A truly custom trail ready rig built on a Ford F-350 platform

At your average overland event you expect to see a certain blend of vehicles. Tacomas, 4runners, Cruisers, JK’s, JL’s, and in recent months Gladiators. Of course, there’s the van crowd with Sprinters and other models. Lately, it seems that more overlanders are opting for a full-size adventure rig these days, so that isn’t exactly an uncommon sight. However, on occasion, you spot a truck that totally takes you by surprise and you instantly know that you have to check it out. That’s exactly how I felt at the 2019 Roof Top Tent Rally when I met New Jersey based overlanders Carlos and Barbara.

Even though I was aware of Carlos and Barbara’s truck from a few post on social media, I had no idea how awesome it was in person. To fully grasp how incredible this build is, you have to first see where it came from. Carlos purchased his 1997 Ford F-350 for $800. It had spent many years as a county plow truck, but it was destined for a life of adventure. Over the course of 2 years he modified, custom-built, and reassessed exactly what they needed to explore. 

Expedicion Tierra

Obviously, the 22-year-old truck doesn’t have a lot of overland focused aftermarket support, but that by no means slowed down the build. Carlos has fabricated nearly every modification on the truck and everything he has built looks and functions great. To begin with, Carlos painted the truck to match it’s soon to be wilderness destinations. The matte finish gives the truck a modern look and pairs well with the custom Expedicion Tierra graphics. 

In terms of on trail protection the front bumper and sliders look great on the truck. However, you won’t find these models at your local offroad shop. Carlos built the bumper and integrated winch plate. He also built the sliders from steel pipe with the addition of no slip plating on top. Carlos tries to use leftover materials from other projects. His snorkel for example is crafted from 2.5 inch aluminum pipe that he used on a different project. 

The rack, rear hitch motorcycle carrier, propane tank mount, and a host of other small accessories where all designed and built by Carlos. One that is still in the prototype stage is his 270° awning. Barbara sewed the material and Carlos welded the frame using parts from the rear differential of a small car. The hole pattern allows for the perfect pivot of the awning arms and the quality matches anything available. 

 

The custom built roof rack pulls the entire build together. With lights, propane tank, tool storage, and plenty of room to securely attach cargo. Carlos has also devised an awesome onboard water system that was being tested during their trip to the Roof Top Tent Rally. The only pieces of equipment that hasn’t been specially built for the truck are their roof top tent and solar system. These are expertly integrated into the rig that in all honesty is the total package. Carlos and Barbara have built a trail capable rig that is not only unique and intriguing but also well thought out. If you see them on the trails or at an event, be sure to check out this awesome truck. 

OutdoorX4 Magazine – Promoting responsible vehicle-based adventure travel and outdoors adventure