All things Overlanding thread
- Thread starter el_kab0ng
- Start date
Hopefully it'll happen this year
LawnDart
Senior Member
Bingo. People confuse car camping, or offroading, with overlanding.
We have this incredible thing in america called...wait for it...roads! As you said, there's really nowhere you can go if you have a destination in mind, where accessing fuel and food are impossible. Therefore you HAVE to purposely invent a scenario where you have to by legitimately self sufficient.
Maybe it's the Expedition Overland effect, but how many "overland" groups invented themselves shortly afterwards. Everyone wants a piece of that pie. Yet I can't say I've seen any content that really captures my attention.
I do think the term "overlanding" as a result is changing. If you read Overland Journal, that's really more of a celebration of the traditional sense of overlanding. But it's also stuffy and out of touch with reality. Sorry but I don't have the funds to ship my truck to Namibia and have a catered safari or some bullshit that the OJ readers seem to wank off to in their leather-bound book rooms. I think the term overlanding is essentially glorified car camping for most. But as it traditionally was, consisted of travel via motor vehicle because no other reliable or practical means existed while being self sufficient along the way. I'd say realistically, parts of eastern asia, and australia, those opportunities are getting rarer and rarer.
We have this incredible thing in america called...wait for it...roads! As you said, there's really nowhere you can go if you have a destination in mind, where accessing fuel and food are impossible. Therefore you HAVE to purposely invent a scenario where you have to by legitimately self sufficient.
Maybe it's the Expedition Overland effect, but how many "overland" groups invented themselves shortly afterwards. Everyone wants a piece of that pie. Yet I can't say I've seen any content that really captures my attention.
I do think the term "overlanding" as a result is changing. If you read Overland Journal, that's really more of a celebration of the traditional sense of overlanding. But it's also stuffy and out of touch with reality. Sorry but I don't have the funds to ship my truck to Namibia and have a catered safari or some bullshit that the OJ readers seem to wank off to in their leather-bound book rooms. I think the term overlanding is essentially glorified car camping for most. But as it traditionally was, consisted of travel via motor vehicle because no other reliable or practical means existed while being self sufficient along the way. I'd say realistically, parts of eastern asia, and australia, those opportunities are getting rarer and rarer.
Krayziekid
New member
[MENTION=56922]NoOneBetter[/MENTION] [MENTION=139970]greatape[/MENTION] [MENTION=140851]Vinsil[/MENTION]
Here's a thought. I might be able to get a second hand Gobi Ladder from a buddy of mine for pretty cheap. Do you think if I did the Gobi Ladder and upgraded the trunk struts that I could figure out a way to mount 2 5gal jerry cans on either side? I gotta imagine that if I can climb up the ladder, it can hold 2 full jerry cans without me on it. Thoughts??
Here's a thought. I might be able to get a second hand Gobi Ladder from a buddy of mine for pretty cheap. Do you think if I did the Gobi Ladder and upgraded the trunk struts that I could figure out a way to mount 2 5gal jerry cans on either side? I gotta imagine that if I can climb up the ladder, it can hold 2 full jerry cans without me on it. Thoughts??
tarouszars
New member
I think part of the problem is there is tons of overlap gear wise between "Overlanding", "car camping" and what I do most which is just "going for a ride on a dirt road somewhere". Having a singular word feels easier to say. Some true continent crossing overlanders get super ticked if I use the term overland when all I did was drive up the canyon to the lake and back. It is technically over land, but is clearly a different thing.
NoOneBetter
Member
You're gonna need some crazy beefy struts to hold up 2 jerrys and the ladder. Dunno if thats even possible. See the link below for a similar idea.
So, All You Want is a Jerry Can Holder? How's This? - Page 4 - Second Generation Nissan Xterra Forums (2005+)
Liquidmantis
New member
Yeah, I don't think we're going to solve the definition problem here and certainly not without just beating the thread to death with semantics. While it's somewhat embarrassing to use the term "overlanding", I think it serves a purpose in distinguishing a very niche form of car camping. Car camping can be as simple as loading up the family Gremlin with a $20 Wal-Mart tent and an ice chest of burgers and beer, then heading over to the state park with hot showers and water and electricity running to your groomed campsite with tent pad. The connotation of overlanding is that it's more rugged dispersed camping, potentially pushing the limits of most stock vehicles. Outside of XO hamming it up for "good TV" I don't think anyone is suffering from the delusion that we're making grand treks for the growth of the British Empire -- although I'll be packing IPAs all the same.
LawnDart
Senior Member
Have you seen how many "overland" series are now on youtube? or how many vehicles are wrapped with matching schemes?
Jesus...
v_man
New member
I think you guys are missing the point ....
