All things Overlanding thread

[Porqupine82]

Two more

 

[Topgun15v]

Did a weeklong trip through Ozark NF in Ark...

How do you like that Hiker Trailer? Love the Ozarks, get out there about 5 times a year. I assume you have been to the old homestead and School House?


Now on to the overlanding aspect of my post =D. Something I wanted to point out is now a days it appears that everyone wants to make their rigs taller, with bigger lifts, larger tires, and more mods.

My philosophy of overlanding is quit the opposite where I believe smaller is better. A 3in lift or less, and 33in tires or less. I also try to keep as much stock as possible which usually equates to less things to break. I upgrade lighting and add a good CB. In addition, I think a front bumper and a winch is a necessity, combined with a snorkel (depending on areas) for cleaner air, and a good cooler with cold beverages is all you need.

Keep it simple, keep it cheap, keep it reliable, keep it fun. At night I always bring glow sticks for the kids to play hide and seek around camp. For dinner, I do something quick and easy, to enjoy nature not slaving over a meal. Oh and I almost forgot a camera for good quality pics! Below are some pics of my last trip in Arkansas 2 weekends ago (bad cellphone pic).

 

[jediwebdude]

How do you like that Hiker Trailer? Love the Ozarks, get out there about 5 times a year. I assume you have been to the old homestead and School House?

Yes, we did visit those. I love the area. I grew up just north of the Ark border and used to canoe the Buffalo, climb at Sam's Throne, and backpack the Ozark Highlands Trail. It never dawned on me back then to take my 4x4 Dodge Power Wagon on the numerous dirt roads.

Complete photo album set here of our Ark trip:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/visual-universe/albums/72157687722778400

Extreme Off-road Edition Hiker Trailer is great. Glad I got a 4x8 instead of the 5x8. Pulled it on a 4 week trip in late summer across TX, NM, CO, UT, MT, WY, & ID...6,800 miles. About 600 miles were unpaved.

Now on to the overlanding aspect of my post =D. Something I wanted to point out is now a days it appears that everyone wants to make their rigs taller, with bigger lifts, larger tires, and more mods.

Some of my friends want their rigs to be capable of conquering difficult routes at off-road parks (hence body lifts & 35" tires), yet capable of going on overland-style trips. Some of those friends have gone on trips I've led, and their junior-crawler rigs have experienced engine overheating when climbing steep highways in AZ/UT/NM/CO (usually the JKs that overheat).

One guy who frequents my trips and likes to hit off-road parks did it best, IMO. He decided to sell his well-built FJC, and buy a used modern Land Cruiser w/ 33" tires for overlanding and a 1980s 4R for off-road parks.

In Oct, I attended the expo west of Austin and the one in Ark. I paid attention mostly to the Toyotas (Toyota was the dominant brand at both events). People range from barely modded to overly modded, but it is to their taste and preferences. Eventually Toyota will offer a diesel for the Tacoma. I will buy it and keep that truck light on mods. It will become my long-distance travel rig, and my 4R will remain as my rougher terrain rig.

Keep it simple, keep it cheap, keep it reliable, keep it fun. At night I always bring glow sticks for the kids to play hide and seek around camp. For dinner, I do something quick and easy, to enjoy nature not slaving over a meal.

Agreed...glow sticks and headlamps are great for kids. I also let them collect rocks/fossils (except in National Parks), and take them places where we can observe wildlife. I give them a selfie stick with a GoPro on it...it teaches them to figure out how to frame a scenic shot in the background.

Oh and I almost forgot a camera for good quality pics! Below are some pics of my last trip in Arkansas 2 weekends ago (bad cellphone pic).

Love that first pic.

A real camera vs smartphone is always the jovial debate on my trips. When we return home, the guys with the smartphones don't post any of their pics online because those of us with real cameras do, and the smartphone guys can't compete. :artist2:

We are always looking for photos to run in TCT Magazine. Our Framed section has 4 photos, each spanning 2 pages. That means the photo has to be taken with something better than a smartphone.

For people who don't want to buy a DSLR, I encourage them to consider a Panasonic Micro 4/3 camera. The lenses are cheap. The sensor resolution is perfect for print. The cameras offer RAW format and perform well in low-light situations. I always have my Panasonic GX85 with me and use it for walking around at expos.

