Chris Emery

The Knots That Keep Gear on the Roof

The Army Crossed the Southwest on Camels

In 1857, before the railroad and long before air conditioning, a caravan of U.S. Army camels hauled supplies across the New Mexico desert. The experiment worked better than almost anyone expected, and then the Civil War buried it.

America's Longest Remote Drives

Nine of the country's longest remote roads, ranked by mileage, and every one is drivable without a built rig.

The 2027 Wrangler Laredo Makes Jeep's Factory Lift-and-Tire Package Standard Equipment

Every Laredo ships standard with the suspension lift, larger tires, and axle gearing Jeep otherwise sells as an option on the Wrangler Willys and Rubicon. The retro 1980s styling built around it is the new part, not the hardware underneath it.

ARB's Summit MKII Winch Bumper Now Fits the Redesigned Toyota Tacoma

ARB's established Summit MKII armor, already proven on the outgoing Tacoma, is now built for the redesigned 2024-and-newer truck, priced at $2,795.95 with integrated lighting and a no-drill install.

Trump Cuts Bears Ears and Grand Staircase by More Than 90%, Opening Three Million Acres to Mining and Drilling

Sunday's proclamations strip monument protection from nearly three million acres of southern Utah canyon and mesa country, triggering legal challenges over whether a president holds authority under the Antiquities Act to shrink a monument.

Clasica's Retro Fiberglass Camper Weighs Under 1,200 Pounds and Tows Behind Almost Anything

At $28,500, Clasica's one-piece fiberglass shell is light enough for a crossover or sedan to tow, with a retro shape borrowed from a 1970s Polish design and mechanicals built to need less upkeep.

Ford Recalls More Than 741,000 Trucks and SUVs Over a Park Defect That Can Let Them Roll Away

The recall covers certain 2018–2021 Expeditions and Navigators, 2020–2021 Explorers and Aviators, and 2021 F-150s, and a repair is not expected until spring 2027.

A Dangerous Heat Wave Grips the Eastern U.S. Through the July 4 Weekend

Heat indices of 100 to 115 degrees will cover the Midwest through the Northeast into the holiday, with little overnight relief. The West stays cooler, and the northern tier trades heat for severe storms.

The RV Slump Is Skipping Truck Campers and Camper Vans

April shipments fell 17.4% as travel trailers and fifth wheels sank, while the smallest vehicle-based rigs kept growing.

23ZERO's Kabari Z Trades the Wedge for Vertical Walls and 58 Inches of Headroom

The Z-Lift shell scissors straight up instead of wedging open, giving near-vertical walls and up to 58 inches of headroom while packing to about 9 inches. It sells for around $4,495.

Glacier National Park Closes Going-to-the-Sun Road Alpine Section Amid June Storms

Heavy rain and the threat of high-elevation snow have cut off the road's alpine section. The park has not announced a reopen date.

Prime Day 2026: Sixteen Picks for Your Rig and Camp Kit

We went through the noise. Here's what cleared the bar.

Fire Restrictions Are Spreading Across the West. Here's How to Check Before Your Next Trip.

Fire restrictions are now in effect across much of the public-lands West, and units are adding them week by week.

Extreme Heat Is Killing People This Summer. Here's What to Know Before Your Next Trip.

Three people died at Grand Canyon National Park in five days this month.

Jeep Revives the Grand Cherokee Trailhawk and Overland for 2027

Both trims were dropped from the 2026 Grand Cherokee lineup when Jeep's plug-in hybrid program collapsed. They return with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder. Pricing has not been announced.

Death Valley's Wildrose Road Reopens, Unpaved, Three Years After a Flood Destroyed It

The National Park Service reopened Lower Wildrose Road in Death Valley National Park on June 3, nearly three years after flash floods from the remnants of Hurricane Hilary destroyed it.

Jeep Recalls More Than a Million Wranglers and Gladiators That Can Catch Fire While Parked

Stellantis is recalling 1,076,999 Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator vehicles in the United States because the power steering pump wiring can overheat and start a fire, including when the vehicle is parked with the engine off.

Pelican Launches the Crate, a Modular Cargo Line With Co-Launching 45L and 90L Sizes

Pelican is launching the Crate, a new modular cargo line of sealed cases for overland and worksite use — its first product family built around an exterior rail system rather than a fixed-shell case.

Thule Widesky Launches at $3,999 With a Hardshell Cabin

Thule began U.S. shipments in April of the Widesky, a $3,999.95 aluminum hardshell rooftop tent with a convertible sofa, a tall front cabin, and a 7.9-inch closed profile.

5 Plants That Will Wreck You in the Backcountry

The first cholla didn't look like it would do anything. That's the thing about a cholla — it doesn't look dangerous.

Ram Is Bringing Its Compact Rampage Pickup to North America

The Ram Rampage, on sale in South America since 2023 and previewed for Europe in late 2025, has now been confirmed for North America.

Toyota's Third Tundra Engine Recall in Two Years Adds 44,000 Trucks

Toyota is recalling about 44,000 of its 2024 Tundra pickups because manufacturing debris inside the engine can damage a main bearing and cause a loss of power while driving.

Volkswagen's Electric Microbus Gets a Factory Camping Trim for 2027

Volkswagen will reintroduce the ID. Buzz to the US market for the 2027 model year with a new Tourer 4Motion trim that bundles the European-market camping features factory-installed, MotorTrend…

Rivian's $48,490 R2 Standard Will Arrive in Early 2027 With 345 Miles of Range

Rivian's $48,490 R2 Standard, the cheapest and longest-range version of the company's new midsize electric SUV, will reach customers in the first half of 2027.

One of America's Most Iconic Overland Routes Just Lost Its Federal Buffer

Interior just transferred 1.4 million acres around Alaska's Dalton Highway to the state, ending the BLM's 50-year protective buffer along one of North America's iconic overland routes.

Wildfire Forecast Signals a Summer of Closures and Smoke for Western Backcountry Travelers

NIFC's May outlook projects above-normal fire potential across most of the West through August, with closures and smoke likely to outpace recent summers for backcountry travelers.

onX Offroad Adds Real-Time Location Sharing for Group Rides

The off-road navigation app pushes positions to up to 10 trip companions every five seconds, with no upgrade required across membership tiers.