As we all know the spirit and purpose of overlanding is...to take pictures of yourself to share on social media. So enough talk and please more pictures of overlanding....
overlanding the forest
overlanding the river
overlanding the parking lot
proper overlanding stickers
overlanding the ocean
overlanding Utah
overlanding fail
overlanding win
overlanding desert
overlanding love
As we all know the spirit and purpose of overlanding is...to take pictures of yourself to share on social media. So enough talk and please more pictures of overlanding....
overlanding the forest
overlanding the river
overlanding the parking lot
proper overlanding stickers
overlanding the ocean
overlanding Utah
overlanding fail
overlanding win
overlanding desert
overlanding love
A resurgence of interest in camping in America isn't the worst of things. REI, sometimes thought of as an enemy to the 4x4 crowd, sells RTTs now. There's legitimate US-based "overland" equipment manufacturers now instead of only Australia and South Africa.
I'll agree that there's a few too many "overland"-themed YouTube channels, but it's no worse than any other hobby that's grown exponentially in the last few years. (Exhibit A: firearms/"tactical" industry)
The planet has been sufficiently mapped at this point, and we know which species of animals exist and where they live. There's not much legitimate need for an expedition anymore. Should the term "overland" die off with that?
I think not. "Overland" vehicle travel these days could (should?) describe any multi-day, vehicle-supported (as opposed to hotel-supported) excursion. Basically backpacking in a truck. Because if I say I went "camping" last weekend, that could mean an RV in a paved campground, but if I say I went "backpacking", it's clear that I hiked into the woods, lived out of a pack, and hiked back. Likewise, if I say that for my week's vacation I'm going on an "overland trip through 'X' national forest", it implies that I'm not just driving to the OHV park, airing down, yelling "whoooo", and then going home to watch The Bachelor or whatever.
I say take the good with the bad.
I'll agree that there's a few too many "overland"-themed YouTube channels, but it's no worse than any other hobby that's grown exponentially in the last few years. (Exhibit A: firearms/"tactical" industry)
The planet has been sufficiently mapped at this point, and we know which species of animals exist and where they live. There's not much legitimate need for an expedition anymore. Should the term "overland" die off with that?
I think not. "Overland" vehicle travel these days could (should?) describe any multi-day, vehicle-supported (as opposed to hotel-supported) excursion. Basically backpacking in a truck. Because if I say I went "camping" last weekend, that could mean an RV in a paved campground, but if I say I went "backpacking", it's clear that I hiked into the woods, lived out of a pack, and hiked back. Likewise, if I say that for my week's vacation I'm going on an "overland trip through 'X' national forest", it implies that I'm not just driving to the OHV park, airing down, yelling "whoooo", and then going home to watch The Bachelor or whatever.
I say take the good with the bad.
Vinsil
New member
My worry would be on the mounts of the ladder. Static and dynamic loads are two different things and while the ladder is fine to climb up and down for an average size person, moving down the road and trails with 80-90 pounds of moving liquid on it will put stress in all directions. Now, I see guys that mount all kinds of crazy things to those ladders...highlift, roto packs, etc. so maybe I'm off on my thoughts but I have never seen two jerry's mounted to one and I haven't owned a gobi ladder but they seem to mount by pinching the hatch seems.
Maybe someone has done that and will chime in....
Not to mention I can't imagine how strong the struts would need to be...yikes.
Vinsil
New member
I like to camp. I hate campgrounds and only stay in them on the coast because not many choices there, but take my boat so it's a wash. Then we "oversea" lol.
But I like to get off the beaten path. Here is a pic from last summer. Yes, this was my truck and camper and yes, we are glamping. However, this was 22 miles up some service road near some mines in between the painted hills and prineville. Yeah, no Africa but it's fun and boys are growing up outdoors.
Now I have the 4Runner, we are going to minimize a bit on the quick trips like the one above. That was fun, and we mined for thunder eggs and hiked the hills.
BTW! That camper has pin stripes down the sides of it. We use it!
But I like to get off the beaten path. Here is a pic from last summer. Yes, this was my truck and camper and yes, we are glamping. However, this was 22 miles up some service road near some mines in between the painted hills and prineville. Yeah, no Africa but it's fun and boys are growing up outdoors.
Now I have the 4Runner, we are going to minimize a bit on the quick trips like the one above. That was fun, and we mined for thunder eggs and hiked the hills.
BTW! That camper has pin stripes down the sides of it. We use it!
Vinsil
New member
Here we are "overlaking"! LOL!
Camping off the lake is fun as well...water less traveled? Fun to have an entire cove to yourself. I guess my point is...do it how you want, get outdoors and don't worry about labels!
Oh and if guys think this overlanding or wheeling is expensive...boat stands for bust out another thousand! Geez....:tsk:
Camping off the lake is fun as well...water less traveled? Fun to have an entire cove to yourself. I guess my point is...do it how you want, get outdoors and don't worry about labels!
