Is Overlanding Dead?

Well, with 99 posts i just had to say something! I prefer wheat bread for sandwiches, I listed my 191RB Coachman for sale and had to show it within the hour it hit the list, says they'll check with the bank.......blah, blah, blah!

Route 66 is 100 years old, big do'ens in Springfield, Mo. parade, county stars and bands, food, classic cars, fireworks, Cardinals playing, movie stars from the area, just a big ho-down, so no, overlanding isn't dead, it's being celebrated......
 
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Been driving cross-country in one Jeep or another to find and explore parks, trails, and other quiet, natural places for over 40 years now. While it was cool to see other folks get so enthused over doing the same thing for the past few years, I’ll keep doing it whether they are or not.

If the decline means I don’t have to worry about hearing somebody else’s music while out in the middle of nowhere, well, that’s a good thing.
 
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Like most things, the popularity of overlanding changes with time. It had a huge boost after COVID, where people, having experienced restrictions in movement, just wanted to get out there.

Nowadays, we have a whole new set of challenges. On the domestic front, the price of fuel and the cost of living restrict us from spending time in our pursuit. In the broader world, political tensions make travel between countries more difficult.

At some stage, we will be more innovative, and the "true overlanders" will find a way to get out there and participate in overland travel. It will probably be different from what we did before, but it could also be more sustainable and enjoyable.
 
If I had to guess, it's more popular than ever! I can remember a few years ago I saw one RTT/Vehicle with Overlanding Gear in town and now I see a vehicle with a RTT or Overland Gear or both just about anytime I drive around town. I don't live in a huge town either, I think we're about 40,000 strong!
 
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I had to drop back and get a definition of "Overland Travel" to clear up (at least in my mind) what it is we're talking about here;
"Overland travel is self-reliant, vehicle-based exploration across long distances, emphasizing the journey, remote routes, and sustained travel over land." So, as to North America, in the U.S., the lower 48;

It's not just road tripping, but it certainly includes paved miles traveled. Unless you are out West there really isn't any long distance to travel remotely, off road or over landing by trails. There are no long-distance stretches of public lands to go blazing over in your 4x4 and nothing that is so remote you can't walk out of in an hour's hike. (Assuming you're not lost and hike in the wrong direction.)

Seems "self-reliant" only becomes an issue if you have trouble, to me, this self-reliant part applies to camping outdoors, surviving the "wilderness" living with mother nature during your trek. But, I'd have to ask, is being able to pay the tab at a Motel 6 or La Quinta not being self-reliant?

So, it's all about getting there, and then I remember my days riding on top of boxes filled with camping gear in the back of a 1955 Pontiac station wagon asking how much further is it! Oh, we explored all the dirt roads on Camp Ripley, when mom drove along the firing range target roads. The adventure began when tank rounds exploded near the car and mom told me to get on the floor! I remember spotting five tanks lined up side by side and telling mom, she just turned the car toward them and drove overland, through the field, and someone got in front of the tanks waving his hands in the air.

My dad was the Commander of a Tank Company, Armor, that was him out there waving his hands yelling cease fire, mom and I traveled from Missouri to dad's summer camp at Camp Ripley and he was out on the firing line. That was probably my first overlanding adventure.

Point of that story is that "overlanding" won't ever die out as long as people need to head to other destinations, regardless of the reason. I would question the degree of adventure that might be had today, you really need to go out west to see the lions and bears, but if gators and snakes excite you we have those east of the plains.

Gas prices will most likely kill long distance vehicle travel for pleasure, at least in larger vehicles, until things get back to normal.

The function of traveling cross country has certainly built an industry of specialized vehicles, equipment, gear and gadgets to tame wilderness travels, and now, at my age, there's not much adventure to it, just an opportunity to relax, get away from the everyday and experience new places.

So, no, I don't see overlanding dying out.
 
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Holy Meth-mobile, Batman!


