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What do you really NEED for self overland trips

Discussion in 'Outdoors' started by Taconator_, Apr 11, 2018.

  1. Oct 8, 2019 at 6:26 PM
    #21
    smartbomb

    smartbomb rcvr/xmtr

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    3" suspension lift, hard canopy, light bar in hood, ditch lights, aircraft cargo bars, powdercoated steel spares, desert tires, bed cargo bars (for rifle cases), misc interior doo-dads
    yeah, I gotcha.

    Let's see, when I lived down in the desert (St George, Utah) and I wanted to shoot long-distance (which means I need a lot of space) I had stuff I used for running desert roads
    a little VIAIR compressor, good for airing up ATV tires or airing back up if I hit super-soft sand
    a pair of maxtrax clones
    2.5 gallon water can
    x2 5 gallon fuel cans
    and... I made sure I had a cell phone charger

    I always leave a big carhartt in the bed, along with jumper cables, fluids, tool bag, like that. so the "extra stuff" is just what I used to top-up what I already carried

    and all of the people I recovered in the desert were doing shit they knew they shouldn't be doing. Mostly teenagers doing dumb stuff with quads and utvs. but sometimes it'd be a middle-aged woman from fucking Virginia trying to wheel a river bed (not joking on that one). she slept in her Durango and marked her path on her walk-attempt with (again, I'm not joking here) whole foods canvas shopping bags.

    my son and I found her truck in the river bed. lemme see if I can dig up a photo.
     
  2. Oct 8, 2019 at 6:48 PM
    #22
    smartbomb

    smartbomb rcvr/xmtr

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    3" suspension lift, hard canopy, light bar in hood, ditch lights, aircraft cargo bars, powdercoated steel spares, desert tires, bed cargo bars (for rifle cases), misc interior doo-dads
    i keep a cheap disposable in each door during fire season. the bed has a 20-lbs extinguisher
     
  3. Oct 11, 2019 at 6:03 PM
    #23
    Bajatacoma

    Bajatacoma Well-Known Member

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    I've been traveling solo for years now both on foot and by truck and motorcycle here and abroad, the most important thing you can bring with your is some common sense. Note the comments about recovering people who did something stupid or didn't take the time to learn something about the area they were going into. There's no shame in stopping what you're doing and turning around, there are plenty of other places you can go see.

    That said, everything we do falls somewhere on a risk assessment chart (or risk matrix if you want) and everyone's risk tolerance is generally going to vary depending on their equipment, their skills, where they are, time of year, etc. The chart can be shifted by mitigating what risks we can- for example, do preventative maintenance and change any parts that are approaching their service life, carry a spare belt, spare tire and patch kit, wear your seat belt, avoid driving at night if at all possible, carry basic recovery gear and first aid gear and know how to use it, know the signs of heat and cold injury, carry enough water and fuel, what dangerous animals are in the area (are you allergic to bees for example, do you know where scorpions and spiders like to hide, do you know where hantavirus has been identified in the US), etc.

    When I'm traveling out west, especially when it's cold, I carry more gear, than I do in the SE where towns are closer together. For example, I carry recovery gear including a winch and accessories and I've studied various forms of rescue (I'm a remote duty paramedic by profession), I carry extra fuel and water as well as extra food and bedding and I keep some of it in the cab with me in case something should happen and I can't get to the back of the truck. I also keep a gobag/BOB/jump bag/whatever you want to call it in case I have to leave my truck suddenly (think Coyoteworks here). Can you start a fire with more than just a Bic and do you have ways to signal for help other than a cell phone if needed? You don't need a loaded Earthroamer, a handful of items and the ability to improvise can go a long way. My first trip out west to go climbing was in a '74 Super Beetle, and it's still one of my favorites.
     
    Yodeville likes this.
  4. Oct 11, 2019 at 6:05 PM
    #24
    Hoots Magoon

    Hoots Magoon Well-Known Member

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    Yodeville likes this.
  5. Oct 25, 2019 at 7:37 AM
    #25
    ThreeEventTaco

    ThreeEventTaco Texas Fight

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    Start getting out there and you’ll realize you don’t need 99% of it. Most overlanding is happening on forest roads you can comfortably drive a Subaru down. A stock tacoma on decent tires is more than enough. Beyond that a tent, sleeping bag and pad, and cooler with some food, water, and beer in it and you’re pretty well set. Bring maps. Almost all the vehicles you’ll see out there are basically stock trucks, SUVs and crossovers. You could do most of the overlanding you see on Instagram out of a CRV.

