Necessary modifications to make a 5th Gen overland ready.

[Jeremy556]

:doh:

OP, you're not overlanding. You're not expeditioning. You're not even really offroading. You're driving on dirt roads, is what you're doing. You'll know it when you're overlanding because you'll have to hire a local guide and carry 20 gallons of spare fuel, or have to have a rifle and an RTT so you don't get eaten by hyenas. The technical term for driving your truck into remote high mountain lakes is "going fishing", and the only mods you need for that are a passable set of AT tires and a good map.

Have to +1 this. Actual trails in the eastern US are incredibly rare; well maintained forest service roads are about as good as it gets, other than the occasional off-road park.

 

[skimr]

Good tires that can handle gravel roads, not highway tires. Make sure and upgrade your factory spare. As others have said get good paper maps. GPS and Nav units can give you bad info. I've gone everywhere I wanted to go with just tire upgrades and common sense on similar types of roads here in Oregon. You'll probably find you won't even need 4wd most of the time if you have good tires. Remember, most "stucks" occur cause testosterone kicks in and we know we can power through iffy spots, then oops. Use common sense and when in doubt and not willing to take a risk turn around.

 

[JAD]

Items not mentioned yet.

Good quality handheld compass

Hi-lift jack (most versatile ((also most dangerous))

Tires are everything as far as the vehicle goes.

I don't run on board air but always have a CO2 tank with me on off road trips. I've run air tools from it besides airing tires back up after wheeling all day.