I couldn't agree more. 99% of Overlanding content creators........film your vehicle going down a trail with your drone, film yourself cooking food, film yourself waking up the next morning..........film your vehicle leaving........end of video.......
Dude, you’re saying everything I’ve thought for years. I grew up down a dirt road in the middle of nowhere. I used 2wd vehicles, Walmart tent and sleeping bags, and never had a problem.
After 8 years of building 3 different rigs, thousands of $, being consumed with overlanding.. I’m over it. It became a never ending cash burning cycle. The overlanding scene is soooo pretentious and pompous. I live in Colorado, grew up in WY hunting, fishing, camping etc. This was with my dad and uncles in basic trucks, tents, and a canoe. I never felt like a build was “good enough”. I had to have the latest component, niche tech… my wife finally called me out. “You pour money into these vehicles and are never content, a truck should not be your identity.” A switch went off in my head, so disconnected from reality. I honestly felt sick about it, trying to justify having the most BA Taco, 4Runner, Gladiator. 90% of the terrain I was in never facilitated $5k Kings and bead locks, less Moab etc. My vehicles “had” to be overbuilt in every aspect. I spent hoursssss on forums, hanging out at off-road shops with the mentally “what’s next?”.. it never ends. As the father of two young boys I realized my priorities were f’d. Sold the fully built Gladiator. Picked up a cherry V8 2020 Ram 1500 with low miles. Threw some AT3W’s on it and called it a day. I’ll pull my used $3k camper and enjoy the backcountry with my family.
Nice solid truck with plenty of room to be comfortable. Plenty of power to tow. Good clearance for any fire road. Great job. I did the math on fully kitting out our Armada and going full Y62 Patrol and sending it like the Aussies!! My wallet quickly told me that was a terrible plan for the mild roads and family camping we do a few times a year. The best off-road/overlanding bit of kit you can get adds ZERO internet flex appeal; skid plates are one of the few mods people really should consider if they frequent areas with lots of rocks to protect the underside of the truck/SUV. It's also the last thing a lot of people get, if they ever get them.
I kind of was going the same way with an 80 series. Bought it lifted already from a friend. At least it wasn't expensive, came with 35"s a solid front bumper with a winch. I added rock sliders, roof rack and a back bumper with a tire carrier total I added about 5k to the truck after buying it and I got that same reality chk to see where I was going with it. I have done epic trips through Dead Valley and many, many off-road miles. Some with my wife some just me and my oldest son and some the whole family together... Can't complain about what I have gotten out of the truck .. but in reality, you do not need the most expensive stuff to have fun and create great memories. We use a ground tent, some sleeping pads, and sleeping bags ... Is nice to carry a fridge, though.. a small stove to warm up the food, and that's it ...
Hah. I just added a similar comment. I've been heading out to the desert to camp since the early '80s. At first it was in my Subaru 4x4 Wagon and then later in my Scout II. All of a sudden there's this hoity toity name of camping.
Marking term for car camping so they can sell tactical hardware for your truck. This group is also the same ones that gender their vehicles by installing Truck Nutz and making unfunny jokes about pronouns just before pulling out his guitar and playing music no one wants to hear.
You do realize that there's a shit ton of places that you can't get to with a fucking car or by hiking, right??? All of you in this comment section sound like such jealous, broke losers.
"Overland is kind of that hobby. It's a way for people to get outside who know how cars work, but don't know how the woods work." 🤣🤣🤣 You earned another sub
As a career ranger, learn your local flora and fauna, carefully interact and juxtapose knowledge with experts. Imagine society shutting down being surrounded by food, and starving to death. That’s 98% of the population. Simply get started. Just do it. From felling trees, to important Id capability. Focus on the science. Rangers love their work, it’s buried in our dna
Exactly why I love my rig and why I am building an overlanding toy hauler. I lived on the trail in Utah the entire month of May. Now plan on taking my dog and living on the trail all over the country! Still live off the land and have a small footprint
Driving a car like you normally would , building a fire , falling asleep . Idk . I'm thinking no matter how easy it is some people may need more instruction. I'm worried about people sleeping while making a fire or making a fire and falling asleep ..
In the 1970’s we used to call overlanding camping. Ford high boy with an 8’ bed, thick pad to sleep on(usually from an old lounge, Optimus stove and a cooler for food. If you were rich(lol) you had a topper (camper shell or canopy depending on where you’re from), or you just jumped inside and slept on the bench seat if it rained. I cruised all over the mountains of Colorado as a kid in a high boy Ford and a Jeep. Watching these overlanders with $30,000 worth of garbage hanging off their 4Runners causes uncontrollable laughter. I saw one guy with a satellite on his runner so he and the wife could watch movies in the tent. The world has changed…
Still camp that exact way today. Old 4x4 truck with 8' bed, stock. I'm in the hated rich class because it has a camper shell. Padded with two count 'em TWO layers of scrounged carpet over a luxurious sheet of thin plywood. Beverly freakin' hills, it can rain all night and we won't feel a drop. Truck was $4k on Craigslist a long time ago, in a reality far, far away.
In my experience, overlanders are also very self-conscious. I was literally run off the road by a brand-new, lifted F-350 4x4 driver who wanted to tell me I shouldn't be on his overland trail in my sedan with 5" of ground clearance. The problem is, I'd been driving those U.S. Forest roads since I was a teenager, so I knew exactly where I was and what I was doing.
I feel like overlanding is a symptom of another issue: why are all cars so low? Hatches, sedans, even SUVs... No clearance whatsoever. My 2005 hatchback has 7" of clearance; its not off-road, it is just made to drive in the city. I see all types of cars struggling to come down or up an incline, hitting both front and rear bumpers, or scrapping the bottom when going over a speedbump. Are modern cars really made for perfectly flat roads? I can see why the woods are seen as adventurous, and the entire idea that only off-road cars can go through a trail, when no car made today can do that.
@@NothingXemnas I would say that "all" is a bit of a hyperbole. It does seem that most modern cars are designed only for road use, and a lot of that could be the result of fuel economy standards. One of the easiest ways to increase efficiency is to reduce the ride height. However, even with that, I see a number of modern cars with 6-8" of ground clearance, which should be more than enough for most maintained forest roads. Of course, there's also driver skill that plays into that, and lifting vehicles and equipping them with oversized tires is the quickest way to overcome a lack of driving knowledge and skill. It's why you see old geezers in nearly stock WWII Willys with 9" of ground clearance outdriving less experienced drivers in decked out Jeep Rubicons on off-road courses.
To me, overlanding is more about long-term travel, such as someone traveling the Pan American highway, not about a weekend trip to your local national forest. I would argue that your average full time vanlifer is more of an overlander then your neighbor with a lifted truck and RTT.
I agree with this. The people I know that car camp seek out the nearest campground off a main road. These people aren't equipped with the proper gear to drive for days off the beaten path if they get stuck or have issues, even if their vehicle may be capable of it.
@@845ToastT Those are the smart people. I have wasted so much time skipping that first campground and driving farther into the forest, finding nothing and backtracking to it. Just take the first suitable campground you find and relax.
Haha I spent the last 2 years living out of my stock Honda CRV traveling all over the west throughout all kinds of public lands in basically every type of environment. There were maybe 3% of places I wanted to go that I couldn't get to with that car. If that. Currently back in Kansas City where there is nowhere remotely close to do that sort of thing and It cracks me up the amount of crazy expensive built "overland" rigs I see driving around town. If they ever see terrain that requires any of the modifications they have I would bet it's maybe once a year on a trip to Colorado or something of the sort and there are so many places to explore where none of that is even necessary. Could just rent a capable vehicle for a tiny fraction of the cost when you are going to a place where it's actually needed. Seems like a whole lot of people are more into the idea of the thing than actually doing the thing.
@@kevinm1734 More likely from Willys-Overland. _”The Overland Automobile Company was an American automobile manufacturer in Toledo, Ohio. It was the founding company of Willys-Overland and one of the earliest mass producers of automobiles.”_ -Overland Automobile, Wikipedia
True overlanding is what the trio did back in top gear days, where they will have a destination somewhere remote and try to go there with their not so suitable vehicle while tackling challenges and making changes to their vehicle to reach that.
I “overland” 5 days a week for work as a seasonal wildlife tech in Idaho and Utah. I’m using a stock rental truck, sleeping on a hundred dollar cot, and cooking with a 50 dollar camp stove, and an 80 dollar igloo cooler. You don’t need thousands and thousands of dollars of upgrades and RTT’s, even on technical 4x4 roads. Just get out there and have fun
@@abundantharmony I probably confused this one with one of the other hundreds of comments. Happens. Surprisingly, the comment doesn’t appear to be edited, so I’m really confused how I ended up commenting that.
You nailed it! I'm 61 and was fortunate to retire at 53. I got a used 2008 Honda Odyssey put on a 3-in lift and slightly larger Michelin tires. I kept it well maintained and I have been to every state territory and province in North America except for Nunavut. I've driven on thousands and thousands of miles of gravel roads and slept on the Arctic Ocean. Never got stuck. Never had an equipment failure. Just me and two rescued pitbulls!
"Overlanding is a way to get outside for people who know how cars work but don't know how the woods work" - As a person who was very much raised in the outdoors, this is spot on, in my opinion.
I would challenge the idea that most of those people know how cars work. Most only know how to go to a dealership for overpriced oil changes followed by a list of unnecessary fixes priced at a premium.
i have a retired neighbor who will go out and pick up trash, and go through it for anything that can identify someone, and return their garbage to their house or job. gotta love it!
So I think there are some great things that have come out of overlanding. There is useful gear from an off road perspective or vehicle camping that have stemmed from this trend. That said if your overlanding is driving gravel roads to public campsites you’re doing it wrong. I see overlanding as hey we’re vehicle camping, but going places the majority of people can’t get to
It should be called over budget. Why was it ever called overlanding to begin with. Over watering doesn’t mean you’re exploring in a boat, it just means you watered your plants too much. So maybe overlanding should mean you bought too much land and driving an expensive kitted out trail rig to go camping should be called over budget
??? Plenty of people go hiking with normal shoes and for those that venture further paying $150 for some boots does make a difference. Very few people spend $500 on boots...
After my family learned I hiked in a pair of westerns. They thought I was crazy, lol. They’re my waterproof work boots. If it’s dry out I where bear foot shoes
You nailed it. I’ve watched plenty of these overlanding videos, and it seems 90% is just buying stuff, meeting up with other people that like buying stuff, and taking overbuilt vehicles out in mostly flat, sometimes dirt trails and taking drone video of it. And lots of gizmos and gear.
Bicycle packer/tourer here. I once went overlanding with my buddy who was really into it. We had a good time but as a passenger I was honestly pretty bored after the first hour of driving over the bumpy roads. I’m sure it was more fun for him to navigate the rocks, holes and tough terrain but as a passenger all I was doing was getting jostled around for 3 hours. The thing I love about backpacking and bikepacking is I get to move my body and get exercise while I see the wilderness. Wasn’t really a fan of how passive of an experience overlanding was
It's definitely a better experience as a driver. I do stuff like that all the time, but driving the trails is only part of it. Getting out there on foot seeing and feeling first hand, and setting up camp, enjoying some good ole camping and enjoying food cooked over a fire is the other part.
I want to get into overlanding, but I only have $15,000 to spend. I think at a minimum I need a roof top tent, solar panels and charge controller, star link, a dometic fridge, a winch and bumper for the front and rear, traction recovery boards, 2-way radio communicator, locking differentials, and 35's on method wheels. Oh, and auxiliary fuel canisters (as I may be up to 20 miles from the nearest gas station). This leaves me very little money left over for a drone and string lights to hang around my camp for everyone else to enjoy from 100's of yards away. Can you recommend any budget friendly options?
I love this video. I had a 2010 highlander, that was NOT built for offroading, but it never stopped me from going camping and driving to really cool spots, the most I ever did to it was a 1.5" spacer lift and throw on 31" tires, that was it. You dont need some $80k truck with 35s to go enjoy the outdoors. So many people I know think you need some baja type truck to go camping, and my little mom car was proof that you really can use anything you want to go outdoors.
Overlanding is boating but on land. It's about how much gear and how much over GVW you can get. It's about how many MPG's you can lower your vehicle and how high you can get your center of gravity by bolting everything you possibly can to the roof. It's about shovels with teeth you never use, and sand recovery systems when you live 1000 miles from a beach. It's about how big your awning is, and how many lights you can overload your alternator with.
You obviously have never been in a cruising sailboat or done any overlanding. The "beach" isn't the only place where one can get stuck in the sand. The lack of recovery gear can mean the difference between, at best walking out of the bush and at worse survival or not.. It's not about "lowering you MPG", no one wants that. However making a vehicle more capable usually involves compromises. Most people think that the benefits of a higher crossover angle or a lower gears are worth a reduction in fuel efficiency. If your power needs exceed your alternators ability then swap to a high output alternator. If the gear you carry exceeds the GVW then upgrade your suspension. If the weight is beyond that common solution then you need prioritize. The single heaviest thing I pack is water, and fuel. Usually at least 21 gallons of water and 30 gallons of gas. Thats about 425 pounds right there. Of course that diminishes as they are consumed. Shovels with teeth are just more useful in some situations then a normal shovel, such as digging out your vehicle whne there are buried roots. It's an added capability that doesn't take away from the main purpose of a shovel. You may think that awnings are not important but as one that have spent many days and nights in the hot desert sun I can tell you they are money well spent. They also are pretty handy in the rain. The main reasons to lift a vehicle is to allow larger tires and improved articulation. The later will involve upgrading the suspension. Larger tires not only increases traction, but allows for wider sidewall. They also increase crossover, arrival, and departure angles.
@@srenchristiansandvold6196 The advantages to a snorkel is well worth the modest cost of one. There is the obvious one of preventing your engine from being destroyed by sucking in water. You may never need it, until you do. They are kind of like a fire extinguisher, you hope you don't need it but if you do their value is incalculable. Another advantage of a snorkel, that most people are unaware of, is that because the air intake is outside the engine compartment the air used by the engine is both cooler and cleaner. This not only prolongs the life of the air filter bust also acts as a cold intake system. Both factors will increase engine performance and fuel efficiency. Especially if coupled with a low flow exhaust.
