The Average Overlanders Podcast

This week, our buddy Matt Kester drops in. Matt, formally 2nd Hand Overland has started a new chapter in his life. He decided to give up his old Land Rover and trade it for 2 wheels. He's started traveling on a KLR 650 now. Hang out with us as we share some adventures, talk about running marathons, try some new bourbon, give questionable life advice and just have a good time. For more on Matt and...

Our first guest of 2024 is our buddy Adam @adam.m.queen. Photography is his profession and he's been fortunate enough to be able to call home anywhere he feels like pulling up. Whether it's down by the beach or parked along a river up in the mountains. He makes this easier by driving a well put together Revel Sprinter van. We not only dive into van life but overall life. We share our thoughts on f...

We've been on a break for a bit to be with family over the holidays and to do some traveling. But we're back baby! This week Ben and Jared fill us in on what they've been up to during the time off. Ben recaps his 2 week trip to Greece and some mishaps in the desert with friends on a weekend getaway. Jared spent 8 days traveling up to the coast of Oregon and back. Some good times out at the popular...

Ben and Jared are hanging out this week with longtime friend James @jamesporter4sure. We talk about how he's managed to put down over 320K miles on his sweet 2020 F350 traveling the country. James even shares with us transitioning from life in the Marines to private security work. We also discuss hunting, his EDC and being able to bond with his son at his first concert while exploring Utah and som...

If you only had 10 days to explore Colorado how would you do it? Well good friends of the show Aric and Shelby of @as_is_overland share with us how they went about it. Got to say it sounded like a great time. Hangout with us as we get to hear all about their adventure. Through the good, the not so good and a few surprises. 

We have the Barberena brother's in the studio this week. Brandon @code_5537 is not new to the show but Andrew decided to join in on the fun. They recently had a what was supposed to be a quick trail run up John Bull in Big Bear before grabbing lunch, turn into an all day indever. They go over the series of events of that day and any lessons that were learned. We also talk filters as Andrew works f...

The first Lil' Smokies Campout and Cookoff is in the books! It was an awesome time up in the mountains, getting to hangout with old friends and making new ones. The cookoff was amazing! Everyone went above and beyond with their meals. Ben and Jared go over all the shenanigans that went down that weekend. Plus its starting to cool down and Jared shares his brief, but fun time hanging out up at the...

We're hanging out this week with Chef Sean @fstlayn. While Ben was in Arizona, Sean and Jared were both up exploring the 395. They were with different groups but at times were only 5min apart. They ran into changes in weather, field repairs, and some amazing times.

This week were joined by Rob and Avis from Overland V1.0 . They are currently taking a short break from traveling all over in their ridiculously cool 2021 RAM 3500 for Avis to train with Kristen @mrs.optoffroad in the Opt Offroad Bronco, for her second time running the Rebelle Rally . We talk about some of their trips including traveling from Virginia to Alaska, and getting muddy along the Mojave...

This week we have Jessi @arctrooper.jl back with us in the studio but this time she brought along her husband Robert @mythosaurmotorsports. Together they make quite the formidable pair when it comes to offroad. When they pull up in Roberts awesome Ram 2500 decked out for the overland trails, pulling Jessi's badass Jeep JL on their custom trailer you know it's gonna be a good time! We talk about th...

This week we talk about the hype of the "big" hurricane that was supposed to hit southern California and how to be prepared. A lot of what we use for overlanding can be applied to disaster preparedness. We also touch people misusing public lands and how we can all do better.

Ben and Jared are hanging out on Instagram live this week. Talking about the so called "hurricane" about to come through southern California and everyone freaking out about it. They also recap the recent outing at OC Yoto Nights. It was a lot of fun with people showing off on the flex ramp, RC obstacle course setup by Opt Offroad, tons of vendors, cool rides and rad people all around. That same ni...

We have now officially launched our website where you can sign up for the first annual Little Smokies Campout. We talk a bit about what you will find when visiting the website and some of the plans for it. Also find out info for what you'll need to attend the Little Smokies Campout. Then we give some reviews of on restaurants and our thoughts on the recent tipping culture. Also it's been awhile si...

