube channel dedicated to documenting adventures beyond overlanding.

How to Join TrailRecon on an Overlanding Trip

Even though Brad has reached next-level YouTube fame, getting on a trip with TrailRecon is not out of reach. Brad is the face of E3 Overland — a nationwide overland community that helps to educate, empower, and entertain folks on the trail. In addition to web-based learning, E3 focuses on in-person events that get members together all across the country. Brad says joining members on E3 events keeps him grounded and connected to people who love the outdoors.

“I spend a lot of time talking to a camera lens and I don’t spend a lot of time talking to people,” Brad explains. “So being able to have these events where I can talk to folks who are enjoying the videos and find out what their stories are and how I can maybe help them on the way is something that’s important to me.”

Tune in To Episode 13 of the Gaia GPS Offroad Podcast for all the TrailRecon Details

You can hear more about how to join TrailRecon on an overlanding trip in 2022 on episode 13 of the Gaia GPS Offroad podcast. Plus, you won’t want to miss Brad’s take on overlanding with a full-size pickup, the benefits of traveling with an offroad trailer, and Regena’s sage advice for making a reluctant spouse fall in love with roughing it in the great outdoors.

Get Our Best Discount on Gaia GPS Premium

If you want to follow in the tread of TrailRecon and plan custom overland trips far away from the crowds, you’re going to need Gaia GPS Premium. With a Premium Membership, you’ll be able to create your own routes, download maps for offline use, and access the entire map catalog, including offroading favorites like MVUM, Mines and Minerals Resources, satellite imagery, USFS Roads and Trails, weather maps, and more.

March 9, 2022

Tim and Marisa Notier kiss infront of their motorcycle on a dirt mountain road.

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How to Stay Married on a Long-Distance Adventure

by Mary Cochenour February 9, 2022

written by Mary Cochenour

Outdoor adventures with your partner can be challenging to say the least. Stressful weather conditions can light up short fuses. A power struggle might rear its ugly head. The familiarity of the relationship pulls back the curtain on our worst behaviors. Don’t give up, because Tim and Marisa Notier are living proof that adventuring as a couple can be done — even when you share a seat on a motorcycle for five years.

The midwestern adventure riding couple has traveled together on the same bike for tens of thousands of miles and still manage to stay happily married. Bickering aside, the Notiers have banded together as teammates to overcome a trip-stopping pandemic, rush-hour traffic in Tijuana, and complicated border crossings in Africa. Five years on the winding road and they’re still going strong.

How do they do it without wringing each other’s neck?

Tim and Marisa ride their motorcycle on a crystal clear lake.

Well don’t let the those sunset Instagram photos fool you. The Notiers are the first to admit that navigating love in the great outdoors isn’t always smooth sailing. In fact, their whole marriage started out with a spicy argument at one of the most beautiful places in the world: Artist’s Point in Yellowstone National Park.

“We were in Yellowstone and I wanted to propose to Marisa the very next day,” Tim said on the Gaia GPS Offroad podcast. “And we’re having a fight and we’re talking about if we’d ever marry each other and she says, ‘I don’t know’.”

Tim popped the question anyway and the two have been traveling together ever since.

Marisa walks from a motorcycle parked in the sand to a tent set up nearby.

From Illinois to the tip of Argentina, and up and down Africa, the Notiers have explored the natural world and their relationship’s limits. While many couples work tirelessly on opening up lines of communication, they say actually shutting down communication has been key to smoothing over the rough spots.

Marisa said when either party needs a little space, they “can hang up on each other” in their helmet intercom system that keeps their communications open while rolling down the road. Taking some time and letting the heated moment pass has worked wonders for them over the years.

“In the very beginning we used to be like, ‘Hey, don’t hang up on me!’,” Marisa added. “But now we’ve realized that’s not usually very productive and if one person is angry to the point where they hang up on the other person, we just let that go, give it a while, and time will help resolve everything.”

Tim and Marisa smile with their helmets on while riding their motorcycle.

