004 – J.P.’s Colorado ZR2 AEV Bison Build
In this edition, we have an impressive Chevy Colorado outfitted by AEV with an Alu-Cab Canopy Camper.
J.P. is a long time overlander from Colorado with over 8000 off-road miles. His Bison build is now ready to tackle anything the journey puts in his path.
Build Details
Tatanka ( Lakota ~ “Bison” / “Great Beast”)
2020 Chevy Colorado ZR2 / AEV Bison
American Expedition Vehicles GM ZR2/Bison Upfit
Mileage – Total 26,256 (8,842 Off-Road miles)
3.6 V-6 Gas / 8 Speed Automatic Transmission
GM Performance CAT Back Exhaust and Cold Air Intake
GM ZR2 Front and Rear Electric Lockers
Nitro Gear / New England Gear Polished / 4.10:1 Gears (Re-geared from factory 3.42:1)
AEV ZR2 Lower Front Bumper and Hoop
AEV ZR2 Winch Mount
AEV Crestone Wheels and Beadlocks
BFG KM3 Mud-Terrain Tires – 285/70R17 (33”)
GM ZR2 / DSSV Shocks Front & Rear
GM Performance Front Level and High Angle Upper A-Arms
GM Performance Tie Rod Sleeve Reinforcement
Peak Suspension Add-A-Leaf
589 Fab ZR2 Rear Shock Relocate
Timbren Active Off-Road Bumpstops / Front & Rear
Come-Up 9.5 Sealed Slim Recovery Winch
Custom DIY Rotopax Swing-Out Mount / Akicita Solutions
Custom DIY Rear Seat Delete / Akicita Solutions
At Camp
Alu Cab / Canopy Camper
Alu Cab / 270 Awning
Alu Cab / Shower Cube
Alu Cab Table Mount and Aluminum Folding Table
Custom DIY Cabinet Build / Marine Closed Foam Insulation, and Interior Finishes / Akicita Solutions
Front Runner 40L / 10.6 gal Upright Water Tank
Joolca HotTap Portable Hot Shower Kit
Hest Dually Long Mattress & Pillows
Big Agnes Dream Island 15 degree / Double- Wide Sleeping Bag
Electronics
Overland Solar 160 ETFE Semi-Flexible Solar Panel
GoalZero Yeti 1500X Power Station
Dometic 28 / 12v Refridgerator
Victron Orion TR Smart DC-DC Charger / 24/12 – 30
Other
VIAIR – Heavy Duty Onboard Air System with 2.5 Gallon Air Tank
MaxTrax Recovery Boards (4)
GP Factor Maxtrax Mount
RotoPax 3 Gallon Auxillary Gas Packs (2)
X-Monster Kinetic Rope
Factor 55 Shackle Pulley
Rough Country 30” Single Row Curved Light Bar
How did you discover overlanding?
Some of my earliest memories in life growing up as a 4th generation Colorado cattle rancher are traveling to remote areas of the Rocky Mountains on horseback, horse-drawn wagon, and my Father’s Willy’s Jeep to cow camps and remote backcountry grazing leases in the mountains of Colorado. My adult life away from ranching led me to the military, where I traveled over the next 20 years to the remotest areas of the world on six different continents. At the risk of sounding pretentious, I can honestly say I have been living an adventure travel and an overland lifestyle my entire life.
What is your favorite piece of overlanding gear you have?
My Dometic 28 L / 12v Refrigerator. The luxury of cold drinks and keeping perishable items fresh in the backcountry for weeks utilizing unlimited regenerated electricity is nearly priceless to me, coming from the minimalist equipment background I’ve been accustomed to over the last 50+ years.
Why do you overland?
My Great-Grandfather on my Mother’s side came to Colorado from the Netherlands to homestead here in 1868. He started from the Eastcoast on foot, then by horse, and eventually by horse and wagon, working, hunting, and surviving the “overland” travel across the country to what would become his home in Western Colorado. My Lakota ancestors on my Father’s side have inhabited the plains and mountains of the west for over nine millennia. The nomadic lifestyle of hunting, living, and traveling “overland” is all part of my family history and legacy, so I guess you could say an adventure and a nomadic lifestyle is part of my heritage and DNA.