 

[yotaguy674]

Heading to our camp spot.

Random water crossing.

 

[Topgun15v]

How do you like that Hiker Trailer? Love the Ozarks, get out there about 5 times a year. I assume you have been to the old homestead and School House?

Yes, we did visit those. I love the area. I grew up just north of the Ark border and used to canoe the Buffalo, climb at Sam's Throne, and backpack the Ozark Highlands Trail. It never dawned on me back then to take my 4x4 Dodge Power Wagon on the numerous dirt roads.

Complete photo album set here of our Ark trip:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/visual-universe/albums/72157687722778400

Extreme Off-road Edition Hiker Trailer is great. Glad I got a 4x8 instead of the 5x8. Pulled it on a 4 week trip in late summer across TX, NM, CO, UT, MT, WY, & ID...6,800 miles. About 600 miles were unpaved.



Some of my friends want their rigs to be capable of conquering difficult routes at off-road parks (hence body lifts & 35" tires), yet capable of going on overland-style trips. Some of those friends have gone on trips I've led, and their junior-crawler rigs have experienced engine overheating when climbing steep highways in AZ/UT/NM/CO (usually the JKs that overheat).

One guy who frequents my trips and likes to hit off-road parks did it best, IMO. He decided to sell his well-built FJC, and buy a used modern Land Cruiser w/ 33" tires for overlanding and a 1980s 4R for off-road parks.

In Oct, I attended the expo west of Austin and the one in Ark. I paid attention mostly to the Toyotas (Toyota was the dominant brand at both events). People range from barely modded to overly modded, but it is to their taste and preferences. Eventually Toyota will offer a diesel for the Tacoma. I will buy it and keep that truck light on mods. It will become my long-distance travel rig, and my 4R will remain as my rougher terrain rig.



Agreed...glow sticks and headlamps are great for kids. I also let them collect rocks/fossils (except in National Parks), and take them places where we can observe wildlife. I give them a selfie stick with a GoPro on it...it teaches them to figure out how to frame a scenic shot in the background.



Love that first pic.

A real camera vs smartphone is always the jovial debate on my trips. When we return home, the guys with the smartphones don't post any of their pics online because those of us with real cameras do, and the smartphone guys can't compete. :artist2:

We are always looking for photos to run in TCT Magazine. Our Framed section has 4 photos, each spanning 2 pages. That means the photo has to be taken with something better than a smartphone.

For people who don't want to buy a DSLR, I encourage them to consider a Panasonic Micro 4/3 camera. The lenses are cheap. The sensor resolution is perfect for print. The cameras offer RAW format and perform well in low-light situations. I always have my Panasonic GX85 with me and use it for walking around at expos.

Well said! The expo in AR was led by some good friends of mine (Randy and Jayston). Didnt realize you were that close to me (Im at Coit and 380). Next time you go wheeling let me know would love to tag along. You have a beautiful trailer and even cooler rig! I am looking at this trailer for overlanding. wilderness explorer . If you have any thoughts based on your experiencing of yours let me know. Price ultimately will be the deciding factor and I mostly just ride forest service roads. =)

 

[T4RZAN]

Went through that area the first weekend of November. So gorgeous and can't wait to go back.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

 

[HOJeepster]

Just finished our 38 day cross country trip.. it's all on our instagram [MENTION=138179]Overland[/MENTION]_tennessee

Check it out for over 1000 photos of the trip.

Here are a few.

For the record, we aren't full time travelers, and spent $1,654 on our trip. You don't have to be super wealthy to do this stuff, and we are trying to show people that.

What exactly is Overland Tennessee? A business? Or just a sticker?

 

[WanderlostOverland]

Did a weeklong trip through Ozark NF in Ark...

Great pictures of an obviously great trip! We too spent some time there recently, can't wait to go back!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnrjePY7-Mg

 

[Ray Dunakin]

Here's the first video from my recent trip to the rugged Badlands area of the desert east of San Diego.
This main focus of this video is the scenery rather than any off-road action:

<iframe width="750" height="580" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KRsQJRtB5tA" frameborder="0" gesture="media" allowfullscreen></iframe>


Enjoy!

