All things Overlanding thread

[el_kab0ng]

Preamble:

Webster's dictionary defines 'overland' as a word first used in the 12th Century to describe a journey by, on or across land. A more prescriptive usage of the phrase is provided by Overlandjournal.com, which defines it as a “described self-reliant adventure travel to remote destinations where the journey is the primary goal. Typically, but not exclusively, accommodated by mechanized off-highway capable transport (from bicycles to trucks) where the principal form of lodging is camping; often lasting for extended lengths of time (months to years) and often spanning international boundaries. While expedition is defined as a journey with a purpose, overlanding sees the journey as the purpose.” Very nicely put, if you ask me.

I think it's generally accepted that there are two camps here on the forums: The extreme off-roaders who enjoy modding their beloved T4R to tackle the toughest obstacles this planet has to offer and those of us who simply want to accessorize our T4Rs to enjoy the journey between point A and B. It seems that the majority of posts favor the former over the latter, so I wanted to start one which was dedicated specifically to Overlanding and the people who enjoy this type of activity.

With that in mind, if you plan to participate in this thread, I’d like to ask you to keep it on topic to Overlanding and avoid cluttering the thread with unneccesary modding, extreme off-roading or other unrelated topics. Examples of appropriate topics (as I see them) would be vehicle preparation, personal essentials, overlanding trip reports, camping gear recommendations, food preparation recommendations, etc.

This is strictly voluntary, of course, but hopefully this thread appeals to those who enjoy Overlanding as much as I do and appreciate the effort to have this sort of discussion all in one place. With any luck, we could have this turned into a dedicated section of the forums so that it has a home for the longer term.

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Now that we have that out of the way, let’s get this bad boy kicked off right with some vehicle essentials. Over the last year, I’ve been accessorizing my ’16 TE w/KDSS with some basic additions. I’ve listed the most prominent ones with where I got them from and would be happy to explain my reasoning to anyone who wants to know.

• Roof Rack w/ladder (Bajarack standard basket/ladder)
• Shovel/Ax/Folding Hand Saw (Home Depot)
• MaxTrax (Ordered online)
• Schumacher Digital Power Station (Walmart)
• Expanded Tool Kit (jack, flares, cave light/flash light, high-vis gear)
• Plastic Fuel Cans (Scepter - Tractor Supply)
• Recovery strap/soft shackles (Bubba Rope & Soft Shackles - Amazon)
• Fire extinguisher (Walmart)
• Vehicle fluids (drive train, radiator, etc) (Walmart)

Mod edit: I have stickied this thread at the top of the General Forum. Eventually we will make an Overlanding sub forum.
-mod-

 

[el_kab0ng]

63 views and 3 likes, yet no posts so far? Don't let the nay sayers about community interest in Overlanding be true!

 

[Vinsil]

Mine is being modded in this direction.

My mods so far include better off-road tires (BFG KO2's in the 10 ply configuration).

Sliders for a few reasons. Step to access the roof, rocker protection of course, jacking points and hey, door ding protection too!

A dedicated off-road shovel, I have two. One for snow that is fully aluminum and light weight, and a krazy beaver because it's cool looking (and super strong and multifunctional.

Recovery gear. Straps, rear hitch pin, gloves, some d rings and snatch blocks for someone with a winch!

I have a high lift and mounts for the roof, but have been debating on switching over to traction boards instead.

Adding my CB here as parts come in. Have a set of two ways as well.

Bilstein 5100's. I might not do these if I had to again, I love them and do have them on my truck but I'd most likely wear out the stockers first and upgrade down the road. Maybe springs as well as weight is added.

So far, thinking of building a smaller drawer system for the back. I can that being very handy for organizing the common gear.

Have a go bag in the back with a three day setup. Full med kit, clothing, hygiene, water/food, hatchet, knives, multi tool kit, ect.

That is it so far as we don't plan to go on much more than day trips so far with it. I have a slide in camper for my Ram we use for over nights. I have three young boys and a dog so it fits better than a RTT right now. But I can see a RTT or trailer opening up some more secluded places. We don't do camp grounds unless forced to on the coast when fishing but I push my Ram and slide in down some fire roads deep away from others!

Great thread look forward to more posts and sharing.

 

[232vzlano]

overlanding is my thing but I enjoy offroading too. im trying to build my truck to be an hybrid between the two but I take an overland trip anyday over an offroad trip anyday however true overland trips take alot of planning and time while a quick offroqd trip is more convenient

 

[Spenny]

Great topic. I fear everything/ posts will get lost in one long thread. There's the off-roading section that is hardly used from what I see and we could hijack that area as a lot will be similar.

I tried to start a camp kitchen thread to share recipes and such, but it got lost pretty quick.

With that said, I'll be following along. I'm working on getting my gen5 as self sufficient as possible to go anywhere I want. Slowly chipping away at what gets put in the car and how it is secured.