This week we're diving into some shock and suspension discussions. Who better to educate us than Scott from Icon Vehicle Dynamics . He shares with us the different suspension setups and how they function and what might work best for your rig. We also learned about some products we weren't aware of like their ICON Intelligent Control (IIC). This is some pretty cool tech that tunes your suspension o...

Fan favorite Norm @land_beaver1 is back with us in the studio. He and his wife Laura just got back from an epic 16 day trip exploring the midwest and as far as Glacier National Park. Trying out new gear and finding awesome spots to camp, Norm takes us along for a ride while sharing their travels. He also brought over some gifts and goodies which included some moonshine we may have taken a few sips...

We're back! We took a week off but back to our usual antics. During our time off Ben's son Miles was born! Also, Jared decided to head north up to Overland Expo PNW in Redmond Oregon. After hanging out at Expo a few days and having a great time visiting with old friends and making new ones he kept the Tundra heading north to explore more of the PNW. He shares how his trip went traveling 4000 miles...

This week we're hanging out with Aric @as_is_overland. We go over his recent trip to Kings Canyon and the Sequoia's then over to Pismo Beach. Before that trip he was out exploring Mojave showing his brother what a 2 wheel drive 4Runner can do! Jared also share's some of his loose plans for his trip up north to Overland Expo PNW. 

We're having a good time this week as we are joined by Mr. Motts @frankiemotts and his daughter. As usual we are all over the place but some fun stories and laughs are had. Frankie shares with us some of his adventures in Baja and a few of his builds including a sweet 2019 Tundra, and nicely outfitted GX 470 and his latest addition a 4x4 Sprinter van he's building out. We get into changes he's mad...

Ben and our guest this week Alison @charmin4runner have caught a case of "gold fever". Their recent trip in search of good times with friends on a fun prospecting trip may have turned into a True Crime episode. With some not so great map directions and some suspicious characters. But overall a good time was had. Some good stories and fun times ensue.   

We're hanging out this week with our buddy Adam @the_twig_rig. We talk about his recent trip to Pismo Beach with 41.22 and O4Lo. We also talk about some trip planning and who makes the best pizza among other random topics. 

This episode was a lot of fun hanging out with Olaf @aventuraseeker and Paola @paolaadventurer. They share with us some of their adventures including their many trips south of the boarder down to Baja, where they've been running comms for years for all the big Baja races. They are a couple that loves adventure. Recently spending a good amount of time exploring Arizona after the last Expo, then aft...

With the sacrifices of many to allow us to have this holiday free, we decide to make the most of it. Ben and Jared talk about the fun times they had together at the Fast Friends meet up Friday night to the Temecula Overland coffee meet up the next morning. Then splitting up, with Jared heading up to Thomas Mountain for the night and Ben meeting up with friends for some trails runs near Big Bear. A...

This episode is jam packed with Clancy @mosey.on.overland joining us to recap this years Overland Expo West. Both Clancy and Ben made it out to Flagstaff for Expo this year but had totally different experiences. Ben headed out with a solid group of friends for a 4 day adventure but ran into vehicle breakdowns and a crazy hail and rain storm on the Friday at Expo. Clancy was out at expo all weekend...

This week we're hanging out in the studio with Mark @trailhawkdoods. Mark's been out hitting the trails with mans best friends, his Goldendoodles Chewie & Kandie. He actually breeds Goldendoodles. You can see some of the pups on their account @sweetdoodles. They seem to be the perfect camp dog as he takes them on all kinds of adventures in his well built up 2014 Jeep Trailhawk. We discuss how he h...

After celebrating our 100th episode it's now time to get back to taking some trips! But with having been busy the past few weeks it's come down to the last few days and minutes to get everything ready, packed up and vehicles prepped for our next trips. That's nothing new though. Seems like it always comes down to scrambling in the garage or driveway finishing up some new addition the adventure rig...