My first experience at the
Overland Expo was great - the event featured an unbelievable amount of eye-candy in the form of outfitted rigs.
The
last time I visited the
REEB Ranch, it was something altogether different - the home of my riding buddy. It was almost eerie knowing that I'd been a VIP guest before and actually had the opportunity to stay inside this spectacular barn-turned-dwelling.
The event was packed with a multitude of vehicles. From
Pinzgauer rescue vehicles to baja bugs.
Some of the larger vehicles even dwarfed my old schoolbus.
One of the all-time most revered off-road vehicles is the Toyota Land Cruiser. The expo had no shortage of them either.
One company in particular,
The FJ Company, had two models on display that were absolutely breathtaking. I'd highly recommend taking a look at some of their
featured builds.
In addition to vehicles, there were plenty of expedition trailers on show as well. One company,
ROVE, offered trailers for rent. What better way to test the water than with a weekend trip towing and living out of one?
Although the expo was chock-full of gear, I tried to limit myself to one purchase. With that said, I set my eyes on the
GoTreads tent. Their traction mats appeal to me especially since I'd prefer to outfit the Crosstrek with lightweight recovery gear instead of weighing down the 2-liter engine with a heavy winch or bulky traction aides.
I purchased a set of mats, plus a carrying case at the show special and continued down the rows of vehicles. Just before I joined the line for the shuttle [back to the parking lots], I placed the traction mats on the ground to snap a photo. Moments after that I spoke with a couple of guys just feet from where I'd set the mats. When I turned around to pick up the mats, they'd disappeared! I was furious!
I asked anyone standing in the area if they'd seen anything, but had no luck finding them. One of the campers said that he'd had two of his camp chairs perform the same disappearing act that morning, which just backed up my fear that they'd been swiped.
I contacted
GoTreads while on the shuttle bus and heard back from Aaron, who'd personally sold them to me just minutes before. He offered to replace the mats for me, which instantly made up for the unfortunate theft. With that said, I'd HIGHLY recommend this company! Their product seems to be top-quality, and their customer service and support have proved to be superb!
Despite this last-minute blunder, I was thoroughly impressed with the event. After showing photos to a few friends, I believe I'll be returning next time with a crew!
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