Crossing West Africa with XOVERLAND: Final Miles, Fuel Range, Teamwork, and Truck Lessons
From The Overland Journal Podcast by Scott Brady, Ashley Giordano, and Matt Scott
May 28, 2026 · 34 min · Episode 299
About this episode
Scott Brady and Clay Croft discuss the challenges and lessons learned from XOVERLAND's 40,000-kilometer crossing of Africa.
The Overland Journal Podcast host Scott Brady and Clay Croft discuss XOVERLAND’s 40,000-kilometer Africa crossing , recorded with just 300 kilometers remaining to Cape Agulhas. They navigate West Africa’s uncertainties—coups, elections, and border hurdles—while managing sickness and tight schedules. Key practical lessons include maintaining a 1,000-kilometer fuel range due to local shortages. They credit their multi-skilled team and local support for overcoming challenges like Guinea’s extreme roads and infrastructure gaps. Reviewing vehicle performance, they highlight the reliability of Toyota hybrid drivetrains on varied fuel quality, Mobil 1 fluids, and Starlink connectivity. Despite minimal mechanical issues, they suggest future modifications like enhanced front protection for the Tacomas. This expedition underscores the resilience required for transcontinental travel through one of the world’s most demanding environments.
People in this episode
Host: Scott Brady
Guest: Clay Croft
Topics covered
- overland travel
- Africa crossing
- vehicle performance
- teamwork
- fuel management
- challenges in travel
Keywords
- West Africa
- XOVERLAND
- fuel range
- Toyota
- travel challenges
- teamwork
- vehicle reliability
- Starlink
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: XOVERLAND
Products: Toyota hybrid drivetrains, Mobil 1 fluids, Starlink
Places: West Africa, Cape Agulhas, Guinea
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