@@RickZackExploreOffroad I laughed reading this too, I've seen people stuck in sand from East coast to MI, to NM, CO, AZ, UT and all along the west coast and I feel like we haven't even really done much. I think overlanding is way overdone, but 4x4's kind of always have been? Ever seen a jeep event or week, even 20 years ago? Love our Jeep and Bronco but...Same people, new stage. They just have an internet audience now with overlanding', and are getting paid with views from it. It's has been an interesting turn for sure. I really can't rubix cube out what on earth he is speaking to regarding sailboats, maybe if he was trying to bag on the rise of sailing catamaran's.. but even then ..
And that's your definition. To me it's simply hitting the trails and enjoying the outdoors in vehicle, regardless if it's lifted or whatever. This video just complicates it and twists things up just because of a few assholes. Fishing is still fishing. We gonna change what it means because people who have big boats and brag about them or care more about their image than....fishing?
You gotta hand it to the people/media personalities that sell overlanding as like this glorified lifestyle. At the core it's just camping, but no one likes to call it that.
That's why they call these guys Influencers. Any product that they promote today, there will be something better that they promote next week. They are sponsored. They get this stuff for free. It took me almost half a year to track down the upgrade parts for my old first gen Tundra. A whole lot of research. But its a keeper!
Camping is just going from point A back to point A the next day. Purpose of overlanding is a multi-day experience to reach a destination. Think of Overlanding as the Paris-Dakar Rally, or really any kind of cross-regional trek. It's what made Land Rover so popular with it literally winning all the Camel Trophy events. Today everyone has it easy. Back in the 1930s-1940s, you had to be self-reliant to get cross-country. There were no interstate highways with stores and repair shops every mile or two. I can remember as recently as the 1960s-1970s when people would travel from the east coast to California it was way more epic than those Chevy Chase movies. Nothing but Route 66 and your own self-reliance. People with cars loaded down with a dozen gallons of water, those big water bladders on their car to help absorb heat off it, etc. Not to mention the boxes of food. I can remember in the 60s as a youth we went to Texas, and we drove across the rural South from Georgia to Texas, and we'd pull off side of the road somewhere when we got hungry and eat out of a cooler. There was no fast-food or convenience stores every mile or two back then. You carried supplies with you back then because you might drive hours at a time without seeing civilization.
@@Destin65 That's a well written comment and I respect the thought you put into it. I think where our opinions differ is how we define 'camping'. Because we're all aware that camping doesn't exactly mean to make a stationary shelter for the purpose of lodging. People can and have camped as they traverse the landscape despite whatever mode of transport they use. Overlanding without sugarcoating the term, is just vehicular camping. You know what is funny is that I originally just wanted to build my rig up to enhance it's 4x4 capabilities. I never cared about overlanding (or camping for that matter), since I'm one to just experience a trail for maybe a day and come home by night. I kind of think it's begun to feel like a lot of overlap between the two, and I wonder if it's a byproduct of overlanding influencers doing their job on social media or if it's actually evolving into one hobby altogether.
Great video! Really like how you poke some well-deserved fun at overlanding, but with a positivity that respects the community and acknowledges that their rigs are pretty sweet! The outdoors should not have a financial barrier to enjoy!!!
Overlanding is driving some distance, usually a long distance, off the beaten path and sleeping there as well. It’s camping and trail riding combined. That what it is. It’s enjoyable. The problem is like most hobbies it always becomes keeping up with the Jones’s in the gear race. People aren’t emotionally secure enough to just do it the way they want with the gear they want.
Yeah you're not wrong... But mind you, Overlanding was for the true wilderness where there aren't any roads. The desert. The steppe. The tundra. Jungles. In the rich world where people can afford those rigs you have roads. And when you actually go to these wild places you'll likely find people drive ladas, old Soviet trucks or a motorcycle, and they're all beaten up, 30yo pieces of work that have been bent back into shape with hammers. Or how many blinged out Tacomas on 35s and a nice logo wrap do you expect to see in the Mongolian desert? And how many of these "Overlanders" have the balls to drive there? They're all back at the warehouse at Monday morning to pursue their career in receiving and shipping. Meanwhile, a bunch of penny less students do the Mongol rally in 20yo little peugots and actually do drive from the Czech rep to Mongolia.
@@emiliocarranza6674yep. I have several hobbies and every single one is that way. I’ll be the first to admit I like the good quality gear. But I’m also quick to point out that it’s not necessary and sometimes I wish gear was limited to cheap stuff only available.
This was great dude, :D. Also, totally agree with you and when I see those folks asking "how to get started," my answer is always "Take what you've got, figure out your needs and if/when you need anything more than you've got and go from there." I loved the interview with the butterfly.
Believe it or not, I heard the exact same thing from the Overland Journal podcast a few years ago. I subscribe (for the articles!) but they are definitely helping to drive the $$$ trend in “overlanding”. Either way it was refreshing to hear from them.
I started with my CRV doing landscape photography with a piece of plywood, some 2x4s, a sleeping bag, and a cooler. Slowly built more features and added simplistic gear, but the more you camp the more you realize how little gear is really necessary. A roof box is the next thing I need and recommend.
One of the best memories of my life was accidently driving a rented Ford Escape from the confluence of rivers outside Auburn CA to Truckee on dirt. My future wife and I had no intention on off-roading, we just got lost and refused to turn around. In hindsight it was pretty stupid and dangerous, but what an amazing ride and memory. It showed, without a doubt, that a modern, stock, all wheel drive vehicle, driven with a little bit of skill and common sense, is capable of WAY than most people will ever need or use. I wish I could remember which trail/road that was, My wife and I would love to do that drive again the next time we're out west.
Foresthill road is paved all the way to Robinson Flat. Soda Springs is a nice, albeit bumpy, road. Lotta fun driving dusty roads in the Tahoe forest. There's a bunch that you don't need any kind of built out vehicle, but having 4x4 and a little clearance goes a long way even if it is a stock vehicle
@@ajc1080 Soda Springs sounds vaguely familiar, but I lived in Mammoth/June Lake/Lee Vining for years, and frequently visited Reno/Tahoe so I might just be remembering wrong. I recall it being a little more of a trail than a bumpy road, it was two track the whole way and there were at least two creek crossings that made us pucker up a bit. It was winter so the creek crossings might not be there year round. The other detail that stands out was the exit. we eventually came to a metal gate that seemed more HOA than forest service, it was unlocked and going through it put us back onto pavement in what can only be described as a VERY upscale mountain town like neighborhood. We got some funny looks in our muddy rent-a-CUV.
We accidentally followed the GPS up a steep and narrow one-lane gravel mountain road in our AWD Fusion and I was impressed that the car wanted to keep going when I wanted to quit. I think that car could do pretty well with a skilled off-road driver (not me! And without my kids in the back!)
Best “overlanding” video ever. People from the L48, spend much money to overland Alaska. They travel past my subdivision on their way to Hatchers Pass. We just call that commuting.
Let's supe up our rigs take them to Alaska to break them sounds like a hells yea brother lmfao 🤣 😂 that is all I can hear in the conversation before hand
Before I get a Trashsroo, I need to get a spare tire, and then before I get a spare tire I need to get a new bumper with a tire swing out. Thats one expensive Trasheroo!
And a decent jack. And an air compressor so you can refill your ties after you air them down for a rough passage. A chainsaw, which requires safety gear of its own. And for all of it buy quality the first time and you probably won't have it break and kill you the first time you need to use it.
My Subaru came with a spare tire. Already has it's own spot. Tire swing out would just make it a pain to open the rear hatch. And I would have to relocate the backup cam. Such a ridiculous mod. Subarus are great though.
I commented on an Overlanding video by a guy who made a point of calling himself a “Minimalist” while cooking a gourmet meal out the back his $80,000 Jeep, filled with $20,000 of foo foo gear and electronics. He actually responded and tried to defend his position. Sad.
I need a truck on 37" tires, twin lockers, front and rear winch, and 17 miles of maxtrax to get across Imogene Pass! Dont forget the $5000 bed rack and $4000 rooftop tent! Either that or a 200,000 mile Honda Pilot with a 3" spacer lift, some all terrains, and a Wal-Mart air mattress.
I think this discussion also needs to be site-specific. For example, there are plenty of places where you can use a completely stock vehicle that doesn't have high ground clearance or specialized tires and make it to the destination safely. However, there are also many places (the desert in particular) where you just cannot make it to the destination if you don't have lift or off-road tires. So, depending on where you are traveling, the mods may be necessary and aren't just for show.
@@rowdyrobbyrider4226 I guess that would depend on the road your taking wouldn't it? The last time I went to a Starbucks was in Barstow, CA after spending 4 days on the Mojave Road. I needed a 3" lift to handle the 35" BF Goodrich KO2s and to allow for the improved articulation of the Fox suspension..
DANG! Tyler is dropping truth bombs all over the Overlanding Community!! But seriously you’re right, just drive whatever you have and take whatever equipment you have to the mountains.
@ridefaster6802 it should just be about getting out there. Make do with what you have. Most creators who are doing this full time it's business for them. What I enjoyed about their first videos I no longer see so I quit watching the majority of them. I get tired of hearing that they are living the dream. Maybe part jealousy, or envy too 😆. Because I have to work and make do with what I have and that's ok too. I particularly would not buy a rooftop tent I prefer a small teardrop, that I can tow behind anything.
That’s one of the things I keep telling people that seem to overbuild their setups… just to drive down a seasonal trail. Yeah some of the spots would probably bottom out a subframe on a sedan, or flood anything with low clearance, but build to your activity. Theres only forest service roads, seasonal roads, and some just graded dirt roads around me. Why would I do more than a 2.5” lift and 33’s on my Tacoma? It’s also my daily, and I want to factor in reliability, gas mileage, and cost. Great video.
I grew up on a ranch in Arizona and still live on it, the trucks we had mostly Ford F-250 from 69 , 71 and 74 were ordered with posi track, we could fit 36 “ tires on them stock and one thing we always add was a 12000 pound winch, we used steel to weld them to the front of our trucks, there were few winch bumpers made back then. We still have most of those trucks working on the ranch today. My daughter has a new 4x4 pickup, yes we had to lift it for ground clearance and it has regular heavy duty truck tires on it. The rock crawlers are responsible for having more trails closed down here than the side by sides, we don’t allow those on the property. If you want to hunt and look like a regular responsible driver that’s different.
As a plated dirt biker, whenever i went overlanding with my father I was sad that we couldnt explore every little side road. And going slow because of an SUV full of rattling stuff made getting anywhere take forever. Fibally got my dad to buy a Honda Trail 125. Now we drive to a nice dispersed free camp site, unload the bikes, and finally get to explore.
I have gotten by for 40+ years doing exactly what you are preaching. 20 years with my current 04 Tundra. I just retired. My 04 Tundra is still an amazing platform. I spent close to 20G upgrading/updating it. After 20 years of ownership and use. Good for another 20+ years now. My 04 Tundra will probably last longer than I will.
This was a brilliant video, and brilliant message. It's 100% correct. I've grown up hiking/getting outdoors, and grew up finding myself getting into overlanding. I found myself going down the gear rabbit hole until I finally went "wtf am I doing?". All I want is to camp comfortably, and get to hard to get places. That's it. As you said, a Subaru Outback can get to half the places my kitted Jeep can. Yes, it's fun, but it's not at all necessary, and this video perfectly explains that!
I feel like "overlanding" is in fact a hobby in itself that mixes outdoor activities with nerding out on vehicles and gear. Of course you dont need much to go car camping, but if you have the time and money to build a sick rig and go do those simple things in the coolest way possible, then WHY NOT?
Bingo. Live and let live. I get the point of the video and a lot of it is just sarcasm, but I don’t get all the hate in these comments. People are just doing what makes them happy. No need for all this negativity. In fact, this is one of the reasons we got into overlanding, to get far away from people like that, LOL.
@@mysterioanonymous3206who cares if they "waste" their money? It is none of your or anyone else's business what other people spend their money on. Pocket watching other people, is a sever form of jealousy.
I can really appreciate this video. I enjoy hiking, but I don’t have the time to get to place I feel will give me an awesome experience. I started looking into overlanding a few months ago and everything coming up is “you need this, you need this.” I already own a Subaru Outback and I know it’s capable (same videos have told me so), however I don’t want it scratched up as it is my daily. So I’ve been looking for something mechanically sound and reliable that is no where close to breaking the bank that will be for lack of a better term, “the sacrificial lamb” getting scratched and dinged. I was ready to pay the Toyota tax until watching this video. So the cheap solid forester I’ve been keeping on the list is most likely getting moved up. Only mod, tires. I work for a tire manufacturer and get free tires every 5 years (up to 8 in that time). Thank you algorithm for putting this video in my world.
I was at one of the overland expos and somebody ask me "What do you overland with?" I told them Ford Expedition or Explorer. The guy tilts his head back "I have a Toyota". What I've seen at the expo were Toyota or Mercedes snobs. Like it's impossible to overland or enjoy yourself outdoors without a Mercedes 4x4 van or Toyota Tacoma with a roof mounted tent. A lot of expensive gear for sale and I really wonder how much utility people really get out of the stuff they buy there. It's like this. A 20 year old guy asked me about what I thought about some new camping gear that came out. He wanted to purchase some stuff. I said " look you don't want to be like me having 6-7 stoves, 5-6 tents. Just utilize what you have and enjoy the outdoors. Spend you money wisely and enjoy yourself camping.
I feel like I see a lot of really, really shiny Mercedes 4x4 camper vans 🙄 Almost like it's more about showing off and spending money than actually going anywhere that would really require that kind of rig... But that's just me!
@@drewzero1 No, sir. You are NOT alone in your wondering about all of that showy stuff. Oh, you can tell! I can see it and tell it in 2 seconds. I've been in this game for almost 50 years now. That's the context in which I'm opining.
