Sorry, got a little carried away there...you were looking for mags or websites that are more informative instead of experience-based...okay, so:
For straight expedition preparation and some info about driving, there's always this 28-page guide, titled
Desert Expeditions. It's available on-line in PDF form (and it's FREE!!!!!!!!), so you can print it out easily and read it like a brochure, which is basically what it is. It is very informative.
For technical expedition driving, I'd suggest Jack Jackson's
Off-Road 4-Wheel Drive Book, ($23-$35) which is a really interesting and informative read.
There's a book, also by Tom Sheppard, called
The Vehicle Dependent Expedition Guide, now out of print, which will run you anywhere from $150 to $300, depending on quality. This is like the Expedition Bible.
I've personally done some long offroad trips, and some forays into Baja, like many have done here, and in my opinion, the best thing to do is to get some experience to find out what works for you. Get the basic gear and some basic guides, buy mid-range stuff, don't be afraid to improvise and compromise, try to stay as minimal as you can while remaining comfortable, then document your findings. With a little thought and getting away from mod envy and gear junkies, you'll undoubtedly find techniques for outfitting, packing, and conducting your trip that will suit you best.
Talking to people who do this sort of thing often is a good idea, but there are so many personal factors that go into it. Some people, like I said, are gear junkies, they have the latest stuff, they spend a fortune, they accumulate. Others are ghetto campers, stopping by Home Depot to get alligator clips for the tarp that should have been replaced years ago. I'm definitely more ghetto, but there's some things I won't scrimp on, like plenty of washing water, a really comfy bed, good food and drink, tobacco, and alcohol. I'd never own a freezer fridge. Instead I carry a small cooler, and fill it with ice for cocktails and black eyes. I carry food that does not need refrigeration (low risk meats, feta cheese in brine, olives) so I won't be stuck without a good meal if my equipment goes to pot in the middle of nowhere. But that's just me, you might be different.
Take a few small trips, with enough equipment for a big one. Use all your gear. Think about how to pack it. Find out what you absolutely need, what you can live without. Pare it down to the minimum. Find your dual-use items. Find your techniques, one for packing, one for unpacking, one for shelter, one for cooking, one for cleaning, one for crapping, one for re-packing, one for big trips, one for small trips. Minimize gear and you'll minimize effort. And you'll have more time to enjoy sunsets or get your work (if it is a work expedition) done. You'll figure it out. Feel free to PM me if you ever want to discuss this stuff. I'm always down to bounce ideas around.
