Gallery: The Custom Jalopies That Move Travelers Across Continents
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/K5positivo" target="_blank">Carolina and Mariano Pécora</a>, from Off the Road, Copyright Gestalten 201501OffTheRoad-CarolinaandMarianoPecora-p78-3.jpg
This 1984 Chevrolet K5 Blazer carried siblings Carolina and Mariano Pécora—oh, and Carolina’s three young children—on a 12,500-mile ride from Los Angeles to their parents’ home in Argentina. This baby only got a minor upgrade (refurbished seats, little transmission and radiator repairs) for the drive.
<a href="http://www.siroccoverland.com" target="_blank">Gareth Griffiths</a>, from Off the Road, Copyright Gestalten 201502OffTheRoad-GarethGriffiths-p122.jpg
Tajikistan, Belgium, Morocco, Bosnia, and Herzegovina: This Land Rover Defender 90 has seen them all, and then some. Here’s the seriously upgraded trekker (and its kitchen-equipped trailer) in Mongolia’s Gobi Desert, where its owners sojourned before crossing into Siberia.
<a href="http://www.solitudeseeking.tumblr.com" target="_blank">Sean Collier</a>, from Off the Road, Copyright Gestalten 201503OffTheRoad-SeanCollier-p54.jpg
Yes, Sean Collier is living the itinerant surfing lifestyle of your cubicle-triggered daydreams. His 1995 GMC G20 Vandura Explorer has been up and down America's West Coast, and it's equipped for cooking, eating, and sleeping. And chilling, of course.
<a href="http://www.passports-and-champagne.com" target="_blank">Jeff Edwards and Angela Ceccarelli</a>, from Off the Road, Copyright Gestalten 201504OffTheRoad-JeffEdwardsandAngelaCeccarelli-p83.jpg
Since its birth in 1974, this Toyota Hilux RN20 has had little in the way of hardware upgrades. Perfect for a not-so-low-tech trip to the great outdoors.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/300tdorg" target="_blank">Jurgen Stroo</a>, from Off the Road, Copyright Gestalten 201505OffTheRoad-JurgenStroo-p44.jpg
The secret to keeping this Mercedes-Benz W123 on the road is its 33-year-old engine, says owner Jurgen Stroo. That, and an extra oil-pan plate, heavy-duty shock absorbers and springs, and an Elsbett converter than turns vegetable oil into fuel.
<a href="http://www.vandogtraveller.com" target="_blank">Mike Hudson</a>, from Off the Road, Copyright Gestalten 201506OffTheRoad-MikeHudson-p88.jpg
Is that a comfy, log cabin retreat we see? Nah, just the interior of a 2013 LDV Vandog Traveller, modified with a desk, a gas cooker, a sink, a double bed, a fridge, and yes, a bathroom—complete with a shower.
<a href="http://www.branss.com" target="_blank">Kai Branss</a>, from Off the Road, Copyright Gestalten 201507OffTheRoad-KaiBranss-p38.jpg
Iceland isn't the friendliest locale for a road trip, especially on a motorcycle. So the owner of this Yamaha XT 600 Ténéré added some serious weight for a 1,200-mile journey: an extra luggage rack, two 42-liter panniers, two waterproof duffles, reserve fuel tanks, and enough tools and spare parts to make digging the thing out of snowbanks—that happened—a gosh darn misery.
<a href="http://www.lostworldexpedition.com" target="_blank">Luis Getter</a>, from Off the Road, Copyright Gestalten 201508OffTheRoad-LuisGetter-p10-11.jpg
The owners of this well-traveled Toyota Land Cruiser J6 (its odometer reads 300,000 miles) went full nomad over the course of their four-year schlep from California down to Argentina. The car's custom waterproof upholstery, rooftop tent, and removable, 90-watt roof-mounted solar panel definitely helped.
<a href="http://www.oneyear47nationalparks.com" target="_blank">Scott Cochran</a>, from Off the Road, Copyright Gestalten 201509OffTheRoad-ScottCochran-p51.jpg
One year, 47 national parks. Easy, perhaps, if you are a new Ford F-150 with some retrofits for max comfort.
<a href="http://www.vancrafted.us" target="_blank">Vancrafted</a>, from Off the Road, Copyright Gestalten 201510OffTheRoad-vancrafted-p23.jpg
A 1984 VW Vanagon Westfalia with 200,000 miles already on it might not seem like the best partner for an extended road trip. And yet, Brendan H. Banks and Kelly Shea have taken their near-jalopy (with a rebuilt engine and transmission, and new exhaust, suspension, upholstery, bedding and table) on a long US sojourn.
<a href="http://www.johbabyoil.tumblr.com" target="_blank">Joh’ Babyoil</a>, from Off the Road, Copyright Gestalten 201511OffTheRoead-JohBabyoil-p30.jpg
This Land Rover Defender Series III spent 15 years in a French barn before its now-owner discovered it and decided to take it for a serious spin. Jerrycans on the roof and front bumper, plus a revamped sleeping space, got this one ready for a European road trip.
