Is Overlanding Dead?

[DBAR]

We could stop worrying about what we think it is and should be and just keep doing what we're doing - camping, car camping, overloading-landing , off-roading and live and let live. Let's not gatekeep ideas and what things evolve into. Things take on a life of their own eventually. It's no different than "I saw x band in a bar back in the day and they sold out for the money!". But eventually, they'll be back in the bar and that's just how life goes.

Totally agree! IMO, overlanding hasn't changed; it just has an industry behind it now with fancy marketing. The act of going out and exploring, adventuring, and camping is still the core; we just have more access to things we may want than ever before. The way I look at it is the industry doesn't have that much of an effect on me because I am already doing the thing. The only issue I see is that the industry can scare off new people who may want to get into the hobby. However, that could describe any hobby.

 

[highboy4x4]

. Exactly- hey- we will be in Dolly Sods beginning Wednesday night thru Monday morning. It’d be cool to run into you!

Sorry I missed this post, that would have been cool. I was in the Max Patch Mountain area loving the scenery.

 

[MiamiC70]

Folks,
This is a question that is increasingly being asked. I have researched this phenomenon and summarized how a rugged pursuit of adventure became a mainstream trend. But not before the curve of COVID.
Interested? Read/watch a comprehensive study on the subject that proposes an answer that YOU will make.
Overland Death?

Dead, buried and nothing left but the rotting corpse and good riddance.

 

[MiamiC70]

Folks,
This is a question that is increasingly being asked. I have researched this phenomenon and summarized how a rugged pursuit of adventure became a mainstream trend. But not before the curve of COVID.
Interested? Read/watch a comprehensive study on the subject that proposes an answer that YOU will make.
Overland Death?

Dead, buried and nothing left but the rotting corpse and good riddance.

 

[Kevin108]

From your video, it looks like things are alive and well. Forum activity must just be a poor metric for it. Vendors are still filling massive spaces indoors and out with all of the latest and greatest, while attracting thousands of visitors who pay to get in, and spend while they're there. Despite tariffs, prices are down considerably on things like portable batteries and 12v refrigerators. Lift and armor vendors have rushed to develop for the newest platforms like the Bronco, Land Cruiser/GX, and the latest 4Runner.

So no, I don't think it's dead. It's just changed. Personally, I'd be glad to see the day when nobody else wants to do this stuff. I'd love to have the trails to myself again.

 

[MOAK]

From your video, it looks like things are alive and well. Forum activity must just be a poor metric for it. Vendors are still filling massive spaces indoors and out with all of the latest and greatest, while attracting thousands of visitors who pay to get in, and spend while they're there. Despite tariffs, prices are down considerably on things like portable batteries and 12v refrigerators. Lift and armor vendors have rushed to develop for the newest platforms like the Bronco, Land Cruiser/GX, and the latest 4Runner.

So no, I don't think it's dead. It's just changed. Personally, I'd be glad to see the day when nobody else wants to do this stuff. I'd love to have the trails to myself again.

I think you are spot on with your assessment. I do think prices are down a bit though because of shrinking demand. Lower grade companies I think will reorganize and offer better products or go under. The parent company of Smitybilt is currently in bankruptcy. They basically saturated their market and will do one of two things, improve their quality in order to attract the serious hobbyist, or close up shop. I watched the same type of thing happen in the model railroading hobby. Lionel survived and now thrive because they did an about face and began catering to the serious hobbyist. Athearn, on the other hand, saturated the market with good products, then sold out to a parent company that now caters to the high end modeler in order to survive.

 

[Tommys]

The fad is over except for the die hards. This site used to be 4-5 pages of new posts everyday….now maybe 2-3 posts for a whole day. Looks like the party is over.

I would say those who are true remain because of the wilderness glue.

 

[Tommys]

The only people asking the question are the ones who jumped on the "Overlanding Bandwagon". I cant even count the number of fads I've watched die. But yes, the people who jumped on the fad are wondering. For the rest of us the only difference it makes is our favorite areas are no longer crowded. The only good thing that came out of it is the evolution of some of the equipment.

I think the ones most effected are the ones who jumped on the fad and made u-tube channels. Now their trying to come up with any gimmick they can to get views. A good example is all the "Is overlanding dead" videos that started popping up about two years ago.

To directly answer the question, NO its not dead. The fad chasers just lost interest, that's all. As for the forums, the ones that catered to the fad are losing people. Others that had a strong base before the fad have only lost a few people. I didn't read your survey but I hope you included off-road forums that have been around for a few decades.

Good points, same as I made in my research paper. As far as the survey, I don't know about that. Sorry

 

[Tommys]

I'm going somewhat agree with what you said. The knowledge base evolved with the equipment but mapping wise, most of us already had all the routes mapped. I personally gained nothing extra. What it did do was make people not have to explore and research to find things.

The minimum mods thing has always made me laugh. You have two ways to build a vehicle, proper and improper. A properly built rig has tuned suspension and the driveline match's the environment its driven in. This isn't new. When people ask me about suspension mods, they always remark "I'm not racing Baja with it!" That's correct because if you were the build would be diffrent. People just wanted to look good without the cost.

You mentioned, your "I'll equipped rig fits the garage". Cool, it should (unless you have an RTT). We don't need a bunch of bolt on crap, just what's we need for what we do. That just proves you are ahead of the curve.

Agreed!

 

[Tommys]

Same as it has always been, those of us who want to drift down FSR's to camp and have a fire will still be out there. The rest will fade away.

I view like all the what is overlanding discussions, when people said you have to drive on off road tracks for huge distances, but their huge distance was 500 miles. That is a weekend trip here in BC, still remote lots of times without cell phone coverage and you need to be prepared for a breakdown.

I totally know what you are talking about. Traversing in Canada recently made me appreciate the preparations that it takes.

 

[Tommys]

THIS WAS A BLAST! It was fun to research and author this.

Mike's vision for this platform is to connect like-minded adventurers who have something to share and discuss—keeping the vision of getting outdoors alive. For those who actually read the article, viewed the video, AND read the report, I applaud greatly. Your contribution is exactly what I wanted, a conversation to connect us from all over the world. And to determine a collected opinion, that "Overlanding is NOT Dead."

Peace and see you again,
By the way, this is how I "overland"
Pacific Northwest Base Camp