Andy Lilienthal

Post-TransAmerica Trail reel recap: Day 21-22 of the TransAmerica Trail, tackling another pass near Moab, Gemini Bridges trail, and other remote parts of Utah.

Driver: @andylilienthal.bsky.social
Navigator: @mercedeslilienthal.com

Just a quick reminder.

The Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness: A Small and Mighty Approach to Adventure Vehicles Can the Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness tackle a cross-country overland adventure on the TransAmerica Trail? Andy Lilienthal finds out.

After over 7,100 miles behind the wheel from New Jersey to North Carolina to Oregon, here's my take on the 2025 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness. expeditionportal.com/the-subaru-c... #blueskycars

What HUGE sleeper cab. I talked with the husband/wife team that drives it, and they said it has a shower, toilet, table, etc. Pretty impressive.

RALLY RECAP: Day 9, Whitehorse, YT to Dease Lake, BC, one TSD competition, Miles Canyon, and our 3rd of 4 total optional extreme control routes, Telegraph Creek. Hours driven: 14.

•Driver: @andylilienthal.bsky.social
•Navigator: @mercedeslilienthal.com
•Vehicle: 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport SUV

I'll be one of them for sure. And, as a small business owner, it'll be devastating.

Just ordered parts from NAPA Auto Parts, and they got delivered via DoorDash. I didn't know they delivered stuff other than food. The Dasher said this was only the 2nd NAPA delivery she'd done. Interesting.

Same here. We're a small business, and we're going to get hosed big time if these don't get extended.

From my spam folder: "Hey Andy, looks like you’re in charge of chilled water at Crankshaft Culture, which suggests you might be looking for ways to reduce rising HVAC expenses."

Eddie, unfortunately, I'm only the lukewarm water guy. The chilled water guy is out until next Thursday.

Regards,

Andy

RALLY RECAP: Day 8, long-hauling it from Fairbanks, Alaska to Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, with one TSD competition, Chena Ridge. Hours driven: 14.75.

•Driver: @andylilienthal.bsky.social
•Navigator: @mercedeslilienthal.com
•Vehicle: 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport SUV

There better not be a rapture tomorrow. I just got my Suzuki Jimny Wide (and it still has an oil leak).

RALLY RECAP: Day 7, Valdez to Fairbanks, Alaska, via the second (of four) optional extreme control, Denali Highway, with one TSD competition, Valdez. Hours driven: 10.25.

•Driver: @andylilienthal.bsky.social
•Navigator: @mercedeslilienthal.com
•Vehicle: 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport SUV

RALLY RECAP: Day 3, Fort Nelson, British Columbia to Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada with one TSD competition, Simpson Trail. Hours driven: 13.

Driver: @andylilienthal.bsky.social
Navigator: @mercedeslilienthal.com
Event: 2025 Alcan 5000 Rally
Vehicle: 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport

It's frustrating when both a retailer and a manufacturer list their product for sale, but in reality, it's unavailable. You do all this research and come to a decision, only to be told you can't have it. Just happened with a set of tires. Maddening. /rant

Since going freelance in '23 I've seen the world more. I look at maps and past routes and get lost in the memories of adventures, many with @mercedeslilienthal.com — Iceland, Scandinavia, the Baltics, Puerto Rico, Canada, and Alaska. I've seen a lot in the last 2.5 years and hope to keep it going.

RALLY RECAP: Day 2, Quesnel to Fort Nelson, British Columbia, Canada with one TSD competition, Blackwater. Hours driven: 12.75.

Driver: @andylilienthal.bsky.social
Navigator: @mercedeslilienthal.com
Event: 2025 Alcan 5000 Rally
Vehicle: 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport

Tackling The Tough TransAmerica Trail In A 2025 Subaru Crosstrek Coast-to-coast on the TransAmerica Trail—heat, storms, and rugged trails in a 2025 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness.

Crossing the USA on the TransAmerica Trail was an adventure. Doing it with @mercedeslilienthal.com in a Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness was borderline bonkers. www.offroadxtreme.com/features/tac...

RALLY RECAP: Day 1, Kirkland, WA to Quesnel, British Columbia, Canada with two TSD competitions, Mosquito Lake and Soda Creek. Hours driven: 9.

Driver: @andylilienthal.bsky.social
Navigator: @mercedeslilienthal.com
Event: 2025 Alcan 5000 Rally
Vehicle: 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport

Starlink Mini: A Game-Changer for Our Month-Long Overland Adventure First-time Starlink user Andy Lilienthal shares how satellite internet became an essential tool during a 29-day off-road expedition across the U.S., proving valuable for everything from weather monitoring to potentially life-saving communication.

We used a Starlink Mini for the first time while on the TransAmerica Trail and it was a game-changer for @mercedeslilienthal.com and me. www.ovrmag.com/outdoor-gear...

Me right now ...

Our 2025 Alcan 5000 Rally Honda's official reveal! We, @andylilienthal.bsky.social and @mercedeslilienthal.com, have been hard at work prepping our 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport for the Alcan 5000 Rally, the mother of all TSD rallies. Tons more, plus a tracking link, coming soon!

The Kia Sportage is the brand's best-selling and longest-running nameplate. It's revised for '26 and is quite good.

Post-TransAmerica Trail reel recap Day 19: We, @andylilienthal.bsky.social and @mercedeslilienthal.com, are conquering Colorado's San Juan Mountains and taking a much-needed day off.

Eek! Hope he was OK.

Right? First station wagons became uncool, then minivans. Both wagons and minivans are so practical and sell all over the world. I wrote this piece in 2021 and stand by it! gearjunkie.com/motors/miniv...

Exactly! Everyone thinks my lifted Delica is so cool. I think people who think Delicas/Hiaces are cool probably think this is cool too. C'mon, Chrysler! Make it happen.

Exactly. Part of the problem may be the ridiculous stigma minivans still have. Maybe something like this might help nix it?

Chrysler Pacifica Grizzly Peak Concept: Could We FINALLY Get A Factory AWD Camper Van? - Crankshaft Culture Chrysler has debuted the Pacifica Grizzly Concept at Overland Expo Mountain West. This shows how minivans can be used as adventure vehicles.

I've long said minivans can be excellent adventure vehicles. However, no OEM is offering them spec'ed as such. Could Chrysler be filling a niche we've long talked about?

GoPro Quik: Here, you can use these royalty-free music tracks!
YouTube:

Portland couple travels more than 7,000 miles on cross-country road trip A Portland couple just returned from 7,000+-mile cross-country journey from North Carolina to Oregon on the TransAmerica Trail.

We're on ABC TV! @andylilienthal.bsky.social and I were just interviewed live by KATU News about our 29-day cross-continental TransAmerica Trail trek. Learn about our trip, a few challenges we had, and how we handled it all. Click below to watch our live TV segment.