Vehicle choices
I’ve had the pleasure of off-roading quads and Jeeps in Baja, Mexico, and I’ve taken many trips with friends throughout the PNW doing some awesome obstacles. Off-roading is fun because it removes the responsibility of the road. Want to drive up a big hill? Go ahead. Want to cross a shallow stream? Go ahead. Want to see what’s on top of a mountain? Go ahead. That freedom is infectious. Off-roading, to me, feels as close to the Wild West as we’ll ever get — exploration, risk, reward. Tying this process into my plein-air practice has been transformative.
If you’re looking to run moderate trails, have fun, stay safe, and see cool places for a night or two in the summer, you don’t need to spend much at all. Most vehicles can handle beginner-level trails — and even more advanced ones if you know how to drive well. Slap a rooftop tent on top and stay an extra couple of days.
There is, however, a connection between vehicle size, cost, capability, and how well it supports your specific goals.
For me, I’m on my third car now — a 2006 Toyota Sienna FWD with 212k miles. Before that, I had a much more spry Subaru Outback. While I wouldn’t call any of them true “off-road” vehicles, I’ve definitely pushed each one far past its intended use — especially the Sienna, which I’ve put real time and money into turning into a more permanent living setup.
Because I work large-scale (3x4 feet is on the smaller side for me), I usually stay a full week in one location. That requires a lot of gear: food, water, clothing, safety equipment, art supplies, Starlink, batteries, electronics, and countless other essentials. For that reason, a van makes the most sense right now, with the intention of eventually upgrading to a larger, more capable vehicle.
With the Sienna, I still get many of the same amenities that off-roaders and overlanders enjoy — mainly a dry, safe place to sleep on a real mattress. Having a dedicated space where I can feel secure, especially when traveling with valuable art equipment, is incredibly important.
While there are countless vehicle options for camping and off-roading — high-top vans, 4x4 rigs with trailers, truck campers, even school buses — each comes with its own pros and cons. Money is the biggest deciding factor. On the high end, EarthRoamers climb past one million dollars and function like armored luxury tanks designed to stay off-grid for weeks.
What I have is a $3,000 minivan with no 4x4, no AWD, and barely six inches of clearance — and I’ve still taken it on amazing trails where we saw absolutely no one else. If you truly enjoy off-roading, you’ll find a way to do it with whatever you have. Spending huge money just to drive over small bumps isn’t that exciting anyway. Navigating a minivan down a single-lane trail, dodging rocks, washouts, and deep potholes, is way more interesting.
I’ve spent hundreds of hours planning, watching videos, talking to people, and thinking about the “best” way to do all of this. The truth is simple:
the best way is whatever gets you out there the most.
Some people would scoff at what I call off-roading, but in the end, I spend far more time outside than they do — and that’s what matters to me.