I used to hike, used to backpack, had all the gear, however, age makes a person “understand their limitations”. Due to injuries,repairs, etc, long distance hikes and carrying a heavy backpack are no longer my thing. So, I load up my UTV, tent, sleeping bag, a few niceties, and wander off. Forest service roads or 4x4 trails, they will get you there. Would I Like to have the “toys” that I see on some of the channels? Sure, but the cost of some of those things is, well, like national debt type money. "
I agree, I do what would be considered overlanding. In my youth, my toyota camry would get me into an area, and I would hike/backpack for miles. Now, a few surgeries later, my 4runner gets me much further than that camry did, so I still have access to scenery I can no longer reach on foot. I also believe in only adding accessories that are needed. So far, replacing the stock tires is my only modification. The other tires tended to not like sharp rocks.
Me and my group of friends do the best combination of camping. Some of us camp in our trucks, others in tents, and we bring good food with stoves and tables and ofc beer with plenty of firewood. Half of us have built rigs and others stock trucks and it all gets the job done. U dont need to buy an onboard refrigerator, solar panels, super expensive mods, drawer storage and roof racks with rooftop tents to go camp somewhere cool and have a good time
Many years ago I had a guy ask me what he needed to go fishing (he never fished before) and didn't want to spend a lot of money. I told him a worm, hook, 15 feet of line and a stick. You don't need all the fancy gear.
Bamboo sticks are pretty good for small bluegill. Fixed line about 3 feet longer than the stick if you are using a float. Hook is about a size 10-14. Floats are fairly easy to improvise using scrap styrofoam or you can find them in trees near the shore.
My brother and sister in law spent like 2k on a roof top tent for their bronco. It’s massive, takes like 20 minutes to set up, and they are so limited on where they can set up camp. I have $250 backpacking tent that weighs a little more than a pound and fits in a 35l backpack with all the rest of my stuff. And I can go anywhere.
As someone over 65, i have to pee alot! and peeing in a rooftop tent and sleeping next to a jug o piss is not my idea of a good time. I guess you could crawl down the ladder in a hail storm and pee in the Nieman Marcus gold plated overlanding toilet.
These things had to be said. Thank you. Even as someone who creates content geared towards Overlanding, the first thing I tell anyone is that the gear and mods are all superfluous. All you need is 4wd/AWD and good all terrain tires. Solely to make sure you don’t get stranded. I’ll use myself as an example. I chose and modified a Land Cruiser 80 because #1. I am a born and raised Toyota fan boy and #2. I wanted a truck that I was reliable and super capable without doing too many modifications. The rest of the gear and modifications I did are because I’ve loved building cars since I could remember, the gear and mods barely have anything to do with being able to “Overland”. I think they look cool. There are those who Overland and take these week long trips with minimal highway road travel, so I get why they need to do certain modifications. But in reality, for the general population, you don’t need all that. Then there are those who want to take the most difficult trail to get to a very remote place. Rock crawling, heavy mud, snowed in.. they’ve built their rigs to do it all. So I get that too. The general population isn’t doing all that. Hell I don’t even do all that all the time. But yeah, gate keeping in the hobby is a real thing.
I think this was a great video, and genuinely enjoyed it. But that's the first thing I thought." What if I like modifying my vehicles/motorcycles? Maybe sometimes just to make it look cool?” I've enjoyed it since my childhood. Combine that with being outdoors and it's a win-win.👍
@@ryanp9084 Not only that, but some people actually do harder trails. And I disagree, the video generalizes and is bad influence because of that. I say, do a couple routes first, see the ones you like most and build the vehicle accordingly. There are two main reasons(other than any personal enjoyment taken out of modifying) to modify the vehicle: - Reach a place you couldn't before because even with all you learned, the risk of getting stranded was to high. - Reach a place you couldn't before, because the trail was consistently so hard that you would waste so much time crossing every obstacle that you would not have time left to enjoy the other aspects of the trip. There are also dozens of ways of camping. You can camp with minimal comfort or you can camp with lots of comfort. I like minimal while hiking, but when off-roading some comfort is great. Overlanding just like hiking is a hobby. In hiking you can buy lots of useless gear as well according to your definitions. The truth is the gear is not useless, it's just niche. If you consistently enjoy your hobby, and find that a piece of gear would make it better, I think it's great to go for it, even if it doesn't work out exactly as expected. Now I agree that buying pre-emptively based on imagination of what it will be like, then that's likely to result in having a lot of useless gear for what you do. That said, I think we all fall victim to that in an initial phase, of any hobby, if we have the money to spend.
Thank you for saying this out loud! It's always bewildered me in 4x4/wheel'n/overlanding is just expensive glorified car camping. All that work, and rarely fish, hike, bike, hunt, etc.......
Thanks for posting. I've never gotten into overlanding and never really knew enough to articulate why, but this is perfect and really inline with how I've felt about it.
point well taken. but after 30 years of backpacking and tent camping, my overland rig serves as an RV-light way to keep getting out there without sacrificing my sleep and joints for a fraction of the cost.
Out of all the off-road stuff I've watched on RUclips, yours sir was by far the most nonchalant insulting and funny I've seen. Bravo! I could seriously watch more of this lol
As a complete outsider, my sense of the high-visibility overlanding stuff I've seen is that it's a money sink - drop as many dollars as possible for 'overland style' gear/vehicles. The unimog 'RV', overlanding themed truckbed camper/conversion, the FDE/black popup trailer with the ground clearance complimentary to its matching jeep seem to combine all the downsides of sleeping outdoors with all the downsides of sleeping in a structure. It seems like a significant mass of angular tan/FDE/black structure to be hauling around without also offering the comforts of a RV. But maybe one day you can get that perfect dusk photo, that sick sunset video for the 'gram setting up camp atop a hillside only accessible crawling up shattered rock slopes in the wilderness and get ALL the likes.
Driving a 2012 Jeep Liberty that's stock except a trailer hitch, some wider tires and a nice roof rack. It's paid for, I don't mind getting it scratched. It gets home and back again to the top of local mountains and to my favorite lakes, rivers and campsites. I keep enough gear in the rig 3 seasons/ year to restart civilization (oh yeah did I mention it has tinted windows?). It does the trick.
I lived in a 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan, out in the desert and mountains for about 6 years. I was able to get that minivan to a lot of places that most people wouldn't think you could get a minivan, because my rule is to use the shovel before you need it. I used the shovel to dig out that rock that I might get stuck on. Used that shovel to fill in that gully that might cause me to bottom out or lose traction. I once spent three days, hauling rocks as big as I could possibly carry, to fill in a gully after a big rainstorm, just so I could make sure and get back to town when I needed to. I started filling in the gully the day after it stopped raining, not the day I needed to get back into town. However, there were plenty of places that I knew better than to try and take that minivan. After 6 years of that, I decided I wanted to be able to go to more places. Basically, the other 90% of the boonies. So, i recently upgraded to a 1995 Chevy Suburban K1500 4x4. NOT because i wanted to go "overlanding." But because I had to be able to go over land, in order to get where I want to go and camp. And, I plan to be out there full time. The algorithm showed me your video because i have been watching videos about how to keep from getting stuck, and how to get unstuck. I don't give a shit about some other dudes "adventures in getting his truck over a big rock." I'm gonna go around that freaking rock. I just don't want to get stuck in the sand or mud. I got other places I want to be.
@@mousbleu Send me an email. The email address is easily guessable. What would you want to interview me about? Your channel has zero videos, so I have no frame of reference.
Personally I went out early with all that I had to figure out what I wanted. And from that I bought a rtt and lifted my jeep. I have in fact broken my jeep because the trails I was on were too rough. In every single one of my trips my route requires 4wd and high clearance, a stock SUV would have trouble. I'm a big believer that over landing is 60% rock crawling and 40% camping. Car camping is 20% "off-road" and 80% camping
Some great points here, I got into trying to build a more comfortable rig for having a nice basecamp while dirt biking or MTBing. I agree you don't need some super $$ overbuilt rig, but having at least a 4x4 will get you way more access to the truly remote boondock camping. I hate staying in developed camp grounds so having 4x4 helps on the nastier less maintained forest roads. I did lots of traveling in cheap rigs before deciding to build something out that is comfy for traveling in weeks on end though so would always recommend people just run what they brung to see if they even like it first ...it ain't rocket science but it sure has become trendy
Coming from someone who daily drove a 100% bone stock Subaru for years, can confirm it'll make almost all of those places. If it's a logging road, that means logging trucks can handle it, and that means your Camry can handle it.
Exactly! I remember in HS we would go off roading and my friend would follow in the jeep for actual climbing but for other shenanigans like drifting in the dirt and doing all the flat land stuff here i am with my 2001 camry with 460k miles doing everything the jeep couldnt because that thing would have flipped over. Camrys are so underrated in this field.
@@hunterrandolph2036I think it was on the Tacoma subreddit but someone shared a story about the user thinking he’s really pushing his truck until he got to the end of the trail and saw a family in a Camry
I’d argue my ‘13 Subaru wrx hatchback was a better over landing rig than my 97 Land Cruiser on 37s. It hauled ass up mountain roads on the drive to the trail, was fun to throw around on dirt roads to the campsite, could hold a ton of gear with the backseats laid down, and didn’t get 12mpg lol. Granted, the Land Cruiser was built up to rock crawl and not to be a money pit, car camping flex.
@@DrTheRich a lowered bmw could probably handle a lot of car camping forest roads if you take it easy lol. If you can drive it up a rounded driveway curb, you can handle the forest roads we have in AZ.
I can completely understand your points. A friend of mine, who drives a stock 4runner trd offroad, said the only thing that needs to be changed are tires, and chances are the vehicle is more capable than what you're willing to do. I've taken my tacoma off-roading, and I get way too nervous before the truck even breaks a sweat. I always check out the overland youtubers with the coolest rigs, but I always end up asking if all the accessories they have are necessary for my needs. Often the answer is I don't need 90% of the stuff they got. Rooftop tents are pretty damn comfortable though. :D
You’ve got some good points. In Australia though, a lot of long range adventures require a proper 4x4. I do agree that people here usually over-invest in equipment though. Some never end up actually using the stuff.
Canada can get that way, too. But honestly, a FWD Yaris can handle 90% of it. Small enough to pick past obstacles, short wheel base to keep from high centering, and light enough to push out of the mud or ruts if need be LOL. Going to a heavy SUV was defineltly a downgrade for me. Honestly, by the time you are truly in the shit, the road is long, long gone, or completely impassable.
Excellent video. These points and absurdities don't only apply to Overlanding. They apply to so many other hobbies and activities in American culture: mountain biking, cycling, playing a musical instrument, hiking, fishing etc. Americans often feel the need to "stand out", or "fix what's not broken", or both.
I'm an "overlander" I like the comfort of having some of these things but also I camp a lot and I do long trips weeks at a time, I have a fridge I have a solar setup, I have a heat pad to not have to use a fuel it runs off a ecoflow electric generator, I have a coffee maker and toaster, I carry a blackstone skillet, I carry an ignik firepit because some areas don't allow fires unless they're propane, I carry a shower because I'm out there for more than a day, what do I do while camping, I hike I fish I study. Far away from people, often recording down species of animals around the spot I'm in and marking them on maps. Do I need all the gear probably not but makes it that much easier, 270 awning, camper, decked system, sliders all of that makes it easier. All the gear I have is also do some recoveries so I have a winch and tools. Day trips are fun as well, save money on buying food when I can just cook on location. I'm always invited to tailgate parties since I have everything.
As someone who has recently gotten into the “overlanding” or just outdoorsy stuff with my truck, I think you have a good point. A lot of these accessories aren’t required but it makes life easier. And if you want to go out with minimal thought or worry, having the equipment and accessories offer a peace of mind or convenience. And you never know when that 1% possibility might happen and then you need it :D
@@theman5th I'm usually the guy in our squad that has everything, I hear this phrase a little too often, "hey do you have ______ I forgot to pack it" me having everything yeah I gotchuuu, buddy forgot his green propane tank was close to empty, I have a 5lb tank and an adapter to fill the green tanks, I have gear for days and it saves me sometimes but other times it saves other people
A lot of the overland hate comments on here are pure gold. Can tell most have a lot of jealousy, and most don't really overland at all. We go a lot of places that no regular car, truck or subaru could ever dream of going. Bunch of suburbanites that think a 10 minute drive to a powerline right of way is "overlanding"........
I grew up in BFE Nevada (Tonopah). All there was to do there is “overland”, except we didn’t call it that and had never even really heard that term until 10 or so years ago when instagram became popular. Took my bone stock tundra with a Jerry can two spares and winch all over the most desolate parts of the state. Slept in the bed of the truck under moonlight and had an old Coleman cooler. The simplicity of it all really made the experience much less consuming than a ton of high tech flashy gear. Admittedly when I go camping now with a bigger party I do take more cooking equipment to make things easier.
Fellow 208er. My neglected 01 chevy just finished running away from the wapiti fire all along the backroads. My torque converter is going out, leaks, squeaks.... i passed overlanders and full on adventure RVs. My truck made it and family had fun hanging in the rivers, creeks, and camping, despite fire season. I think that truck deserves some new parts instead of getting replaced
Great video...and it bugs me when people say "nice overland build" or "what's your overland setup?" I just go on trails with my family to enjoy the outdoors and spend time together and my rig is built according to what we have needed based on observations to what would improve the experience and practicality. I should really slap my "Anti Over landing club" sticker on my Montero.
Lol I get the same. I have a 2 door jeep I use for offroading, like going on actual trails. But I also have an "offroad" squaredrop. Really only offroady enough for fire roads. And thats all I do just to go camping with the family. People ask me about "my overlanding" setup. What overlanding? I say. I have a Jeep for trails and a trailer for camping. I dont overland lol. I am not driving all the way down to patagonia.
We have a basic 4Runner with a 3" lift 33" tires dual batteries and a fridge. We do have other camping gear to be comfortable in the woods. It is easy to get caught up in the technology and expensive stuff. You don't need a $100,000 rig with 38" tires a $4000 roof top tent and 3 winches to go camping. A simple fairly capable rig can get to almost anywhere. We did a lot of Overlanding in our Ford Escape hybrid 2wd. Only had 31" A/T tires and camping gear...