Tune in to hear the complete story of how these high school sweethearts rekindled their relationship after an extended hiatus. In this hilarious and honest discussion, the Notiers pull back the curtain on how they got into adventure riding in the first place, why they chose to ride tandem around the world, and how they managed to quit their jobs to adventure all over the globe.

Learn more about the Notiers on their website. Read about their adventures in Tim’s books that chronicle the couple’s adventure riding journey. Follow them on Instagram to see what they are up to next.

February 9, 2022

Android Auto on a car navigation screen.

Gaia GPS New Features Offroading

Navigate from the Dashboard with Improved Android Auto

by Abby Levene February 4, 2022

written by Abby Levene

We’ve revamped Gaia GPS on Android Auto so you can manipulate the map, record tracks, and drop waypoints all from your dashboard. Just connect your phone to your car display and navigate with your favorite Gaia GPS maps like MVUMs, hi-res global satellite imagery, and National Geographic Trails Illustrated — all from the luxury of the wide screen.

From expanded map controls to clearer visibility, here are the major updates:

Pan around and Zoom In and Out on the Map

Put your phone in the console and relax. Now you can engage with more of the map right from your dashboard. View other parts of the map by panning around from dashboard screen. Pinch your fingers on the map to zoom in and out.

Navigate Along Routes — and Off Them

Follow a route you’ve already built on Gaia GPS. Or forge your own trail by navigating to a waypoint or the start of a track.

Add Waypoints to Mark Key Locations

Mark landmarks, campsites, and water crossings in real time. Just drop a waypoint right from your navigation screen onto the map.

Start and Stop Recording Tracks

Leave a breadcrumb trail by recording your tracks in Gaia GPS, right from your dashboard. Just hit “Record Track” when you start, and “End” when you arrive. Your track will automatically sync on your phone, laptop, tablet, or wherever else you use Gaia GPS.

Search and Filter to Quickly Find Routes, Waypoints, and Tracks

Easily find the waypoint, track, or route you want with our brand new filtering and sorting system. Hit the search bar and then filter by object type. Or sort items by alphabetical title, distance from you, or time created.

Clearly See Where You’re Going

We’ve enhanced the navigation line to make it easier to see where you’re going as you whiz down the highway or maneuver technical off-road routes. New icons give Gaia GPS on Android Auto a crisper look so you can keep your hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.

Take advantage of these improvements by updating your Android Auto app. Learn even more about Gaia GPS on Android Auto over here. And become a Premium member to access our full map catalog.

February 4, 2022

Richard and Ashley Giordano smiling in from of a road sign that says "Arctic Ocean"

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How to Go From ‘Desk to Glory’ in 4 Months Flat

by Mary Cochenour January 12, 2022

written by Mary Cochenour

Ashley and Richard Giordano were the picture of success in 2013. The young couple had thriving careers, nice cars, and a comfortable apartment in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia. Despite the enviably appearances, burnout was brewing dangerously close to the surface. They needed a change.

That change came in the form a little red pickup truck that was collecting dust in Richard’s mom’s backyard.

“At the time, my mom and her husband had a plumbing business and their little run-around truck was this 1990 Toyota pickup, four cylinder, five speed, that was just beat on constantly,” Richard said. “But I saw that as the perfect foundation to start with.”

Four months later, the Giordanos moved into “Little Red” and left their city apartment and office jobs behind. Hence, the name “Desk to Glory” – the Giordano’s branded adventure that has taken them across international borders and into unfamiliar territory.

How did they make the lifestyle change in such a short time? Recognizing and acknowledging that you need a re-invention is the first and most difficult step, the Giordanos say on the Gaia GPS Offroad podcast.

“The hardest part for us was realizing that we needed to overhaul our lives and that whatever we were doing wasn’t working for us. But we realized we needed to change,” Ashley said. “The taking action part was actually easy after we had made the decision. I always say it’s like pulling yourself out of the Matrix.”

Their first trip took them to the tip of South America and back again. More recently, they ventured in the opposite direction and far north to the shores of the Arctic Ocean in the dead of winter. This fall, the couple explored Baja’s beautiful beaches and peninsula. Now they are in Saudi Arabia, reporting on the Dakar Rally for Expedition Portal.

