The Overlanding Vehicle Builder's Guide- Digital Book

INTRODUCTION

Before overlanding, there was expedition travel, and before expeditions, there were safaris. When I was much younger, we camped out of our vehicles. We called the activity camping. The principles have not changed. However, the equipment and vehicles have—a lot!

Back in the day, I took sleeping bags, a tent, cooler, and possibly a small stove and lantern. At that time, most overlanding was conducted in campgrounds, hopefully with bathrooms and a shower. As campgrounds became overcrowded, dispersed camping and camping in the backcountry with no amenities became more popular. More gear was desirable due to the lack of facilities. Demand creates supply, and overlanding is no different.

The modern version of overlanding took off in 2007 with the creation of The Overland Journal magazine and the Overland Expo event that was founded by a couple named Roseann and Jonathan Hanson. The first Overland Expo in Prescott, Arizona, had 900 attendees and a few vendors. Fast-forward to 2022, and the Overland Expo West hosted over 30,000 attendees and nearly 500 vendors. In addition, the Overland Expo has grown to four events across the US.

Fifteen years ago, overlanding participants were rarely seen in the backcountry. Growth was slow. When the pandemic struck, people looked for ways to get out of their houses while avoiding the serious risk of becoming a Covid-19 statistic. Overlanding captured the imagination of many individuals who were looking for a safe, beautiful, and peaceful getaway. Participation has grown at a large rate the last few years. Now, overlanders populate the forests, deserts, and other scenic backcountry locales on weekends and over longer periods of time. Many dispersed camping spots make it easy to find a great, isolated, and scenic location for an overlanding adventure.

While participation has grown steadily, the vehicles and gear available to the overlanding community are simply overwhelming. Almost weekly, vehicle manufacturers are introducing new off-road-capable vehicles that are targeted to the overlanding market. Tire manufacturers are launching off-road tires that are aimed at over-landing. Many TV commercials, especially from vehicle makers, showcase overlanding activities.

However, the largest growth segment is gear for over-landing. Every imaginable product is available to enhance the overlanding experience. More than 1,000 companies offer gear for overlanding. More than 100 companies sell rooftop tents. Dozens of product categories populate the overlanding market. The number of new products at the Overland Expo West in May 2022 compared to the September 2021 expo was staggering. Overland Expo offers the Overland source book with nearly 250 pages full of overlanding product information: overlandexpo.com/overland-sourcebook/.

The overlanding purists scoff at the idea of weekend or short adventures. Real overlanders travel for weeks, months, or even years according to thedie-hard old-school crowd. Many would love to travel for extended periods, but few can afford that luxury. The important goal is to seek adventure. Whether it’s a day-trip picnic, a weekend in your favorite area, or a long vacation for months of adventures, go explore. Your adventure does not need to meet anyone else’s rules or expectations. Have fun!

CHAPTER 1

WHAT IS OVERLANDING?

Since the dawn of the human race, exploration has lurked within the human spirit. Finding food sources, water, and shelter demanded searching for new resources. Stretching boundaries always involved adventure. Exploration and adventure are ingrained in the human DNA.

Today, finding food and shelter hardly requires exploration. While searching for a parking spot and fighting rush-hour traffic may have elements of adventure, those activities hardly elevate the human spirit. Humans need adventure with challenges that enliven the mind, body, and soul. We need something beyond exploring the web or playing computer games and something outside to take on and explore the natural world.

For a rapidly growing segment of the US population, overlanding fills the need for adventure. For several decades, many sociologists reported concerns about the disconnect from nature for many Americans. To oversimplify their conclusions, many were afraid of the outdoors and nature. This disconnect caused measurable emotional, physical, and psychological issues. This trend is changing, and overlanding is an outlet for a newfound desire for outdoor adventure.

While overlanding has been around since mechanized travel began, the activity grew in popularity as the 21st century began. Twenty years into the new millennium, the growth of overlanding is nothing short of explosive. The isolation brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic pushed people to seek safe outlets for adventure. Overlanding fits the bill nicely.

