Overland "Types?"

[jaymar]

Trying to get a Big-Picture handle beyond my own experience... What would you say are the basic personality "types" encountered on the trail, and what do you see as the traits of these types? First-timer to old hand, common backgrounds or jobs or reasons for being out there (are they running to or from something?), arrogant to humble, overequipped to broke, reliable vehicle to deathtrap jalopy, knowledgeable to needs-a-babysitter, male/female, loner or couple, straight or not, in shape or not, complainer to explainer, rural or city, how they treat the land and others, likely to stick with it or not, and whatever other qualities you can think of. From common types to occasionally-but-reliably encountered. And of course what they drive, and how often they're seen in the wild. I take it as a given that pretty much everybody has a gun and a dog (though I'm not sure what percentage bring the dog along).

Thoughts?

 

[K12]

Trying to get a Big-Picture handle beyond my own experience... What would you say are the basic personality "types" encountered on the trail, and what do you see as the traits of these types? First-timer to old hand, common backgrounds or jobs or reasons for being out there (are they running to or from something?), arrogant to humble, overequipped to broke, reliable vehicle to deathtrap jalopy, knowledgeable to needs-a-babysitter, male/female, loner or couple, straight or not, in shape or not, complainer to explainer, rural or city, how they treat the land and others, likely to stick with it or not, and whatever other qualities you can think of. From common types to occasionally-but-reliably encountered. And of course what they drive, and how often they're seen in the wild. I take it as a given that pretty much everybody has a gun and a dog (though I'm not sure what percentage bring the dog along).

Thoughts?

Why does it matter? in the end everyone is out there to enjoy nature.

 

[jaymar]

Because I'd like to see beyond my own limited experience. Isn't that why we're here?

 

[grubworm]

when you're out enjoying nature, the only personality type that matters is the one you are taking with you...
why worry what others are doing or thinking? the entire purpose of overlanding is to get AWAY from all of that...

 

[North American Sojourner]

Trying to get a Big-Picture handle beyond my own experience... What would you say are the basic personality "types" encountered on the trail, and what do you see as the traits of these types? First-timer to old hand, common backgrounds or jobs or reasons for being out there (are they running to or from something?), arrogant to humble, overequipped to broke, reliable vehicle to deathtrap jalopy, knowledgeable to needs-a-babysitter, male/female, loner or couple, straight or not, in shape or not, complainer to explainer, rural or city, how they treat the land and others, likely to stick with it or not, and whatever other qualities you can think of. From common types to occasionally-but-reliably encountered. And of course what they drive, and how often they're seen in the wild. I take it as a given that pretty much everybody has a gun and a dog (though I'm not sure what percentage bring the dog along).

Thoughts?

Good question. It's going to be the same as the folks you meet every day. Some poor, some rich, some hateful. I've lived in the Forest for almost three years and have experienced all of them. Your ability to deal with multiple personalities will determine the outcome. I do well but the older I get, not so much. I've been climbed over while rock climbing and mountaineering in Germany, chased by drunks with guns in the National Forest, delt with an unfortunate suicide on a National Scenic Waterway River but made so many friends and talked with so many wonderful professionals and people I'll never forget. I've been blessed to have a 80/20% success rate. LOL.
Just remember you're out there to see the Country, be a steward of our land and protect our resources.
Good luck and have a great time.

 

[smritte]

First-timer to old hand

Both

common backgrounds or jobs or reasons for being out there

Scattered

eliable vehicle to deathtrap jalopy,

Seven years ago we saw a huge jump in the economy. The number of POS vehicles I encountered dropped considerably and the number of new vehicles went up.

knowledgeable to needs-a-babysitter, male/female, loner or couple, straight or not, in shape or not, complainer to explainer, rural or city,

When the economy spiked up, the "Overlanding" fad went full swing. The answer to the above question is "Yes".

ow they treat the land and others,

With every fad comes idiots. Cant get around it.

likely to stick with it or not

The idiots normally don't. The people who jumped in to join the fad, went off to the next fad.

I take it as a given that pretty much everybody has a gun and a dog (though I'm not sure what percentage bring the dog along).

I normally bring neither. The dog does like going out. Cactus thorns in the sand is why I'm selective on when she goes.
A bit of "redneck stereotype there Jay.


So.....Did I win?

 

[jaymar]

Both


Scattered



Seven years ago we saw a huge jump in the economy. The number of POS vehicles I encountered dropped considerably and the number of new vehicles went up.



When the economy spiked up, the "Overlanding" fad went full swing. The answer to the above question is "Yes".



With every fad comes idiots. Cant get around it.



The idiots normally don't. The people who jumped in to join the fad, went off to the next fad.



I normally bring neither. The dog does like going out. Cactus thorns in the sand is why I'm selective on when she goes.
A bit of "redneck stereotype there Jay.


So.....Did I win?

Always.

 

[rgallant]

There is no big picture, everywhere and every trip is different. But the further away you get from the cites, the fewer idiots you run into

 

[pluton]

There is no big picture, everywhere and every trip is different. But the further away you get from the cites, the fewer idiots you run into

I have found this to be true.

 

[Murphy Slaw]

I'm just old and lost.

 

[MidOH]

I'm "overlander lite".

One week at a time only. Overland out, turn around on Friday or Saturday, slab all the way home.

We simply haven't the patience for longer runs yet. That kind of vacation spending goes to the Caribbean.