While they seem to have jumped into this world traveling lifestyle with both feet, the Giordanos quest for full-time adventure started with fits and spurts. They enjoyed conventional vacations in the beginning, stringing together weeks off from work to take international vacations. Even on their trip to Patagonia, it took a while for them to fully break the shackles of 9-to-5 culture. At one point, Little Red had to be left behind in Costa Rica while the couple returned to Canada to work for a period of time.

Tune in to the Gaia GPS Offroad podcast to hear Ashley and Richard recount their steps from “Desk to Glory.” Host Wade May goes all in on this conversation that covers everything from extreme cold-weather bathroom tips to the evolution of the Giordanos’ iconic rig — Little Red.

Learn more about Desk to Glory and the Giordanos through their website, YouTube channel, and Instagram page. And if Richard and Ashley have inspired you to get out on the trail and camp more this year, whether it is a weekend trip to your local state park or an adventure across an international border, don’t forget to pick up Gaia GPS Premium to help you find your way.

Last Episode: Gaia GPS’s Best Overlanding Maps and Features of 2021

If you explored some epic trails in 2021, chances are you used Gaia GPS to get you there. But did you know that, while you were sipping camp coffee from your tailgate, the Gaia GPS crew was hard at work rolling out new maps and features? Tune in to episode 10 of the Gaia GPS Offroad podcast for a complete run down on the best new maps and features that the Gaia GPS team developed for overlanding in 2021. From 3D maps on the web to public tracks in the app, learn about the updates that will help you discover and navigate wild places this year.

January 12, 2022

A Toyota 4Runner pulling a camping trailer driving down a dirt road with desert mountains in the background

Gaia GPS Gaia GPS Offroad Podcast New Features New Maps Offroading

Gaia GPS’s Best New Overlanding Maps and Features of 2021

by Mary Cochenour December 23, 2021

written by Mary Cochenour

If you rode some epic trails in 2021, chances are you used Gaia GPS to get you there. But did you know that, while you were sipping camp coffee from your tailgate, the Gaia GPS crew was hard at work rolling out new maps and features? In 2021, Gaia GPS added stacks of new maps and innovative features to help overlanders discover and navigate away from the crowds.

“My technique [for planning trips] kind of changes all the time because I just keep discovering new things and utilizing different features,” says Wade May, host of the Gaia GPS Offroad podcast and long-time Gaia GPS user. “I mean, 2021 has been a pretty big year for Gaia, rolling out some new features that are going to be great for offroaders and overlanders.”

Read on to get the details of Wade’s interview with Chris Kracht of 4X Overland Adventures and Matt McClellan of Ozark Overland Adventures about their favorite new maps and features of the year.

Ozark Overland Adventures’ Matt McClellan getting a little off-camber in his Jeep Gladiator.

Android Auto and Apple CarPlay Integration with Gaia GPS

The most prominent development of 2021 was the integration of Android Auto in July. Gaia GPS synced with Apple CarPlay in February 2020, and Android users demanded the same. When third-party app integration opened up on Android Auto, Gaia GPS’s dev team pounced at the opportunity. Now, offroaders and overlanders can put Gaia GPS’s quality and custom maps right on the dash.

Matt McClellan of Ozark Overland Adventures just got a 2021 Jeep Gladiator, and he uses CarPlay in tandem with his phone to get two viewpoints on the dashboard.

“I can have a wide view of the whole area on my CarPlay screen and then on my phone I can zoom in to where I am … I love it,” McClelland explains on the Gaia GPS Offroad podcast.

Chris Kracht of 4X Overland Adventures taking the desert by storm in his Toyota FJ Cruiser.

Find New Routes with Trails Offroad in Gaia GPS

Looking to put those perfect trails on your rig’s dashboard navigation screen? You’re in luck because in 2021, Gaia GPS also integrated with Trails Offroad — the maker of thousands of highly-detailed curated trail guides in North America. Maybe the most prized new feature of 2021, this partnership lets you push any Trails Offroad route and way points directly to your Gaia GPS account with a simple push of a button.

