Overland Expo West 2017

[guggenheim]

Just wondering if anyone from thesamba are planning on attending Overland Expo West this year?

I know this gathering isn't as popular to VW owners as Syncrofest but understand that a lot of us are switching rigs and Overland Expo is a great gathering to learn about other platforms of expedition vehicles and products.


https://www.overlandexpo.com/west/

[jamin307]

I'm driving down from Denver in my 2wd for it. I'll be helping man a booth for a non-profit I work with - while wandering around imagining what I would buy if I won the lotto.

[Tobias Duncan]

The rigs I have seen down here in Baja for the last two months have been outrageous.
Met an american guy today with a 4x4 sprinter that he has about 110k in but the really cool stuff is european and we cant have it for love or money

[Birdcage]

A handful of us are caravaning from Colorado. Probably pick up some overlanders along the way.
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@syncrostyle
@optoverland

[jismay]

Was there last year with my 1980 Westy, will be there again this year volunteering with the event. Planning on being in the Westy again, may bring the dirt-bike as well.
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1970 Squareback with 1915cc dual 40idf
1979 Beetle Convertible
1980 Vanagon Westfalia
1989 VW Cabriolet

[jamin307]

[Birdcage]

[vwhammer]

I have been anticipating going if my van is finished but I doubt it will have all the bugs worked out and be camp ready by then.
I may end up with a new (to me) motorcycle so I might pack that up and head out.
I would be heading out from Ohio.
Only time will tell.
I will more than likely be attending Overland Expo east if they can work on the pricing some.
It was pretty pricey last year for two people and a rig.

[Homercules]

I've been preparing for this years Expo for over a year...rebuilt my truck and built a custom trailer with RTT but unfortunately my co-pilot had to back out.

It seems like a waste to bring a truck and trailer for just me so I think I'm going to van it instead! The route I planned should be fine for my syncro and I can still head to Syncro Solstice afterwards (I was originally just planning to meet up with friends in Moab).

Anybody else heading to Syncro Solstice after? I have a pretty cool route planned if anyone is interested!

On the way down I'm planning on stopping at Craters of the Moon->Wendover->Great Basin->Bryce (or Kodachrome)->Flagstaff

Then to Moab, Point Sublime->Alstrom Point->Hole in the Rock->Burr Trail->Beef Basin->Moab

If conditions are good.
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89 Syncro

[TopBud]

I live in Flagstaff and will be attending, most likely on my bicycle. My syncro is waiting for me to get and install the rebuilt tranny. It won't be done by then, but I am into meeting up.
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86 bostig SYNCRO
66 convertible Karmann Ghia

[climberjohn]

Whenever I see one of those ridiculously obese overbuilt Euro fortress on wheels so-called "overland" rigs, I always think of Drive Nacho Drive - a 2WD Westy, with pretty much stock everything, driving more than 40,000 km all around the world.

You do not need a huge monster expensive expedition truck to go do this, just some creativity and chutzpah.
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'86 Westy, 2.5 Subaru power
Know your limits. Exceed them often.

[vanagonjr]

[Tobias Duncan]

When you camp next to one of these MAN rigs on a mexican beach that is tough for even a syncro to get to, and see the quality of life these folk are enjoying , you might just gain some insight.
They are in no way similar to an american RV

[Homercules]

Love my Syncro but if I won the lottery I would buy one of those Overland RVs to live and travel in. I would downsize my permanent home where most people would buy something larger. But that's just me.
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89 Syncro

[newfisher]

[0to60in6min]

on the 2016 Baja trip, we met a couple from France with a Man... it's a nice rig

here's my observations
- it's big.. if you think a Sprinter 4x4 rig is big, it's bigger (a Vanagon is a dwarf side by side)
- it's over built, good for transcontinental trip on trails
- not so spacious inside as it looks
- top speed is slower than my tintop Syncro WBX 2.1
- $250K (may be more) expensive or not depending your wallet... it's in the price range of a Fuso 4x4 rig or a Sprinter 4x4 rig by SportMobile
- certainly not as agile as a Sprinter and even less than a Syncro

[Tobias Duncan]

Agile it is not but there are things it is amazing at doing.
I watched a swiss guy pull out several rigs stuck in the sand including a 4x4 .
It was truly impressive. The guy was so excited every time someone got stuck.
His tires were 4 feet in diameter so even if he was dug in 2 feet he was just getting to his axles.[/i]

[jamin307]

Heading down to the Expo from Denver tomorrow. Shoot me a message if anyone is going to be down there. Will be at the Thunderbeard Outdoor Restoration Organization booth/tent all weekend.