Overlanding opportunities abound across North America and around the globe. A capable stock 4WD vehicle, such as the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon (JL), coupled with an Opus trailer is a great setup for exploring the backcountry. The ease of setup and the ability to establish a base camp but explore unencumbered makes this combination ideal for short- and long-term adventures. This Jeep is also a daily driver. (Photo Courtesy J.P. Molnar)

What elements define overlanding? Overlanding requires the use of a mechanized vehicle as opposed to human or animal-powered travel. This includes mountain bikes, motorcycles, and four-wheeled (or more) vehicles. In this book, we focus on four-wheeled vehicles. Overlanding also requires complete self-sufficiency. This is similar to backpacking, where the participant must carry food, water, shelter, clothing, and hygiene supplies for the duration of an adventure.

Unlike backpacking, overlanding requires participants to also carry fuel, tools for repairs and for getting unstuck, navigation gear, and a method for communication. For the most part, over-landing uses unpaved roads for travel and avoids developed campgrounds or RV parks. Off-highway travel is paramount to overlanding, and off-highway travel makes overlanding a subset of off-roading in general.

The combination of a rooftop tent with a Toyota vehicle is popular for over-landing. The Toyota 4Runner allows comfortable exploration on all but the most difficult trails.

Overlanding History

The Toyota Tundra is a capable overlanding vehicle. It shines in desert environments and is best suited for easy to moderate terrain.

The Subaru Outback offers good overland performance on easy-to-moderate trails.

Rooftop tents are a great option for overlanding accommodations, especially on vehicles like the Jeep Gladiator.

By definition, off-roading is the use of a motorized vehicle on unpaved routes usually on public lands. Public land may be managed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), or state, county, or municipal agencies. Off-roading often occurs on private land, usually in off-road parks, especially east of the Mississippi.

Many longtime overlanders do not consider themselves to be part of the off-roading community. This belief can lead to ignoring some of the basic ethics and courtesies that have been long established for using motorized vehicles on public lands. Non-adherence to the rules, laws, and courtesies that guide the off-road community can lead to route closures and disasters.

Some definitions of overlanding suggest that an overlanding trip must be a long-term adventure that lasts more than a few days. Weekend or even one-night adventures in the backcountry certainly qualify as over-landing. Some overlanding die-hards believe that fully decked-out rigs are a necessity. This is also untrue. Any vehicle with good ground clearance that can drive on easy routes in dry weather can be used for overlanding. While four-wheel-drive (4WD) is desirable, it is not needed on easy terrain when the roads are dry. Two-wheel-drive (2WD) trucks, vans, and SUVs will work. All-wheel-drive (AWD) is helpful, and 4WD is desirable. Good ground clearance is mandatory. Low-ground-clearance vehicles are susceptible to underside damage and can easily become stuck on rough terrain. Here are some items needed to participate in overlanding adventures:

Large off-road-capable trailers make overlanding more comfortable. While pulling them through challenging terrain is not ideal, big trailers are the perfect option for base camp when extended stays at one location are planned.

Expedition-style rigs provide the ultimate long-range overlanding experience. However, their massive size and weight limit the type of terrain that these behemoths can tackle, and the cost for one of these rigs is astronomical.

Ready-made off-road-capable camper vans feature ease of setup and good capability on all but the most difficult terrain

Traditional truck-based campers provide comfortable accommodations with the durability of a truck platform. Their size and weight are drawbacks.

•A vehicle with good ground clearance (preferably 4WD or at minimum AWD)

•Food

•Water

•Sleeping gear

•Clothing appropriate for the weather

•Maps or global positioning system (GPS)-based smartphone applications for a phone or tablet

Of course, this is a minimal list of items, but it is all that is really necessary for mild weather and easy dry roads and trails. Most people have a vehicle and minimal gear on hand to set off on an overlanding trip. This approach is a great way to determine if overlanding is an activity to pursue. However, be aware that over-landing can be expensive. Modifying a 4x4 vehicle can cost thousands of dollars even before you invest more thousands in cool overlanding gear.

