X Overland Wants to Do It All
And Polaris’ General XP 1000 Is the Key to Their Success
Words and Photos: Jason Stilgebouer
From the glaciers of Argentina to the Alaskan frontier, the crew at Expedition Overland [or X Overland] has been on many incredible adventures, to say the least. Not only do they explore some of the most remote places in the world, but they film beautiful masterpieces of their epic journeys along the way. All their vehicles are upgraded to sustain its passengers for days, if not weeks, fully off-the-grid.
But they aren’t all the same; each vessel has its own intention or design for every new project. And when it came time to film in Montana, they needed a vehicle that could venture further into the mountains. Enter the Polaris General XP 1000. Expedition Overland’s purpose-built UTV is designed to handle anything you can throw at it from reaching further into the unknown to hunting game in the backwoods to plowing snow at the shop and so much more. Their General XP 1000 is well versed for whatever job at hand.
X Overland picked up Polaris’ General XP 1000 for their SOLO Expedition Series featuring company founder Clay Croft and his family. Instead of embarking on a grand trip to Mexico or Alaska, their goal was to wander through their own backyard in the great state of Montana and spend quality time together. Using a Ram 3500 AEV Prospector as their primary overlanding vehicle, the ultimate adventure package includes their General XP on their Patriot Camper “TH610” toy hauler, a product deserving of its own story.
In order to get the General ready for travel, they needed to build it not only to handle gear but also perform in harsh conditions without sacrificing performance. The ethos behind the General XP build was to take a simple and practical approach. It must have the qualities of an overland utility vehicle without compromising any of its off-road performance. And luckily, that’s exactly why the General was designed: to offer a combination of utility and off-road performance in one package. Whenever they arrive at camp and set up, they can use the General to venture even deeper into the backcountry without having to break down camp.
But it’s the little details which tie this build together, such as the Rigid 360 Series lights with integrated mirrors, the Prince roof rack and mini traction boards. The cargo racks from RAZORBACK OFFROAD allow them to mount tools like a chainsaw, shovel and other essentials required for long treks through the wild. To top it off (pun intended), it’s sitting on Icon Alloys UTV-spec beadlock wheels wrapped in General Grabber X3 tires, a subtle but great combination to get this General rolling.
The rig is equipped with a Polaris 4500 Winch which includes the attachment for their plow to help clear the path on those snowy Montana mornings. Knowing they would be using the General in extreme weather, creature comforts were a must. So, it’s equipped with a fully enclosed cab and an HVAC system from Polaris. In addition to that, the snowplow controls have been integrated in the shifter.
But with local laws keeping side-by-sides and utility vehicles of public roads and highways, the General couldn’t go far without the TH610. This toy hauler sits at 20ft long and includes a base camp section – complete with a full kitchen, storage, water, power, and basically anything you might need off the grid, including a fridge – up front. But this isn’t just a normal trailer. It has four independent wheels on its own airbag suspension system. An onboard air system allows you to raise and lower the trailer. With an insanely thick skid plate underneath and 35-inch tires, the trailer can be pulled just about anywhere. Not only can you haul your toys to far off, desolate destinations, but you can stay for a while.
Having such a big vehicle as the Ram AEV Prospector with a camper can be very beneficial to live out of but can also be challenging to go down tight and twisty trails. That is where the utility of a UTV is important. X Overland’s Polaris General XP 1000 is the versatile tool to extend the boundaries of their exploration, while also tackling the miscellaneous four-season responsibilities of the family. Whether it’s used to clear snow from the driveway or navigate through the wilderness, the XP 1000 is a perfect vehicle for overlanding. While the Crofts might not be taking it on their coming trip to Argentina, rest assured you will see it in the Montana countryside in the summertime.