1778534168655.png1778534146203.png


( it does look like it has a very impressive departure angle, though...) :grinning:
 
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grubworm said:
Holy Meth-mobile, Batman!


View attachment 299497View attachment 299496


( it does look like it has a very impressive departure angle, though...) :grinning:
Click to expand...

I have had that picture saved for years. Your pic sent me on a chase to find it… Always makes me laugh because it reminded me of me….not artsy-fartsy but I sure can shoot a tick off a flea at 100 paces. You know, with one of those grenade launchers!!
 
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It's really interesting to read through this thread, and I have to admit there's a lot of truth here. For me it's not "dead" because I've just started with overlanding / car-camping, and we as a family are really enjoying it.

I envy you guys in the US for the freedom to travel and camp in the most remote places. For us in Europe that's mostly not possible with kids and a tent — not unless you want to wild camp.

I do see and agree with the point that the term "overlanding" is extremely commercialized. Search for overlanding online and you'll find thousands of images of heavily modified, expensive 4x4s. That's what the marketing teams want you to believe overlanding is. Truth be told, I jumped on the bandwagon too and equipped our LC with light bars, a roof rack, fridge, shovel, water tank, kitchen box, ARB recovery boards and so on. But all that gear is stuff we actually need for off-roading and self-sufficient camping. There's nothing fancy about our separation toilet — we just use it.

On the other hand, whenever I see another G-Wagon on the Autobahn I think: that one will probably never see a dirt road. And the irony is that the G was built for it decades ago — a serious off-roader. But most of the ones you see now are bone stock and polished, owned by people who'd cry the moment a branch scratched that paint. The capability is all there; it just gets used as a status symbol instead.

You can tell when you see a true overlander, and you can tell when someone's just pretending. So yes, there's a lot of hype right now, partly because it's still a relatively new thing in Europe — but there's also a solid base here for the decades to come.

All in all, my take is that overlanding isn't dead. Only the hype around it will fade. And what I value most is the great community behind it all: people helping each other, connecting, and organizing trips together.

Cheers

Sebastian
 
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WeissExplorers said:
It's really interesting to read through this thread, and I have to admit there's a lot of truth here. For me it's not "dead" because I've just started with overlanding / car-camping, and we as a family are really enjoying it.

I envy you guys in the US for the freedom to travel and camp in the most remote places. For us in Europe that's mostly not possible with kids and a tent — not unless you want to wild camp.

I do see and agree with the point that the term "overlanding" is extremely commercialized. Search for overlanding online and you'll find thousands of images of heavily modified, expensive 4x4s. That's what the marketing teams want you to believe overlanding is. Truth be told, I jumped on the bandwagon too and equipped our LC with light bars, a roof rack, fridge, shovel, water tank, kitchen box, ARB recovery boards and so on. But all that gear is stuff we actually need for off-roading and self-sufficient camping. There's nothing fancy about our separation toilet — we just use it.

On the other hand, whenever I see another G-Wagon on the Autobahn I think: that one will probably never see a dirt road. And the irony is that the G was built for it decades ago — a serious off-roader. But most of the ones you see now are bone stock and polished, owned by people who'd cry the moment a branch scratched that paint. The capability is all there; it just gets used as a status symbol instead.

You can tell when you see a true overlander, and you can tell when someone's just pretending. So yes, there's a lot of hype right now, partly because it's still a relatively new thing in Europe — but there's also a solid base here for the decades to come.

All in all, my take is that overlanding isn't dead. Only the hype around it will fade. And what I value most is the great community behind it all: people helping each other, connecting, and organizing trips together.

Cheers

Sebastian
Click to expand...

Sebastian,
I am the author of this thread and it was a case study for a research project.
Thank you for commenting so honestly. I appreciate the thought you offered and yes, I agree.

If you want to connect more or get more insights to your endeavors, visit me on www.catholic-camper.com.
Peace and great trails.
T
 
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