 

[Vinsil]

I'll share a few things along the way that I've found and love product wise.

https://www.amazon.com/MPOWERD-Luci-Outdoor-Inflatable-Solar/dp/B00F5TI7C4/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1484009856&sr=8-5&keywords=luci+light

These are awesome! I have a bunch we use and originally bought since putting added weight in my slide in camper and backpacking is a no no! They hold a charge very well and put out a ton of light. Best part is they deflate into almost nothing so space used is nearly nil.

 

[T4RZAN]

Setting up my rig to be an Overland capable vehicle. I mostly just enjoy exploring and would much rather take the longer route through the woods if I can. I'll post up pictures of what I've done so far. Not much but it's a start!

 

[tarouszars]

I'm mostly a "Dayverlander" but have aspirations to do more. Right now my only piece of off road equipment is a Viair 300p compresssor. I should grab a tire kit too.

After that I'm contemplating a new tent, sliders and a roof rack.

For a tent I've been looking hard at the Kodiaks. They seem to offer good size and good quality. A RTT looks and sounds nice but my 4RUNNER is a daily driver and I also need to fit 6 people so it just doesn't seem like that will work. Also price.

Sliders because I've already hit a few spots I think they would have helped on and instead I just turned around. And a roof rack because if I can ever con my wife and all the kids to come with me I'll need more storage space.

 

[el_kab0ng]

Has anyone played around with the roof top solar panels and dual batteries to power gear at a camp site? This is one area I'm exploring along with some side lighting. I play around in areas that get DARK when there's no moon in the sky and often feel a pair of Rigid D2HDs on the side with wide spread would be nice.

 

[el_kab0ng]

Great topic. I fear everything/ posts will get lost in one long thread. There's the off-roading section that is hardly used from what I see and we could hijack that area as a lot will be similar.

I'm working with 1engineer in monitoring the success of this thread to see if it can make it as a sticky first, then possibly it's own forum section second. If the latter, I'd like to think we could break it out into three sections to keep things organized:

1. Vehicle essentials - Preparing your vehicle for OL work (accessorizing your ride for the journey).
2. Personal essentials - Preparing the people side of overlanding (food, tents, electronics, camping gear).
3. OL travelogue - Sharing your OL trips, group get togethers, etc.

 

[el_kab0ng]

After that I'm contemplating a new tent, sliders and a roof rack.

For a tent I've been looking hard at the Kodiaks. They seem to offer good size and good quality. A RTT looks and sounds nice but my 4RUNNER is a daily driver and I also need to fit 6 people so it just doesn't seem like that will work. Also price.

There are a TON of RTT threads here on the forums spread out over several years. After weighing all the options, I went with a ground tent. The biggest drawback to an RTT that I saw is lack of mobility once it's deployed. I've been in situations where an expedited exit was required, leaving the camping gear in place. If I'd had a RTT deployed, it probably would have resulted in a much more critical situation for someone than it was.

 

[el_kab0ng]

Personal Essentials - Part One

When I think about vehicle essentials, I'm usually thinking about the items that are used on the outside of the vehicle. Personal essentials are usually the gear you take with you, but is removable/exchangeable depending on your situation. I've listed out the items I usually take with me on almost every journey, and items which I will be including at some point as the need arises:

• Yaesu VX-5R HTs (2x) - These are dated VHF radios, but they work well and are compact in size. VERY necessary when exiting the vehicle and milling around the campsite.
  
• Yaesu FT880 - I used to have this installed in my former vehicle, but haven't installed it in the T4R yet. I do a significant amount of air travel and it's always annoying to stop before entering the parking garage to lower the antenna.
  
• Bug Out Bag/ERB - This is a mandatory item I carry with me which includes all the basics for a 3-day 'adventure'. There's an ERB thread I've contributed to which has alot of great suggestions if anyone is interested in building their own.
  
• Medical kit/First Aid Manual - I keep this apart and separate from my BOB/ERB and rotate the stock depending on the activity. This is a discipline which is difficult to adhere to as it's easy to be lazy about unpacking and repacking the kit.
  
• Water - I keep a 2 gallon Igloo cooler thingie full of water and with me at all times as my emergency supply even if I'm carrying additional 5 Gal water cans.
  
• Shumacher Digital Power Station - I can't speak highly enough about this $90 piece of kit. It's got the digital air compressor, emergency light, jumper cables, regular plug, USB plugs and a cigarette lighter style plug. Great for charging phones, tablets, jump starting another vehicle, and airing up/down.
  
• Extension Cord - For the T4R owners with the 110V plug in the back, I bet you never thought to carry an extension cord, didja? Aside from the Shucmacher DPS, this is the next most usedl piece of kit I carry with me. Not only can you use it to charge the DPS with the engine running when it's low, but also any tools that require power away from your vehicle.
  