Chris Kracht of 4X Overland Adventures says he uses Trails Offroad when he’s headed to a new area. “Trails Offroad is fantastic. I’ll use it a lot if I’m in an area that I haven’t had time to research,” Kracht says.

Public Tracks, 3D Maps, and a Handy New Feature that Hasn’t Been Announced Yet

Gaia GPS also rolled out 3D maps, public tracks in the app, and offline snap-to-trail routing in 2021. Plus, there’s a plethora of useful new maps, including National Geographic’s Sawtooth and Sun Valley maps, brand new smoke forecasts, and a heap of updates to Gaia Topo — our most detailed, updated, and nimble map for downloading.

Tune in to Episode 10 of the Gaia GPS Offroad podcast to hear Wade, Chris, and Matt riff on all the best new features that Gaia GPS put out this year and how these experienced overlanders used them in their trips — big and small. Plus, Wade spills the beans on a novel, not-yet-announced feature in Gaia Topo that is bound to make camp reservations a snap.

It’s easy to get in a rut with the way you plan and navigate, but these updates make it easy for you to access our new maps and tools on your next adventure. Tune in to this snappy episode to get all the details. Plus, learn more about how to use Gaia GPS on the Ozark Overland Adventures YouTune channel. And get overlanding tips and tricks from Chris at 4XOA.

December 23, 2021

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Inside the Never-Ending Road Trip with Dan Grec

by Mary Cochenour November 20, 2021

written by Mary Cochenour

Since 2009, Dan Grec has traveled the world in his Jeep Wrangler, searching for connection in the local culture and beauty in wild landscapes. After some 90,000 miles behind the windshield, the author of the popular adventure travel books The Road Chose Me Vol.1 & 2, finally returns home to Australia.

But Grec’s homecoming won’t be filled with the rest and relaxation you’d expect after a decade-long road trip. Grec will continue his odyssey to see and experience the world up-close and personal. This time, he returns to his birthplace to tackle Australia’s classic routes and unknown trails. He expects to be out in the bush for at least 12 to 18 months.

“The more I read about and learn about some of the iconic spots around Australia, I think to myself, ‘I really want to experience that because I want to understand my own country,” Grec says. “I’ve seen way more of the US and Canada than I have seen of Australia.”

Overlanding Africa

Grec stands on his Jeep tire, in front of pyramids.

Grec’s Australian expedition begins any moment now and comes on the heels of his 54,000-mile adventure around Africa. From the Sahara desert to the grasslands of South Africa, Grec chose muddy backroads and quiet villages over paved highways and bustling cities. Those roads took him through 35 countries over three years.

Each of Africa’s diverse ecological regions offered top-notch overlanding routes, opportunities for dispersed camping, and friendly locals willing to lend a hand when needed. Grec said that while it’s easy to get swept away in Africa’s giraffes, elephants, gorillas, and zebras, it’s really the kindness of the people that made the trip special.

As far as offroading destinations go, Namibia ranked highest on Grec’s list.

“Namibia stands out as absolute overland paradise,” Grec says. “It has coastline and stunning wildlife. You can fly into the capital city, rent a 4WD, and that afternoon be out camping in a dry riverbed with elephants walking by.”

Overlanding the Americas

Jeep parked on a beach in front of a sunset over the ocean.

Before his trip through Africa, Grec gained valuable international experience on the Pan American Highway. This classic route from Alaska to the tip of South America, plus plenty of side trips, was Grec’s introduction to overlanding. He logged some 40,000 miles in a used, soft-top Wrangler with zero upgrades. He remembers how spotting an international license plate in Alaska inspired him to take the leap.

“I was in Alaska and I saw a motorbike that had Peruvian plates on it,” Grec says. “And I remember thinking to myself, ‘well, it can be done.’ And that that’s all I needed to know.”

For Grec, traveling has never been a race to get from point A to B. He takes his sweet time and focuses on the many non-vehicle adventures along the way, including kayaking, mountain climbing, camping, and backpacking. He explores every village, making a point to eat local cuisine, especially inexpensive street food.

