Overland Show Season Gear Prep: Pomona 2026
Oct 20, 2026
The California Overland Adventure & Power Sports Show returns to Pomona on Saturday, October 24 and Sunday, October 25, 2026, in Expo Hall 4 at Fairplex, 1101 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona, CA 91768. Per Fairplex, hours are 10 AM to 5 PM on Saturday and 10 AM to 4 PM on Sunday, and general parking is $21 at the Yellow Lot, Gate 17, card only. The show's official page lists overland rigs, off-road campers, rooftop tents, outdoor gear, ATVs, UTVs, motorcycles, and e-bikes, and kids 12 and under get in free. The organizer's ticketing page offers free admission for active-duty military, veterans, first responders, and their families with valid ID.
Shows like this are where people decide what their rig is missing. This guide is the other half of that weekend: a gear-prep checklist for the season, so you walk the aisles knowing what you already have, what you need, and what to ask exhibitors about.
Before the show: audit the rig in an hour
Pull everything out of the truck or the bin and sort it into four piles: start, power, light, and tools. Most rigs are heavy on one pile and empty on another. Here is what each pile should hold.
Start: can the vehicle get itself going?
Rooftop tents, fridges, and lights all pull from the starting battery when the engine is off. A portable jump starter is the backup that does not need a second vehicle. The POD X XTREME 1000A Jump Starter is rated for 12V gas and light-duty diesel engines, delivers 20 or more jumps per full charge, and has Intelli-Jump smart cables that block sparks, reverse polarity, and short circuits. It also has USB-A and USB-C outputs and an LED with strobe and SOS. The X1 Pro 2000A is the slimmer glovebox unit for 12V cars, trucks, boats, and motorcycles.
Power sports owners: if you are at the show for ATVs, UTVs, or motorcycles, the POD X Motorcycle Battery Tender Cable is a 12V quick-connect lead with ring terminals that stays on the machine, so you can connect a POD X jump starter or a standard SAE tender without pulling the seat. Our ATV, UTV, snowmobile and jet ski jump starter guide covers the details.
Power: what runs when the engine is off?
Make a list of what you actually charge at camp, then match it:
- Phones and GPS: the Fusion 8000mAh Solar Power Bank, with dual 5V/2.1A USB outputs and a built-in monocrystalline panel for top-ups.
- Starlink Mini: the Star Power 600, a 95Wh pack with regulated 19V output for the dish. Its product page puts runtime at about 2 to 4 hours at a typical 20 to 40W draw, so think of it as a portable pack for a viewpoint or trailhead, paired with your rig's 12V system for longer use.
- Wet gear: the Solar Dry Bag 20L, IPX6 with a 5V/3W panel and USB-A output.
If you are designing a full house-battery system, our overlanding power setup guide walks through how the pieces fit, and the show floor is a good place to compare house-battery and solar hardware in person.
Light: can you work on the rig after dark?
- Bat Beam XTREME Headlamp, CREE XM-L T6, for hands-free work under the hood.
- Port-A-Bull Tripod Flashlight, which unfolds into a freestanding work light on a fender or table.
- LED Road Flares 3-Pack, reusable and flameless with magnetic bases, for marking a stopped vehicle on a shoulder.
Tools: can you fix the small stuff yourself?
- Air: the 12V Portable Air Compressor runs from a lighter socket or a POD X jump starter, for re-airing after a trail day.
- Digging: the Survival Folding Shovel has a serrated edge and a pick and folds into a carry bag. Most stucks in sand, mud, and snow are solved by digging; see our folding shovel vehicle recovery guide.
- Cutting and camp chores: the XF132 Tactical Axe for real wood, or the Tactical 16-in-1 Axe & Hammer Multitool for stakes, kindling, and small fixes.
- First aid: the Tactical Survival Kit, a MOLLE-ready pouch with first aid, fire, and signaling tools.
At the show: questions worth asking exhibitors
A show floor is the rare chance to ask an engineer instead of a search engine. Bring your audit list and ask:
- Rooftop tents and campers: what is the 12V draw of the lights and fans, and do they pull from the starting battery?
- Fridges: what is the low-voltage cutoff, and is it adjustable?
- House batteries and solar: what is the usable capacity, not just the rated capacity?
- Lighting: what is the actual draw in amps, and is it fused?
- Recovery gear: what is the working load, and what is the recommended method when you are alone?
Write the answers on your list. They tell you whether your starting battery is at risk, which is the question a jump starter answers.
Show-weekend logistics
- Go early. Doors open at 10 AM both days, and Sunday closes an hour earlier, at 4 PM.
- Bring a card for parking. Fairplex lists general parking as debit or credit only.
- Charge your phone and bring a power bank. You will photograph spec sheets all day.
- Check the official site before you go at caoverlandadv.com/pomona for tickets, the exhibitor list, and any schedule changes.
Bundle the basics
If your audit came up short, POD X bundles cover the most common gaps in one box: the Trailhead Kit (XTREME 1000A, Fusion solar bank, Tactical Survival Kit, $189) and the Truck Kit (XTREME 1000A and Port-A-Bull tripod light, $169). Every POD X product carries a 3-year warranty with free registration, and orders over $50 ship free.
Show season is the right time to prep: the weather is cooling, trips are being planned, and every gap you find now is one you will not find at a trailhead. See you on the trail.
Heading to the California Overland Show at Fairplex? Come find The POD X at the show and ask about our show-only deal.
