Next Level Road Trips: Exploring the Colorado Mountains With Overland Expo's Ultimate Build

Thankfully, I was in a do-it-all truck that made even the hairiest situation manageable with my minimal experience: a fully outfitted GMC Canyon AT4X.

Photo: Nickolaus Hines

My test drive was planned ahead of Overland Expo’s Mountain West event from August 23 through 25 in Loveland, Colorado. Overland Expo has four regional events throughout the year. These are the premier events for anyone interested in self-reliant travel to remote destinations your average traveler can’t easily reach.

Interest in overlanding spiked during the pandemic years as a way to get far away from people while still having everything needed right on your vehicle. Overland Expo attendance went from about 7,000 people annually in 2015 to more than 70,000 in recent years.

That said, it’s not exactly the easiest method of travel to jump into. The best vehicles are highly custom, and include everything from a wench for pulling through tough terrain to rooftop tents, built-in cooking gear, generators, solar panels, and even showers. Four-wheel drive and sturdy tires are a given. Experienced overlanders travel to remote locations around the world on paths that have rarely, if ever, been driven. Everyday overlanders reach places closer to home and some do so in stock vehicles. Yet a fully outfitted vehicle opens the door to so much more. Overland Expo is a place where both parties can find exactly what they need, as well as test out gear they didn’t yet know they need.

“While plenty of people hit the open road long-term during the pandemic, I think even more realized that they could get out to some beautiful and remote places and really enjoy their time there with their current truck or SUV with some additional equipment,” Rick Stowe, editorial director for Overland Expo, explains over email. “In the last few years, we’ve seen an uptick in all-wheel drive and cross-over vehicles and the gear that helps them get further into the backcountry. This includes lightweight rooftop tents, modular drawer systems, air mattresses designed to make it easy to sleep in your vehicle, and more. The ‘softroader’ is definitely on the rise. No matter what you’re driving, as long as you’re getting out, enjoying your time, and adventuring responsibly, we’re all about it.”

Overland Expo is more than just a series of events. The company has a magazine, produces videos, and has a charitable arm called the Overland Expo Foundation that funds projects like taking veterans on trips and a clean-up partnership with Tread Lightly! each year. The foundation in part gets funds through a yearly auction of distinct Ultimate Overland Builds — one vehicle and one motorcycle. The decked-out GMC Canyon AT4X I tested will go to auction on bringatrailer.com at the end of October, and 100 percent of the proceeds go to the foundation (anyone interested can stay in the loop by signing up for the Overland Expo Foundation’s newsletter).

“I would say that this truck is definitely our most practical build to date,” says Matt Feldermann, who has more than 20 years of off-roading and overlanding experience and is currently Overland Expo’s build project manager. “Real world drivability was the priority and the GMC Canyon AT4X is such a phenomenal platform from the factory, I only added components that served a purpose to take the truck’s capability even further. We didn’t add anything just for the sake of adding more ‘stuff,’ and I really like that aspect of the build.”

Matt Feldermann’s overlanding essentials:

• Tires: Upgrading to a quality all-terrain tire (like the BFGoodrich tires on the Ultimate Build) is often the most significant upgrade you can make.
• Suspension: Look for a quality suspension system that adds to the capability of the vehicle, without sacrificing ride quality or handling. This will not only provide a more enjoyable driving experience off-road but also handle the additional weight of your gear with ease.
• First-aid kit: Often overlooked, a GOOD first aid kit is essential when traveling off-the-grid.
• Recovery gear: Having at least some basic recovery gear can help you get out of a bad situation
• Sleeping solution: Roof top tents are awesome, but some people enjoy ground tents or even sleep inside their vehicle.
• Cooking gear: While having a multi-burner stove is awesome for larger groups, I am perfectly content with a Jet Boil to make ramen noodles and oatmeal when I’m by myself.
• Lighting: Auxiliary lighting improves visibility in poor weather and when traveling through remote areas with active wildlife at night.

The driving event of my test drive was a fancy family lunch — a caviar lunch, to be specific — in a spot most people can’t reach. Reaching that spot was accomplished with relative ease in the Ultimate Build. So was setting up.

This year’s Ultimate Build was made in partnership with Peak Suspension. It has a Jetboil Flash Cooking System, coffee press, Project X 41-quart Blizzard Box cooler, and 20-inch Blackstone camping griddle to cover all food needs. On one side of the truck there’s an awning that extends out for shade, while a water tank is on the other side and AluCab Gen 3-R pop-up tent is on top. An enclosed shower cube brings the comforts of the indoors outside.

The truck itself is roomy with a large center touchscreen information center I quickly connected to Apple CarPlay for directions (before losing service, at least). The dash makes it quick and easy to read the truck’s vitals at all times. Cameras surround the truck, so I didn’t lose visibility even with all of the gear and build-outs added on. Power is a given for overlanding vehicles. Comfort, not so much, though the midsize GMC truck offers plenty with a Bose sound system and plush heated and ventilated seats (ideal for sweating through tough terrain).

Reliability is the biggest consideration for overlanding. The Ultimate Build offers all that you need. There’s a self recovery winch, Bluetti AC240 power station for keeping charged, a two-way radio and external speaker, skid plates, snorkel, long-lasting truck battery, auxiliary driving lights, ZOLEO Global Satellite Communicator, and more. Built-in drawers pull out of the bed with military grade tools from Forrest Tool Company. The WeBoost Drive Reach Overland extends phone coverage, and the wireless charger under the infotainment system is designed so your phone doesn’t scoot around no matter how bumpy the trail gets.

Photo: Nickolaus Hines

I ended up calling off Pennsylvania Gulch before things got too much for me, leaving the full trail for another time. Preferably a ride without a baby in the back and after getting some more experience under my belt. Overland Expo’s large network, learning materials, and stories and videos will surely help, too.

But the trip immediately made me understand why people are drawn to overlanding, and I’ve already started planning the next adventure in a friend’s Bronco. Hopefully things once again go sideways (in the best way).