Overland Expo West in Flagstaff drew 28,500 attendees from every U.S. state and dozens of countries. The vehicles are always the stars of the show—the rigs that enable incredible adventures. Here are 10 builds that stood out at this year’s event.
10 Rad Rigs from 2026 Overland Expo West
When it comes to overlanding shows, Overland Expo West is the original. Each year, the event, located at Fort Tuthill County Park in Flagstaff, AZ, brings in tens of thousands of attendees from all over the world.
This year, 28,500 people attended from every state in the nation as well as dozens of countries. But as anyone who’s ever been to “Expo West” knows, this show is all about the vehicles.
No matter what the flavor, the rigs are the stars of the show. They’re the vehicles that help people take their incredible adventures with. Here were 10 vehicles that caught my eye while walking this massive event.
Subaru Loyale “Subarista”
We camped with our modified 2022 Crosstrek along with Subaru of America at Subaru Base Camp this year. At camp this Subaru Loyale wagon was converted into a rolling coffee station. The rig was wrapped in an olive-drab and topo map theme.
It had an ADF lift, custom Method wheels with Milestar Patagonia tires, and a Thule rooftop tent. In the back was a custom drawer setup allowing the owner, Zack (part-time barista, full-time marketing guy), to make coffee in the mornings. This was one sweet vintage Subie.
Owl Outdoor INEOS Grenadier Quartermaster
The INEOS Grenadier Quartermaster is the British 4x4 automaker’s pickup, and it’s getting plenty of love in the overlanding community.
This example was from Owl Outdoors. It boasted a variety of modifications including the company’s wheels, their Roo Bar, TrailFlow shocks and Eibach springs, and a flatbed and box on the back. This red ride is ready for adventure!
Firebox 1966 Ford
Who doesn’t love a vintage pickup? This classic ’66 Ford pickup from Firebox, a wood-burning stove company. This truck was packed to the gills with old-school cool.
From the hubcaps and canvas bed tent to the two-tone paint and knobby tires, the Firebox Stove truck was a real showstopper. Firebox Stove also has a very popular YouTube channel where you can see more about the truck, including some of its off-road adventures.
2024 Lexus GX 550
Sitting on beefy 37” Toyo Open Country R/T tires wrapped on SSW Offroad wheels, this Lexus by Christian Schmikla (@lifewitharchi) features CBI and Prinsu parts such as bumpers, rock sliders, skid plates, and more.
On the rack there’s a Trxstle fishing rod box and Baja Designs lights. The SUV rides on Peak suspension, and showcase a number of mods to make this Lexus look great.
Globe Trekker E-Series Camper
Oregon-based Globe Trekker is known for making composite campers for a variety of vehicles. Some are even DIY. Their latest showpiece is this Ford E-Series camper. It features the patented E-ZERO zero-torsion platform allowing for plenty of flex.
The van was lifted and converted to 4WD by U-Joint off-road. The box on the back has a passthrough to the cab, an opening in the roof to access the rooftop tent, 37” Toyo Open Country R/T tires on custom beadlock wheels, a Trail Ready bumper, and much more. This van will let its occupants get off ride in style and comfort.
Overland Expo West 2026 by the Numbers
After 17 years in Flagstaff, Arizona, Overland Expo West remains the benchmark event for the overlanding industry. The 2026 gathering brought together enthusiasts, travelers, manufacturers, builders, and educators from around the globe for three days of vehicles, gear, training, and community.
2026 Event Highlights
- 28,500 attendees from all 50 states
- Visitors from 21 countries, the event’s largest international turnout to date
- 420 exhibitors showcasing vehicles, camping equipment, recovery gear, accessories, and travel services
- 132 presenters, trainers, and VIPs sharing expertise and adventure stories
- 323 classes, demonstrations, films, and activities offered throughout the weekend
- 336+ hours of instruction covering everything from vehicle recovery and navigation to camp cooking and expedition planning
- 39% of attendees were first-time visitors, demonstrating the continued growth of the overlanding community
- 1,101 dogs accompanied their owners to the event
Whether attendees came to shop for gear, attend training sessions, or simply admire some of the most capable adventure vehicles in the world, Overland Expo West 2026 once again proved why it remains the premier gathering for the overlanding community.
Catch the next Overland Expo from June 26-28, 2026 in Redmond, Oregon. More Overland Expo PNW 2026 event info at: https://www.overlandexpo.com/pacific-northwest/
IVECO 135E18
Unfortunately, the owners of this tan IVECO 135E18 4x4 truck weren’t around to speak to, however, it still caught my eye.
While it looks rather plain and basic, it’s undoubtedly a super capable, comfortable way to travel the globe. The sturdy cab-over roof rack has plenty of place for boxes, the massive winch will help during vehicle recovery, and the big tires (with matching spare on the back), are ready for just about any terrain.
It was parked in general camping, but there wasn’t anything general about it. And since IVECO isn’t sold in the U.S., we’re assuming this awesome truck came from Europe.
Project X Nissan Xterra
While I’d seen this wild Nissan Xterra online, this was the first time seeing it in person, and it didn’t disappoint. Created by Nick Scherr, this rig pairs Nissan’s older SUV with a modern engine and front fascia.
It includes 285/75R17 Hankook Dynapro AT2 Extreme tires, 17” NISMO beadlock wheels, and a healthy lift courtesy of a Nissan Titan with Z1 suspension bits. Under the hood is a modern 5.6-liter Nissan V-8 engine paired with a six-speed manual transmission.
Also, you’ll notice the current Nissan Frontier fascia, which caps this SUV off perfectly. The whole build has been documented on Nick’s YouTube channel, there’s a lot to see. Seeing it in person is even more impressive.
Basil’s Garage Land Cruiser Pickup
Basil Lynch owns Basil’s Garage, and he brought this awesome Land Cruiser pickup build to the show. This chopped 1996 80-Series has loads of mods, starting with 37x12.50R17 Toyo Open Country tires on custom Nomad beadlocks.
It rides on ADS Racing Shocks, has Dissent Off-Road armor, Baja Designs lights, and a Go Fast Camper on the back, just to name a few mods. Flexy and functional, this 80-Series walks the walk and talks the talk.
2023 Subaru Outback Wilderness
It’s no secret that Subaru has become a go-to for adventurers. In fact, our TransAmerica Trail Subaru was in Subaru of America’s booth this year (my husband and fellow Feature Editor, Andy Lilienthal and I taught several classes which included the TransAmerica Trail Subaru).
This 2023 Subaru Outback Wilderness was completely outfitted for overlanding and located in the Kumho Tires booth.
Built by Alex Viana (@viana_built817), it wears 245/65R17 Kumho Road Venture AT52 tires on MST wheels and features a Tuff Stuff Overland roof top tent and awning, Baja Designs lights, CAtuned products, Rallitek goodies, a WARN winch, and much more.
Ovrlnd Campers 1980 Mini PUP
Sometimes it’s the oddball that gets the attention. Who doesn’t love this Mini with an Overland Campers setup in its tiny bed? Admittedly, this was a tongue-in-cheek display. Even Ovrlnd Campers called it “useless but cute” in a video, but it certainly caught our attention.
According to the company’s YouTube channel, “Yes, It’s real. Yes, it’s lifted. Yes, you can actually sleep in it. Yes, it’ll hit 60 mph, so perhaps it’s not as useless as they say. Regardless, this thing is amazing and I love it—whether it’s useful or not.
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