Inside the Ultimate Overland Vehicle of 2022
Posted on 6/29/2022 by Izzy Jack
If you’re setting out to build an overland vehicle, you may be wondering what goes into building the ultimate rig.
Fortunately, Overland Expo provided a complete look at the vehicle, gear, and equipment that would create their version of the Ultimate Overland Vehicle of 2022. In collaboration with Overland Expo exhibitors, their build reflects on a vision of the future of overlanding.
Here’s a look at what went into building this year’s Ultimate Overland Vehicle.
What Is Overlanding?
Overlanding is one of the most popular hobbies in the United States. For many, it’s a way to enjoy the great outdoors while traveling at a leisurely pace. Overlanders travel in their vehicles, nailing down miles on dirt roads and gravel paths.
For many people who drive an overland vehicle (OTR), it’s not just about going places but also about experiencing new things along the way. It’s a way to explore and see new places, meet new people and have adventures in the great outdoors.
Overlanding has been around for decades, but it has recently exploded in popularity. The internet has made it easier than ever to connect with other overlanders and share stories from the road.
Ultimately, overlanding is a lifestyle that combines driving, exploring, and camping. It’s a way to get away from the day-to-day grind and have adventures in nature. Overland Expo celebrates the vibrant and growing overland community.
What’s the Best Vehicle for Overlanding?
There are many vehicles that can be used for overlanding, but the Overland Expo team found that there is one vehicle that stands above the rest: the 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4X.
“We’re excited to have the first-ever Sierra AT4X serve as the foundation for the Ultimate Overland Vehicle build this year. This truck represents the new peak of premium off-road performance with serious capability and uncompromising refinements,” said Chas Russell, GMC Sierra Marketing Manager. “The all-new Sierra AT4X continues GMC’s efforts to break ground in the premium truck category.”
The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4X is an excellent choice for overlanding. It has a powerful engine, great fuel economy and a comfortable interior. The truck also has a solid axle and locking rear differential.
Built on the new GMC Sierra platform, it comes with a 5.3L V8 engine with 420 horsepower and 460lb-ft of torque. The truck has a 10-speed transmission that makes it easy to drive and it gets great fuel economy at around 15mpg on average.
The AT4X trim comes with standard off-road features like hill descent control, traction control and electronic stability control, but there are also many additional features available on this trim package including skid plates for the front bumper, hood and tailgate as well as a full underbody skid plate kit that provides extra protection from rocks or other debris while off-roading or driving in deep snow conditions.
What Gear Goes into Building the Ultimate Overland Vehicle?
Gear has a way of making our lives easier, but there are just so many choices when it comes to overlanding. How do you know which gear to choose?
The Ultimate Overland Vehicle of 2022 is a fully-featured, off-road capable rig that has been designed with the best available technology. It’s a vehicle that can take you anywhere in the world and back again, while still being comfortable, functional, and safe.
“For our second Ultimate Build, we wanted to go bigger and more extreme. We brought together the latest and greatest in the overlanding industry to achieve our lofty goals,” said Overland Expo Marketing VP Jessica Kirchner. “We could not be more proud of this year’s build and we hope it serves as an inspiration to our fans of what is possible in overlanding. We are so grateful to our gear partners and to our official builder, MULE Expedition Outfitters, for bringing our vision to life.”
It comes with all the bells and whistles you could want, including:
- 23 Zero Outbreak 1550 Swag ground tent
- 3D Waterproof Bag Dry Bag
- Battle Born Batteries 100AH lithium-ion batteries (x2)
- Dometic CRX 110 standup fridge
- Equipt 81L AluBox (roof rack); 42L AluBox (canopy)
- Firestone Destination M/T2 tires (33×12.5R17)
- Firestone Ride-Rite air springs
- Forrest Tool Max Tool Kit
- Geyser Systems shower and heater
- GMC Sierra 1500 AT4X
- Go Treads Go Treads traction boards
- Green Goat Outdoors Camp kitchen
- ICON Alloys Rebound Pro wheels
- MagnaFlow Cat-Back Performance exhaust system
- Midland MXT575 GMRS radio
- MITS Alloy North America Tray and canopy conversion
- MULE Expedition Outfitters Official builder
- REDARC RedVision Manager30 power controller
- Rhino Rack Pioneer Platform rack
- Rhino Rack Sunseeker 2.0 awning
- Rigid Adapt XP lights
- Safe Jack 37M-Sergeant Kit bottle jack
- weBoost Drive Reach OTR cell signal booster
- Viar Expedition onboard air compressor
- ZOLEO Satellite Communicator
Overland Expo featured the very best technology in their ultimate build. Truly, this expert team thought of everything in creating the perfect mod of the Sierra AT4X.
How Does the weBoost Drive Reach OTR Enhance the Overlanding Experience?
The weBoost Drive Reach OTR is a mobile cell signal booster that improves the quality of cell signal inside any OTR. The reach enhances 4G LTE and 5G signals from your carrier by up to 32 times, which can make a huge difference in areas with weak cell signals. The Drive Reach OTR also supports a wide range of devices including smartphones, tablets, laptops, Wi-Fi hotspots, and more.
Here’s a look at how it works:
Overlanders are always on the move, exploring new terrain and searching for new adventures. There will come a time when you find yourself traveling through remote areas where cell coverage isn’t as good as it is back home. This can be especially true if you’re driving off-road with poor reception or passing through mountainous regions where there aren’t many cell towers around.
weBoost’s Drive Reach OTR helps provide better phone reception when you’re out on the road so that you can stay connected with friends and family throughout your adventures.
Create the Ultimate Rig for Overlanding
Whether your aim is to explore the remote and undiscovered trails of the world or commute through the jungle with all-terrain capabilities, overlanding is for you. With so many vehicle options and gear available, there really is an overlander for everyone.
Overlanding is an incredible way to gain an appreciation for the great outdoors. Your rig and the gear you bring with you makes it easier to enjoy the journey and the destination. Keep an eye out for upcoming Overland Expo events and be sure to check out the weBoost Drive Reach OTR as you complete your own ultimate build.
weBoost will make sure you can stay in touch with the outside world along the way. Shop our collection of in-vehicle signal boosters.