What do I need to start? overland?

Go out and explore find out what's best for you.. I started out with a 6 yr old pop tent and a 20$ hibachi grill... as I went out more I modified my gear and truck to suit my needs and goals

First multi day trip


Friday



I'm with @Box Rocket on the rtt I pack mine up in under 5 min and go on Trail runs all the time...

 

How about a military style cot and lite-fighter tent?

 

For the past year I've been gung-ho about getting a RTT, but lately I've been having doubts because of this. I often do show up at the campsite, unload, setup, and then take the truck somewhere else to hike or explore. So I've been starting to wonder if a RTT is really the way to go. But I think with some additional foresight - and not opening it up until you're ready to sleep, like you say - I still think it could work.

I still very much want the benefits of a RTT. I've been sleeping on rocks and roots for 20 years. I'm ready for a penthouse.

 

I think the main difference between overlanding and camping is 1) Camping: You go and setup a camp (one or more nights) and leave when you are done. 2) Overlanding: more than a weekend trip, multiple camp sites over a larger distance (Across the state, country, or even multiple countries). Overlanding is adventure travel, not go pick a spot by the lake for two weeks. Although that does also have its charms.

 

The best part of this setup is the Vietnam-era cot creaking underneath you all night.

 

At Sturgis I once slept in a roadside ditch with a blanket and bottle of whiskey. It’s only up from there.

 

Late to the game, I know, but...^This right here^... a hundred times this. The whole "overlanding" thing has gotten a bit ridiculous. I've seen a few videos titled "_____Overlanding" where people in AWD Honda hatchbacks, are literally pulling up to a parking spot at their local county park, overnighting in a tent next to a picnic table and talking about how they "overlanded" through city traffic and hit the Starbucks inside a big box store on the way. It's hilarious. Remember when a rifle sling was just a sling, and not a "Tactical weapon-to-warrior attachment interface"?

The best advice you can get is to go out with someone who knows the particular terrain you're going out in, is familiar with your vehicle, its' capabilities, and the same for your gear or mods- tent included. Before you know it, you'll have all the right gear and spend less time prepping and more time doing. ENJOY!!

 

3 cases of beer and a pack of hot dogs. You should be good for 3 days!

 

Go somewhere and stay for a couple days. See what you need. This is America, you can usually "overland" your way to a road or fast food restaurant in less than an hour.

 

This is the exact way I am going to convince my wife to "camp" with me, dont worry its only an hour for grub hub to reach us. (if they have 4x4)

 

If you get grubhub out in those places, they are 100% eating half your food before they bring it out to you, lol

 

Food, water, shelter.

 

Just get out there and do it. Basic camping and recovery gear and your taco. As you dl more stuff you'll learn what needs you have specifically and you'll figure it out. I keep it pretty basic except I do now have a fridge and a jackery but that was determined by trial and error.

 

Hmm.. What do you NEED? Water. Animal safe food storage. wilderness first aid kit. emergency comms. but seriously, it's better to start with the bare minimum, go somewhere close to home for a day and take a pencil and paper. write down everything you need for 24 hours. go buy it. go back and try 48 hours, rinse repeat until you are comfortable for as long as you are trying to stay off grid.

 

I will echo what others have already said: go out with the basics and see what you like/don't like and go from there. Really all the gear you need is a Pelican or Roam case to store the camping gear, a tent, a sleeping bag and iso mat, some beef jerky, a trowel to dig a poo spot, a headlamp + flashlight, and a 3L camelback bladder. That is all you need IMO.

Break it down into buckets (or categories):

• Food
• Water
• Shelter
• Clothing
• Shower & Toilet needs - if the wife or girlfriend is hesitant and not sure about camping and you want her to get into it, figuring out this piece is critical
• Terrain
• Navigation
• Number of passengers
• Length of stay
• Self Defense (bear spray, handgun, rifle)

Food & Water
A jet boil, fuel, and some mountain house meals work just fine but then again... I don't know your situation and if that will be good with the wife and kids. Do you have to have coffee? Get the french press attachment for the jet boil and pack cream in the cooler if it is a must. If you want a more home-like experience then you'll be bringing eggs, maybe some ground meat for burgers to grill, fresh veg, etc. This is where the gear comes in... if you want a different eating experience you may think about a dometic (or similar brand) fridge. Then you will have to think about powering it which may require a dual battery set up with an isolator relay so your fridge will not drain the battery used to start the vehicle when off. It is certainly not needed, but you get the idea. How you define overlanding and what you want the experience to be will drive your equipment choices.