Oh and if guys think this overlanding or wheeling is expensive...boat stands for bust out another thousand! Geez....:tsk:
Ray Dunakin
Senior Member
Agree! IMHO "campgrounds" are the antithesis of camping. But they're good for giving the tourists a place to go.
Even before I could drive I was following the Camel Trophy, Bill Burke, and reading about trails like Black Bear in Colorado.
I've grown up using a 4wd vehicle to get to school and work, head out in the weather and for camping, fishing, skiing, etc. Close to 20ish years ago I started going farther with my Jeeps and Land Cruisers....multi week trips and trips into Mexico.
At the time, the US market seemed to be focusing on rock crawling...putting 44" tires on everything, and all I wanted was to go fly fishing someplace cool.
I began building trucks for travel, and found that places like Australia and Africa had things that made this easier...vehicle fridges...awnings...roof top tents! I was on the phone at 5am to order a first edition of Tom Sheppard's Vehicle Dependent Expedition Guide from a bookstore in London, and found a few folks here in the US who were interested in travel who have become great friends.
Now, some of these friends are industry leaders in bringing "Overlanding" to the US, and it's been amazing to see how much it's caught on. (The first "Overland Expo" was just a few friends camping, teaching and driving for a few days....)
I've always seen "Overlanding" as being open to so many demographics...each person can take or leave what they want, and it encompasses those who just want to take the Subaru to a trailhead or drive the entire Pan American highway self sufficiently.
Sometimes, however, I think the focus is too much on equipping the "perfect" rig; rather than getting out and exploring.
I don't think Overlanding needs a particular definition, just go explore and use the lessons to make the trip more enjoyable!
-H-
Just a couple of the rigs I've driven over the years:
I've grown up using a 4wd vehicle to get to school and work, head out in the weather and for camping, fishing, skiing, etc. Close to 20ish years ago I started going farther with my Jeeps and Land Cruisers....multi week trips and trips into Mexico.
At the time, the US market seemed to be focusing on rock crawling...putting 44" tires on everything, and all I wanted was to go fly fishing someplace cool.
I began building trucks for travel, and found that places like Australia and Africa had things that made this easier...vehicle fridges...awnings...roof top tents! I was on the phone at 5am to order a first edition of Tom Sheppard's Vehicle Dependent Expedition Guide from a bookstore in London, and found a few folks here in the US who were interested in travel who have become great friends.
Now, some of these friends are industry leaders in bringing "Overlanding" to the US, and it's been amazing to see how much it's caught on. (The first "Overland Expo" was just a few friends camping, teaching and driving for a few days....)
I've always seen "Overlanding" as being open to so many demographics...each person can take or leave what they want, and it encompasses those who just want to take the Subaru to a trailhead or drive the entire Pan American highway self sufficiently.
Sometimes, however, I think the focus is too much on equipping the "perfect" rig; rather than getting out and exploring.
I don't think Overlanding needs a particular definition, just go explore and use the lessons to make the trip more enjoyable!
-H-
Just a couple of the rigs I've driven over the years:
Vinsil
New member
Even before I could drive I was following the Camel Trophy, Bill Burke, and reading about trails like Black Bear in Colorado.
I've grown up using a 4wd vehicle to get to school and work, head out in the weather and for camping, fishing, skiing, etc. Close to 20ish years ago I started going farther with my Jeeps and Land Cruisers....multi week trips and trips into Mexico.
At the time, the US market seemed to be focusing on rock crawling...putting 44" tires on everything, and all I wanted was to go fly fishing someplace cool.
I began building trucks for travel, and found that places like Australia and Africa had things that made this easier...vehicle fridges...awnings...roof top tents! I was on the phone at 5am to order a first edition of Tom Sheppard's Vehicle Dependent Expedition Guide from a bookstore in London, and found a few folks here in the US who were interested in travel who have become great friends.
Now, some of these friends are industry leaders in bringing "Overlanding" to the US, and it's been amazing to see how much it's caught on. (The first "Overland Expo" was just a few friends camping, teaching and driving for a few days....)
I've always seen "Overlanding" as being open to so many demographics...each person can take or leave what they want, and it encompasses those who just want to take the Subaru to a trailhead or drive the entire Pan American highway self sufficiently.
Sometimes, however, I think the focus is too much on equipping the "perfect" rig; rather than getting out and exploring.
I don't think Overlanding needs a particular definition, just go explore and use the lessons to make the trip more enjoyable!
-H-
Just a couple of the rigs I've driven over the years:
Drool over your Cruisers! I'm Cruiser guy at heart...had three!
owyheerat
New member
Nice rigs...
It looks like you have owned some nice 'overland' rigs, and taken them to some awesome places.
Thanks for sharing.
One more pic...gotta get a little wanderlust into folks.
There are no guardrails in Copper Canyon, Mexico....
-H-
It looks like you have owned some nice 'overland' rigs, and taken them to some awesome places.
Thanks for sharing.
