Overland 101

After five years and just over 150 articles I think the time has come to finally put together a reading guide. This list serves two purposes. First, it is a way for people new to ECOA to navigate their way through the more popular articles on the site. Second, and more importantly, it’s a way […]

Communication

Intro to Communications

2019-11-27

When looking at communication systems for overland adventure travel there are a wide range of options. The goal of this article is to cover the basics and introduce the various systems, how they work, how they are similar, how they are different, and what their advantages and disadvantages are. In later articles we will expand […]

Trip Planning and Research – Revisited

2017-03-03

One of my more popular blog posts early on was about trip planning and research. Since then the blog has grown leaps and bound. Rather than just simply repost the article (which would be easy) I figured I would revisit the topic. Adventure begins where the pavement ends…Hopefully we can help you plan your next […]

Overland Tech

Recovery

ECOA Recovery Guide – Phase 1: The basics

2017-02-17

In previous article series I’ve broken things down by “phases.” This is a way to demonstrate that you don’t need everything and the kitchen sink to go out and have an adventure. The same goes for recovery. In this three part series I’ll break down three phases for building a off-road recovery kit. What gear […]

Overland Tech

Tire Basics and the Tire Selection Process

2016-12-21

This week we’re going to look at the tire selection process I used to pick the new tires for the LJ. While the actual shapes, sizes, and configurations vary from tire to tire,all tires share common elements to their construction.When talking about tires here is a quick guide to what is what on a tire.All […]

Preparing for your first overland adventure [Part 2]

2016-11-18

In part one I started discussing a breakdown of how to prepare for your first overland adventure. Camping on the 2015 No Highways Tour in Acadia National Park in Maine In part two we will build off those first five items and by the time we’re done it will be time to load up and […]

Preparing for your first overland adventure [Part 1]

2016-11-11

One of the questions I get asked most frequently is something along the lines of, “What do I need to go on an overland adventure?” This is usually from someone who is new to the 4×4 world and is eager, yet cautious, to get out there. Adventure begins where the pavement ends…Are you ready?If not, […]

A budget minded approach to overlanding

2016-10-26

From the ECOA mission statement: “A goal of ECOA is to take a budget minded approach to the overland lifestyle by advocating for wisely spent money on appropriate upgrades, money saved through DIY projects, and put the focus on the experience rather than the gear.” Overlanding on a limited budgetCampsite = FreeTent = FreeJeep = […]

Overland Tech

Tire Pressure Management

2016-07-27

One of the most essential skills for any vehicle owner is the ability to manage air pressure. Sadly with the status of nanny laws and the government mandating tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) on all new vehicles it’s turned tire pressure management from an active skill to passive nuisance. Now people don’t check their tire […]

Overland Tech

Lighting Upgrades: The basics (Lighting terminology and types of lighting)

2016-03-11

A while back I did a writeup on some electrical upgrades to the ECOA Wrangler Unlimited. I was having an issue with battery drain and it turned out to be a bad ground. Long story short, having already dealt with wiring issues on past Jeeps, I just went ahead and did all new cables under […]

Overland Tech

Suspension Basics – Common types, configurations, and terminology

2016-03-08

I’ll start by saying I am by no means an expert when it comes to vehicle suspensions. Thus by reading this you will not achieve expert status. The goal of this piece is to give you a quick rundown on the common types of suspensions, and some of their advantages and disadvantages. I also would […]

Overland Tech

Phase 1

Sway-bar Disconnects (and why they should be one of your first mods)

2016-02-26

A while back I did a three part series on planning a build and selecting first mods for an overland adventure rig. One of the things I didn’t mention were my sway-bar disconnects. This will also be a lead-in piece to a multi-part series on suspension system basics and the pros and cons of lift […]

Overland Tech

Trailer Tech

Choosing a overland camping trailer

2016-01-24

A quick online search will show you just how many different kinds of camping trailers there out there. They range from the super lush 5th-wheel campers (i.e. ‘glampers’) to small home-built DIY rolling tents. In between those extremes are a host of commercial and home-built trailers. What I am going to talk about are some […]

Overland Tech

Overland Tech: “To snorkel or not to snorkel,” that is the question

2015-12-11

Snorkels in their natural habitat – the dusty Australian Outback If you took a survey of people and asked them to rank which off-road accessory was most iconic for overland/expedition type vehicles, I would place a bet that the snorkel would be at the top of the list. There’s just something about the raw aggressive looks of the […]

Overland Tech

Overland Tech: Differential basics

2015-12-04

This is a followup to an earlier post talking about the basics of 4WD systems. This time it’s all about the differentials. Anatomy of an axle Quick rundown: Engine torque is generated in the engine, applied to the transmission by the clutch or torque converter, magnified by the transmission gears, then distributed front and/or rear […]

Overland Tech

Overland Tech: Transfer Case basics

2015-11-30

What separates a capable off road rig from a street machine is usually the inclusion of a transfer case that splits power to both the front and rear wheel sets. There are many different kinds of transfer cases ranging from tried-and-true gear driven cases, chain driven classics like the venerable 231 common in Jeeps, to […]

Overland 101

Environmental Stewardship and the Overlander – A look at conservation, preservation, and responsible land use

2015-11-19

There are a lot of misconceptions out there when the topic of the environment comes up. Discussions usually degenerate into an “us” (the 4×4 community at large) verses “them” (those tree hugger types) argument. The use, misuse, and abuse of public lands ruffles feathers on both sides. I’m not here to get preachy. To be […]

Planning your next journey – It pays to do a little research before you go overlanding

2015-09-18

A few weeks ago I wrote a piece on the different kinds of maps, atlases, and their different uses. I hinted as expanding on that topic and talk about using maps during the trip planning process. An invaluable resource for overland adventure in the Keystone State. Available online at http://guides.milespartnership.com/pen/ADV2014/ I’ve had an idea floating […]

Overland Tech

Tools! – A peek inside the back of the LJ and what I carried with me on the NHT

2015-09-11

A good overlander is prepared to fix and maintain their rig while out on an adventure. The ability to fix a broken or ill-performing rig can, in some situations, mean the difference between life or death. As an east coast person I doubt it would ever come to that for me, but last time I […]

Let’s talk maps… The paper kind.

2015-09-04

When I was in the Boy Scouts growing up I had a natural affinity for orienteering. This continued into my college years when I continually pissed off the ROTC Cadre during the Land-Nav portion of our FTX (Field Training Exercise). I was able to find the points on my list, with the help of my […]