Fri. Mar 29th, 2024

Are you looking for an adventure that combines your passions for the outdoors, self-reliance, and discovery? Overlanding is the answer. Let’s take a closer look. 

What is Overlanding?

Overlanding travel is all about self-sufficiency and exploration. It’s typically done in a 4wd vehicle that’s been specially outfitted with equipment and gear for an extensive journey; rooftop tents, cooking equipment, sleeping arrangements, etc., are all included in the vehicle. In fact, part of the allure of overlanding is the creativity and ingenuity required to build and equip an overlanding vehicle with necessities and comforts. 

Overlanding is different from off-roading. Off roading is all about driving on unpaved, open trails. Off roading adventures are usually shorter, sometimes only a day or so, and, because off-road vehicles tackle challenging terrain, they aren’t usually weighed down with all the gear required for extended travel. Overlander may take their rigs off road occasionally, that type of driving is not the norm and overlanding rigs usually aren’t built to handle rock crawling, mud pitting, or other similar situations. 

What are Typical Overlanding Vehicles?

An overlanding vehicle becomes home on wheels so it needs to be big enough to live in reasonable comfort for an extended period of time. It also needs to be outfitted with extras such as recovery gear and cargo storage systems. Land Cruisers, Tacomas, Jeeps, Broncos, Sprinters, and even the Lexus GX 460 or 470 are popular choices. Adding upgrades such as Tacoma aftermarket bumpers, roof racks, rooftop tents, and lighting mods let you customize your ride and enhance the performance of your vehicle. 

Many vehicles can be used for overlanding. The important thing is reliability, as you don’t want to find yourself stranded in the middle of nowhere with a broken down vehicle.

What are Essentials for Overlanding?

As you can imagine, overlanding requires a lot of gear. You can really go all out when equipping your rig. But here are a few things everyone needs to have:

  • Sleeping Gear. Again, your vehicle is home when overlanding, so you need someplace to sleep comfortably. You need quality rest in order to travel safely. 
  • Cooking. You’ve got to eat. A fridge to keep fresh foods cool, storage for dry goods, plus some simple cooking gear are all you need to eat well on the road.
  • Lighting. It’s dark out there, so you need to bring your own lights.
  • Power. Keeping your equipment running when you’re camped requires innovative power solutions such as solar panels, secondary batteries, or other power panels are available to keep electricity flowing. 
  • Recovery. Stuff happens. Being able to solve problems and keep going is part of the thrill of overlanding and you’re going to need tools to accomplish that. Tire repair kits, winches, air compressors, basic hand tools, a jack, and other items are critical to making repairs.
  • Communication. Yes, you want to get off the grid, but you also need to have ready access to the grid if you need it. GPS systems as well as radios and other tools will help you connect in an emergency and keep you from getting totally lost. 

Get Out There

There are tons of resources to help you get started overlanding. Are you ready to get out there?

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