The CAMO Convoy Overland Podcast

Can you build a legitimate overland rig without sacrificing the truck you depend on every day? Or are you spending thousands of dollars just to make your daily driver worse?This week on the CAMO Convoy Podcast, Nick and Aaron tackle one of the biggest challenges in the off-road community: building a truck that can handle the trails on Saturday and still get you to work on Monday.Let's face it. Most of us don't have the luxury of owning a dedicated trail rig. Our trucks have to commute, haul groceries, tow trailers, transport the family, and still be ready for an adventure.But every modification comes with a tradeoff.We're breaking down:Suspension: Why expensive race suspension and cheap spacer lifts might both be terrible choices for your daily.Wheels & Tires: Why smaller tires, factory wheels, and all-terrains might actually be the smarter setup.Weight: How bumpers, armor, rooftop tents, and accessories quietly destroy your truck's performance.Recovery Gear: Do you REALLY need a winch? We've got some unpopular opinions.Storage & Security: Why bolting thousands of dollars in gear to the outside of your truck might be asking for trouble.Reliability: Keeping your rig dependable when Monday morning isn't optional.Lighting & Electronics: Building a functional cockpit without turning your dashboard into a spaceship.We also get into modular camping setups, ridiculous overland accessories, and why sometimes the best modification is leaving your truck alone.Whether you're driving a Tacoma, Frontier, 4Runner, Jeep, full-size pickup, or something completely different, this episode is about building a rig that actually works for YOUR life.Drop a comment: What's the one overland modification you regret putting on your daily driver?Subscribe for more off-roading, overlanding, vehicle builds, technical discussions, and questionable decisions from the CAMO Convoy Podcast.Keep the shiny side up, muddy side down.#Overlanding #DailyDriver #OffRoad #OverlandBuild #CAMOConvoyPodcast

Our New England overlanding trip had everything: incredible fall foliage, challenging 4x4 trails, mechanical failures, and an interesting night of gunfire at an abandoned Cold War radar base.In this episode of the CAMO Convoy Overland Podcast, Nick and Aaron recap CAMO's Patriot Expedition through Vermont and New Hampshire. What started as an unforgettable trip through some of the Northeast's most beautiful terrain quickly turned into one of the wildest adventures we've ever experienced.We cover the incredible drive up Mount Washington, technical wheeling on Cram Hill, a Ford Bronco destroying TWO tires on the same obstacle, trail repairs, and the night strangers drove into our campsite and opened fire just feet from where we were sleeping.Beyond the chaos, we talk about what makes New England such an underrated destination for overlanding, how full-size trucks performed on narrow technical trails, lessons learned about campsite security, and why this trip was one we'll never forget.In this episode:Mount Washington Auto Road and the incredible summit viewsVermont and New Hampshire dispersed campingExploring an abandoned Cold War radar installationGunfire at camp and lessons in campsite securityCram Hill and some seriously technical East Coast wheelingA Ford Bronco losing two tires and an improvised trail recoveryToyota Tacoma, Nissan Frontier, Sequoia, Bronco, and full-size truck performanceThundering Falls and New England's incredible fall sceneryField repairs, damaged differentials, and leaking steering racksStarlink Mini and gear that proved its worthUpcoming CAMO events, Justice Off Road, and open-source transmission technologyWhether you're planning a Vermont overlanding trip, looking for challenging 4WD trails in New England, or just enjoy real stories from the trail, this is one you won't want to miss.Subscribe to CAMO Convoy for weekly conversations about overlanding, off-road vehicles, expedition planning, gear, fabrication, and the outdoor lifestyle.Join the conversation in the comments: Would you camp at an abandoned military installation after hearing what happened to us?Keep the shiny side up, muddy side down.#Overlanding #VermontOverlanding #NewHampshire #OffRoad #MountWashington #CAMOConvoy #4x4 #OverlandPodcast