Sometimes, when he needs to, he stops his trip and works. When he reached Ecuador, he managed a hostel. The extra money helped him prolong his time on the road.

“My trips last as long as the money lasts,” Grec says.

Paying for the International Overland Lifestyle

Grec in front of his Jeep with giant snow-capped peaks in the background.

An engineer by eduction and training, Grec views working not as a career, but as a way to pay for his next worldwide adventure. He works intensely for a period of time, saving as much money as he possibly can. When he’s saved enough to pay for a couple of years on the road, he quits the job and travels. It’s a simple financial formula.

“I genuinely believe that I am just an ordinary guy. You know, I don’t write for National Geographic. I don’t have millionaires for parents. I just became determined to make these dreams come true,” Grec says.

Grec unlocks his secrets to worldwide travel on Episode 9 of the Gaia GPS Offroad podcast. Learn how Grec masterfully makes his dollars go the extra mile to prolong his trips. In this honest and exposing chat with Wade, Grec also covers everything from avoiding bribery at international border crossings to what to do when you get Malaria … twice.

Follow Grec on Instagram. Get exclusive content on Patreon. Read about Grec’s adventures on his blog and in his books The Road Chose Me, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2.

Last Episode: Backcountry Rescue with a Press of a Button

A person sits at the edge of a canyon holding her phone, with a ZOLEO unit attached to her backpack.

You’re all alone, 45 miles from pavement, and your truck quits … forever. You whip out your cell phone to call for help, but there’s not even one bar of service. What do you do? Well, if you have a satellite communicator, you send a message for help. Yes, rescue and recovery in the backcountry can be that simple.

If you want to learn more about how these palm-sized devices keep you connected in areas without cell service, check out our last episode with Morris Shawn, president of ZOLEO — one of the newest and most affordable satellite communicators on the market.

Shawn has decades of experience in satellite communications and he’s here to answer all your questions about how they work, how many bones it’ll cost you to get a monthly ZOLEO plan, and some of the dumbest calls for help he’s heard of over the past few years.

Plus, ZOLEO is having a killer sale right now. Until November 30, you can get a ZOLEO satellite communication device for only $149, that’s 25 percent off the retails price. Click the button to go to the sale.

November 20, 2021

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How to Get into Vanlife without Breaking the Bank

by Mary Cochenour October 27, 2021

written by Mary Cochenour

Van life with its sunset views and cozy living quarters seems like a dream — until you see the price tag. A decked out 4×4 Sprinter van can cost more than the price of a modest home. But Jason Darrah, star of the viral YouTube show Primal Outdoors, is here to show you a better way. All it takes is buying – and being happy with – the vehicle you can afford.

Jason carrying a log over his shoulder. — Photo credit: Jason Darrah

For years, Jason has been living in a Ford van that he bought off Craigslist for $2000. He named the van “Sasquatch“ and considers it a solid upgrade from his first overland rig – an ancient $350 Ford Explorer. Both of Jason’s economical vehicles have explored the farthest reaching corners of the Pacific Northwest, where Jason calls home.

“I like to encourage people to look at this as an option … maybe start with something used,” Jason says. “Something you could build and tinker with and just over time it will get better and better. And pretty soon you’ll look back maybe two, three years later and it will be like, ‘wow, I’ve got this really rad overland vehicle’ and I just built it from nothing.”

Over time, Sasquatch has seen tens of thousands of dollars in upgrades, including a conversion to four wheel drive, a propane heater to warm the cab, and an electrical system to keep the lights on. Jason adds on to the van when he can afford it. Now, Sasquatch is built out perfectly for full-time living and 4WD exploring.

“People might look at the van at this point and think that it’s crazy,” Jason says. “But if you add up all the stuff I’ve done to it, I’m still under the base price of a Sprinter.”

Sasquatch has proven to be a worthy overland vehicle for Jason. He used the van to discover and map out a 300-mile custom route from Bend, Oregon to the Alvord Desert. The trip takes about a week to complete, yet only about a mile of the route touches pavement.