The same is true for a lot of hobbies. You don't need much to get into most hobbies. It's often a lot more fun to purchase products and think about possibilities than to actually engage in your hobby. Whenever you find yourself stuck in that frame of mind, you're not actually engaging in a hobby, and are just shopping. No one needs to spend _anything_ to just go on a few day hikes. See how you like that first, and move forward from there. No need to buy a truck or a bunch of gear.
@@208Tyler Enjoyed the vid, well done. Agree 99%. But like @aspecialvisit noted - this is the same for all hobbies really. I fish (and golf and hike, etc). but I don't buy anything, or add anything until I have actually experienced "not having and needing" something. And then I get it, use it, and enjoy it. And oftentimes, being prepared and having that "thing" we needed actually made the excursion/day that much better. It is a shame, that we all get sucked into the consumeristic mindset and buy into to having to have the latest and greatest. Y'all take care and one way or another - get out there!
I hate doing dishes at home why would I want to do just as many well camping with less resources and comfort. Never understood these "Overlanding" vids with these extravagant meals. Just took my bone stock 1st gen tundra to the same remote area with heavily modified 60k+ vehicles and their heavy duty trailers. Only thing I was jealous of was their ability to run a bug zapper all night.
Yeah, the food part of the trend is weird to me too. It takes up so much time to do the whole kitchen thing outdoors, maybe it’s because a lot of overlanders don’t have other interests once they’re actually out there so might as well just prepare food for six hours every day
@@danmc2678 I don't mind washing a couple of bowls or plates and pan/bowl. It's the multiple cutting boards, utensils, multiple pots and pans. It's a whole spread they usually do
When you camp more than just a few nights a year you start to want yer camp food to be better. I spent 76 nights in the woods the fist season I got my roof top tent(gotta get that value), can only eat so many weiners. Professional overlanders for sure blow it out but there's places and times yer not getting in a stock truck with street tires and a modest build will let you get away from the crowd, that's the real beauty. I've more than average invested, certainly more than this guy and I stay ho,e for the major "camping holidays". I also have a bike I can camp off and a hiking bag. I just call it overlanding when I take the truck for multiple days further than normal.
Thanks for the video. It is good to be realistic about what you plan to do, and what equipment will be sufficient. I do want to get back into camping at some point, as I have not done it for a long time. But I've come to the realization that I will most likely just be going to state parks and other camp grounds for which my stock BMW X1 will be fine. No need for a lift kit and all terrain tires if I am just going to be going to camp sites or travelling on fire/forest roads that most cars can navigate with no issues. Plus, I do not really want to damage my car by going past its limits. If I lived in a different area where there were more challenging off road trails, then I would consider a different rig and equipment.
What a rant. I don't disagree with your point but, honestly, who cares. If people want to spend their money, let them. Everyone, including the overlanders, know that they don't need the truck and gear. They just have the money and that is how they want to spend it. Seems like clout comes from two sources: having money to put into making people jealous of your set up and ... whining about people who "over do" whatever it is that they like to do. To each their own. 10 minutes of rant about someone else's methods or decisions...great content?
You can "who cares" your way through alot of things. I didn't expect people to care about this video, but here we are. This is my own collection of thoughts and arguments that I have with myself. I feel as though I'm criticizing my own desires and my own community. I don't have a single person, vehicle, or brand in mind as I made this video. I don't have a great care for/about people who over do their builds, but I do have concern for people who are mislead into overbuilding, overspending, and eventually regretting their choices and learning the hard way.
We aren’t children. People who purchase this type of equipment are adults, capable of making decisions. I have not ever seen someone trying to convince me to buy a bunch of stuff. I have only seen people trying to encourage people to enjoy the outdoors. It is our own coveting nature that drives the overwhelming desire to purchase.
I work in the woods and I use a 1/2 ton stock ram. I’ve put thousands of miles on that truck driving on terrain that many think is not posible with such low clearance. All I need is 4x4 and good tires.
I really liked this. You basically took the words right out of my mouth, except you worded it in a way that is far more digestible than I would. Great talk, great points.
🍻 it's something I do my best to point out to potential recruits of any hobby these days. I like to remind them of how it was the supply stores and whatnot that made a reliable fortune during the gold rush.
Yeah as a guy who has driven a stock 4WD Tacoma for about 6 years now, I can't help but just roll my eyes when I see the completely decked out overlanding Tacomas because I know most of the people who spend that money just want to look like they're part of that culture. I guarantee 80% of Tacomas with snorkels have never driven through much more than a small stream. They also like to just drive around on dirt roads on their weekends and then "forget" to wash off the mud because when they get back to the city then everyone will see how much they got it dirty.
I’m not gonna lie, I like watching the videos of fully built “rigs” traveling off the beaten path. That being said, Im fortunate to have a 2018 Jeep Wrangler that I bought new. It’s not built, It has all terrain tires and some lights on it, but that’s it. I don’t have any fancy camping shit. I use old Coleman lanterns and stoves and simple things you can buy at Walmart. No drone or 37 navigation iPads and stuff all over my dash. I have a tent that goes on the ground or I sleep in the Jeep. Watching all these guys constantly filming everything to me takes away from the aspect of trying to go and RELAX. That’s what camping is all about! The time you spend in nature RELAXING!!! Not filming Timmy making a seven course meal on his overly expensive propane slide out stove.
@tomdadisman1400 or a skottle 😆 oh wait, if you haven't tried cooking in a camp oven this is a must lol 😆 I too have a jeep I have a winch for recovery, soft shackles a kinetic tow strap, basic tools, a small air compressor if I air down and need to get tires inflated. A pair of off road lights. I do have front and rear lockers that I barely use. I do have a drone but kinda takes the fun out of it if you have to film everything. And your trying to disconnect. They are always connected.
I "overland" on a 2004 Honda Element with front wheel drive. I did lift it a bit to accommodate A/T tires. I have a RTT that I bought on Alibaba for $800 w/shipping. I use cargo boxes for all my gear. My coolest upgrade was buying a portable fridge. And no, it was not a Dometic and it was a lot cheaper and works just as well. Gets me anywhere off the grid I want to go!
Overlanding is being self sufficient for weeks on end traversing off the beaten path. Similar to backpacking but in a car. However, it’s a fashion statement now especially with the rise of instagram influencers. But a cool looking car is fun to drive so whatever, I’m not gonna yuck someone’s yum.
Thanks for saying what everyone is already thinking! I've always felt "overlanding" is stupid and "bougie". Sort of like these dumb videos of some mysterious guy on a mountains side creek bank cooking a 5 star steak dinner with his $500 rustic kitchen knife on his $300 rustic cutting board and what he wants you to believe are spices and greens he collected on his hike to his sacred outdoor kitchen spot.
Before the overlanding build hustle, people walked, used horses, drove a car or truck knowing its capabilities, and used the same equipment to do their daily jobs.
I’ve always thought of overlanding as going very long distances in a car off road. It’s not just a camping trip off a forest road, but a trip anywhere from days to months in which you only have your car to rely on and have to bring extra fuel, etc. because you are going far.
6 месяцев назад
The problem is, that there are places, like parts of Europe or parts of America, where you just can not drive offroad for that long without bumping into a local shopping mall. But the people living there just want to do that overlanding as well. 😀
That’s true, however I don’t think it would ruin the overlanding especially on a long trip where someone is going all the way down the americas. In my opinion, it’s still a loose definition. A 2 night trip could be overlanding if you went 75+ miles off road, in my opinion. I would also call a weeks/months long trip in which you had to stop in town a couple times overlanding. Both examples are clearly on a level above car camping just because of the distance.
6 месяцев назад
@@rileyf8036 No complaints, but you still would be limited by possibilities within the area. The few-weeks-long offroad trip would be called expedition, overlanding or shopping trip, depending on your actual location and/or social situation. 😀
Very well said. The thing that matters most about camping etc is getting there and who you are with and the memories made, not the equipment. Things shouldn't be the focus but rather the people and the experiences together. A good reminder for us all.
To me, overlanding is multi day car camping trips through routes a Honda civic can’t make. But yeah it’s just another name for car camping and most of the time a Honda civic can take the same route.
"A lead foot" is how I cross creeks in my 2005 Honda Civic on my way to camp or hike, even when raised 4 wheel trucks and jeeps are stopped on the other side contemplating their chances, but then I'm a raised Kentucky Hillbilly.
i drive a 2 door wrangler, "overlanding" to me is just the trip to get to where I'm trying to fish, hunt/ camp. throwing a boat on the roof rack and spending the weekend tent camping, fishing, hunting and even sometimes target shooting. you don't need anything special to do what I do, that being said my jeep takes me to lakes that haven't been fished in years, mountain ranges that haven't been hunted since the 90's. Build your rig to be more capable not comfortable, I'm 22 and comfort isn't my main priority hahah
I mean people don't need a Ferrari either they just want one. Cars have always been something to spend your money on that you have extra just for the looks or for what it can do. Building your "overland rig" is basically the same thing but for different types of cars.
Overlanding is "How much money can I possibly pour into a problem that doesn't exist."
I agree a pickup is better than 99% of rigs
Or... how I can "appear to be in the outdoors" without actually being outdoors.
That's the best explanation of it that I've ever heard.
Shut up😂
Toyota hilux 2inch lift 33 that's it everything else is chairs and tent cardboard plates basic stuff.
I couldn't agree more. 99% of Overlanding content creators........film your vehicle going down a trail with your drone, film yourself cooking food, film yourself waking up the next morning..........film your vehicle leaving........end of video.......
I rarely find an "overland" video that I can watch without skipping through parts haha
I stopped watching overlanding videos because they are 50% food, 25% of their face talking about food, 10% to and from trails, 10% vehicle, 5% trails.
Don't forget to film yourself making coffee.
@@jonwoodworker shhhhhhhhh, don't reveal the secret formula!!!!!!!
@@jonwoodworkerwhat would you prefer the content be? Not coming at you I’m just genuinely curious bc I haven’t really enjoyed RUclips lately
Dude, you’re saying everything I’ve thought for years. I grew up down a dirt road in the middle of nowhere. I used 2wd vehicles, Walmart tent and sleeping bags, and never had a problem.
After 8 years of building 3 different rigs, thousands of $, being consumed with overlanding.. I’m over it. It became a never ending cash burning cycle. The overlanding scene is soooo pretentious and pompous.
I live in Colorado, grew up in WY hunting, fishing, camping etc. This was with my dad and uncles in basic trucks, tents, and a canoe.
I never felt like a build was “good enough”. I had to have the latest component, niche tech… my wife finally called me out. “You pour money into these vehicles and are never content, a truck should not be your identity.”
A switch went off in my head, so disconnected from reality. I honestly felt sick about it, trying to justify having the most BA Taco, 4Runner, Gladiator. 90% of the terrain I was in never facilitated $5k Kings and bead locks, less Moab etc. My vehicles “had” to be overbuilt in every aspect. I spent hoursssss on forums, hanging out at off-road shops with the mentally “what’s next?”.. it never ends.
As the father of two young boys I realized my priorities were f’d.
Sold the fully built Gladiator. Picked up a cherry V8 2020 Ram 1500 with low miles. Threw some AT3W’s on it and called it a day. I’ll pull my used $3k camper and enjoy the backcountry with my family.
Appreciate you sharing these words of wisdom gained from experience.
Nice solid truck with plenty of room to be comfortable. Plenty of power to tow. Good clearance for any fire road. Great job.
I did the math on fully kitting out our Armada and going full Y62 Patrol and sending it like the Aussies!! My wallet quickly told me that was a terrible plan for the mild roads and family camping we do a few times a year.
The best off-road/overlanding bit of kit you can get adds ZERO internet flex appeal; skid plates are one of the few mods people really should consider if they frequent areas with lots of rocks to protect the underside of the truck/SUV.
It's also the last thing a lot of people get, if they ever get them.
Making memories with your family not debt sounds like your winning at life to me pal
I kind of was going the same way with an 80 series. Bought it lifted already from a friend. At least it wasn't expensive, came with 35"s a solid front bumper with a winch. I added rock sliders, roof rack and a back bumper with a tire carrier total I added about 5k to the truck after buying it and I got that same reality chk to see where I was going with it. I have done epic trips through Dead Valley and many, many off-road miles. Some with my wife some just me and my oldest son and some the whole family together... Can't complain about what I have gotten out of the truck .. but in reality, you do not need the most expensive stuff to have fun and create great memories. We use a ground tent, some sleeping pads, and sleeping bags ... Is nice to carry a fridge, though.. a small stove to warm up the food, and that's it ...
Just got a hunter limited 1995 xj 2.5td.
I think a hammock will hang in it.
Sorted
For the past 30 years of my life, Ive known it as... camping. 🙃
Oooh, please tell me more about this "camping"
I feel like i need to trend a new type of video from the standard overlanding channels😅
Hah. I just added a similar comment. I've been heading out to the desert to camp since the early '80s. At first it was in my Subaru 4x4 Wagon and then later in my Scout II. All of a sudden there's this hoity toity name of camping.
Thank you
@@SDwriter.and.surfer You know "IH SCOUT-because everything else..is just a Car" hahaha- 1967 800 man here
Yeah, me too.
Overlanding is literally the vaguest term for the world's oldest activity
Overland like our ancestors did a thousand years ago.
Oldest? Driving a car is the oldest activity?
Exactly!
Marking term for car camping so they can sell tactical hardware for your truck. This group is also the same ones that gender their vehicles by installing Truck Nutz and making unfunny jokes about pronouns just before pulling out his guitar and playing music no one wants to hear.
@@Cowboydjrobotprostitution...
Overlanding= Truck camping, with an Instagram account. 😂
You do realize that there's a shit ton of places that you can't get to with a fucking car or by hiking, right??? All of you in this comment section sound like such jealous, broke losers.
Hilarious!
Haha.
Oh waite,...
Oh yeah
Haha, hahaha
Lmaoooo
Truck campers with OF accounts have more to offer.