The Perfect Rig Is a LIE | Finding Your BalanceAre you building the perfect overland rig, or are you slowly ruining a perfectly good truck?This week on the CAMO Convoy Podcast, Nick and Aaron tackle one of the biggest problems in overlanding: finding the balance between off road capability, long distance comfort, reliability, and actually enjoying your adventures.From oversized tires and extreme suspension lifts to overloaded campers, unnecessary accessories, and the endless modification snowball, we discuss how easy it is to build a truck that's great at 5% of your trip and miserable for the other 95%.We get into suspension setups, gearing, vehicle weight, highway drivability, and the influence of social media on what people think an overland rig needs to be. We also look back at the evolution of our own Nissan Frontier and Toyota Tacoma builds, the expensive mistakes we've made along the way, and how family, budget, and experience completely change what makes a good adventure vehicle.Plus, Nick shares the story of nearly burning his Frontier to the ground after a differential rebuild, and we get into our upcoming New England adventure.The takeaway? The perfect rig doesn't exist. The right rig for YOU does.Stop building for Instagram, stop waiting until your truck is finished, and get out there.Join us for another episode of the CAMO Convoy Podcast, where we talk all things overlanding, off roading, and the great outdoors.Shiny side up, muddy side down.

DIY vs BUY: What's Actually Worth Building? | CAMO Convoy Podcast Is it better to build your own overlanding gear or just buy it off the shelf?This week on the CAMO Convoy Podcast, we're tackling one of the biggest debates in the off-road and overlanding world: DIY vs BUY!From custom bumpers and suspension setups to portable power stations, recovery equipment, and camp kitchens, we're breaking down where doing it yourself actually saves money, where buying makes more sense, and when the juice just isn't worth the squeeze.Tonight's topics include:Portable power stations and electrical systemsOnboard air and compressed air setupsWater storage and tank systemsBumpers, rock sliders, and skid platesSuspension kits vs piecing together your ownStorage drawers and sleeping platformsBed racks and roof racksElectrical wiring harnessesSnorkels and intake systemsRecovery gear and recovery kitsMedical and first aid kitsTool kits vs building your ownFreeze dried meals and camp foodWe're talking cost, quality, reliability, fabrication skills, time investment, and whether that expensive aftermarket equipment is actually worth the money.JOIN THE LIVE DISCUSSION!What gear have you built yourself? What did you regret buying? And what's one thing you'd NEVER waste your time making?Drop your opinions and experiences in the live chat. We want to hear them!SUPPORT CAMOCheck out the sweet CAMO gear in our shop and help support the podcast, our community, and everything we're building!Don't forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE the show with your fellow off-road and overlanding enthusiasts.CAMO Convoy PodcastReal conversations about off-roading, overlanding, vehicle builds, camping, and the people who make this community what it is.#Overlanding #DIYvsBuy #OffRoad #OverlandGear #4x4 #TruckBuilds #CampingGear #CAMOConvoyPodcast

A trailer gives you room for the family, the gear, and a camp you can leave behind while you explore. It also means dragging another axle through everything you came to drive.This week on the CAMO Convoy Podcast, Nick and Aaron talk overland and offroad trailers. Aaron likes the idea. Nick takes some convincing. From simple utility trailer builds to fully equipped campers, we get into what you gain, what you give up, and whether a trailer actually fits the way you travel.We talk tongue weight, load placement, trailer brakes, suspension, and the ST versus LT tire debate. We also cover couplers, articulating hitches, drop hitch leverage, lighting, frontal area, and how a trailer changes the way your rig turns, stops, and handles tight trails.Would you pull a trailer on your next trip, or keep everything in the truck? Tell us what you’re running and where you draw the line.Shiny side up, muddy side down.

Some of our favorite overland gear came from China. Some things we wouldn’t touch. So where do we draw the line?This week on the CAMO Convoy Podcast, Nick and Aaron go through the gear we put on our trucks, take camping, and trust to get us home. From LED lights and Baofeng radios to recovery equipment, batteries, brakes, and diesel heaters, we talk about where buying cheap makes sense and where we’re spending the extra money.First, there’s a distinction worth making: an American company designing a part and having it manufactured in China isn’t necessarily the same thing as buying an unknown brand straight off an online listing. Design, materials, testing, and quality control matter. So does knowing what you actually need the thing to do.We get into:• LED pods and light bars, inflated output claims, and interference with your radios• Budget radios and why we like having more features for less money• Hard shackles, soft shackles, recovery ropes, and what we’re willing to trust under load• LiFePO4 batteries, power stations, and Nick’s homemade battery box running his camping fridge• Cheap brake parts, shocks, and tires• Diesel heaters, 12V fridges, tents, and awnings• Wiring and fasteners that deserve more thought than “well, it fits”There are some hard passes, some surprisingly easy yeses, and plenty of gear that’s already riding around in our trucks. We also get sidetracked by parts counter disasters and introduce the Riff Raff Nation merch. As usual.What’s the best cheap gear you’ve bought? And what bargain turned out to be complete junk? Tell us in the comments.Subscribe for more overlanding, trail talk, truck builds, camping, and the occasional questionable financial decision.Shiny side up, muddy side down.#Overlanding #CAMOConvoy #BudgetOverlanding