Jason explains on episode 7 of the Gaia GPS Offroad podcast that almost any high clearance 4WD vehicle can complete the Bend to Alvord route. Plus, get the low down on Jason’s method of building out a van for everyday living, how backpacking has influenced his vehicle-based adventures, and why he loves to cook up and eat chicken hearts while out on the trail.

Learn more about Jason on his YouTube channel, Primal Outdoors, and follow his exploits on Instagram. Join Primal Outdoors Patreon to get Jason’s exclusive GPX tracks and files.

Last Episode: Around the World with Hourless Life

Brittany holds her son next to a fully rigged jeep. Sunset desert in the background.

Brittany and Eric Highland moved out of their home seven years ago and have lived on the road ever since. A few weeks ago, they crossed the US border into Mexico, kicking off their biggest adventure yet — a giant road trip around the globe. With no return date in mind, the couple expects the trip to take 10 to 15 years.

Go back and listen to episode 6 of the Gaia GPS Offroad podcast to hear how they built out their Jeep Gladiator for international travel. Plus, get the details on traveling around the world with their adorable four-year-old son, Caspian.

For exclusive content, join the Hourless Life Patreon. Follow their journey on Instagram. Get their best tips and tricks on the Hourless Life website.

Trails Offroad: Get 2,700+ Detailed Trail Guides with Difficulty Ratings

You don’t have to go around the entire world to have an overlanding adventure of your own. Our show’s sponsor Trails Offroad has thousands of routes for you to explore right here in the United States. Trails Offroad’s trail guides come with detailed route information, including a downloadable gpx track and waypoints, campsite information, photos of important places, and a difficulty rating so you know what you’re getting yourself into. And the best part: you can send all your Trails Offroad routes straight to your Gaia GPS account with a single press of a button.

October 27, 2021

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Road Tripping Around the World with Hourless Life — and their Toddler

by Mary Cochenour October 14, 2021

written by Mary Cochenour

Brittany and Eric Highland moved out of their home seven years ago and have lived on the road ever since. They started out in a giant RV and eventually moved to a Jeep Wrangler made for rock crawling. When their son Caspian arrived, they built out a Jeep Gladiator so they could drive around the world all together.

Last Saturday, they crossed the U.S. border into Mexico with a long-term goal of driving every continent on the globe. They have no date of return in mind.

Their journey started with one word: overlanding.

“I stumbled on the word ‘overlanding’ and it caught my attention because I had no idea what it meant,” Brittany said. “Come to find out, overlanding is vehicle-based adventure travel usually with an international border crossing aspect to it. And that really blew my mind because I had no idea that people went on extended trips with multiple border crossings, or even that they drove around the world.”

Brittany (holding son) and Eric pose in front of a canyon.

The concept of a worldwide road trip grabbed ahold of Brittany, but she thought international travel would be impossible to accomplish with their then one-year-old son.

A podcast changed her mind. Looking for inspiring stories from overlanders, Brittany listened to Episode 30 of the Overlanding Podcast. This show featured the Snaith family who has completed a 4-year journey around the world with their two young children. The Snaiths’ story convinced Brittany that overlanding long distances with a toddler was possible.

Brittany and Eric spent the next three years searching for the perfect vehicle to cross international borders. They chose the Jeep Gladiator Sport S with a max tow package and topped it with an Alu-Cab Canopy Camper on the back. From there, everything was custom-built to their needs.

“The entire build was based on one thing, and that is where Caspian is going to sit,” Eric explained. “We knew we wanted Caspian to sit right behind the driver for two reasons. One: so he wouldn’t distract the driver. And two: so that the person sitting in the passenger seat could minister to him, whether that’s reading him a book, passing him some snacks or toys, having a conversation, or going through school while we’re driving.”

Hourless Life's rig: a jeep with a pop up tent.

The Highlands have named their personal brand “Hourless Life.” The name reflects their family mission and the fact that they no longer wake up to an alarm clock or report to a boss at a conventional job. Their days are literally hourless and they are guided by the map on their dash and loose plans to complete their round the world journey in say, 10 to 15 years.

Caspian will be homeschooled throughout the journey, but much of his education will come from experiencing new and different cultures.