"Overland is kind of that hobby. It's a way for people to get outside who know how cars work, but don't know how the woods work." 🤣🤣🤣 You earned another sub
Thank you!
Absolutely brilliant observation.
I agree. Another subscriber.
As a career ranger, learn your local flora and fauna, carefully interact and juxtapose knowledge with experts. Imagine society shutting down being surrounded by food, and starving to death. That’s 98% of the population. Simply get started. Just do it.
From felling trees, to important Id capability. Focus on the science. Rangers love their work, it’s buried in our dna
Exactly why I love my rig and why I am building an overlanding toy hauler. I lived on the trail in Utah the entire month of May. Now plan on taking my dog and living on the trail all over the country! Still live off the land and have a small footprint
"...it involves driving a car like you normally would, falling asleep, making a fire. There's not a lot to it." Best description I've heard so far.
Yes, I couldn't agree more!!
Driving a car like you normally would , building a fire , falling asleep .
Idk . I'm thinking no matter how easy it is some people may need more instruction.
I'm worried about people sleeping while making a fire or making a fire and falling asleep ..
My Mazda 6 got me to every trail head I needed to get to....Overlanded with my hiking boots from there.
yeah, but did you fly a drone and make a video about how expensive your boots were?! 🤣
Based
@@FreedomToRoam86 Real
Shanks mare, got you there...
Don't forget your walking stick, and thank you for not drinking the Kool-Aid.
In the 1970’s we used to call overlanding camping. Ford high boy with an 8’ bed, thick pad to sleep on(usually from an old lounge, Optimus stove and a cooler for food. If you were rich(lol) you had a topper (camper shell or canopy depending on where you’re from), or you just jumped inside and slept on the bench seat if it rained. I cruised all over the mountains of Colorado as a kid in a high boy Ford and a Jeep. Watching these overlanders with $30,000 worth of garbage hanging off their 4Runners causes uncontrollable laughter. I saw one guy with a satellite on his runner so he and the wife could watch movies in the tent. The world has changed…
Welcome to the future old timer lol
Ikr. I was like... new word for camping?
Yea women drive vast majority of consumer spending, same with overlanding
Still camp that exact way today. Old 4x4 truck with 8' bed, stock. I'm in the hated rich class because it has a camper shell. Padded with two count 'em TWO layers of scrounged carpet over a luxurious sheet of thin plywood. Beverly freakin' hills, it can rain all night and we won't feel a drop. Truck was $4k on Craigslist a long time ago, in a reality far, far away.
In my experience, overlanders are also very self-conscious. I was literally run off the road by a brand-new, lifted F-350 4x4 driver who wanted to tell me I shouldn't be on his overland trail in my sedan with 5" of ground clearance. The problem is, I'd been driving those U.S. Forest roads since I was a teenager, so I knew exactly where I was and what I was doing.
Guess that happens when people need to express how important their $100k of gear is. Overall it seems like compensation.
Maybe his suspension felt great at a decent speed and your factory sedan that can get there also, is just too slow?
@@joshp1550 Unlikely, considering he was coming from the other direction.
I feel like overlanding is a symptom of another issue: why are all cars so low? Hatches, sedans, even SUVs... No clearance whatsoever. My 2005 hatchback has 7" of clearance; its not off-road, it is just made to drive in the city. I see all types of cars struggling to come down or up an incline, hitting both front and rear bumpers, or scrapping the bottom when going over a speedbump. Are modern cars really made for perfectly flat roads? I can see why the woods are seen as adventurous, and the entire idea that only off-road cars can go through a trail, when no car made today can do that.
@@NothingXemnas I would say that "all" is a bit of a hyperbole. It does seem that most modern cars are designed only for road use, and a lot of that could be the result of fuel economy standards. One of the easiest ways to increase efficiency is to reduce the ride height. However, even with that, I see a number of modern cars with 6-8" of ground clearance, which should be more than enough for most maintained forest roads.
Of course, there's also driver skill that plays into that, and lifting vehicles and equipping them with oversized tires is the quickest way to overcome a lack of driving knowledge and skill. It's why you see old geezers in nearly stock WWII Willys with 9" of ground clearance outdriving less experienced drivers in decked out Jeep Rubicons on off-road courses.
To me, overlanding is more about long-term travel, such as someone traveling the Pan American highway, not about a weekend trip to your local national forest. I would argue that your average full time vanlifer is more of an overlander then your neighbor with a lifted truck and RTT.
I agree with this. The people I know that car camp seek out the nearest campground off a main road. These people aren't equipped with the proper gear to drive for days off the beaten path if they get stuck or have issues, even if their vehicle may be capable of it.
@@845ToastT Those are the smart people. I have wasted so much time skipping that first campground and driving farther into the forest, finding nothing and backtracking to it. Just take the first suitable campground you find and relax.
Yeah, pretty sure the term comes from Australian trail drivers who *would* be going hundreds or thousand miles for these camping trips lol
Haha I spent the last 2 years living out of my stock Honda CRV traveling all over the west throughout all kinds of public lands in basically every type of environment. There were maybe 3% of places I wanted to go that I couldn't get to with that car. If that. Currently back in Kansas City where there is nowhere remotely close to do that sort of thing and It cracks me up the amount of crazy expensive built "overland" rigs I see driving around town. If they ever see terrain that requires any of the modifications they have I would bet it's maybe once a year on a trip to Colorado or something of the sort and there are so many places to explore where none of that is even necessary. Could just rent a capable vehicle for a tiny fraction of the cost when you are going to a place where it's actually needed. Seems like a whole lot of people are more into the idea of the thing than actually doing the thing.
@@kevinm1734
More likely from Willys-Overland.
_”The Overland Automobile Company was an American automobile manufacturer in Toledo, Ohio. It was the founding company of Willys-Overland and one of the earliest mass producers of automobiles.”_
-Overland Automobile, Wikipedia
True overlanding is what the trio did back in top gear days, where they will have a destination somewhere remote and try to go there with their not so suitable vehicle while tackling challenges and making changes to their vehicle to reach that.
gambler 500
Correct. He’s complaining about not overlanding.
You mean the three pampered, overpaid, boring media whores.
I “overland” 5 days a week for work as a seasonal wildlife tech in Idaho and Utah. I’m using a stock rental truck, sleeping on a hundred dollar cot, and cooking with a 50 dollar camp stove, and an 80 dollar igloo cooler. You don’t need thousands and thousands of dollars of upgrades and RTT’s, even on technical 4x4 roads. Just get out there and have fun
Thanks for fighting fires! We appreciate it
@@208Tyler Where did you read "fighting fires"? They said there were a "wildlife tech". Imagine how dumb the 8 robots that liked your comment are.
@@abundantharmony I probably confused this one with one of the other hundreds of comments. Happens.
Surprisingly, the comment doesn’t appear to be edited, so I’m really confused how I ended up commenting that.
@@208Tyler exactly. Then think of the robots who agreed lol.
Since birds don't exist, this is probably the guy that tunes up all the feathered drones.
"Make sure you only drink local hazy IPAs."
I feel attacked! 😂😂😂
What about the comment @ 4:57, "...maybe take your Ford or Chevy is you're feeling really confident." 🤣
I hate bitter, hoppy beers right now, but I still loved the comment. hahahah
i almost shut the video off when he said that I LOVE MY LOCAL IPAS!
and who are you?
I was over here with my modelo like “why the fuck am I catching strays?”
You nailed it! I'm 61 and was fortunate to retire at 53. I got a used 2008 Honda Odyssey put on a 3-in lift and slightly larger Michelin tires. I kept it well maintained and I have been to every state territory and province in North America except for Nunavut. I've driven on thousands and thousands of miles of gravel roads and slept on the Arctic Ocean. Never got stuck. Never had an equipment failure. Just me and two rescued pitbulls!
"Overlanding is a way to get outside for people who know how cars work but don't know how the woods work" - As a person who was very much raised in the outdoors, this is spot on, in my opinion.
I would challenge the idea that most of those people know how cars work. Most only know how to go to a dealership for overpriced oil changes followed by a list of unnecessary fixes priced at a premium.
In order to understand how the woods work they should get to the woods anyway, what's wrong with them doing it anyway
SHOUT OUT TO all the good people that pick up after others. THANK YOU!
For picking up litter and trash, I use a grabber / reacher tool.
collectively, we need to shame the losers who leave their trash.
i have a retired neighbor who will go out and pick up trash, and go through it for anything that can identify someone, and return their garbage to their house or job. gotta love it!
So I think there are some great things that have come out of overlanding. There is useful gear from an off road perspective or vehicle camping that have stemmed from this trend. That said if your overlanding is driving gravel roads to public campsites you’re doing it wrong. I see overlanding as hey we’re vehicle camping, but going places the majority of people can’t get to
you dont understand..... the point of overlanding is how much money can you spend?
It's never enough
How much crap can you mount to your vehicle.
@@nickvasquez85haha..that's the very point of ALMOST all overlanding videos
It should be called over budget. Why was it ever called overlanding to begin with. Over watering doesn’t mean you’re exploring in a boat, it just means you watered your plants too much. So maybe overlanding should mean you bought too much land and driving an expensive kitted out trail rig to go camping should be called over budget
@@ryanb5189 Overloaded.
Hiking is walking outdoors in $500 boots. Overlanding is driving on gravel roads in $100,000 rigs.
I love OVERLANDING in my hooptie.
The jeep costs 60k. The other stuff hanging off the jeep costs 40k and is never been used
??? Plenty of people go hiking with normal shoes and for those that venture further paying $150 for some boots does make a difference. Very few people spend $500 on boots...
My $40 saucony running sneakers work pretty well for hiking 😂
After my family learned I hiked in a pair of westerns. They thought I was crazy, lol. They’re my waterproof work boots. If it’s dry out I where bear foot shoes
You nailed it. I’ve watched plenty of these overlanding videos, and it seems 90% is just buying stuff, meeting up with other people that like buying stuff, and taking overbuilt vehicles out in mostly flat, sometimes dirt trails and taking drone video of it. And lots of gizmos and gear.
Bicycle packer/tourer here. I once went overlanding with my buddy who was really into it. We had a good time but as a passenger I was honestly pretty bored after the first hour of driving over the bumpy roads. I’m sure it was more fun for him to navigate the rocks, holes and tough terrain but as a passenger all I was doing was getting jostled around for 3 hours. The thing I love about backpacking and bikepacking is I get to move my body and get exercise while I see the wilderness. Wasn’t really a fan of how passive of an experience overlanding was
Careful not to get run over by an overlander looking at their gps screen. Have to agree with your passenger experience.
agree having done Colorado jeeping trails, hiking is king.
I always felt like being in a vehicle kind of turns nature into a Disneyland ride.
It's definitely a better experience as a driver. I do stuff like that all the time, but driving the trails is only part of it. Getting out there on foot seeing and feeling first hand, and setting up camp, enjoying some good ole camping and enjoying food cooked over a fire is the other part.
😂😂😂 as a passenger it is less fun, yes... bike packing is great too 👌
I want to get into overlanding, but I only have $15,000 to spend. I think at a minimum I need a roof top tent, solar panels and charge controller, star link, a dometic fridge, a winch and bumper for the front and rear, traction recovery boards, 2-way radio communicator, locking differentials, and 35's on method wheels. Oh, and auxiliary fuel canisters (as I may be up to 20 miles from the nearest gas station).
This leaves me very little money left over for a drone and string lights to hang around my camp for everyone else to enjoy from 100's of yards away. Can you recommend any budget friendly options?
I suggest selling pictures of your feet and ankles to raise more funds
@@208Tyler this isn't the first time this was suggested to me.. I guess it was foolish to think I could get into the hobby for so little.
I hate that I felt this was a solid list 💀
@@smzman2013
35s on Method Wheels sounds awesome. Asking for a friend, where does one sell the feet pics?
@@rakovegas9901onlyfans
I love this video. I had a 2010 highlander, that was NOT built for offroading, but it never stopped me from going camping and driving to really cool spots, the most I ever did to it was a 1.5" spacer lift and throw on 31" tires, that was it. You dont need some $80k truck with 35s to go enjoy the outdoors. So many people I know think you need some baja type truck to go camping, and my little mom car was proof that you really can use anything you want to go outdoors.
Overlanding is boating but on land. It's about how much gear and how much over GVW you can get. It's about how many MPG's you can lower your vehicle and how high you can get your center of gravity by bolting everything you possibly can to the roof. It's about shovels with teeth you never use, and sand recovery systems when you live 1000 miles from a beach. It's about how big your awning is, and how many lights you can overload your alternator with.
😂Dont forget the SO important snorkel 🤣
You obviously have never been in a cruising sailboat or done any overlanding.
The "beach" isn't the only place where one can get stuck in the sand. The lack of recovery gear can mean the difference between, at best walking out of the bush and at worse survival or not..
It's not about "lowering you MPG", no one wants that. However making a vehicle more capable usually involves compromises. Most people think that the benefits of a higher crossover angle or a lower gears are worth a reduction in fuel efficiency.
If your power needs exceed your alternators ability then swap to a high output alternator.
If the gear you carry exceeds the GVW then upgrade your suspension. If the weight is beyond that common solution then you need prioritize. The single heaviest thing I pack is water, and fuel. Usually at least 21 gallons of water and 30 gallons of gas. Thats about 425 pounds right there. Of course that diminishes as they are consumed.
Shovels with teeth are just more useful in some situations then a normal shovel, such as digging out your vehicle whne there are buried roots. It's an added capability that doesn't take away from the main purpose of a shovel.
You may think that awnings are not important but as one that have spent many days and nights in the hot desert sun I can tell you they are money well spent. They also are pretty handy in the rain.
The main reasons to lift a vehicle is to allow larger tires and improved articulation. The later will involve upgrading the suspension.
Larger tires not only increases traction, but allows for wider sidewall. They also increase crossover, arrival, and departure angles.
@@srenchristiansandvold6196 The advantages to a snorkel is well worth the modest cost of one.
There is the obvious one of preventing your engine from being destroyed by sucking in water. You may never need it, until you do. They are kind of like a fire extinguisher, you hope you don't need it but if you do their value is incalculable.
