Off the Road: Explorers, Vans, and Life Off the Beaten Track

More and more people are hitting the road to
the middle of nowhere. Along less-traveled
paths they are heading up mountains and
down dunes in converted mobile homes,
campers, trucks, or vans. They are enjoying
the drive and the view through mud-splattered
windshields as much as the stops and
evening campfires amid stunning terrain.
Although many of us love living in cities,
we have a growing longing to escape
into nature. The outdoor scene is booming
and many people are heading off to discover
it with their own converted vehicles. This
way, they can determine their own routes,
itineraries, and pace, as well as how many
challenges they’d like to meet along the
way. After a day on the go, these multifunctional
vehicles also serve as kitchens, campgrounds,
and sleeping quarters that offer a
great deal more improvised fun than a standard,
perfectly equipped RV. Conventional
luxuries are eschewed for the sake of greater
freedom, tranquility, and adventure.
Off the Road captures the special mood
of such trips by solo travelers, couples, or
families who are seeking an alternative to a
more standard vacation or want to live their
lives differently —at least for a while. On
the one hand, the book shows how familiar
models, such as VW buses, Land Rovers,
jeeps, and Toyotas are being rediscovered
and repurposed for these exploits. On
the other, it presents automotive dreams
turned into customized, homey vehicles
that offer tailgate breakfasts or roof beds to
better admire the stars and that can, in an
emergency, cross a river or drag a fallen tree
from the road.
Whether exploring the desert, showing
children the world, or navigating polar
landscapes, the journeys collected in Off
the Road are as unique as the people who
take them. From radical escapists to fans
of nature looking for their next trip, the
book celebrates the joy of being on the go
on four wheels.