    Everything else is about flexing online, or for actual off road trails. If your goal is to camp in the woods, congrats you bought a great truck to do it.
     
    smartbomb likes this.
  6. Nov 21, 2019 at 8:41 AM
    #26
    tundraconvert

    tundraconvert Well-Known Member

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    I'm in the same boat. I take wife and two daughters. We hit the trails and try to get away from everyone. I worry a lot when I have them in the truck. When it's me and my buddies on a boys trip...not so much.

    One thing I bought a while back for some peace of mind is a Garmin InReach.
    I also have basic recovery gear but lack the experience with it. I have experimented a little, read up, and watched videos. Still a bit paranoid though. We spend a lot of time in Anza Borrego, the trails range from easy dirt roads to deep and rock all the way to extremely challenging (don't plan on going there).
     
    Last edited: Nov 21, 2019
  7. Feb 14, 2020 at 5:28 AM
    #27
    Planespotting

    Planespotting Well-Known Member

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    Decals!
    I gotta agree with everyone here. Need is just the basics, after that what you choose to do is all about the comfort and convenience. I'm a single traveler and could probably sleep in the back seat of of my DCSB but a tent, bag, and pad is preferred. I also backpack and have a significant amount of money invested in gear and a RTT just doesn't make sense financially. Also just not ideal (to me) for my part of the country. A RTT puts you up in the wind and a tent I can kind of shelter from the wind. We get a lot of wind. I am also trying to stay stealthy, a bunch of blingy gear and boxes hanging off the truck won't do that.

    Just get out there and start adventuring. You'll eventually realize what you'd want to upgrade. The best builds are all tailored to the individual using it, and their wants/needs. Give yours time to develop.
     
    photogr4x4 likes this.
  8. Feb 16, 2020 at 9:29 PM
    #28
    aficianado

    aficianado Well-Known Member

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    back to bone stock.
    I’m planning a trip to AK. I’m gonna upgrade my self recovery stuff, just for piece of mind.
    Then figure out extra fuel. I’ll add a full sized slate, probably get sliders so I can use a hi-lift jack. I’ll raid my tool box for a travel kit.


    The rest my regular camping gear and hunting stuff should get it done. I can sleep under my topper she’ll. I do think one of those RV refrigerators would be a cool luxury.


    I hope to keep it simple.
     
  9. Feb 17, 2020 at 6:35 PM
    #29
    Bajatacoma

    Bajatacoma Well-Known Member

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    A fridge is definitely much nicer for anything over a couple of days. No wasting money buying ice, no cooler space lost to ice, nothing get soggy, etc. Biggest downside is initial cost including a second (house) battery and a way to keep it charged since you don't want to run it on your starting battery, especially in more remote areas.
     
    aficianado and tundraconvert like this.
  10. Feb 18, 2020 at 1:34 PM
    #30
    photogr4x4

    photogr4x4 Well-Known Member

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    Everything you said besides hardcore armour - if most of your driving is day-to-day roads armour will be overkill. Definitely get a satellite phone - that is not overkill. Even something that can do SOS alerts so you have peace of mind. Stock tires are fine for most but something sturdier like e-ply taller tires will make miles of difference in the backroads. You'll want basic recovery gear (straps, shackles paired with shackle points, maybe an axe or shovel depending where you go), basic first aid with an emergency blanket, extra batteries for head lamps.
    In terms of food, I use an old hiking canister stove (Primus), water, and easy to make dehydrated bulk foods. If I'm feeling extra special on car-camping trips I'll bring a small cooler of veggies, eggs, and some canned foods. A dehydrator is on my list this year because I'm going to be doing a lot of backpacking trips and I need to be able to prepare special foods for my hiking partner - no eggs, dairy, soy, and very limited gluten.
     

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