Galactic Adventures

We hope you all had an amazing and safe 4th of July weekend and are gearing up for your end of summer adventures! Don't forget we’ll be in Evergreen, Colorado July 27th and 28th at the Adventure Van Expo. Come see the HILT, MODE XO and MODE OG as well as hang with our team and have some delicious burritos! 

The inaugural Whiskey and Reggae gathering is August 8th through the 11th in Toledo, Oregon! Reserve your campsite today and lock in a weekend full of community, music and good times 😎

🚐 MODE to the Rescue

🚀 To the HILT with the Orrs

To say that Scott & Katharine Orr are “adventurous,” would be an understatement. Raising their two kids in Colorado, an average family trip would take the Orrs to the Western Slope or the Moab area, chasing powder and hitting the trails on their mountain bikes. It started with car camping, tent camping and eventually the Orrs inherited a small pull-behind trailer that elevated their appreciation for having more of a basecamp to return to throughout the day. Fast-forward and with the kids leaving the nest and retirement on the horizon, Scott and Katharine began to daydream aloud, wondering, “what’s next?” 

As so many of us overland-inspired, outdoorsy camping types have done – Scott took to YouTube to research the overland vehicle market. He knew he liked the idea of an adventure truck – something rugged and truly capable of traveling any road, or lack thereof, he felt confident pursuing. He knew he didn’t want a sprinter van for this next chapter but he did like a lot of things about the build approach taken by Storyteller Overland. 

Enter We’re the Russos, Talon Sei and John Willenborg from OWL Vans. The videos these friends of Storyteller Overland shared after experiencing our GXV HILT inspired Scott to pick up the phone and get in touch with our team to place his order. 

The Orrs picked up their GXV HILT at the end of May 2024. They flew to the Intergalactic Headquarters of Storyteller Overland in Birmingham, Alabama to pick up their rig and after a fun day with the STO team, Scott recalled reaching a point about 3pm where he could no longer contain his excitement and found himself saying, “Thanks so much! We don’t know where we’re headed but let’s go!” And the Orrs hit the road, going full tilt and to the hilt, ya might say 😎

Without a solid plan in place, Scott and Katharine decided to wander South and then head back West toward Colorado, eventually. A kind stranger at a gas station remarked, “WOW WHAT’S THAT?!” when he saw the Orrs new HILT and suggested they head to the Gulf Coast via Louisiana. After verifying on iOverlander that the kind stranger’s recommendation seemed to be a good one, their adventure led them to the Gulf of Mexico then along the Texas/Mexico border and to Big Bend National Park. 

“The HILT changed the way we travel and the way I look at a map.” Scott shared on a recent phone call, “I might look at a road that I wouldn’t take my truck on but I have no issue with taking the HILT. We can go anywhere because this thing is rugged and lets me chase our dreams of remote camping, getting really out there and fully enjoying the world.”

In less than two months, Scott & Katharine have already traveled 4,000 miles in their HILT. When asked for his thoughts now that they’re 4,000 miles into their adventure, Scott responded, “No regrets!” 

🏕️ Camping out with the Russos

Kait and I (of We're the Russos) just got done with an awesome campout in North Carolina that brought together 24 campers and four dogs for five days of mountain views in cooler temps. We had an absolute blast, and I even brought my motorcycle along to explore the amazing twisty roads in the area. Each night, we gathered around the campfire, sharing stories and laughter. The connections, community and good vibes is one of the reasons we love this lifestyle and why we love attending and hosting campouts. If you've never experienced a campout before, I'm here to share how you can be a part of the next one. 

The first step to experiencing a campout with this incredible community is to find one. 

1. Friends & Facebook

We typically find out about these campouts through van friends and Facebook Groups. The latest campout was organized by our friends Jason and Janna who posted the event in the Storyteller Overland Insiders & MODElifers group. And every time we attend a campout, we learn about more campouts. 

2. Rallies & Expos

Look for gatherings at larger rallies or expos. For example, we're hosting a group campout area at the Mid-Atlantic Overland Festival for those who want to camp together. Check out the events page for more info.

3. Host Your Own

Finally, if you can't find anything in your area, host your own campout! It can be as simple as, "I've got reservations at XYZ campground, who'd like to join me?" You can post this in a Facebook group, share it on Instagram, or send it to your van friends and ask them to help spread the word.

Once you find a campout, the next step is preparing for the trip. Each one is different so it helps to read all about what is planned and ask questions about what to bring. At many of the campouts we attend, people like to break out their fun onesies for the campfire. The Solar Eclipse campout hosted by Paul and Meridith included a potluck one night and a bourbon tasting another night. 

Whether you enjoy biking, kayaking, hiking, or motorcycle riding, it's likely other attendees will be happy to join you. We've even had an impromptu chilli cook-off. If there's something you love to do when camping, like going paddle boarding, painting or knitting, you can always post it to the group and see who wants to join. 

Every campout is structured differently. Some happen in open fields with no amenities while others take place at traditional campgrounds with hookups and showers. Some are even traveling campouts. One year, we led a three-day caravan of over 10 campers from Flagstaff, AZ to Birmingham, AL. 

When you arrive, unless you have an assigned site, it's good to get a lay of the land before you pick a spot. At the eclipse campout earlier this year, when we arrived we were told, "On this side of the road is the party section and over there is the quiet section." We typically like to head to bed early, so we made sure to park in the quiet area. If you're someone who enjoys being in the center of things, parking close to the campfire is always a good bet that you'll be right in the heart of the campout. And if you're someone who's social battery is only good for a day or two of camping with a group, it's okay to leave early or arrive later.  

Campouts are a great way to use your camper to meet new friends and explore new destinations and try different activities. It's one of our favorite aspects of being part of the Storyteller Overland community and we always look forward to the next meet-up. And the best part is you don't even need a camper to be a part of the campouts. We've met folks who stayed at a nearby hotel, camped in a rooftop tent and towed their travel trailer. So my suggestion to you is to find the next campout, pack up the camper and head out on an adventure!

🔥 Happenings at HQ: Inno Fire Awards 

Storyteller Overland has been recognized by the Birmingham Business Journal as an Inno Fire honoree which recognizes innovative companies that are “on fire.” Honorees were determined by considering funding, headcount additions, social and community impact, product launches, pivots, growth and more. 

Storyteller’s T.E.D. (Technology, Engineering and Design) and Production Teams are made up of some of the most innovative and creative individuals that are constantly pushing the boundaries of the adventure vehicle industry. In the last 12 months, our team has launched the HILT, the MODE XO and the EPIC (with more to come in 2024!). These developments underscore our unwavering commitment to innovation, growth and delivering unparalleled experiences to our community of adventurers.