• Drone/GoPro - It seems more like a luxury than a necessity, but my drone has helped me out of more navigational jams than I like to admit. Sending one up to find the exit to a beach trail or to see what's beyond the horizon is more important than people realize. I attribute this little trick to Ronny Dahl and his Ozzie adventures.

 

[Vinsil]

Has anyone played around with the roof top solar panels and dual batteries to power gear at a camp site? This is one area I'm exploring along with some side lighting. I play around in areas that get DARK when there's no moon in the sky and often feel a pair of Rigid D2HDs on the side with wide spread would be nice.

From my experience with perma mounted solar panels, they lack in a few areas. Flat mounted panels don't take full advantage of the sun. You miss a full day due to flat mounted position.

I'd recommend a suit case style setup so you can move it to gain maximum light absorbing ability. Also....your able to move it outside of shade since we, as camper, camp under shade in the hotter months.

 

[1engineer]

Has anyone played around with the roof top solar panels and dual batteries to power gear at a camp site? This is one area I'm exploring along with some side lighting. I play around in areas that get DARK when there's no moon in the sky and often feel a pair of Rigid D2HDs on the side with wide spread would be nice.

[MENTION=47340]Titanpat57[/MENTION]

 

[el_kab0ng]

From my experience with perma mounted solar panels, they lack in a few areas. Flat mounted panels don't take full advantage of the sun. You miss a full day due to flat mounted position.

I'd recommend a suit case style setup so you can move it to gain maximum light absorbing ability. Also....your able to move it outside of shade since we, as camper, camp under shade in the hotter months.

Yeah.. it seems there are two camps with this as well - rigid panels and flexible panels. Flexible are more portable, but usually less efficient than rigid. Rigid gives you efficiency by sacrificing the ease of use. It's definitely a cosmic convenience conundrum.

 

[Vinsil]

Yeah.. it seems there are two camps with this as well - rigid panels and flexible panels. Flexible are more portable, but usually less efficient than rigid. Rigid gives you efficiency by sacrificing the ease of use. It's definitely a cosmic convenience conundrum.

Or..have your cake and eat it too. :biggrin2:

https://www.renogy.com/renogy-100-watt-12-volt-monocrystalline-foldable-solar-suitcase-back-order/

BTW Renogy makes good stuff. Have it on my slide in camper and they are highly regarded in the RV world for quality at a good price.

Yes this is large and bulky but real estate on the roof is limited as is. Depending your power consumption the 100 watt suit case might give you more recharging power than say...two 50 watt panels mounted flat up top. Only you can determine how much power you need and will consume on a nightly basis. Great calculators out there to help you.

 

[Porqupine82]

There was a huge interest in overlanding in my area, but no organized unit. I created Overland Tennessee, and we now have 8 committed members who are the best friends one could ask for.

Many people focus on the vehicle aspect of Overlanding, and I am completely opposite. The vehicle is only a vessel for your journey... The people, time, and location are the most important aspect of it. I have built a capable rig, and just ordered a winch and bumper (it's neverending) but that's just to get more remote!

Speaking of Overlanding, have you seen the overland Time/speed/distance rally I'm organizing?

overlandtennessee.wixsite.com/redclayrally

Great little event to get your feet wet, with huge sponsors, and thousands of prizes to be won.

 

[hounddogman]

Wow, so far you 5th gen guys are dominating this overlanding tread .:biggrin2:I This is what I've been setting up my 96 for. First step was a ARB front bumper because what's a overlander without a ARB ? Next was a roof rack because we overlanders do not pack lite . My rear storage is a work in progress . I'm trying to get a good kitchen set up so meal time doesn't take so long . Maybe everyone could post pictures of their kitchen setups ?

 

[el_kab0ng]

Wow, so far you 5th gen guys are dominating this overlanding tread .:biggrin2:I This is what I've been setting up my 96 for. First step was a ARB front bumper because what's a overlander without a ARB ? Next was a roof rack because we overlanders do not pack lite . My rear storage is a work in progress . I'm trying to get a good kitchen set up so meal time doesn't take so long . Maybe everyone could post pictures of their kitchen setups ?]

I've kicked around the idea of storage shelves like that, but man they take up so much room and are a beast to install/deinstall. My T4R isn't a 'dedicated' platform specifically for OL activities, so at the end of the journey, it transforms back into my daily driver.

In place of that, this is our basic set up when OTM (don't mind the H1 in the background):

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B4nalY0yB3kfbEp2eGRIRGJ2ZnM

 

[Liquidmantis]

I've kicked around the idea of storage shelves like that, but man they take up so much room and are a beast to install/deinstall. My T4R isn't a 'dedicated' platform specifically for OL activities, so at the end of the journey, it transforms back into my daily driver.

This is the exact reason that, while drawers are sexy, I've [for now] based my loading around a homebrew plate and cleat system and Plano storage bins. Highly functional and modular, yet I can have the full cargo area available in a couple of minutes, even taking my time. That said, Hounddogman's setup is damned nice too.