At Basecamp Brooklyn, we’re all about making the great outdoors more accessible—whether you’re heading into the Catskills or on a cross-country adventure. Meet Bagheera, our adventure-ready Ford Edge, customized for overland travel and packed with gear you can add to your own setup. In this post, we’ll take you on a detailed walk-around of our build, featuring rugged modifications, solar power, off-road essentials, and smart storage solutions—all with links to gear you can grab for your own adventure rig.

A few years ago we built out our 2013 Ford Edge to get her ready for a cross country adventure. Bagheera is not your average Ford Edge. This SUV has been meticulously customized to handle off-road adventures while ensuring comfort and functionality on the road. Let's delve into the incredible modifications that have been done to this vehicle, both by myself and The Custom Shop NYC.

Exterior Customizations: Rugged & Ready for Adventure

One of the first things that catches your eye when you see Bagheera is her rugged and unique exterior. The front of the vehicle boasts a custom-installed wrecker bar [Lund Bull Bar], providing both protection and utility. This heavy-duty addition is securely mounted to the car's frame, protecting it from unforeseen collisions.

To enhance visibility in low-light conditions, Bagheera features an impressive array of lighting. Up on top, a Rough Country Curved light bar [50” Black Series Curved, Dual Row], featuring driving lights and floodlights, ensures optimal illumination during night journeys. In addition to the light bar that came with the Lund wrecker bar up front, we added KC amber cubes for a distinctive and multi-functional lighting setup.

On the roof, you'll notice a Yakima roof rack system [cross bars, fairing, fork mount bike carrier, and awning]. A Kuat mini cargo rack, with extension, sits on the crossbars offering extra storage space and a perfect spot to mount the Plano rifle case that serves as secure storage and a mounting point for solar panels.

Bagheera’s exterior is built for both durability and functionality. Here’s what we added to make her adventure-ready:

Lund Bull Bar – Heavy-duty front-end protection for unexpected obstacles.
Rough Country 50” Curved Light Bar – High-powered illumination for night trails.
KC Hilites Amber Cube Lights – Perfect for foggy conditions and low-light visibility.
Yakima Roof Rack System – Includes cross bars, fairing, fork mount bike carrier, and awning for versatile storage.
Kuat Mini Cargo Rack with Extension – Additional rooftop storage for bulkier gear.
Plano Rifle Case – Doubles as secure storage and a mounting point for our solar panels.

Solar Power & Electrical Upgrades: Off-Grid Independence

When Bagheera’s engine is running, her alternator is powering everything we need and charging the secondary battery in the back. But what about when we are stationary? When camp is set up? Bagheera is equipped with an advanced solar power system. That system is automatically cut off from the main car battery when it is off, to prevent power drain to that battery. The solar setup includes a Rich Solar 100-watt panel on the roof directly mounted to the Plano Case in conjunction with a Rich Solar Charge Controller, providing continuous charging to the secondary battery. This battery powers interior lights, charges our various devices and the Dometic refrigerator inside the vehicle. If additional power is needed, we use a collapsible Dokio portable solar panel, with a 160-watt capacity which almost triples our capability of sunlight intake. It can be positioned to get the best sun exposure without having to move the vehicle. It is foldable, easily storable and connects directly to the system via SAE terminal.

We wanted a reliable solar setup to power our gear while off-grid. Here’s how we made it happen:

Rich Solar 100W Panel – Mounted on the Plano case for continuous charging.
Rich Solar Charge Controller – Regulates solar power to prevent overcharging.
Dokio 160W Portable Solar Panel – A collapsible panel for extra charging capacity at camp.
Dual Battery System – Secondary battery powers interior lights, our Dometic CFX 65 Refrigerator, and device chargers.

Off-Road Enhancements & Recovery Gear

She is not a true 4x4 and is not meant for rock crawling, but for most off-pavement adventures, Bagheera is quite capable.

