AUSSIES ON SHOW AT OVERLAND EXPO

MOONIE HEADS STATESIDE TO CHECK OUT NORTH AMERICA'S BIGGEST 4X4 SHOW

- RON MOON

THE Overland Expo is the biggest 4WD show in the USA, and one of the biggest in the world, probably only eclipsed by the European Abenteuer Allrad show in Bad Kissingen, Germany.

Set amongst the forest of the San Francisco Mountains just south of the city of Flagstaff in northern Arizona, the three-day Overland Expo attracts companies and spectators from across the globe. Thousands camp out amongst the pines, some in tents, many with rooftop tents and slide-on campers (like us), and small and large overlanding rigs.

Compared to earlier years, the growth in the number of vans at this show - such as the Mercedes Sprinter for long-distance touring has been incredible, and with that explosion in numbers has come a similar increase in the availability of aftermarket accessories to suit this growing field. We saw dozens of vans down in Baja Mexico earlier in our travels.

In all there were more than 380 manufacturers, retailers and operators from around the world at Overland Expo. As to be expected, Aussie companies were there in force, showing off their wares and reinforcing their status as some of the most respected 4WD accessory makers in the world.

ARB has been at this show from its inception and this year was no different, with an ARBequipped Ford Bronco positioned proudly on the Aussie company's stand. Somewhere in amongst the gigantic spread of equipment and vehicles on show, there was a Toyota stand with the new Tacoma on it, again dressed in ARB gear; the show is so big that in three days of wandering, I never even found the Toyota display!

Like most of the Aussie companies present, ARB is again increasing its North American presence. The company is just about to open its third distribution centre in Texas, while its first ARB retail store has just opened in the Pacific North-West.