If you are new to overlanding, here are several questions to ask yourself:

•How much off-roading experience do I have?

•What level and type of terrain would I like to tackle?

•How comfortable do I wish to be while exploring?

•What is the duration of adventure that I would like to tackle?

•What is my budget?

If you have never been on an overlanding adventure, take a short overnight or weekend trip to help you decide if overlanding is something that you want to pursue. Hopefully, it will answer some of the key questions. If you do not have vehicle capable of easy overlanding, rent an SUV, van, or truck for a weekend. Look online for overlanding or off-roading spots close to home. Chances are good that you will have a great time on your first short adventure.

If you are an experienced off-roader with a fairly capable 4x4 rig but have no overlanding experience, pack some food, a sleeping bag, and a tent and give it a try. You probably know some great dispersed camping spots along some of your favorite trails. Otherwise, you can tackle those trails that are too long to complete in a day trip.

An all-wheel-drive SUV, such as a Subaru Outback, with good tires and adequate ground clearance makes a good overlanding vehicle.

Storage space for food is a must. This elaborate kitchen setup in a trailer is nice, but it’s not a necessity for basic overlanding adventures.

Water supplies may be the most important items to carry for an overlander. Potable water can be carried in containers, such as these RotopaX.

Food preparation and cooking are key elements of overlanding. This simple kitchen setup is portable, easy to store, lightweight, inexpensive, and capable of producing delicious meals.

Most stock 4WD trucks, SUVs, and AWD crossover vehicles can handle easy but beautiful terrain. (Photo Courtesy Stellantis)

When the terrain becomes challenging, a more-capable stock vehicle or one with modifications is necessary.

Extreme terrain requires a more-capable rig. Some stock vehicles can tackle this type of terrain, but most vehicles need upgrades. Better tires, more ground clearance, and better protection make tackling this type of terrain more manageable. (Photo Courtesy Stellantis)

Tent camping is a great way to try overlanding for little or no investment. Use your existing vehicle and try an easy trail for an overnight trip.

If you decide to go all in for the ultimate overlanding rig for a prime overlanding adventure, you are in the right place. This book will help guide you through the fun, exciting, and challenging process. Each chapter covers important information to help you make decisions about shopping for a new or used rig, modifying your vehicle, and selecting equipment.

Here is a quick preview of many issues that you need to address and choices that require careful deliberation:

•Do I own a vehicle that is capable of overlanding?

•If I purchase a rig for overlanding, will it serve as a daily driver as well?

•Do I currently own any camping gear?

•Am I more likely to stay in one location for several days?

•Will I be moving to new spots daily?

•Do I have any physical limitations?

•What is a reasonable budget for my overland build?

•What is my experience level for camping and off-roading?

•Do I have access to training or groups where I can gain experience more easily?

•What overlanding opportunities are present in my geographical location?

The Freedom to Explore, Responsibilities, and Consequences

Overlanding offers the freedom to explore some of the most beautiful places on the planet. Scenery, serenity, and some driving challenges make overlanding a wonderful form of adventure travel. Not surprisingly, the explosive growth of overlanding creates problems. The most signifi-cant issues cause damage to the land. Driving and parking off of designated routes causes serious damage to the terrain. Tire tracks on undisturbed ground can cause damage to plant and animal life. It accelerates erosion due to the loosening of soil and damage to ground cover, and adversely affects animal habitat.

Fences are installed along designated routes for a reason, usually to protect a sensitive area of land. Damaging a fence to bypass a difficult section of road is illegal. It is also the quickest way to get that trail closed to motorized-vehicle travel.