We equipped her with off-road, heavy duty wheels. Rims are Vision Wheels with a +14 offset to accommodate the Goodyear All Terrain Duratrac tires- 265/60R18 that wrap it. They are wider and larger than OEM and have an aggressive tread pattern for that little extra bite to get through sketchy terrain. In combination with the added 1.5 inch lift by Traxda we gain considerable ground clearance that helps us on mildly jagged and uneven surfaces. The shocks have been upgraded to Bilstein B6s to carry the added weight of all this equipment. For pulling the trailer, we have Airlift air bags in the rear springs with an on-demand air compressor that allows us to adjust the support in the back to our exact needs.

We wanted to carry a full sized spare because, as we all know, the little donut tires that come from the factory will do no good if you get a flat on the trail. We chose the Wilco Off Road spare tire holder. This innovative solution attaches directly to the trailer hitch, allowing for the easy mounting of a full-sized spare tire outside the vehicle, saving us precious space in the interior for our sleep and storage systems.

Just in case the off road tires are not enough, she is well-equipped with recovery gear. A high lift jack, also attached to the Wilco tire holder, ensures that the SUV can be lifted if stuck in challenging terrain. We also use a pair of MaxTraxx Recovery Boards when we need a little help crawling out of rutted and soft terrain. To complete our set, we have a D-ring that can be mounted to the hitch for use as a recovery point.

Bagheera may not be a rock crawler, but she’s built to handle off-pavement adventures with ease:

Goodyear Duratrac Tires (265/60R18) – Aggressive all-terrain tread for better traction.
Vision Wheels +14 Offset – Heavy-duty rims built for overland travel.
Traxda 1.5” Lift Kit – Increased ground clearance for rugged terrain.
Bilstein B6 Shocks – Improved handling and support for the added weight.
Airlift Airbags + On-Demand Compressor – Customizable rear suspension for towing.
Wilco Off-Road Spare Tire Holder – Hitch-mounted for easy access to a full-size spare.
MaxTraxx Recovery Boards – Helps get out of mud, sand, or rutted trails.
Smittybilt Air Compressor – Onboard air for tire inflation and adjustments.

Interior Comfort and Functionality: Our Home on Wheels

Bagheera's interior has been thoughtfully designed to offer both comfort and practicality. The rear of the vehicle features a platform that can double as a bed for camping trips. Customized blackout curtains provide privacy and security while also keeping the interior temperature controlled. We’ve recently upgraded from our homemade cardboard window shades to easy-to-use and durable magnetic window shades.

The heart of the interior is a Dometic refrigerator, the CFX 65, which keeps food and beverages cold during extended journeys. This refrigerator is connected to the vehicle's electrical system, ensuring uninterrupted power supply. A kill switch and an isolator help manage the power flow between the front and rear batteries, ensuring that the rear battery remains charged while preventing any power drain to the front main car battery when the vehicle is stationary.

Additional Features: Stay Organized

Organization is key when living life on the road. Bagheera features various compartments and storage solutions to keep everything tidy. Bungee nets and water resistant storage boxes help secure gear and personal items, making the most of the limited space. Our spare tire trash bag doubles as a wood collector for backwoods campfires.

A Smittybilt air compressor is also on hand for adjusting tire pressure when transitioning from on-road to off-road driving.

Bagheera, the custom overland Ford Edge, exemplifies the spirit of adventure and customization. These modifications, solar power setup, and off-road gear, have allowed us to tackle remote and challenging terrains while providing all the comfort and functionality we needed on our cross country trek.

A well-organized vehicle is key for extended trips. Bagheera’s interior is designed for both comfort and function:

Custom Sleeping Platform – Converts the rear into a bed for overnight stays.
Dometic CFX 65 Refrigerator – Keeps food and drinks cold for long trips.
Blackout Curtains & Window Shades – Adds privacy and helps regulate temperature.
Bungee Nets & Water-Resistant Storage Boxes – Securely store gear without clutter.
Spare Tire Trash Bag – Doubles as a firewood carrier for backcountry camping.

Final Thoughts: Building Your Own Overland Adventure Rig

Bagheera has taken us across the country, into the mountains, and deep into the wild—proving that you don’t need a full-size truck to experience overlanding. If you’re thinking of starting your own Ford Edge overland build or want to make your SUV more adventure-capable, grab some of the gear we used and get started!

If you’re thinking of starting overloading, or have questions about modifying your vehicle to make it more adventure capable, leave those questions here in the comments.