 

[The Deputy]

The only common denominator that I've found...is no matter who they were or who they wanted to be or what they did or didn't do or how deep their pockets were or weren't...they all had a sense of wander. Wanting to see what's around the next bend, or over the next hill, or hiking a little farther than the path goes, or finding solitude or experiencing different cultures.

It's parameters are everything you listed, because the need to wander or explore can be found amongst us all.

 

[kayasaman]

There is no big picture, everywhere and every trip is different. But the further away you get from the cites, the fewer idiots you run into

I agree...

The "original" post mainly reads like a psychological academic study

Of course the OP is curious so it is interesting in a sense...

It sounds like a way of "need of quantification", which having ASD (autism spectrum) my self is something that I would think about in many different ways

Ultimately, for me... I'm just starting out but have a lot going against me; in the fact that i live in a city and a very uncompatible region with dense and over population everywhere - add to that many health issues ; and you have hyper challenging cocktail

My reasons are stemming from childhood journeys traveping from the north to south of Turkey for the first 15 years of my life.

As I have ADHD and ASD also, i struggle badly in crowded places and get depressed very easily among "concrete jungles".

For me, outside of cities, you can run into many nice, understanding and caring people who dont judge you and some may even end up being friends down the line.


I actually have no survival skills or "outdoor abilities" but i have a lot of tech knowledge


But as many have already said... what does it matter? Adventure and exploration is the name of the game in overlanding

I guess it's where people try to accomplish their dreams in one way or another

 

[Dave in AZ]

OP question reads like an AI trying to add to its answer base... nebulous questions intended to drive opinion rambling answers. I actually looked up the poster profile to see if he was an AI bot, or had a history of actual posts. He seemed legit.

It is immaterial what the larger group of overlanding people are like... do you just randomly end up traveling and camping with folks? I don't! I meet a few at Taco Tuesday meetups at some restaurant, decide who I enjoy and share some common ground with, and who I wouldn't mind sharing a campsite with. Everyone I spend any significant time with thus gets filtered a bit. I'm not gonna set up camp with some random axe-murderer lol

 

[grubworm]

OP question reads like an AI trying to add to its answer base... nebulous questions intended to drive opinion rambling answers.

or as i like to call it...

straight or not

I take it as a given that pretty much everybody has a gun and a dog

yeah...nobody is taking the bait

 

[jaymar]

or as i like to call it...

View attachment 288918



yeah...nobody is taking the bait

Seems I forgot to list trolls as a category. My bad, thanks for the reminder...

 

[tjZ06]

Some good answers here already. In general, I'm with @North American Sojourner that generally you will find "the same folks you meet every day." However, thus far I'd say there's one big exception or difference. While you'll find folks from just about every walk of life, the "Overlanders" I've run into seem to be able to set aside politics, religion, identity politics etc. and get along with each other far better than the same cross-section of folks would in everyday society.

-TJ

 

[the4burgetts]

Trying to get a Big-Picture handle beyond my own experience... What would you say are the basic personality "types" encountered on the trail, and what do you see as the traits of these types? First-timer to old hand, common backgrounds or jobs or reasons for being out there (are they running to or from something?), arrogant to humble, overequipped to broke, reliable vehicle to deathtrap jalopy, knowledgeable to needs-a-babysitter, male/female, loner or couple, straight or not, in shape or not, complainer to explainer, rural or city, how they treat the land and others, likely to stick with it or not, and whatever other qualities you can think of. From common types to occasionally-but-reliably encountered. And of course what they drive, and how often they're seen in the wild. I take it as a given that pretty much everybody has a gun and a dog (though I'm not sure what percentage bring the dog along).

Thoughts?

I travel in a group and alone. Some planed and others where the road takes me. Carry a gun, extra ammo and a dog LOL Stop in towns, some without a light or stop sign and at times big cities depending on what I want to see. Okay shape but have physical limitations/disability. Every trip is different and that’s the joy of it.

 

[kayasaman]

I don't think this requires a new thread? It's Saturday night, am bored, sat home with nothing to do and my colitis (I'll let Google answer more questions for ya'll) is really flared up badly.... meaning I'm enjoying lovely cramping and much more internally <sob>

Anyway, checking out some first drive videos of the new Gen6 4Runner Trailhunter and TRD Pro and stumbled across this:


it kinda shows a *stereotypical* depiction of "Overlanding Types".

I agree with the points being made in the video though at first I thought it was just being antagonistic before I got to about half way where things started making sense and in fact it wasn't an attack on "Overlanding" at all....

Case in Point - Get what you need and don't go nuts!! Kinda like the JDM genre, many people splash money at things to "look cool" rather then actually need them.... I think even TFLoffroad mentions this in their "Switzerland Trail" video from Colorado: most "soft roaders" like Toyota Rav4's can handle plenty without doing anything crazy to them. Even cross-overs can and I think Subaru was mentioned.

Even I was able to go "Overlanding" mildly in a 4-door sedan with stiffened and slightly lowered sports suspension..... I like the "Pogo Stick" analogy from TFL as that's kinda how it felt going over a rocky track straddling the center as I don't have the ground clearance but any old dedicated 4x4 was more then enough up there....

 

[jaymar]

Some good answers here already. In general, I'm with @North American Sojourner that generally you will find "the same folks you meet every day." However, thus far I'd say there's one big exception or difference. While you'll find folks from just about every walk of life, the "Overlanders" I've run into seem to be able to set aside politics, religion, identity politics etc. and get along with each other far better than the same cross-section of folks would in everyday society.

-TJ

I've been surprised at the number who don't really have SM at all, other than a presence on the forums. Maybe there's a connection there...