“It’s just so apparent that some of the most important things that we need to learn in life, we can’t learn from a book,” Brittany said of Caspian spending his formative years on the road. “And each person in this world has something to teach. They have an experience, a career, an insight, some wisdom. And so we are so looking forward to all the people that we’re going to meet across all different cultures and languages and countries.”

Giving up the nine to five and hitting the road for a decade sounds like ultimate freedom, but the Highlands admit that it’s not all glowing sunrises and relaxation on secluded and exotic beaches. The family will face challenges and have to maintain ordinary responsibilities, like doctor appointments and paying bills.

The Highlands have vowed to give an honest look at their lives on the road in their popular YouTube Series, Hourless Life.

“We’ve learned to roll with the punches as much as we can. We just try and educate people that this is the reality of full-time travel and there are some big challenges along with all the wonderful days,” Brittany said.

Tune Into the Hourless Life

If you’re intrigued by the Highlands’ nomadic life, tune in to their complete story on Episode 6 of the Gaia GPS Offroad podcast. Wade asks the hard questions, including how to make money on the road, vehicle modifications for international travel, and what, if anything, the family hopes to find on this journey.

For exclusive content, join the Hourless Life Patreon. Follow their journey on Instagram. Get their best tips and tricks on the Hourless Life website.

Trails Offroad: Get 2,700+ Detailed Trail Guides with Difficulty Ratings

Last Episode: Mouthwatering Camp Meal with Overland Chef Marco Hernandez

If you want to learn how to make mouthwatering meal in camp, then go back and listen to episode 5 with camp chef Marco Hernandez. Marco is the founder of the popular YouTube channel Ovrlndx and author of The Overland Cook, a recipe book for car camping meals.

Marco joins us with a complete walk-thru of his camp kitchen, including a full size blender and an oven. He gives insights on how he keeps those things and his refrigerator powered on the road. Plus, learn why he bought a Jeep 392 and how he’s building this one out, less for rock crawling, and more for overland comfort.

October 14, 2021

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How to Build Your Dream Overlanding Vehicle with Mountain State Overland

by Mary Cochenour September 2, 2021

written by Mary Cochenour

Building out your dream overlanding vehicle can be an overwhelming task, leaving you in a state of “analysis by paralysis.” Self-proclaimed “professional car camper” and offroad guide Jason Specht is here to help. Jason is one of the founders of Mountain State Overland, a popular YouTube channel and overlanding guide service dedicated to responsible offroad recreation. Jason joins us on the Gaia GPS Offroad podcast this week to walk us through the upgrades you need instead of wasting money on the upgrades you want.

In this casual and informative chat sponsored by Trails Offroad, Jason teams up with podcast host Wade May to dish out the best tips for modifying your vehicle with utility and purpose in mind. Jason asks you to be honest with how you intend to use your rig, and start building from that vantage point. From rooftop tents to camp cookware, Jason points out the gear worth the investment and the gear that’s not. Do you really need those giant tires and a light bar, or are these additions actually detrimental to your overall adventure goals?

“I don’t want to turn people away from the passion to buy stuff, because we do live in a consumer-driven economy. but you know, really think about what you need before you do it,” Jason says on the podcast.

Jason’s sound advice includes fun tidbits on his favorite driving music, the cheapest and tastiest camp dinner, and the sketchiest route he pulled a trailer over. Learn more about Jason and Mountain State Overland on Instagram, YouTube, and on the web.

Last Episode: Get a Complete Trip Report on the Classic Rimrocker Trail from Trails Offroad

A view of a gravel road on the Rimrocker Trail in Colorado and Utah with blue sky and mountains in the background.

If you want to see high desert mesas, alpine forests, and Moab’s copper-colored canyons all in the span of a single weekend, put the Rimrocker Trail on the top of your to-do list. This patchwork of 4×4 roads weaves across 160 miles of diverse terrain, offering five-star campsites, forever views, and a route that almost any 4WD vehicle can travel — no special equipment or modifications necessary.