FULL SIZE OVERLANDERS: Half-Tons to $900K Expedition RigsHow big is too big for an overland rig?Tonight on the CAMO Convoy Podcast, Nick and Aaron dive into the entire world of full size overlanders, starting with the trucks and SUVs you see every day and working all the way up to massive, purpose built expedition rigs that cost nearly a million dollars.We break down modern half ton trucks and SUVs like the F-150, Silverado 1500, Ram 1500, Tundra, Sequoia, Expedition, Tahoe and Suburban, then move into the heavier stuff including the F-250 Tremor, Ram Power Wagon, Silverado 2500 ZR2, one tons, F-550s and Ram 5500s.The bigger the truck gets, the more payload, fuel, towing capacity and living space you gain. But you also get more weight, more width, worse maneuverability, higher costs and a much bigger problem when you finally get one stuck.Then things get ridiculous.We get into EarthRoamers, Storyteller/GXV expedition trucks, Ford based mega campers, Kenworth based builds and the massive commercial platforms designed for true long distance travel.We also get into:• Why full size trucks make a lot of sense for families• Half ton vs three quarter ton vs one ton• Modern trucks vs old school full sizes• Pickup truck size creep• Payload and overloaded overland builds• Gas vs modern diesel• Factory off road packages like Tremor, ZR2, Bison and Power Wagon• Why a 2500 might be the sweet spot for a serious camper• F-550 and Ram 5500 expedition builds• EarthRoamer and the world of ultra expensive expedition rigs• Why medium duty commercial trucks start making more sense again• Where these giant rigs actually work off road• And whether a million dollar school bus might somehow be the smarter choiceFrom Appalachian trails to Alaska, the Dalton Highway, Mexico and crossing entire continents, this episode is about matching the size of the vehicle to the kind of travel you actually want to do.At some point, an overland truck stops being a trail rig and starts becoming a house with four wheel drive.Welcome to the big boy episode.CAMO Convoy PodcastCentral Appalachian Mountain Overland#Overlanding #OffRoad #FullSizeTruck #ExpeditionTruck #EarthRoamer #OverlandRig #4x4 #Camping #AdventureTravel

Looking for the best off road trails and overland routes in the Appalachian Mountains? In this episode of the CAMO Convoy Podcast, Nick and Aaron break down some of the most popular legal 4x4 trails and long distance overland routes across Appalachia, including what to expect, vehicle requirements, camping, scenery, trail conditions, and difficulty.Our scale is based on legal public roads and trails in Appalachia, not private rock parks or competition terrain.Potts Mountain Jeep Trail, Virginia — 9/10The “Rubicon of the East.” Technical rock gardens, ledges, steep climbs, off camber terrain, and real potential for damage. A capable rig and experienced driver are strongly recommended.Big Levels / Bald Mountain, Virginia — 5/10A great beginner friendly introduction to real Appalachian wheeling. Expect rock, mud, water, sand, and good scenery. Mostly stock 4x4 friendly with smart line choice, but rain can change conditions quickly.Union Springs Road / Flagpole Knob, Virginia — Beginner to IntermediateRocky, rough, and climbing almost the whole way. Great for learning line choice, low range driving, and vehicle placement without jumping straight into extreme terrain.Peter’s Mill Run / Taskers Gap, Virginia — EasyMostly rocky gravel with a few small obstacles and good scenery. Permit required, and only part of the larger trail system is open to full size 4x4s.Daniel Boone Backcountry Byway, Kentucky — Up to 9–10/10Our pick for the best overall 4x4 destination in Appalachia. Huge trail network with mud, rocks, creek crossings, technical climbs, and remote terrain. Wet conditions can make the hard sections extremely difficult.Kentucky Adventure Tour — About 5/10 main route, up to 9–10/10 on Hard sectionsRoughly 900 miles of pavement, gravel, dirt, and trail. The standard route is manageable, while optional Hard sections can become very serious. Plan fuel, food, camping, and recovery.Allegheny Shenandoah Overland Trail — 2/10An underrated scenic route through Virginia and West Virginia. More about remote mountain roads and dispersed camping than hard wheeling. Excellent in fall, with winter adding a completely different challenge.Mid Atlantic Backcountry Discovery Route — 1–3/10Our pick for the best true overland route. Mostly gravel and backroads connecting Appalachian scenery, small towns, historic sites, and multi day travel. Great for families and newer overlanders.Virginia Adventure Trail — Easy main route with serious technical optionsRoughly 675 miles through western Virginia, linking scenic roads, small towns, and major trails including Potts Mountain, Bald Mountain, and Flagpole. Easy if you stay on the main route, much harder if you add the technical trails.We also talk about Vinton County, Bald Eagle State Forest, Green Ridge State Forest, Uwharrie, and other honorable mentions before picking our favorites for best pure trail, best overall 4x4 destination, best beginner trail, best camping, and best true overland route.Trail conditions change with weather, erosion, maintenance, and closures. Stay on legal designated routes, respect private property, avoid social trails, pack out your trash, and help keep these places open.What did we miss? Let us know your favorite legal Appalachian 4x4 trail or overland route.

