Doug Stokes

book cover - the overlander's wife

Announcing a New Book: The Overlander’s Wife – A Survival Guide

Overlanding tends to get told from one angle — the rig, the gear, the map, the miles. But behind nearly every overlander is someone at home who understands the pull of the road, even if they don’t always understand why. That perspective is what inspired my new book*, The Overlander’s Wife – A Survival Guide […]

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Classic Jeep J-Series truck beside a modern JT Gladiator, representing the Gladiator’s military roots and modern overlanding role.

The History of the Jeep Gladiator: From Battlefield Legend to Overland Icon

From the battlefields of the 1940s to modern overlanding rigs, the Jeep Gladiator nameplate traces a fascinating journey. What began as military innovation eventually became a purpose-built pickup, was retired, and then reborn. This post walks the timeline of the Gladiator — and its Jeep truck predecessors — so your readers can appreciate how the

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Tire Pressure Myths, Facts Jeep Gladiator

Best Jeep Gladiator Tire Pressure for MPG & Tire Life

Tire Pressure Myths, Facts, and the Sweet Spot for Your Jeep Gladiator If you’ve spent any time in Jeep Gladiator groups on Facebook or scrolling JeepInstagram, you’ve seen the same debate pop up every week: “Run door-jam pressure!”“Bro, I’m at 42 psi cold and getting an extra mpg!”“You’re gonna kill your tires and ride like

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Campfire glowing brightly at night between trees

Refrigerator vs. Cooler Overlanding guide: What you Really Need for 1–3 Day Trips

For new overlanders, especially first-timers heading out into the backcountry or taking multi-state adventures, one of the most common questions is simple: Do I really need a powered refrigerator, or will a good cooler get the job done? The short answer: Both work. The right choice depends entirely on how you travel, how often you

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silhouette of off-road car

Solo Trips Aren’t Lonely: Finding Clarity and God in the Quiet

There’s something about the crunch of tires on gravel when you’re alone. No music. No podcasts. Just the rhythm of the trail, the brush of wind through a cracked window, and your thoughts catching up to you for the first time in weeks. People sometimes ask if it feels lonely traveling solo.I used to wonder

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Cheap gear expensive experiences

Hot Take Tuesday: Cheap Gear, Expensive Experiences

There’s this idea floating around that you need the best of everything to have a great adventure — the priciest rooftop tent, the latest suspension, the top-shelf cooler. But here’s the truth: you don’t. Some of my favorite trips have been with budget gear and borrowed tools. The magic wasn’t in the price tag —

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2026 Jeep Gladiator Willies

The 2026 Jeep Gladiator Willys ‘41: OD Green, Old-School Grit, New-School Capability

For 2026, Jeep has given the Gladiator lineup a heritage-rich throwback that’s already turning heads in the overlanding and off-road worlds: the Gladiator Willys ‘41 Edition. Dressed in a military-inspired Olive Drab (OD) Green, this trim isn’t just a paint option — it’s a design statement that leans hard into Jeep’s roots while staying fully

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history of overlanding

Overlanding 411 // Part 2: A (Beginner’s) History of Overlanding: From Footpaths to 4x4s

Humans have been traveling over land for survival, trade, science, and sheer curiosity since… forever. “Overlanding,” as we use the term today (vehicle-supported, self-reliant travel where the journey is the goal), grew from ancient foot migrations and caravan routes, took on a specific meaning in Australia, and reemerged globally with mid-20th-century expeditions, the Camel Trophy

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2025 Jeep Gladiator updates

NEWS: 2026 Jeep Gladiator: Staying True to Its Roots While the World Goes Hybrid

Time for some 2026 Jeep Gladiator updates. When it comes to overlanding rigs that do more than just look the part, the Jeep Gladiator keeps proving it’s the real deal. While other automakers chase EV headlines and flashy hybrid experiments, Jeep’s midsize pickup continues to refine the fundamentals that made it a legend — capability,

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