Where It Began
OGB (Old Green Bastard - The Truck That Started It All
The beat-up painters truck that accidentally launched a lifetime of overland builds.
Old Green Bastard (OGB) is where this whole thing started. Before “overlanding” was even a word I knew, I was just a broke kid with a dream, a 1987 Toyota pickup, and a reason to live out of it for a while.
The Origin Story
I didn’t set out to “build an overland truck.” I just needed a cheap, reliable rig I could sleep in while interning on a friend’s farm. I was working full-time during the day, putting in part-time hours on the farm, and wrenching on the truck in the evenings. In between all of that, I was also living out of it — sleeping in the back, figuring out storage on the fly, and fixing things as they broke.
It was rough around the edges, stubborn, and refused to die… which, honestly, made us a pretty good match. As the build out progressed, I decided to give needed a facelift, painting it in my rentals 1 car garage turned paint booth and thus was born The Old Green Bastard.
So many trips to the junkyard, swapping beat up old dash pieces, seats and bezels. Working to restore this old girl to her former glory and then some. Meeting new friends who were gracious enough to lend their fabricating skills & time. I was working hard to make this thing a capable rig and searching the craigslist adds for my dream camper at the time. The Illusive Wildernest
That’s when I found one in all it’s glory. The tent material was mildewed, front tension spring snapped and fiberglass cracked but it was everything I had dreamed of. Clamped it on, cleaned her up a bit and started building out the interior immediately. Learning as I built.
What OGB Taught Me About Building Adventure Rigs
Old Green Bastard shaped my entire build philosophy. A few big takeaways:
1. Reliability Beats Flash
If it can’t get you to the trail and back, it doesn’t matter how cool it looks.”
2. Use It Before You Overbuild It
I was partially living in that truck while I built it. That forced me to test ideas quickly and learn what actually mattered: a decent sleep setup, smart storage, good power systems, and a way to make hot food.
3. Simple > Complicated
The more complex something is, the more likely it is to break at the worst time.
4. You Don’t Need Perfect Gear to Start
Most of my “kit” back then would never make a gear list on YouTube. But it worked. OGB reminds me—and hopefully you—that you don’t need top-shelf everything to get outside.
Specifications – 1987 Toyota Xtra Cab Pickup 4×4 with a 4cyl 22R Engine.
Videos on OGB
Armor & Capability –NWTI front bumper, custom rock sliders, Rock Defense rear bumper. Rear selectable ARB locker w/dual air compressor. 33″ tires on steel rims, custom Albu brothers rear leaf pack.
Camping System – Wildernest camper, custom built drawer storage organizer with tilt out fridge slide. Deep cycle house mattery system powering 12v electrical, ARB 50QT fridge & powered water pump with 12 gallon tank.
Other Builds To Explore
