The CAMO Convoy Overland Podcast

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

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

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.

This locked and lifted Subaru Forester off road build has no business working this well.Brandt joins the CAMO Convoy Podcast to break down his 2008 SG Subaru Forester build, including the rear locker, center diff locker, long travel suspension, HDPE skid plate setup, lightweight wheel and tire combo, spare parts strategy, and how he keeps this thing alive on real off road trails.We get into Subaru off road culture, the difference between dirt road Subarus and truly built trail Subarus, why the 4EAT automatic actually helps without low range, how he uses left foot braking, and what makes this little Forester embarrass bigger 4x4s and Jeep guys on the trail.If you are into weird overland builds, budget off road vehicles, Subaru Forester builds, rally inspired trail rigs, or vehicles that should not work but somehow do, this one is for you.Topics covered:Subaru Forester off road buildSG Forester overland buildLocked Subaru ForesterRear locker and center diff locker4EAT Subaru off road drivingHDPE skid platesLong travel Subaru suspensionSubaru vs Jeep off roadBudget trail rig ideas24 hour rally storiesCAMO trail storiesSubscribe for more overland, off road, vehicle build, trail story, and Appalachian adventure conversations from the CAMO Convoy Podcast.

What does it actually mean to be “The Overland Man”?In this episode, we break down 20 old school skills that are slowly dying out, but still matter if you spend time off road, in the woods, around trucks, or just trying to be a capable human being. We’re talking backing up without a camera, reading maps, handling first aid, staying calm when things go bad, knowing when to shut up, carrying heavy stuff, walking long distances, building fires, reading water, solving problems, and being comfortable when life gets uncomfortable.This one is part overland talk, part life skills, part comedy, and part hard truth. Technology is awesome, but it is making a lot of people useless when the screen goes black.Listen in and let us know what skills you think every overland man should still have.Topics include:Backing up on trailBacking up trailersReading maps and finding northFirst aid and Stop the BleedStaying calm in a crisisKnowing when to turn aroundReading water crossingsBuilding and maintaining fireFitness, carrying weight, and walking distanceBeing uncomfortable without falling apartLearning from failureProblem solving in the woods

Water and Survival on the TrailWater is one of the most overlooked parts of overlanding, camping, and backcountry travel. Everyone remembers tires, winches, lights, recovery gear, and camp setups, but a bad water plan can ruin your trip fast.In this episode of the Camo Convoy Podcast, we talk through drinking water, storage, filtration, cooking, cleaning, hygiene, rain, wet gear, kids, pets, and water crossings. From how much water to bring, to why one container is a bad plan, to what happens when a creek crossing gets deeper than expected, this one covers the water problems most people do not think about until they are already in them.We also get into the prepper side of water storage, water bricks, gravity filters, questionable water sources, boiling, keeping gear dry, and why water crossings are not as harmless as they look.Whether you are heading out for a weekend camp trip, a long overland route, or just building a better vehicle setup, water can make or break the trail.Topics covered:Water storage for overlandingHow much water to bringWater filtration and purificationCooking and cleaning with limited waterCamp hygieneRain and wet gearDry bags and contractor bagsKids, pets, and extra waterWater crossings and vehicle safetyTrail survival basicsWelcome to the Camo Convoy Podcast, where we talk all things overland, off road, and the great outdoors.#overlanding #offroad #camping #survival #waterfiltration #trailgear #vehiclebasedadventure #camoconvoy

Our People: www.pathfinderpro.iowww.alldogsoffroad.comwww.ttxinnovations.comwww.radiochattergame.comJOIN THE DISCORD! https://discord.gg/8yWQbUbdCIs the Toyota Tacoma actually overrated… and has the Nissan Frontier been the better truck this whole time?In this solo episode of the Camo Convoy Podcast, I break down one of the most controversial takes in the overland world: why the D40 Nissan Frontier (2005–2019) might be the smarter, more capable, and way better value than the second gen Tacoma.We’re talking:Real-world power and driving feel (not just spec sheet nonsense)The truth about Tacoma “Toyota tax” vs Frontier pricingTransmission strength and the SMOD issue explainedWhy Nissan’s terrible marketing buried a great truckTitan swap capability and why it changes everythingSimplicity vs modern “features” that nobody asked forOverland culture differences between Tacoma and Frontier ownersPlus we get into real ownership, off-road reality in the Northeast, and why most builds are way overkill for what people actually do.Also in this episode:Minimalist overland packing strategy (stop hauling junk)Longest trips and real travel experiencesPathfinder Pro app update and why it’s worth paying attentionUpper Peninsula trip prep, expectations, and logisticsIf you’re a Tacoma owner… you’re probably already typing a comment. Good. Let’s hear it.Drop your take below — Tacoma or Frontier? And why?Follow CAMO:Podcast drops every MondayJoin the community, plan trips, and get involved#Overland #Tacoma #NissanFrontier #Offroad #TruckBuild #Overlanding #4x4