2023 Overland Expo showcases Aussie products

The Overland Expo is the biggest 4WD show in the USA, and one of the biggest in the world, probably only eclipsed by the German-based Abenteuer Allrad show in Bad Kissingen.

Set amongst the forest of the San Francisco Mountains just south of the major city of Flagstaff in northern Arizona, the three-day Overland Expo attracts companies and spectators from across the globe. Thousands camp out amongst the pines, some in tents, many with rooftop tents and slide-on campers (like us), and small and large overlanding rigs.

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Compared to earlier years, the growth in the number of vans at this show – such as the Mercedes Sprinter for long-distance touring – has been incredible, and with that explosion in numbers has come a similar increase in the availability of aftermarket accessories to suit this growing field. We saw dozens of vans down in Baja Mexico earlier in our travels.

In all there were more than 380 manufacturers, retailers and operators from around the world at Overland Expo. As to be expected, Aussie companies were there in force, showing off their wares and reinforcing their status as some of the most respected 4WD accessory makers in the world.

ARB has been at this show from its inception and this year was no different with an ARB-equipped Ford Bronco positioned proudly on the Aussie company’s stand. Somewhere in amongst the gigantic spread of equipment and vehicles on show, there was a Toyota stand with the new Tacoma on it, again dressed in ARB livery; the show is so big that in three days of wandering, I never even found the Toyota display!

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Like most of the Aussie companies present, ARB is again increasing its North American presence. The company is just about to open its third distribution centre in Texas, while its first ARB retail store has just opened in the Pacific North-west.

Highly regarded South Australian company Redarc had some of its latest electronic gear on display, while Redarc equipment had been installed as the chosen battery management system in many of the campers, vans and large overlanding rigs at the show, which was great to see.

Ironman 4X4 had a popular stand highlighting its suspension products and bar work, and its 70 Series ute caught a lot of people’s attention. If Americans are wont to drool over any vehicle, it seems the 70 Series Cruiser is it! But Ironman 4X4 distributes more than just suspension and bar work here in the States, with its full product range from rooftop tents to fridges and more having a presence.

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Another change that has occurred in the North American 4WD touring scene since we first came to Overland Expo in 2012 has been the huge increase in camper trailers that are now available. In 2012 there was just one South African brand on display; today there are dozens of US trailer manufacturers, but none match the capability or standard of Aussie-made Patriot Campers, which were again on show here. In addition to its trailers, Patriot had one of its 6WD 70 Series Cruisers for fans to ogle (and drool) over.

Two other Aussie trailer manufacturers – Track Trailers and AOR – were present this year, which was great to see. Track showed off its incredible Tvan, while AOR had a select range of its excellent trailers and campervans on display to tempt the buying public. From my observations the Tvan, so vastly different to the normal trailer fare here in the USA, received a lot of attention. Hopefully the efforts of both manufacturers will be rewarded.

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Other Aussie manufacturers in attendance included Maxtrax, the Bush Company, Kaymar, Australian Offroad, Kimberley Kampers, Rhino-Rack and MSA 4x4 Accessories, along with a number of suspension suppliers including Dobson and Cruisemaster. Kakadu Camping also had a range of gear from Oz including its shower system, swags and the Oz-Pig, the latter such an unfamiliar cooking system in the US that it garnered a lot of comment.

EarthCruiser, an Australian and US-based manufacturer of overland vehicles, had some good-looking and practical overlanding rigs on show, but for those with an unlimited budget, there were a couple of mammoth trucks on display with hefty price tags; one was listed at US$1.8 million and the other, complete with rooftop lounge, was in excess of US$2.5 million!

In addition to the trade displays, there were instructional classes covering a huge variety of subjects from touring Africa and Australia to how to cook and crap in the bush, and how to get the best out of your solar set-up.

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In other areas of the show, there were demo rides on the latest electric bikes and side-by-sides, classes on repairing tyres, 4WD maintenance on the road, and essential 4WD driving skills. There was no way you could attend all of the classes, so you just had to pick what interested you the most; feedback suggested that our presentations on touring Australia were pretty well received.

Food stalls and bars kept everyone fed and watered while music and entertainment was provided each evening. In all, it was a top show, made even better by the Australian contingent.

For more information on the four Overland Expo shows held around the USA go to www.overlandexpo.com and if you are ever stateside when an Overland Expo is on, make sure you check it out; you won’t be disappointed.