If this sounds like medicine for your soul, then go back to Episode 3 and get the complete trip report from John Lumia, co-owner of Trails Offroad. John recently mapped this southwestern classic and he spills all the trail’s secrets. Learn about the best time to go, trail ratings, and things to see along the way. You’ll get all the details you need to make a successful run on the Rimrocker — even if it’s your first time overlanding.

You can get John’s complete Rimrocker Trail Report on Trails Offroad. Click the button below to snag a discount on a Trails Offroad membership. Once you have a membership, you’ll be able to send all your Trails Offroad routes to your Gaia GPS account with a single click of a button.

Meet the Host of the Gaia GPS Offroad Podcast: Wade May

After a 43-year career of flying Air Force fighter jets and commercial airline jets, Gaia GPS Offroad podcast host Wade May has put his feet firmly on the ground. With over 20 years of offroading and overlanding experience, Wade constantly seeks out the serenity of remote backcountry adventures in his trusty 4-Runner, “Bullit.“ Between extended solo overland adventures, Wade shares the lessons learned from his broad experience in the sky and on the trail in overland workshops, classrooms, writings, and, of course, while hosting the Gaia GPS Offroad podcast.

September 2, 2021

Gaia GPS Gaia GPS Offroad Podcast Offroading

Get the Complete Rimrocker Trail Report from John Lumia of Trails Offroad

by Mary Cochenour August 18, 2021

written by Mary Cochenour

If this sounds like medicine for your soul, then don’t miss episode 3 of the Gaia GPS Offroad podcast for a complete trail report from John Lumia, co-owner of Trails Offroad. John recently mapped this southwestern classic and he spills all the trail’s secrets. Learn about the best time to go, trail ratings, and things to see along the way. You’ll get all the details you need to make a successful run on the Rimrocker — even if it’s your first time overlanding.

“It has really some of the best scenery that the southwestern Colorado high desert has to offer,” John says on the podcast. “If you’re trying to get into overlanding, which I classify as basically multi-day car camping, this one is a really good option for that.”

In addition to all the trail information, John explains how he became co-owner of Trails Offroad — a friendly vehicle-based, adventure travel website that offers written trail guides, GPX tracks, and ratings on more than 2,600 offroad routes in North America. Also, if you love arguing over Toyota versus Jeep, or rather, Jeep versus Toyota, tune in to hear why John owns both a Tacoma and a Wrangler while his fiancee remains a die-hard 4Runner fan.

Next Episode: Mountain State Overland

Jason Specht’s built-out Toyota Tacoma was totaled in a rear-ender on the freeway. He replaced it with a stock Tacoma straight off the sales lot and outfitted the truck just the way he wanted it. Tune in next time for a deep dive on how Jason of Mountain State Overland built a rig specifically for his needs. Learn how to decide what upgrades you should choose, where to spend your money, and where to hold back. Warning: Jason asks you to have an honest talk with yourself about what kind of trails you run. Do you really need that snorkel?

Catch up with Jason’s outfit Mountain State Overland on Instagram, YouTube, and on the web. And subscribe to the Gaia GPS Offroad podcast wherever you listen so you never have to worry about missing the next episode.

Last Episode: Pan American Highway with Dirt Sunrise

Tim and Kelsey Huber of Dirt Sunrise Adventures quit their jobs a few years ago and sold almost everything they own to pursue overland travel on a full-time basis. Their first major adventure took them to South America on the Pan-American Trail. After two years plus on the road, Dirt Sunrise is back in the states and ready to talk about their adventures abroad.

Go back and catch Episode 2 of the Gaia GPS Offroad podcast for a fun chat with Tim and Kelsey about gaining the confidence to explore across borders. Learn what’s in their vehicle recovery kit and what methods they rely on to keep people on track when you have too many cooks in the kitchen on a rescue mission. Plus, you’ll get the inside scoop on their dream vehicle that they are building now.

Learn more about Dirt Sunrise at their website, follow them on Instagram, and subscribe to the Dirt Sunrise Youtube channel to virtually join them on all their offroad adventures.

Meet the Gaia GPS Offroad Podcast Host: Wade May

August 18, 2021

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