Overland Expo West ‘22
Holy overlanding.
This marks my first time attending Overland Expo West and boy was it an experience. It all started with J-Matt (@pure_jmatt) asking the PURE 4x4 group who would be down to be a booth rig for either Baja Designs or Toyo Tires at Overland Expo (OE). Jason (@3gs_jaayyyy) was willing to show his 2021 TRD Pro Tundra, but wasn’t able to attend himself so he asked if anyone could drive for him and even offered to pay for the gas! Being it was immediately after Basecamp 4.0, a lot of our group could not make it (nor drive the Tundra) or had prior engagements to attend. After Basecamp’s are over, I typically have a ton of post-event things to catch up on, but I was literally the final option to drive the Tundra. At last, I figured it would be a great opportunity for Jason’s Tundra to be with Baja Designs and also a good time for me to catch up with vendors to invite them to Basecamp 5.0 in SoCal. Plus it was the official debut for three of our members: J-Matt and his Lexus GX460 (@pure_jmatt), Elias and his 2nd gen Tacoma (@pureelias), and Chase with his Lexus GX470 (@chase.in.point) so this gave me even more reason to go. I was not looking forward to the 12 hour trek (1500 miles RT) from Sacramento to Flagstaff, AZ, but luckily my wife was able to tag along while working the whole way in Jason’s wifi equipped Tundra. Flagstaff itself was beautiful and not the “Arizona” I was expecting. Instead of desert and cactuses, we were greeted with pine trees, greenery, and fresh cool air.
We arrive there Thursday evening, grabbed dinner while watching the beautiful sunset, and finally got some rest. The next morning I had to meet the Baja Designs gang at 6:15 AM at their Airbnb and we head out to the event to make it by 7 PM. After staging the Tundra, I grab my Sony A7III and take my Razor MX650 e-bike around for a ride. Immediately I realize the magnitude of the event. There was literally vendors for as far as you could see lined up in all directions. In between those were some of the best built rigs you’d ever see. I was experiencing a true “sensory overload” and just couldn’t get a grip on where to start or what to look at. Right then and there I patted myself in the back on making the right decision to drive Jason’s Tundra lol.
It was still fairly early so the event itself wasn’t packed, but sure enough by 9-10 AM the aisles were filled with spectators. After hours of taking photos, shaking hands, and catching up with everyone, 5 PM hits and vendors start shutting down while the spectators are heading home. The next day is the same ritual, except it is much busier than Friday. The aisle were definitely packed and the lines for food were even longer. When the event closes to the public at 5 PM, the vendors start coming out to play. Some vendors even hosted free beer, free pizza, free bbq, and etc. It was cool to hang out with Baja Designs and Toyo Tires throughout the weekend and to also meet so many in the industry.
Thank you to Kyle, Bill, Ethan, Delaney, JD, Wes, Adam, and the whole Baja Designs (@bajadesigns) gang for the food and accommodations! The wife and I really enjoyed hanging and getting to know you guys. You all are some of the friendliest and most down to earth vendors that I’ve ever met. It was equally as good seeing John Pangilinan and Karl Wasabi with Toyo Tires (@toyotires)! We also saw our title sponsor from Basecamp 4.0, Jerry, with BAMF (@bayareametalfab) which was a nice surprise! Great to meet Scott with Aiden James Customs (@aidenjamescustoms), Ben with Sunflare Xpor (@sunflarexplor), Curtis with DuroBumps (@durobumps), Jaime with Eezysupplies (@eezysupplies), Alex with Sherpa (@sherpaec), Alex with C4 Fabrication (@c4_fabrication), Justin with Factor55 (@factor55), and so many other vendors and affiliates that we will be seeing at Basecamp 5.0. I’m convinced that Overland Expo is the “SEMA” of off-roading and camping! And yes, I’m so down to go again. Hoping to make it out to Overland Expo PNW next!
P.S.
Here are my 150+ photos from the weekend! I apologize if there’s any duplicates as the lighting conditions were changing from day to day and I had to go back to a few of my personal favorites for a re-shoot. Also, please stay tuned to the vlog of the entire trip coming up next!