Another advantage of a snorkel, that most people are unaware of, is that because the air intake is outside the engine compartment the air used by the engine is both cooler and cleaner. This not only prolongs the life of the air filter bust also acts as a cold intake system. Both factors will increase engine performance and fuel efficiency. Especially if coupled with a low flow exhaust.
@@RickZackExploreOffroad I laughed reading this too, I've seen people stuck in sand from East coast to MI, to NM, CO, AZ, UT and all along the west coast and I feel like we haven't even really done much. I think overlanding is way overdone, but 4x4's kind of always have been? Ever seen a jeep event or week, even 20 years ago?
Love our Jeep and Bronco but...Same people, new stage. They just have an internet audience now with overlanding', and are getting paid with views from it. It's has been an interesting turn for sure.
I really can't rubix cube out what on earth he is speaking to regarding sailboats, maybe if he was trying to bag on the rise of sailing catamaran's.. but even then ..
And that's your definition. To me it's simply hitting the trails and enjoying the outdoors in vehicle, regardless if it's lifted or whatever. This video just complicates it and twists things up just because of a few assholes. Fishing is still fishing. We gonna change what it means because people who have big boats and brag about them or care more about their image than....fishing?
You gotta hand it to the people/media personalities that sell overlanding as like this glorified lifestyle. At the core it's just camping, but no one likes to call it that.
Couldn’t agree more!
That's why they call these guys Influencers. Any product that they promote today, there will be something better that they promote next week. They are sponsored. They get this stuff for free. It took me almost half a year to track down the upgrade parts for my old first gen Tundra. A whole lot of research. But its a keeper!
It is their lifestyle.
Camping is just going from point A back to point A the next day. Purpose of overlanding is a multi-day experience to reach a destination. Think of Overlanding as the Paris-Dakar Rally, or really any kind of cross-regional trek. It's what made Land Rover so popular with it literally winning all the Camel Trophy events. Today everyone has it easy. Back in the 1930s-1940s, you had to be self-reliant to get cross-country. There were no interstate highways with stores and repair shops every mile or two. I can remember as recently as the 1960s-1970s when people would travel from the east coast to California it was way more epic than those Chevy Chase movies. Nothing but Route 66 and your own self-reliance. People with cars loaded down with a dozen gallons of water, those big water bladders on their car to help absorb heat off it, etc. Not to mention the boxes of food. I can remember in the 60s as a youth we went to Texas, and we drove across the rural South from Georgia to Texas, and we'd pull off side of the road somewhere when we got hungry and eat out of a cooler. There was no fast-food or convenience stores every mile or two back then. You carried supplies with you back then because you might drive hours at a time without seeing civilization.
@@Destin65 That's a well written comment and I respect the thought you put into it. I think where our opinions differ is how we define 'camping'. Because we're all aware that camping doesn't exactly mean to make a stationary shelter for the purpose of lodging. People can and have camped as they traverse the landscape despite whatever mode of transport they use. Overlanding without sugarcoating the term, is just vehicular camping.
You know what is funny is that I originally just wanted to build my rig up to enhance it's 4x4 capabilities. I never cared about overlanding (or camping for that matter), since I'm one to just experience a trail for maybe a day and come home by night. I kind of think it's begun to feel like a lot of overlap between the two, and I wonder if it's a byproduct of overlanding influencers doing their job on social media or if it's actually evolving into one hobby altogether.
Great video! Really like how you poke some well-deserved fun at overlanding, but with a positivity that respects the community and acknowledges that their rigs are pretty sweet! The outdoors should not have a financial barrier to enjoy!!!
Thank you sir!
Overlanding is driving some distance, usually a long distance, off the beaten path and sleeping there as well. It’s camping and trail riding combined. That what it is. It’s enjoyable. The problem is like most hobbies it always becomes keeping up with the Jones’s in the gear race. People aren’t emotionally secure enough to just do it the way they want with the gear they want.
Yeah you're not wrong... But mind you, Overlanding was for the true wilderness where there aren't any roads. The desert. The steppe. The tundra. Jungles. In the rich world where people can afford those rigs you have roads. And when you actually go to these wild places you'll likely find people drive ladas, old Soviet trucks or a motorcycle, and they're all beaten up, 30yo pieces of work that have been bent back into shape with hammers. Or how many blinged out Tacomas on 35s and a nice logo wrap do you expect to see in the Mongolian desert? And how many of these "Overlanders" have the balls to drive there? They're all back at the warehouse at Monday morning to pursue their career in receiving and shipping. Meanwhile, a bunch of penny less students do the Mongol rally in 20yo little peugots and actually do drive from the Czech rep to Mongolia.
Gear kweers for sure. You can go most places with a 2wd pick up and a modest capper.
Yeah, people get sucked into the “latest and greatest” gear, gadgets, etc. And, there is a little keeping up with the Jones’s.
Every simple hobby that’s easily done by the average Joe has become a rich man’s sport to pretend to be someone else’s. Overlanding is that one
@@emiliocarranza6674yep. I have several hobbies and every single one is that way. I’ll be the first to admit I like the good quality gear. But I’m also quick to point out that it’s not necessary and sometimes I wish gear was limited to cheap stuff only available.
"Extreme solutions for a normal excursion", friggin love it.
So accurate. "Overlanding" is the most misused word these days because most people really just want to go "weekend car camping" 😂
Most people think driving a well maintained USFS or BLM road to a crowded state approved campground is "getting back to nature".
This was great dude, :D. Also, totally agree with you and when I see those folks asking "how to get started," my answer is always "Take what you've got, figure out your needs and if/when you need anything more than you've got and go from there." I loved the interview with the butterfly.
Thanks Fletch!
Haha he was a real sport
Believe it or not, I heard the exact same thing from the Overland Journal podcast a few years ago. I subscribe (for the articles!) but they are definitely helping to drive the $$$ trend in “overlanding”. Either way it was refreshing to hear from them.
Overlanders are the Dodge Chargers of the outdoor community. It’s their owners entire personality.
I started with my CRV doing landscape photography with a piece of plywood, some 2x4s, a sleeping bag, and a cooler. Slowly built more features and added simplistic gear, but the more you camp the more you realize how little gear is really necessary. A roof box is the next thing I need and recommend.
One of the best memories of my life was accidently driving a rented Ford Escape from the confluence of rivers outside Auburn CA to Truckee on dirt. My future wife and I had no intention on off-roading, we just got lost and refused to turn around. In hindsight it was pretty stupid and dangerous, but what an amazing ride and memory. It showed, without a doubt, that a modern, stock, all wheel drive vehicle, driven with a little bit of skill and common sense, is capable of WAY than most people will ever need or use. I wish I could remember which trail/road that was, My wife and I would love to do that drive again the next time we're out west.
Forest Hill Road to Soda Springs Road maybe? I’m looking at Gaia and that route looks plausible.
Foresthill road is paved all the way to Robinson Flat. Soda Springs is a nice, albeit bumpy, road. Lotta fun driving dusty roads in the Tahoe forest. There's a bunch that you don't need any kind of built out vehicle, but having 4x4 and a little clearance goes a long way even if it is a stock vehicle
@@ajc1080 Soda Springs sounds vaguely familiar, but I lived in Mammoth/June Lake/Lee Vining for years, and frequently visited Reno/Tahoe so I might just be remembering wrong. I recall it being a little more of a trail than a bumpy road, it was two track the whole way and there were at least two creek crossings that made us pucker up a bit. It was winter so the creek crossings might not be there year round. The other detail that stands out was the exit. we eventually came to a metal gate that seemed more HOA than forest service, it was unlocked and going through it put us back onto pavement in what can only be described as a VERY upscale mountain town like neighborhood. We got some funny looks in our muddy rent-a-CUV.
We accidentally followed the GPS up a steep and narrow one-lane gravel mountain road in our AWD Fusion and I was impressed that the car wanted to keep going when I wanted to quit. I think that car could do pretty well with a skilled off-road driver (not me! And without my kids in the back!)
Best “overlanding” video ever. People from the L48, spend much money to overland Alaska. They travel past my subdivision on their way to Hatchers Pass. We just call that commuting.
Let's supe up our rigs take them to Alaska to break them sounds like a hells yea brother lmfao 🤣 😂 that is all I can hear in the conversation before hand
That one always gets me too lol
Before I get a Trashsroo, I need to get a spare tire, and then before I get a spare tire I need to get a new bumper with a tire swing out. Thats one expensive Trasheroo!
It really is
And a decent jack. And an air compressor so you can refill your ties after you air them down for a rough passage. A chainsaw, which requires safety gear of its own. And for all of it buy quality the first time and you probably won't have it break and kill you the first time you need to use it.
My Subaru came with a spare tire. Already has it's own spot. Tire swing out would just make it a pain to open the rear hatch. And I would have to relocate the backup cam. Such a ridiculous mod.
Subarus are great though.
I commented on an Overlanding video by a guy who made a point of calling himself a “Minimalist” while cooking a gourmet meal out the back his $80,000 Jeep, filled with $20,000 of foo foo gear and electronics. He actually responded and tried to defend his position. Sad.
What video was that? I'm curious to see the disconnect of calling himself a minimalist, when he's not.
He is a minimalist because his jeep and his ar15 and glock collection leaves no budget left to put decorations in or around his home
I need a truck on 37" tires, twin lockers, front and rear winch, and 17 miles of maxtrax to get across Imogene Pass! Dont forget the $5000 bed rack and $4000 rooftop tent! Either that or a 200,000 mile Honda Pilot with a 3" spacer lift, some all terrains, and a Wal-Mart air mattress.
Shout out to the high mileage Honda Pilots being enjoyed for camping
I think this discussion also needs to be site-specific. For example, there are plenty of places where you can use a completely stock vehicle that doesn't have high ground clearance or specialized tires and make it to the destination safely. However, there are also many places (the desert in particular) where you just cannot make it to the destination if you don't have lift or off-road tires. So, depending on where you are traveling, the mods may be necessary and aren't just for show.
What kind of lift do I need to get to Starbucks?
@@rowdyrobbyrider4226 I guess that would depend on the road your taking wouldn't it?
The last time I went to a Starbucks was in Barstow, CA after spending 4 days on the Mojave Road. I needed a 3" lift to handle the 35" BF Goodrich KO2s and to allow for the improved articulation of the Fox suspension..
DANG! Tyler is dropping truth bombs all over the Overlanding Community!!
But seriously you’re right, just drive whatever you have and take whatever equipment you have to the mountains.
Thanks man! Appreciate you commenting
@ridefaster6802 it should just be about getting out there. Make do with what you have. Most creators who are doing this full time it's business for them. What I enjoyed about their first videos I no longer see so I quit watching the majority of them. I get tired of hearing that they are living the dream. Maybe part jealousy, or envy too 😆. Because I have to work and make do with what I have and that's ok too. I particularly would not buy a rooftop tent I prefer a small teardrop, that I can tow behind anything.
Where I overland that is a mindset that will get you killed.
That’s one of the things I keep telling people that seem to overbuild their setups… just to drive down a seasonal trail. Yeah some of the spots would probably bottom out a subframe on a sedan, or flood anything with low clearance, but build to your activity. Theres only forest service roads, seasonal roads, and some just graded dirt roads around me. Why would I do more than a 2.5” lift and 33’s on my Tacoma? It’s also my daily, and I want to factor in reliability, gas mileage, and cost. Great video.
Thank you! Well said
I grew up on a ranch in Arizona and still live on it, the trucks we had mostly Ford F-250 from 69 , 71 and 74 were ordered with posi track, we could fit 36 “ tires on them stock and one thing we always add was a 12000 pound winch, we used steel to weld them to the front of our trucks, there were few winch bumpers made back then. We still have most of those trucks working on the ranch today. My daughter has a new 4x4 pickup, yes we had to lift it for ground clearance and it has regular heavy duty truck tires on it. The rock crawlers are responsible for having more trails closed down here than the side by sides, we don’t allow those on the property. If you want to hunt and look like a regular responsible driver that’s different.
As a plated dirt biker, whenever i went overlanding with my father I was sad that we couldnt explore every little side road. And going slow because of an SUV full of rattling stuff made getting anywhere take forever.
Fibally got my dad to buy a Honda Trail 125. Now we drive to a nice dispersed free camp site, unload the bikes, and finally get to explore.
I have gotten by for 40+ years doing exactly what you are preaching. 20 years with my current 04 Tundra. I just retired. My 04 Tundra is still an amazing platform. I spent close to 20G upgrading/updating it. After 20 years of ownership and use. Good for another 20+ years now. My 04 Tundra will probably last longer than I will.
This was a brilliant video, and brilliant message. It's 100% correct. I've grown up hiking/getting outdoors, and grew up finding myself getting into overlanding. I found myself going down the gear rabbit hole until I finally went "wtf am I doing?". All I want is to camp comfortably, and get to hard to get places. That's it. As you said, a Subaru Outback can get to half the places my kitted Jeep can. Yes, it's fun, but it's not at all necessary, and this video perfectly explains that!
Thank you, and well said!
I feel like "overlanding" is in fact a hobby in itself that mixes outdoor activities with nerding out on vehicles and gear. Of course you dont need much to go car camping, but if you have the time and money to build a sick rig and go do those simple things in the coolest way possible, then WHY NOT?
i've not seen overlanders partake in "outdoor activities"
@@matthewschiebout7384 you're right, people can just hike at home on their treadmills with video displays of the outdoors. 🙄
Bingo. Live and let live. I get the point of the video and a lot of it is just sarcasm, but I don’t get all the hate in these comments. People are just doing what makes them happy. No need for all this negativity. In fact, this is one of the reasons we got into overlanding, to get far away from people like that, LOL.
@@frankpulliam8445 I think the point is simply that people waste their money to experience something that's real easy to come by.
@@mysterioanonymous3206who cares if they "waste" their money? It is none of your or anyone else's business what other people spend their money on. Pocket watching other people, is a sever form of jealousy.