Shelter
This will probably be the biggest considerations for aftermarket gear as this gets pricey really quick (besides suspension and running gear upgrades). If go the way I went (with a Roof Top Tent [RTT]) you will need a rack to support the tent UNDER ALL DRIVING CONDITIONS. There are many cheap racks out there that cannot handle the dynamic off road load of a RTT + other gear. Research well. A RTT will set you back upwards of $2K - 3K and the rack could be anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand depending on who you go with. I like being up off the ground when I'm camping in bear country and I camp on BLM land so I don't worry about losing my spot when I'm camping. If someone picks the same scenic overlook I was at last night I'll just find another ridge and set up. Your individual situation should drive your purchase. My FSR High Country 55in. sets up in less than 5 minutes and most of the time is spent removing all of the straps on the cover. I don't have a big camping footprint (no tables and rugs) so if I want to leave I can tear down and be ready to go in 10 - 15 minutes.

Clothing
Self explanatory. You need room for the clothing which will depend on how long you plan to go out.

Shower & Toilet
I use a Nemo Helio for a shower when I am out and since I am out in the middle of nowhere I don't have any privacy concerns because no one else is around. If you are in a well frequented place or travel with a crew a privacy tent for the shower and the toilet will be necessary. Some campgrounds have showers so this may not be a need for you. I bought the privacy attachment that fits below my RTT this past year as a "nice to have" so if I find a nice spot in a state park or national park I can still use my shower system and not give a free peep show and have the rangers called.

Terrain
Where you want to go will impact your mods for the Taco. This is where some of the others have chimed in with "you need a winch". No you don't need a winch if your definition of overlanding is going over well maintained forest roads to a camping spot for a few days, doing some hiking, then going back home. If you are more of the explorer type and go on roads less traveled then you may consider a winch, front and rear lockers, a high lift jack, onboard air, 35 in tires and stout 17 inch rims (please don't be one of those guys that put 20in rims on an "off-road rig" - the side walls are functional and your tires need the strength when they are aired down or if you plan to huck your truck on the dunes). Larger tires will require suspension modifications and re-gearing to 4.88s or higher. This will impact your MPG so consider these upgrades well. I have a stock rig (except for some

$256 Hellwig 980 Leaf Helper Spring

Hellwig 980 helper springs) and I have a great time overlanding in Wyoming. I'm not wheeling the more difficult trails in and around Arches Natl Park with my setup but I plan to some day which will require extensive upgrades.

Navigation
Straight forward. You need to know where you are and where you are going. I use the Gaia GPS app with a subscription (there are others on the market), and a Garmin Montana 700i with an inReach subscription for messaging and SAR emergency beacon in case I take a fall and break something. A map and a compass is all you need if you are skilled so don't think my setup is what you need. It is just what I like to use.

Number of Passengers
If you will not be riding with more than 2 people, consider a rear seat delete like Goose Gear or the Toyota rear seat delete that some have done on this forum. Yank the rear set and you have A LOT of room for storage containers, rifles, etc. Some use this space to mount a fridge in their rig. A decked bed storage system is very common in the over landing community because it is a weather resistant storage option for your bed.

Length of Stay
The longer you are out the more you will need which means you may need to think about a bed rack with mounting spots for rotopax fuel or water containers, gear pods for extra gear or dry food.

Self Defense
Depending on where you are camping you may want to consider investing in bear spray or a rifle or high powered handgun. The 9mm you go plinking with will not penetrate a Bear so if you are over landing in bear country consider your options and be sure what you are carrying will suit your needs. I overland with an Springfield M1A SOCOM .308 and a 9mm - the rifle is nice because the stock collapses so it is pretty compact and packs a hell of a lot more punch than a 5.56 or .223.

Below: Daily Driver setup sans RTT

 

One other thing to keep in mind regarding toilets , certain areas are pack in pack out and you are not allowed to simply dig a hole for poo. Have to have a plan for that. I usually take a 5 gal bucket with a trash can liner and cat litter in it when I'm in those areas.

 

Unless you're putting the truck in a shipping container and travelling around the world - it's really just camping. "Overlanding" is just a label that companies use to convince people they need a $1000 rack to put their traction boards on.

Roof top tents are nice for car camping - IF - you don't plan on going anywhere once you set camp. They're great for spending the day exploring, stopping for the night, and then moving on.

 

Gas

 

I've been exploring off-road most of my life. So getting my wife use to it is the bigger challenge. I've mapped out some tracks through our local National Forrest to try to ease her into it. We rode through a few weeks ago and I stayed on the main, maintained roads. This next trip I've mapped out some of the unmaintained roads through the forest. Hopefully that will make it easier when we head up and do the Tennessee section of the TAT, or some of the KAT.. she won't be yelling every time the truck leans a little or gets close to a tree.

 

Some of these rigs are making me REALLY jealous !!!!