If you’ve spent enough time on the trail, you’ve met that guy.The guy who shows up unprepared. The guy who rides everyone’s bumper. The guy who refuses to use four wheel drive because he wants to prove a point. The guy who tears up soft trails, ignores private property, blasts past hikers and horses, or decides a cliffside switchback is somehow the perfect place to pass somebody.This week on the CAMO Convoy Podcast, we’re talking about the unwritten rules of off roading and why trail etiquette matters a whole lot more than just being polite. One bad driver can wreck the vibe of an entire trip, create problems with landowners, damage trails, and give everyone else another reason to lose access.We get into convoy etiquette, showing up fueled and prepared, keeping your vehicle in decent shape, knowing what kind of trip you signed up for, giving people room, letting faster traffic pass, using four wheel drive when it makes sense, respecting hikers, horses and cyclists, keeping dogs under control, and understanding that public trails do not belong exclusively to us.And yes, we talk about the mountain biker who decided to pass a loaded truck on the outside of a Black Bear Pass switchback.The goal is simple: have fun, wheel hard when the time and place are right, respect the people and land around you, and stop giving agencies, landowners and communities reasons to shut trails down. As Aaron put it, treat the trail like you’re a guest and be the best guest you can be.If you’ve ever dealt with that guy on a trail, drop the story in the comments.#OffRoad #Overlanding #TrailEtiquette #4x4 #BlackBearPass #OffRoading #Overland #CAMOConvoy

Could you sleep in a random parking lot, industrial park, rest area, or 24 hour business without anyone realizing you are there?This week on the CAMO Convoy Podcast, we dive deep into stealth camping and the art of finding a safe, low profile place to sleep when a campground, hotel, or traditional campsite just is not happening. We cover how to choose a spot, how to make your vehicle blend in, when to arrive, when to leave, lighting, ventilation, cooking, bathrooms, personal security, dealing with security or law enforcement, and the mistakes that immediately give away a stealth camper.We also get into the unwritten one night rule, urban versus rural stealth camping, sleeping in trucks and SUVs, 24 hour businesses, park and rides, industrial areas, rest stops, keeping your escape route open, and some of the sketchiest places we have actually spent the night.And before we get into the main topic, Nick has an update on Flagpole Knob and Forest Road 85 after going directly to the Forest Service to find out what is actually happening with the new boulders, social trails, and rumors of closures. The discussion makes clear that the episode is not about intentionally trespassing or ignoring posted restrictions. If you have to talk yourself into believing a spot is okay, it is probably time to move.If you overland, car camp, road trip, live out of your rig, or have ever looked at an empty parking lot at midnight and thought “could I sleep here?”, this one is for you.Subscribe for more off road travel, overlanding, Appalachian adventure, vehicle builds, camping, trail advocacy, and general CAMO Convoy nonsense.CAMO Convoy Podcast#StealthCamping #Overlanding #CarCamping #TruckCamping #OverlandCamping #CampingTips #OffRoad #Appalachia #CAMOConvoy #FlagpoleKnob