I can really appreciate this video. I enjoy hiking, but I don’t have the time to get to place I feel will give me an awesome experience. I started looking into overlanding a few months ago and everything coming up is “you need this, you need this.” I already own a Subaru Outback and I know it’s capable (same videos have told me so), however I don’t want it scratched up as it is my daily. So I’ve been looking for something mechanically sound and reliable that is no where close to breaking the bank that will be for lack of a better term, “the sacrificial lamb” getting scratched and dinged. I was ready to pay the Toyota tax until watching this video. So the cheap solid forester I’ve been keeping on the list is most likely getting moved up. Only mod, tires. I work for a tire manufacturer and get free tires every 5 years (up to 8 in that time). Thank you algorithm for putting this video in my world.
I was at one of the overland expos and somebody ask me "What do you overland with?" I told them Ford Expedition or Explorer. The guy tilts his head back "I have a Toyota". What I've seen at the expo were Toyota or Mercedes snobs. Like it's impossible to overland or enjoy yourself outdoors without a Mercedes 4x4 van or Toyota Tacoma with a roof mounted tent. A lot of expensive gear for sale and I really wonder how much utility people really get out of the stuff they buy there. It's like this. A 20 year old guy asked me about what I thought about some new camping gear that came out. He wanted to purchase some stuff. I said " look you don't want to be like me having 6-7 stoves, 5-6 tents. Just utilize what you have and enjoy the outdoors. Spend you money wisely and enjoy yourself camping.
I feel like I see a lot of really, really shiny Mercedes 4x4 camper vans 🙄
Almost like it's more about showing off and spending money than actually going anywhere that would really require that kind of rig... But that's just me!
@@drewzero1 No, sir. You are NOT alone in your wondering about all of that showy stuff. Oh, you can tell! I can see it and tell it in 2 seconds. I've been in this game for almost 50 years now. That's the context in which I'm opining.
I used to hike, used to backpack, had all the gear, however, age makes a person “understand their limitations”.
Due to injuries,repairs, etc, long distance hikes and carrying a heavy backpack are no longer my thing.
So, I load up my UTV, tent, sleeping bag, a few niceties, and wander off.
Forest service roads or 4x4 trails, they will get you there.
Would I Like to have the “toys” that I see on some of the channels?
Sure, but the cost of some of those things is, well, like national debt type money.
"
That sounds fun! Glad you can still get out
I agree, I do what would be considered overlanding. In my youth, my toyota camry would get me into an area, and I would hike/backpack for miles. Now, a few surgeries later, my 4runner gets me much further than that camry did, so I still have access to scenery I can no longer reach on foot. I also believe in only adding accessories that are needed. So far, replacing the stock tires is my only modification. The other tires tended to not like sharp rocks.
Me and my group of friends do the best combination of camping. Some of us camp in our trucks, others in tents, and we bring good food with stoves and tables and ofc beer with plenty of firewood. Half of us have built rigs and others stock trucks and it all gets the job done. U dont need to buy an onboard refrigerator, solar panels, super expensive mods, drawer storage and roof racks with rooftop tents to go camp somewhere cool and have a good time
That’s the way to do it!
Many years ago I had a guy ask me what he needed to go fishing (he never fished before) and didn't want to spend a lot of money.
I told him a worm, hook, 15 feet of line and a stick.
You don't need all the fancy gear.
Well you definitely need a little more than that. Haha!
I've caught A LOT of fish with sticks. Cane poles are the best!
Depends on what your fishing for
I bought my son a nice fishing pole at the flea market yesterday for a dollar.
Bamboo sticks are pretty good for small bluegill. Fixed line about 3 feet longer than the stick if you are using a float. Hook is about a size 10-14.
Floats are fairly easy to improvise using scrap styrofoam or you can find them in trees near the shore.
The weird thing is,
at a time when there is more sealed roads than ever,
there is also more 4X4’s.
Not weird, they are related... The more people started overlanding the more nature got ruined, the more roads get closed
@@DrTheRich EXACTLY. More people = More IDIOTS. Ruins it for EVERYBODY!
I do believe this is the most honest RUclips video I have ever stumbled across. My life is complete.
Thank you sir for the kind words
My brother and sister in law spent like 2k on a roof top tent for their bronco. It’s massive, takes like 20 minutes to set up, and they are so limited on where they can set up camp.
I have $250 backpacking tent that weighs a little more than a pound and fits in a 35l backpack with all the rest of my stuff. And I can go anywhere.
As someone over 65, i have to pee alot! and peeing in a rooftop tent and sleeping next to a jug o piss is not my idea of a good time. I guess you could crawl down the ladder in a hail storm and pee in the Nieman Marcus gold plated overlanding toilet.
These things had to be said. Thank you. Even as someone who creates content geared towards Overlanding, the first thing I tell anyone is that the gear and mods are all superfluous. All you need is 4wd/AWD and good all terrain tires. Solely to make sure you don’t get stranded.
I’ll use myself as an example. I chose and modified a Land Cruiser 80 because #1. I am a born and raised Toyota fan boy and #2. I wanted a truck that I was reliable and super capable without doing too many modifications.
The rest of the gear and modifications I did are because I’ve loved building cars since I could remember, the gear and mods barely have anything to do with being able to “Overland”. I think they look cool.
There are those who Overland and take these week long trips with minimal highway road travel, so I get why they need to do certain modifications. But in reality, for the general population, you don’t need all that.
Then there are those who want to take the most difficult trail to get to a very remote place. Rock crawling, heavy mud, snowed in.. they’ve built their rigs to do it all. So I get that too. The general population isn’t doing all that. Hell I don’t even do all that all the time.
But yeah, gate keeping in the hobby is a real thing.
I think this was a great video, and genuinely enjoyed it. But that's the first thing I thought." What if I like modifying my vehicles/motorcycles? Maybe sometimes just to make it look cool?” I've enjoyed it since my childhood. Combine that with being outdoors and it's a win-win.👍
@@ryanp9084 Not only that, but some people actually do harder trails. And I disagree, the video generalizes and is bad influence because of that. I say, do a couple routes first, see the ones you like most and build the vehicle accordingly. There are two main reasons(other than any personal enjoyment taken out of modifying) to modify the vehicle:
- Reach a place you couldn't before because even with all you learned, the risk of getting stranded was to high.
- Reach a place you couldn't before, because the trail was consistently so hard that you would waste so much time crossing every obstacle that you would not have time left to enjoy the other aspects of the trip.
There are also dozens of ways of camping. You can camp with minimal comfort or you can camp with lots of comfort. I like minimal while hiking, but when off-roading some comfort is great.
Overlanding just like hiking is a hobby. In hiking you can buy lots of useless gear as well according to your definitions. The truth is the gear is not useless, it's just niche. If you consistently enjoy your hobby, and find that a piece of gear would make it better, I think it's great to go for it, even if it doesn't work out exactly as expected. Now I agree that buying pre-emptively based on imagination of what it will be like, then that's likely to result in having a lot of useless gear for what you do. That said, I think we all fall victim to that in an initial phase, of any hobby, if we have the money to spend.
Thank you for saying this out loud! It's always bewildered me in 4x4/wheel'n/overlanding is just expensive glorified car camping. All that work, and rarely fish, hike, bike, hunt, etc.......
Thanks for posting. I've never gotten into overlanding and never really knew enough to articulate why, but this is perfect and really inline with how I've felt about it.
point well taken. but after 30 years of backpacking and tent camping, my overland rig serves as an RV-light way to keep getting out there without sacrificing my sleep and joints for a fraction of the cost.
That sounds like a great way to go
Out of all the off-road stuff I've watched on RUclips, yours sir was by far the most nonchalant insulting and funny I've seen. Bravo! I could seriously watch more of this lol
Haha thank you!
"Overlanding" - a Dutch word meaning too fat to hike
I have yet to see an overlander influencer that looks like they could drive to 10,000 ft and hike to 10,250 ft to enjoy the view from the top.
good luck hiking 500 km in the Australian outback. lol
@@bradstringer944 Aborigines managed to do it for the last 65,000 years
As a complete outsider, my sense of the high-visibility overlanding stuff I've seen is that it's a money sink - drop as many dollars as possible for 'overland style' gear/vehicles. The unimog 'RV', overlanding themed truckbed camper/conversion, the FDE/black popup trailer with the ground clearance complimentary to its matching jeep seem to combine all the downsides of sleeping outdoors with all the downsides of sleeping in a structure. It seems like a significant mass of angular tan/FDE/black structure to be hauling around without also offering the comforts of a RV.
But maybe one day you can get that perfect dusk photo, that sick sunset video for the 'gram setting up camp atop a hillside only accessible crawling up shattered rock slopes in the wilderness and get ALL the likes.
Driving a 2012 Jeep Liberty that's stock except a trailer hitch, some wider tires and a nice roof rack. It's paid for, I don't mind getting it scratched. It gets home and back again to the top of local mountains and to my favorite lakes, rivers and campsites. I keep enough gear in the rig 3 seasons/ year to restart civilization (oh yeah did I mention it has tinted windows?). It does the trick.
Is nice. A little small though
I lived in a 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan, out in the desert and mountains for about 6 years. I was able to get that minivan to a lot of places that most people wouldn't think you could get a minivan, because my rule is to use the shovel before you need it. I used the shovel to dig out that rock that I might get stuck on. Used that shovel to fill in that gully that might cause me to bottom out or lose traction. I once spent three days, hauling rocks as big as I could possibly carry, to fill in a gully after a big rainstorm, just so I could make sure and get back to town when I needed to. I started filling in the gully the day after it stopped raining, not the day I needed to get back into town.
However, there were plenty of places that I knew better than to try and take that minivan. After 6 years of that, I decided I wanted to be able to go to more places. Basically, the other 90% of the boonies. So, i recently upgraded to a 1995 Chevy Suburban K1500 4x4. NOT because i wanted to go "overlanding." But because I had to be able to go over land, in order to get where I want to go and camp. And, I plan to be out there full time.
The algorithm showed me your video because i have been watching videos about how to keep from getting stuck, and how to get unstuck. I don't give a shit about some other dudes "adventures in getting his truck over a big rock." I'm gonna go around that freaking rock. I just don't want to get stuck in the sand or mud. I got other places I want to be.
Just call matt's Offroad XD
Would love to interview you. 6 years is a lot !
@@mousbleu Send me an email. The email address is easily guessable. What would you want to interview me about? Your channel has zero videos, so I have no frame of reference.
Personally I went out early with all that I had to figure out what I wanted. And from that I bought a rtt and lifted my jeep. I have in fact broken my jeep because the trails I was on were too rough. In every single one of my trips my route requires 4wd and high clearance, a stock SUV would have trouble. I'm a big believer that over landing is 60% rock crawling and 40% camping. Car camping is 20% "off-road" and 80% camping
Well it is a Jeep lol. Jk
Some great points here, I got into trying to build a more comfortable rig for having a nice basecamp while dirt biking or MTBing. I agree you don't need some super $$ overbuilt rig, but having at least a 4x4 will get you way more access to the truly remote boondock camping. I hate staying in developed camp grounds so having 4x4 helps on the nastier less maintained forest roads. I did lots of traveling in cheap rigs before deciding to build something out that is comfy for traveling in weeks on end though so would always recommend people just run what they brung to see if they even like it first ...it ain't rocket science but it sure has become trendy
Coming from someone who daily drove a 100% bone stock Subaru for years, can confirm it'll make almost all of those places. If it's a logging road, that means logging trucks can handle it, and that means your Camry can handle it.
Exactly! I remember in HS we would go off roading and my friend would follow in the jeep for actual climbing but for other shenanigans like drifting in the dirt and doing all the flat land stuff here i am with my 2001 camry with 460k miles doing everything the jeep couldnt because that thing would have flipped over. Camrys are so underrated in this field.
Watch for the people now thinking they can do this with their lowered bmw
@@hunterrandolph2036I think it was on the Tacoma subreddit but someone shared a story about the user thinking he’s really pushing his truck until he got to the end of the trail and saw a family in a Camry
I’d argue my ‘13 Subaru wrx hatchback was a better over landing rig than my 97 Land Cruiser on 37s. It hauled ass up mountain roads on the drive to the trail, was fun to throw around on dirt roads to the campsite, could hold a ton of gear with the backseats laid down, and didn’t get 12mpg lol.
Granted, the Land Cruiser was built up to rock crawl and not to be a money pit, car camping flex.
@@DrTheRich a lowered bmw could probably handle a lot of car camping forest roads if you take it easy lol. If you can drive it up a rounded driveway curb, you can handle the forest roads we have in AZ.
You forgot, only real overlanders us ONX off road for navigating 😂
or want to use Onx off road!
I have ONX, and I dont know how to use it, but I am an old guy and a technophobe.
I use GaiaGPS. Of course I also never go in an area without a proper paper topographic map and a compass.
I have an Atlas with FS roads from rei lol
@@MrJedi5150 The same here. One thing I like about Gaia are the historical maps. There great for finding ols ghost towns and mining camps.
I can completely understand your points. A friend of mine, who drives a stock 4runner trd offroad, said the only thing that needs to be changed are tires, and chances are the vehicle is more capable than what you're willing to do. I've taken my tacoma off-roading, and I get way too nervous before the truck even breaks a sweat.
I always check out the overland youtubers with the coolest rigs, but I always end up asking if all the accessories they have are necessary for my needs. Often the answer is I don't need 90% of the stuff they got.
Rooftop tents are pretty damn comfortable though. :D
Ending the video right as the Starbucks guy asks you for your order...
*Chef's kiss*
You’ve got some good points. In Australia though, a lot of long range adventures require a proper 4x4. I do agree that people here usually over-invest in equipment though. Some never end up actually using the stuff.
Australia's the REAL deal.
Canada can get that way, too. But honestly, a FWD Yaris can handle 90% of it. Small enough to pick past obstacles, short wheel base to keep from high centering, and light enough to push out of the mud or ruts if need be LOL. Going to a heavy SUV was defineltly a downgrade for me.
Honestly, by the time you are truly in the shit, the road is long, long gone, or completely impassable.
Excellent video. These points and absurdities don't only apply to Overlanding. They apply to so many other hobbies and activities in American culture: mountain biking, cycling, playing a musical instrument, hiking, fishing etc. Americans often feel the need to "stand out", or "fix what's not broken", or both.
