What is the ultimate overlander?

I've read the term overlander quite a bit but I haven't paid much attention to it in the past. Now I'm going to be a member of a team that's going to build a overlander.

So what exactly is a overlander and what options do they have? I imagine that they probably have a stove, is it propane or electric or?

What would you want on/in your overlander?

 

Check out expeditionportal.com amongst others. The best description of most "overlanding" I've heard is glorified car camping with an instagram account.

Decide on what your realistic goals and expectations are and start from there. Figure out what you need and what you want. Most of America does not need a fully kitted out Land Cruiser/Patrol/Pajero/Hilux/etc like they may use in places such as Australia, parts of Africa, crossing eastern Russia or other places where you actually don't have roads or they're season at best, you can't get gas for a couple of days and there are no motels or guest houses.

That said, start with a reliable vehicle and only add things that add to or don't reduce it's reliability. Add things that you actually need (which really isn't much in the continental US), figure out how much room and weight you have left and start adding your wants by order of importance. Get an instagram account and go car camping.

 

You don't need much to be an overlander. Hell, I'd settle for just this..

 

In the US, yeah it’s fancy expensive car camping. Australia, Africa, or other parts of the world where you NEED to be self sufficient it’s very different.

That said in the US the most popular vehicles are in no particular order: Tacoma, GX460, 4Runner, Landcruiser, 4-door Jeep, Ram Power Wagon, you get the idea...

Overseas, where it really matters Fuso, Unimogs, Mann’s and of course Landcruisers, Prados and the like.

The above advice to check out ExpoPortal is very solid.

People “overland” in everything from a Kawasaki KLR650 to a Subaru Forrester, to a full built out Ram Power Wagon, it’s pretty easy get a 4wd vehicle and place to cook and sleep and your IG account setup, Bam you’re an Overlander... Or just go have fun, my wife and I really enjoy the community but people certainly have a tendency to take them selves too seriously.

Oh, final detail don’t forget the roof or rear bumper mounted MaxTrax. Have fun. Oh and gas cans. You need many many expensive gas cans mounted in various places.

 

This is good advice. Complexity makes room for technical issues and problems.

My suggestion, pack your basic camping stuff and depart for a week or multiple extended weekends. Before long, you'll be pretty far along in figuring out what you NEED, what you want/is nice to have, and what is totally useless.

At a minimum though:
Navigation (Maps AND gps)
Communication (Cell, HAM, etc)
Shelter (both for day and night time use)
Modest cooking setup
Ability to carry multiple days' worth of water
Ability to carry 1 spare tank of gas, esp here in the western US. Edit: up to, as needed
Recovery gear (enough to get yourself unstuck without outside intervention, you wont always have another truck to hook a snatch strap to) and the knowledge of how to use it safely
A good first aid kit, and again, the knowledge of how to use it effectively.

 

The best overlander has a prinsu rack with mounted pelican boxes, maxtrax, several bajadesigns lights, mountain hatch on the tailgate, a bed rack with rotopax, a dometic fridge on a slider, and a sweet RTT bro

And most importantly a poppin instagram account

 

1 spare tank of gas? Like 20 gallons?? where do I put that?!

 

The bed works just fine. But you and your habitat have different storage considerations than I do. I should also note that I don't *always* bring the full load. Only if I think I'll be pushing it, or resupply is not convenient which has happened. Most times I rock 1 gas can and 2 water jugs since I go through more water than gas.

 

Nice secure setup

 

What's their @?

 

I "overlanded" in HS with my Ford Escort....well before overlanding became a "thing".

 

In that same vein, shameless plug for an IG account ( yeah whatever) "Overland Underbudget". Good living on a low budget, and demonstrated DIY solutions for far less than market price

 

Yeah... i'm thinking of picking up one nice 5 gallon metal jerry for extra gas, and throw one of my water jugs on the bumper in the truck bed, since I'd rather haul water in the Habitat than gas. Otherwise... Yeah... i never have spare gas.

 

Can't wait for this fad to burn out.

 

Car camping?

 

Agree and also disagree.

I love the fact that this fad has brought a lot of good stuff over from Australia that we didn't have real access to before.

I despise the fact that every Tom, Dick, and Harriet with a tent and a moderately capable vehicle fancy themselves an "influencer", whatever the heck that means. Also, geotagging needs to die.

 

Well said.

 

I don't think it will, if anything it will probably become even worse. Less people are going to want to fly/stay in hotels for vacation, at least for a while. People who wouldn't normally gravitate towards "overlanding" may start doing so.