So you want to start learning how to start overlanding, huh? You must understand a few things before you even consider gearing up your vehicle with fancy gear. Overlanding consists of traveling to remote destinations on off-road trails. Reaching beautiful campsites and creating memories. If there’s one thing about overlanding, it’s about the journey, not the destination!
1. Understanding Overlanding
Unlike taking a road trip in your car, you will be traveling off the beaten path. Sometimes… a lot of times with zero cellphone service. So you will want to equip your vehicle with the proper gear to ensure you don’t run into a pickle. You want to be confident and be ready for anything. Imagine an EDC (everyday carry) but instead of keeping items in your pocket, you keep them on your rig.
2. Choosing the Right Vehicle
You might already have a vehicle that you’re ready to start buying parts for, you may have watched some inspiring overlanding ideas on YouTube that sparked your interest. here are key considerations:
Type:
- Truck
- SUV
- Van
- Car
Reliability: Choosing the right vehicle that won’t let you down is extremely important. the last thing you want to be is stranded on top of a mountain with no service.
A few good options are : ( Toyota, Chevrolet, Jeeps, Subaru)
4WD vs. AWD: Most trucks you can use 2WD or 4WD but there are options out there for AWD almost all Subarus are AWD.
3. Essential Overlanding Gear
To make sure you are safe and prepared you will need certain gear:
- Navigation: GPS, Offline Maps, Overlanding maps.
- Shelter: Rooftop tent, ground tent, or a sleeping set up inside your vehicle.
- Sleeping gear: Sleeping bag, sleeping pad, blankets, and of course a nice pillow.
- Food & Cooking: Food, portable stove, cookware, cooler/fridge.
- Water Storage: Jerry cans, water tanks, water bottles and plus one for a water filter.
- Recovery Gear: A winch, tow straps, traction boards, and a shovel.
- First Aid Kit: Basic bandages, medicine, and emergency tools.
- Power and lighting: Gas or electric generator/power station, lights, headlamps.
- Emergency Tools: Highlift jack, basic set of tools, spare tire, tire hole repair kit.
- Bonus: Tire inflator/deflator
4. Planning Your First Overlanding Trip
So you’ve got your gear and you’re ready to go on your first adventure. If you are just starting consider going places that are close to home or on a beginner-friendly route. Make sure to check the weather and be prepared for the unexpected. You also have to consider how long your trail will be and make sure you will have enough fuel for the trip or check if there is a gas station somewhere along the trip to top off.
Typically overlanders don’t camp at paid campsites unless it’s a last resort. The whole point is to get off the beaten path away from roads and civilization. so be sure to plan out where you will be camping, national forests and BLM land are a great choice for camping with no cost. There are some extremely useful apps out there like OnX, Gaia, Google Maps, and many more.
Pack smart and as light as possible making sure you have the essentials to maintain your safety. The more weight you add to your vehicle means less fuel mileage which results in a costlier trip and less distance you can travel from point A to point B.
BONUS TIP: Leave no trace and always leave the campsite cleaner than you have found it.
5. Safety & Self-Sufficiency
As I mentioned in 3. a few necessary items to keep you safe but this is a very important part of overlanding because this could potentially be a lifesaver.
- Emergency Communication: Satelite phone, 2-way radio, or a PLB (Personal Locator Beacon)
I carry a Garmin inreach mini, it’s a small device that I can send texts from, press an SOS button, and a few more features. Say you get badly hurt up on a mountain with no service this small device could potentially save my life.
- Basic vehicle Maintenance: Be capable of changing a tire, checking fluids, and handling minor repairs.
As mentioned above always bring a spare tire, a basic set of tools, and fluids would be great to have on hand just in case. It’s always better to be over-prepared in a situation then underprepared
- First-aid Knowledge: Be prepared for a medical emergency
Depending on your experience if something bad happens your natural instincts will kick in and you will do what you think is necessary.
6. Budgeting for Overlanding
Depending on if you are looking for an overlanding vehicle or just starting to build your rig out with gear it can and will get expensive very fast. Just a rooftop tent can vary from just under 1k all the way up to 15k for extremely high-quality tents, not to mention all the other gear you might want or need.
Fuel and maintenance will vary assuming you have a relatively new or reliable vehicle you can keep costs pretty low only paying for gas, and oil changes. I created a separate bank account that I devote money into to pay for trips before I even plan them. It provides a nice cushion which helps to travel without the stress of pulling money from places where you don’t want to.
Food and supplies are something that you will need on every single trip. That being said gas and a few bags of groceries will be your investment for an adventure that will create memories that will last a life time.
7. Building Your Overland Experience
Start small and gain experience with weekend trips possibly close to home and get comfortable with what you and your vehicle are capable of. It will make you learn and realize things that you may or may not need for your next trip.
Join overlanding communities and build relationships. Not only can you go on trips with these people but you can also learn from people who already have experience. It’s always nice to have a mechanic on your crew, assuming something needs fixed or replaced on one of the rigs. It can also provide safety, in case you get in a sticky situation and might need to be pulled out. Plus its a lot of fun to share the experience with like-minded people.
Upgrade your gear over time. I remember when I first started I felt like I had to have everything and anything overland-related to be able to have a true oerlanding experience, but I was far from wrong. If you have a vehicle, a tent, and some food you can get out there immediately and start creating those memories.
Focus on quality items so they last because like they say, you get what you pay for. For example, some roof top tents are made poorly and are frustrating and time-consuming to set-up and tear down. Take your time and do your research on products before pulling the trigger.
Conclusion
Overlanding is a great way to explore the outdoors with freedom and self-sufficiency. It makes you feel free from the world and you quickly realize how big and beautiful this world is. By choosing the right vehicle and equipping the proper gear your skills will increase over time and you’ll be ready to create unforgettable adventures.
Pick a destination, gear up, and hit the road! Safe travels!