I'm an "overlander" I like the comfort of having some of these things but also I camp a lot and I do long trips weeks at a time, I have a fridge I have a solar setup, I have a heat pad to not have to use a fuel it runs off a ecoflow electric generator, I have a coffee maker and toaster, I carry a blackstone skillet, I carry an ignik firepit because some areas don't allow fires unless they're propane, I carry a shower because I'm out there for more than a day, what do I do while camping, I hike I fish I study. Far away from people, often recording down species of animals around the spot I'm in and marking them on maps. Do I need all the gear probably not but makes it that much easier, 270 awning, camper, decked system, sliders all of that makes it easier. All the gear I have is also do some recoveries so I have a winch and tools. Day trips are fun as well, save money on buying food when I can just cook on location. I'm always invited to tailgate parties since I have everything.
As someone who has recently gotten into the “overlanding” or just outdoorsy stuff with my truck, I think you have a good point. A lot of these accessories aren’t required but it makes life easier. And if you want to go out with minimal thought or worry, having the equipment and accessories offer a peace of mind or convenience. And you never know when that 1% possibility might happen and then you need it :D
@@theman5th I'm usually the guy in our squad that has everything, I hear this phrase a little too often, "hey do you have ______ I forgot to pack it" me having everything yeah I gotchuuu, buddy forgot his green propane tank was close to empty, I have a 5lb tank and an adapter to fill the green tanks, I have gear for days and it saves me sometimes but other times it saves other people
@@christianvazquez1995 yea exactly! And I’m someone who likes to go alone so I worry about stuff like that all the time. You’re fine until you’re not
A lot of the overland hate comments on here are pure gold. Can tell most have a lot of jealousy, and most don't really overland at all. We go a lot of places that no regular car, truck or subaru could ever dream of going. Bunch of suburbanites that think a 10 minute drive to a powerline right of way is "overlanding"........
@@jblevins4313 I've explored a lot of Mendocino and bowman area, camped next to waterfalls and all that
I grew up in BFE Nevada (Tonopah). All there was to do there is “overland”, except we didn’t call it that and had never even really heard that term until 10 or so years ago when instagram became popular.
Took my bone stock tundra with a Jerry can two spares and winch all over the most desolate parts of the state. Slept in the bed of the truck under moonlight and had an old Coleman cooler. The simplicity of it all really made the experience much less consuming than a ton of high tech flashy gear.
Admittedly when I go camping now with a bigger party I do take more cooking equipment to make things easier.
Fellow 208er. My neglected 01 chevy just finished running away from the wapiti fire all along the backroads. My torque converter is going out, leaks, squeaks.... i passed overlanders and full on adventure RVs. My truck made it and family had fun hanging in the rivers, creeks, and camping, despite fire season. I think that truck deserves some new parts instead of getting replaced
Fires have been awful this year. Glad your truck is treating you good!
Great video...and it bugs me when people say "nice overland build" or "what's your overland setup?" I just go on trails with my family to enjoy the outdoors and spend time together and my rig is built according to what we have needed based on observations to what would improve the experience and practicality.
I should really slap my "Anti Over landing club" sticker on my Montero.
That would be a great sticker!
Lol I get the same. I have a 2 door jeep I use for offroading, like going on actual trails. But I also have an "offroad" squaredrop. Really only offroady enough for fire roads. And thats all I do just to go camping with the family. People ask me about "my overlanding" setup. What overlanding? I say. I have a Jeep for trails and a trailer for camping. I dont overland lol. I am not driving all the way down to patagonia.
Can confirm 35s on stock Butterfly. No lift. Rubs a little at full lock but no contact on wings during flight.
Perfect
We have a basic 4Runner with a 3" lift 33" tires dual batteries and a fridge. We do have other camping gear to be comfortable in the woods. It is easy to get caught up in the technology and expensive stuff. You don't need a $100,000 rig with 38" tires a $4000 roof top tent and 3 winches to go camping. A simple fairly capable rig can get to almost anywhere. We did a lot of Overlanding in our Ford Escape hybrid 2wd. Only had 31" A/T tires and camping gear...
The same is true for a lot of hobbies. You don't need much to get into most hobbies. It's often a lot more fun to purchase products and think about possibilities than to actually engage in your hobby. Whenever you find yourself stuck in that frame of mind, you're not actually engaging in a hobby, and are just shopping. No one needs to spend _anything_ to just go on a few day hikes. See how you like that first, and move forward from there. No need to buy a truck or a bunch of gear.
Totally!
@@208Tyler Enjoyed the vid, well done. Agree 99%. But like
@aspecialvisit noted - this is the same for all hobbies really. I fish (and golf and hike, etc). but I don't buy anything, or add anything until I have actually experienced "not having and needing" something. And then I get it, use it, and enjoy it. And oftentimes, being prepared and having that "thing" we needed actually made the excursion/day that much better. It is a shame, that we all get sucked into the consumeristic mindset and buy into to having to have the latest and greatest. Y'all take care and one way or another - get out there!
I hate doing dishes at home why would I want to do just as many well camping with less resources and comfort. Never understood these "Overlanding" vids with these extravagant meals. Just took my bone stock 1st gen tundra to the same remote area with heavily modified 60k+ vehicles and their heavy duty trailers. Only thing I was jealous of was their ability to run a bug zapper all night.
Haha well said. Keep it simple!
Yeah, the food part of the trend is weird to me too. It takes up so much time to do the whole kitchen thing outdoors, maybe it’s because a lot of overlanders don’t have other interests once they’re actually out there so might as well just prepare food for six hours every day
Paper plates. Just throw them in your artificial fire ring.
@@danmc2678 I don't mind washing a couple of bowls or plates and pan/bowl. It's the multiple cutting boards, utensils, multiple pots and pans. It's a whole spread they usually do
When you camp more than just a few nights a year you start to want yer camp food to be better. I spent 76 nights in the woods the fist season I got my roof top tent(gotta get that value), can only eat so many weiners. Professional overlanders for sure blow it out but there's places and times yer not getting in a stock truck with street tires and a modest build will let you get away from the crowd, that's the real beauty. I've more than average invested, certainly more than this guy and I stay ho,e for the major "camping holidays". I also have a bike I can camp off and a hiking bag. I just call it overlanding when I take the truck for multiple days further than normal.
Thanks for the video. It is good to be realistic about what you plan to do, and what equipment will be sufficient. I do want to get back into camping at some point, as I have not done it for a long time. But I've come to the realization that I will most likely just be going to state parks and other camp grounds for which my stock BMW X1 will be fine. No need for a lift kit and all terrain tires if I am just going to be going to camp sites or travelling on fire/forest roads that most cars can navigate with no issues. Plus, I do not really want to damage my car by going past its limits. If I lived in a different area where there were more challenging off road trails, then I would consider a different rig and equipment.
Man, you hit the nail on the head. I love driving my 4x4 in the woods. . .to get to the hiking trail so I can backpack to some actual backcountry.
Right there with ya. My criteria is just "can my truck get me to the trailhead?" And with no mods, bone stock, it always does.
thats not overlanding lol
@johnturner9924 I guess I wouldn't call an area with road access "back country."
What a rant. I don't disagree with your point but, honestly, who cares. If people want to spend their money, let them. Everyone, including the overlanders, know that they don't need the truck and gear. They just have the money and that is how they want to spend it. Seems like clout comes from two sources: having money to put into making people jealous of your set up and ... whining about people who "over do" whatever it is that they like to do. To each their own. 10 minutes of rant about someone else's methods or decisions...great content?
You can "who cares" your way through alot of things. I didn't expect people to care about this video, but here we are. This is my own collection of thoughts and arguments that I have with myself. I feel as though I'm criticizing my own desires and my own community. I don't have a single person, vehicle, or brand in mind as I made this video.
I don't have a great care for/about people who over do their builds, but I do have concern for people who are mislead into overbuilding, overspending, and eventually regretting their choices and learning the hard way.
We aren’t children. People who purchase this type of equipment are adults, capable of making decisions. I have not ever seen someone trying to convince me to buy a bunch of stuff. I have only seen people trying to encourage people to enjoy the outdoors. It is our own coveting nature that drives the overwhelming desire to purchase.
I work in the woods and I use a 1/2 ton stock ram. I’ve put thousands of miles on that truck driving on terrain that many think is not posible with such low clearance. All I need is 4x4 and good tires.
I really liked this. You basically took the words right out of my mouth, except you worded it in a way that is far more digestible than I would. Great talk, great points.
Thank you so much! I really appreciate it. It's awesome to see your channel taking off man, keep it up, I know you've been working hard!
It’s a money hobby too. Toys. Shiny and expensive toys, not that different from collecting shoes or purses
And the same mentality of species too!
🍻 it's something I do my best to point out to potential recruits of any hobby these days. I like to remind them of how it was the supply stores and whatnot that made a reliable fortune during the gold rush.
Yeah as a guy who has driven a stock 4WD Tacoma for about 6 years now, I can't help but just roll my eyes when I see the completely decked out overlanding Tacomas because I know most of the people who spend that money just want to look like they're part of that culture. I guarantee 80% of Tacomas with snorkels have never driven through much more than a small stream. They also like to just drive around on dirt roads on their weekends and then "forget" to wash off the mud because when they get back to the city then everyone will see how much they got it dirty.
I’m not gonna lie, I like watching the videos of fully built “rigs” traveling off the beaten path. That being said, Im fortunate to have a 2018 Jeep Wrangler that I bought new. It’s not built, It has all terrain tires and some lights on it, but that’s it. I don’t have any fancy camping shit. I use old Coleman lanterns and stoves and simple things you can buy at Walmart. No drone or 37 navigation iPads and stuff all over my dash. I have a tent that goes on the ground or I sleep in the Jeep. Watching all these guys constantly filming everything to me takes away from the aspect of trying to go and RELAX. That’s what camping is all about! The time you spend in nature RELAXING!!! Not filming Timmy making a seven course meal on his overly expensive propane slide out stove.
@tomdadisman1400 or a skottle 😆 oh wait, if you haven't tried cooking in a camp oven this is a must lol 😆 I too have a jeep I have a winch for recovery, soft shackles a kinetic tow strap, basic tools, a small air compressor if I air down and need to get tires inflated. A pair of off road lights. I do have front and rear lockers that I barely use. I do have a drone but kinda takes the fun out of it if you have to film everything. And your trying to disconnect. They are always connected.
I live on the east coast so overlanding literally doesn’t exist. We have ZERO public land and you can just sleep in a tent at a campground. It sucks
Pretty sure this is where 95% of the commenters are from too, given their outrageous overlander hate and ignorance.
Same here in west Europe... Have to go to Russia or something to get the real experience
I "overland" on a 2004 Honda Element with front wheel drive. I did lift it a bit to accommodate A/T tires. I have a RTT that I bought on Alibaba for $800 w/shipping. I use cargo boxes for all my gear. My coolest upgrade was buying a portable fridge. And no, it was not a Dometic and it was a lot cheaper and works just as well. Gets me anywhere off the grid I want to go!
Overlanding is being self sufficient for weeks on end traversing off the beaten path. Similar to backpacking but in a car. However, it’s a fashion statement now especially with the rise of instagram influencers. But a cool looking car is fun to drive so whatever, I’m not gonna yuck someone’s yum.
Thanks for saying what everyone is already thinking! I've always felt "overlanding" is stupid and "bougie". Sort of like these dumb videos of some mysterious guy on a mountains side creek bank cooking a 5 star steak dinner with his $500 rustic kitchen knife on his $300 rustic cutting board and what he wants you to believe are spices and greens he collected on his hike to his sacred outdoor kitchen spot.
Haha ya. Good analogy!
Guilty
Before the overlanding build hustle, people walked, used horses, drove a car or truck knowing its capabilities, and used the same equipment to do their daily jobs.
I’ve always thought of overlanding as going very long distances in a car off road. It’s not just a camping trip off a forest road, but a trip anywhere from days to months in which you only have your car to rely on and have to bring extra fuel, etc. because you are going far.
The problem is, that there are places, like parts of Europe or parts of America, where you just can not drive offroad for that long without bumping into a local shopping mall. But the people living there just want to do that overlanding as well. 😀
That’s true, however I don’t think it would ruin the overlanding especially on a long trip where someone is going all the way down the americas. In my opinion, it’s still a loose definition. A 2 night trip could be overlanding if you went 75+ miles off road, in my opinion. I would also call a weeks/months long trip in which you had to stop in town a couple times overlanding. Both examples are clearly on a level above car camping just because of the distance.
@@rileyf8036 No complaints, but you still would be limited by possibilities within the area. The few-weeks-long offroad trip would be called expedition, overlanding or shopping trip, depending on your actual location and/or social situation. 😀
Very well said. The thing that matters most about camping etc is getting there and who you are with and the memories made, not the equipment. Things shouldn't be the focus but rather the people and the experiences together. A good reminder for us all.
Facts
To me, overlanding is multi day car camping trips through routes a Honda civic can’t make. But yeah it’s just another name for car camping and most of the time a Honda civic can take the same route.
You rarely see an overlander crossing Siberia...
"A lead foot" is how I cross creeks in my 2005 Honda Civic on my way to camp or hike, even when raised 4 wheel trucks and jeeps are stopped on the other side contemplating their chances, but then I'm a raised Kentucky Hillbilly.
i drive a 2 door wrangler, "overlanding" to me is just the trip to get to where I'm trying to fish, hunt/ camp. throwing a boat on the roof rack and spending the weekend tent camping, fishing, hunting and even sometimes target shooting. you don't need anything special to do what I do, that being said my jeep takes me to lakes that haven't been fished in years, mountain ranges that haven't been hunted since the 90's. Build your rig to be more capable not comfortable, I'm 22 and comfort isn't my main priority hahah
I mean people don't need a Ferrari either they just want one. Cars have always been something to spend your money on that you have extra just for the looks or for what it can do. Building your "overland rig" is basically the same thing but for different types of cars.
as someone else said; gear kweers