Brandon Smith

Brandon Smith is an experienced survivalist, camper and perennial Overlander. He's worked as an Ecommerce Manager at JDI Distribution, Tow Truck Specialist with California Highway Patrol and Sales for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, before shifting passions to media creation and writing on what matters most, trails and rigs. My Story Unlike most stories about where a passion for cars begins, mine started with my mom. Growing up, her vehicles were never just transportation—they were prized possessions. One of my earliest memories, when I couldn't have been more than five years old, was walking through a department store with my parents. I was tagging along as the passenger prince of their shopping trip until we turned down an aisle and I saw it: a red Mercedes-Benz 560 SEC scaled perfectly for a kid my size. It was one of those ride-on electric cars designed to let kids cruise around the house while driving their parents crazy. According to my family, everyone in the store heard me crying at the top of my lungs when my parents tried pulling me away from what I was convinced was my future. From that moment on, I was hooked. Cars, trucks, motorcycles, big rigs, fighter jets—anything with an engine or wheels fascinated me. Looking back, that was the first building block of what would eventually become a lifelong career and passion within the automotive world. By the time I was old enough to reach the pedals, I was already deep into the automotive scene. One of my first major trades was turning a laptop into a 1987 Yamaha FZR1000. It wasn't the prettiest machine on the road, but it was 1,000cc of power on two wheels and the perfect introduction to a life spent chasing mechanical knowledge. The Yamaha eventually became a 1980s K5 Chevy Blazer, which became a 2002 Kawasaki Ninja 250, then a 1996 Chevy Camaro RS, a 2003 BMW 325i, a 1997 BMW 540i, and countless others. There simply isn't enough bandwidth on the internet to list every vehicle I've owned, modified, repaired, broken, and learned from over the years. Like most enthusiasts, I spent a long time chasing speed. Eventually, experience taught me that the pursuit of speed has a way of shortening the journey. As I matured, my interests shifted toward vehicles that supported the life I wanted to live rather than simply how fast I could get there. The first tool I ever purchased was a Torx bit set and ratchet. If you've owned enough BMWs, you understand why. My early adulthood was filled with BMWs moving in and out of my garage, and those cars became my classroom. Along with a handful of other vehicles—including my 1998 Chevy TrailBlazer—they taught me how to diagnose, repair, modify, and understand mechanical systems on a deeper level. I have a special appreciation for German engineering. BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Volkswagen, Porsche, and many other manufacturers challenged me constantly. Their complexity forced me to learn, adapt, and develop the skills that would later become second nature. Without them, I might never have discovered how much I genuinely enjoy wrenching on anything and everything with an engine. My first real step into the off-road world came with a Navy Blue 2006 Ford F-150 XLT. At the time, I didn't yet understand the importance of trim packages and drivetrain options. I quickly learned that not all trucks are created equal, and the lack of four-wheel drive ultimately sent me back to the drawing board. But it also sparked something bigger. After years of street builds, performance cars, and endless repairs, I met the woman who would become the love of my life. Around the same time, I realized I was becoming far more interested in vehicles that could take me somewhere than vehicles built solely for speed. I wanted room for camping gear. I wanted road trips. I wanted to explore places most people never see. The challenge became reaching destinations where rough terrain, water crossings, elevation changes, and vehicle capability all mattered. Suddenly, off-road and overland vehicles weren't just machines—they were tools for adventure. Everything eventually came full circle. My passion for writing, documenting, modifying, repairing, building, and exploring merged into one purpose. What started with a toy Mercedes-Benz evolved into a lifelong obsession with the machines that carry us beyond the pavement. That's why I created The Open Mile. The Open Mile is a place to document the builds, stories, modifications, adventures, and people that make up the off-road and overland community. From budget garage projects to fully built expedition rigs, every vehicle has a story worth telling. After all, every build has a story. Welcome to The Open Mile.