.

 

[Ray Dunakin]

Here's another video from my Nov. 2017 trip to the Badlands area of the local desert. This one has more
of a "road trip" feel to it while also showing some different shots of the great scenery. Featuring Megaweapon,
my Toyota 4Runner...

<iframe width="750" height="580" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SM1pd6G9Zeg" frameborder="0" gesture="media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Music:

"Ghosts of California"
by Wes Hutchinson
YouTube Audio Library

 

[jjrraass]

Overland Rig Walk Around

Jeff (jjrraass) and Rob (uncleboobers) do a walk around of their beloved 4runners.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ATPB10lUT10" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[gdvan01]

Great pictures of an obviously great trip! We too spent some time there recently, can't wait to go back!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnrjePY7-Mg

That's some awesomeness right there...

 

[jediwebdude]

Didnt realize you were that close to me (Im at Coit and 380). Next time you go wheeling let me know would love to tag along. You have a beautiful trailer and even cooler rig! I am looking at this trailer for overlanding. wilderness explorer . If you have any thoughts based on your experiencing of yours let me know. Price ultimately will be the deciding factor and I mostly just ride forest service roads. =)

Sorry...just now saw this. I'm at Teel Parkway & Main in Frisco. Have you attended a TTR meeting?

That trailer looks decent for the price. I'd inquire about the ability to put a bit more lift on it so you can run slightly larger tires.

 

[jediwebdude]

Went through that area the first weekend of November. So gorgeous and can't wait to go back.

Great shots. This one was my fav.

 

[flipflopnfly]

Is this considered overlanding? I like an inside toilet, big fresh water tank, furnace, big fridge/freezer, etc. That red mutt does pretty good offroad. 11" ground clearance. Of course turning around can be a problem, had to reverse out of that spot about a half mile.

 

[v_man]

Is this considered overlanding? I like an inside toilet, big fresh water tank, furnace, big fridge/freezer, etc. That red mutt does pretty good offroad. 11" ground clearance. Of course turning around can be a problem, had to reverse out of that spot about a half mile.

That is really nice, how much does it weigh?

 

[flipflopnfly]

That is really nice, how much does it weigh?

2980 lbs dry. 2017 Winnebago Micro Minnie 1706fb. 19', had to put a 4.5" lift on it to make it offroadable, cost me $1000 parts and labor for the lift. Lippert torsion axles so couldn't do a leaf flip.

 

[Topgun15v]

Sorry...just now saw this. I'm at Teel Parkway & Main in Frisco. Have you attended a TTR meeting?

That trailer looks decent for the price. I'd inquire about the ability to put a bit more lift on it so you can run slightly larger tires.

Used to go to the TTR meetings when I had my old FJ Cruiser. Not a big fan of crowds and people much anymore.

Yes, actually asked him and he can do a custom 3500lb axle and a matching set of 16in 4runner wheels and tires.

 

[ogradydds]

2980 lbs dry. 2017 Winnebago Micro Minnie 1706fb. 19', had to put a 4.5" lift on it to make it offroadable, cost me $1000 parts and labor for the lift. Lippert torsion axles so couldn't do a leaf flip.

Just bought an 8' box Flagstaff to tow behind the 4Runner and did a spring over axle conversion and new rubber!

General Grabber A/T2 235/75/15. Thing is stuffed now!

I'd like to get a max coupler style towing setup sometime in the future.

 

[flipflopnfly]

Just bought an 8' box Flagstaff to tow behind the 4Runner and did a spring over axle conversion and new rubber!

General Grabber A/T2 235/75/15. Thing is stuffed now! &#55357;&#56834;

I'd like to get a max coupler style towing setup sometime in the future.

I'm too wimpy for canvas side trailers. Something like that Flagstaff, light, short, maneuverable certainly can go places I can't yanking 3000lbs dry and 3800lbs loaded. A 19' hard side does pretty good on difficult roads but it's still 3800lbs you're trying to get through difficult spots and once you get in there you have to get out. 19' with a short 4Runner and tight turning radius is workable, but shorter is better.

There's tradeoffs with everything, compromises. A hardside on 20 degree nights is much more comfortable, hardside you use your own bathroom on the road instead of a public bathroom.