Born in Southern California and raised in Taiwan, Eric has made Southern California his home once again. With a full-time job building overlanding and off-roading trucks at Miyaki Motorsports and a part-time role in IT and website management for a carbon fiber parts company, he has skillfully combined his passion for vehicles with his professional life. Eric fell into overlanding as a much-needed escape from the daily stress and challenges of life and never looked back. Proudly driving a 2022 Ram 1500 DT Rebel, Eric embodies the spirit of adventure both on and off the road. His journey into overlanding began in 2017, and since then, he has logged over 60,000 miles, exploring the wilderness and perfecting his overlanding setup one trip at a time.
Proud owner of: 2022 Ram 1500 DT Rebel in Hydro Blue Two Tone with 5.7L Hemi
Customer of 67 Designs since: 2023
Featured Upgrades:
- Fox 2.5 DSC (front and rear)
- Carli Suspension Components
- Baja Designs LP9 (bumper lights), XL Racers Edition (A-Pillar), S2 (camping and chase lights) controlled by Switch Pro 9100
- Hardwired dual onboard electrical systems to assist in campsite electrical needs
- ARB Onboard Air Pump
- Decked Drawer System
- SDHQ A-Pillar Light Brackets
- GoFastCamper Platform Camper
- 67 Designs Universal Tablet holder
- 67 Designs Go Pro holder for DJI Action 4
Currently, Eric has two vehicles in his garage. For overlanding, he prefers a Ram truck with a V8, as it combines luxury and capability. He favors trucks over SUVs because the bed area can accommodate a lightweight camper, providing stand-up space for solo trips without the heavy weight of traditional campers. For pavement driving, his 2009 BMW M3 with S65 V8 engine does the job. It may not be the not the fastest of cars, but to Eric, driving is not just about going fast; it is the whole experience of the sound and the shifting, and the M3 is the perfect example.
Early Inspiration: Expedition Overland’s video series first opened Eric's eyes to off-pavement travel and the concept of overlanding. However, it was the friends he made off-roading who inspired him to explore the possibilities of combining overlanding with driving fast in the desert.
When he was younger, Eric's family preferred staying in hotels during their trips to Japan and Southeast Asia as opposed to traditional camping. His only camping experience was a weeklong school-organized trip in high school. With minimal camping gear and humid weather, the experience was uncomfortable and led him to initially resist camping. Over time, he sought gear and knowledge to enhance his camping experience, leading him to where he is today.
Early Adventures: Eric's first long-term overlanding trip was to Canyonlands in Moab, UT, in 2020. Overworked and dealing with personal issues, he took a week off to reset and found solace in the Utah red dirt and the camaraderie of fellow travelers. This trip not only sparked his interest in long-term overlanding but also played a crucial role in his mental recovery, even going as far to say that it saved his life.
Eric sums up the difference in overlanding as not just seeing the scenery, but being in the scenery. For him, overlanding allows him to fully immerse himself in the environment and experience it firsthand, away from the crowds.
Recent Adventures: Eric's most recent adventure was a trip to the Grand Canyon over Memorial Day Weekend. He camped by the cliff of the North Rim with two friends, combining high-speed driving on dirt roads with camping. They enjoyed Korean BBQ, fried rice, and steak at camp, and even showered at the edge of the canyon. The night sky was clear, revealing the Milky Way, and they shared stories around the campfire.
Most memorable adventure: Aside from his first overlanding trip to Moab, Eric's most memorable trip was to Northern Arizona and the Grand Canyon South over Labor Day Weekend in 2023. This trip was the first time Eric led his overlanding friends across state lines, navigating monsoon weather and camping at Edge of the World in Flagstaff, AZ, just to have the rain stop right in perfect timing when they got to camp. The next day they backtracked to Peach Springs, AZ and camped at the south side of the Grand Canyon and Colorado River.
The group faced a significant challenge when a friend's Jeep broke its front axle on the last day, but they worked together to recover and repair the vehicle, highlighting the trip's camaraderie and luck in the process. Eric meticulously plans his trips to minimize surprises. The only significant challenge he encountered was the Jeep's broken axle incident. Otherwise, his trips have been largely free of unexpected issues.
Lessons Learned: Eric believes in investing in quality products and using them. He recalls an incident from 4th of July weekend of last year, where his Baja Designs ditch lights and SDHQ A-pillar light mount withstood a tree branch impact at 60 MPH due to miscommunication from the trail lead and low visibility in the dust filled skies, truly proving the value of high-quality gear. This experience solidified his build philosophy of saving up for quality items.
Upcoming/Dream Trips: Eric plans to embark on a bucket list trip to Alaska and Yukon in August 2024. He will spend two months traveling 10,000 miles solo, testing his truck's capabilities and exploring major highways and byways like the Dalton and Dempster Highways, as well as Denali Highway, Alcan, Cassiar Highway, and Klondike Highway in Yukon, British Columbia, and Alaska. Inspired by Expedition Overland, he plans to visit Prudhoe Bay, Hyder Homer, Whitter, Kennecott, Anchorage, Fairbanks, Tok, Chicken, and Denali in Alaska, as well as Tuktoyaktuk, White Horse, Dawson Creek, Dawson City, Banff National Park, Jasper National Park, Yoho National Park, and Canadian Glacier National Park. On the way home, he will also stop by Glacier National Park, Yellowstone National Park, and Grand Teton National Park if time permits. He plans to experience wildlife, climb glaciers, visit ghost towns, and enjoy fresh seafood along the way. Eric believes life is too short to wait for the perfect moment, so he's seizing the opportunity to fulfill his dreams now.
Community Involvement: Eric is part of the Facebook group SoCal Outdoorsman and is a go-to person for overlanding needs at his shop. He is also active on the 5th Gen Rams Forum and Dodge Truck Extreme.
Fun Fact: While Eric's dream truck is a Ram 2500 Power Wagon, combining the capabilities of a Jeep Rubicon with the space and power of a full-size truck, his ultimate dream build is a Mitsubishi Fuso with a 4x4 conversion, which he plans to convert into a habitat himself. He has the necessary skills but needs the space and funds. Eric also aspires to start a company that builds trucks designed for speed and comfort while overlanding.
Connect with Eric:
- Instagram: @ram_rebel_dt_eric
- Instagram: @jollyrogueoffroad
- Facebook: Jolly Rogue Offroad
- Website: Jolly Rogue Co.
- YouTube: Jolly Rogue Offroad
This Customer Spotlight is by Meg Klavitter.
This series was envisioned and created by Kate Della Pietra in the summer of 2020 when she worked for 67 Designs as a marketing intern.