Damage takes years, even decades, to repair. Driving off of designated routes is also illegal on public lands with potential hefty fines. Illegal campfires can lead to devastating destruction. Leaving behind trash, including human waste, is a growing problem that should never be an issue. Poor driving practices, such as excessive wheelspin, accelerate erosion, which creates damage to the road surfaces and surrounding terrain.

Locations such as this are good for camping. It is near a designated route, so parking a vehicle here is legal.

Responsibility on Public Lands

Using public lands requires users to be responsible for preserving that land and to leave it in the same or better condition than it was previously. A pervasive attitude among a segment of our population causes serious problems. It’s my land, and I’ll do whatever I want, is the sentiment. Well, it’s not your land. It belongs to everyone. I know that you, the reader, are responsible. You are not part of the problem, but you can be part of the solution by setting a positive example, educating others in a positive and kind manner, and collecting others’ discarded trash. No one wants trash dumped on their property or poop left in their yard.

Land managers, such as the BLM and USDA Forest Service, have limited resources due in part to extreme budget cuts. Most road maintenance on public lands is conducted by volunteers from clubs and Adopt-A-Trail programs. Do your part by not adding to the workload or you can become a volunteer.

Consequences

No one wants to drive into a beautiful overlanding camping spot only to discover a pile of trash left behind by irresponsible users. Don’t be that person.

No one wants to see thousands of acres of pristine forest destroyed by a devastating fire. While some wildfires are caused by lightning strikes, most are caused by humans. Know the local fire regulations and restrictions and learn how to properly extinguish a campfire. Everyone loves a campfire, but the risks are high, especially in the western US. Some of our favorite trails have been obliterated by human-caused wildfires.

Stay on designated routes. Not doing so is the best way to get roads and trails closed to motorized vehicle recreation. Most managing agencies for public lands provide maps (printed and/or digital) that show designated legal routes. The BLM offers maps of regions and subregions on its website. The USDA Forest Service provides the Motorized Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) for every national forest in the US.

An illegal campfire caused a blaze that obliterated this great trail and overlanding area. While some fires are caused by lightning, most are caused by humans.

The consequences of irresponsible motorized vehicle use on public lands include:

•Loss of access

•Destruction of pristine forest land from wildfires and subsequent erosion from flooding

•Damage in environmentally sensitive areas

•Unsightly trash left behind that can harm wildlife

The Barker Ranch in Death Valley, the site where Charles Manson was captured, burned from a fire that was set by careless campers.

Dispersed Camping

Dispersed camping is simply camping in undeveloped locations. Dispersed camping implies that one can camp anywhere. While it’s mostly accurate, camping anywhere is not allowed. Here are some rules for dispersed camping:

•Camp 100 feet away from any water source

•Camp within 150 feet of a roadway (do not drive on undisturbed ground)

•Camp outside of a 1-mile radius of any designated campsite

•Don’t camp at a site for more than 14 days

•Camp where others have camped before. Look for worn down dirt and rock clusters that have been formed to keep fires in check where fires are allowed.

•Don’t leave behind trash or anything else you carry in with you. Pack it in and pack it out.

•Check beforehand for any restrictions, especially open-fire restrictions. Depending on the administering agency, what the weather has been like, and other various factors, specific rules may be in place.

Leave No Trace

These rules are in place for a reason. Bulldozing your way through the woods, setting up camp wherever you please, destroying plants, and scaring wildlife as you go has a significant impact on the environment. By being respectful and following the rules, you are protecting these public lands for future campers.

Pay attention to the signs. If a 4x4, high-ground-clearance rig is recommended, there is a reason. Camping and campfires are not allowed in this area.

This group of Adopt-A-Trail volunteers is repairing fencing that was knocked down by illegal vehicle travel. The San Bernardino National Forest Adopt-A-Trail program is the largest in the US with more than 50 clubs and a volunteer corps that puts in up to 25,000 man-hours annually to maintain the road and trail system. If you want to be part of the solution, the battle is to maintain motorized vehicle access on public lands. Join a club and volunteer in an Adopt-A-Trail program.

Tread Lightly!