And while I feel this is a fairly good, all-encompassing definition, I have found that “overlanding” often has a slightly different meaning for each of us.
For me, I love the excitement that comes from the pending adventure, as we plan our trips and the sense of joy and accomplishment when we experience new places. One of my favorite things about this form of exploration is the opportunity to see nature’s vast and breathtaking beauty. I love the feeling of being blown away when I find a location so visually stimulating that I literally can say nothing but “wow”. For me, overlanding enables me to stay in these incredible places for extended periods of time, giving my family and I an opportunity to experience nature at our own pace.
There are many commonalities in how we all define overlanding, personally, but there are subtle differences that I wanted to explore. I asked 10 “overlanders” in the community what “overlanding” meant to them, and this is their story.
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At the end of the article it states "I asked 10 “overlanders” in the community what “overlanding” meant to them, and this is their story.".
I'm not seeing "their story" – where are they?
An overused word.
Not really considering I’ve never met one person outside these circles that has even heard of that word.
I'm not seeing "their story" – where are they?
In the video, I reckon.
I'm not seeing "their story" – where are they?
On his video…check it out here…
There is a Tacoma forum with a great thread on this subject. Some of my favorite gems from there are as follows:
OVERLANDING and CAMPING = spending a lot of money to live like a hobo…
Overlanding is when you hate society so much that you spend all your money on a vehicle that can help you survive a Walking Dead style zombie apocalypse and get you thousands of kilometres away from civilization where you take pictures of your rig with the sole intention of posting on sites like this in order to seek the approval of the same folks you were driving away from.
I used to drive out on the woods with my 4WD and camp. When the overlanding craze started I took up mountain biking to go further down the trails to get away from them. Now they have e-bikes. I have started climbing rocks to get away from the ebikers. I'm about at the edge. Don't know what I will do when hover shoes become popular…
It is “officially” Over-Landing when the monetary value of the items you have purchased to protect your truck and yourself from “worst-case scenarios” and personal discomfort, exceeds the monetary value of any traveling done in the truck, including time off work.
Up until that specific point, it is officially called “camping”, which is the act of making do with what you have, while trying to stay relatively dry, somewhat warm, and maybe drunk, while driving around in the bush with your buddies.
Overlanding is driving to work everyday with a rtt on your truck.
Don’t worry about the ebikes. Just ride further than their battery can take them!!!!
OVERLANDING and CAMPING = spending a lot of money to live like a hobo…
Overlanding is when you hate society so much that you spend all your money on a vehicle that can help you survive a Walking Dead style zombie apocalypse and get you thousands of kilometres away from civilization where you take pictures of your rig with the sole intention of posting on sites like this in order to seek the approval of the same folks you were driving away from.
I used to drive out on the woods with my 4WD and camp. When the overlanding craze started I took up mountain biking to go further down the trails to get away from them. Now they have e-bikes. I have started climbing rocks to get away from the ebikers. I'm about at the edge. Don't know what I will do when hover shoes become popular…
It is “officially” Over-Landing when the monetary value of the items you have purchased to protect your truck and yourself from “worst-case scenarios” and personal discomfort, exceeds the monetary value of any traveling done in the truck, including time off work.
Up until that specific point, it is officially called “camping”, which is the act of making do with what you have, while trying to stay relatively dry, somewhat warm, and maybe drunk, while driving around in the bush with your buddies.
Overlanding is driving to work everyday with a rtt on your truck.
Lord. Cynical much? Lol.
Yes, overlanding is trendy right now. Trendy terms aside, it’s also just the current take on something people have been doing forever. Exploring. And what’s wrong with someone driving to work everyday with a roof top tent on their vehicle? If that makes them happy, and they enjoyed the RTT the one time they used it, and spent the rest of the time enjoying being trendy, then cool? Doesn’t effect me being able to camp or do whatever I want to. On the flip side, maybe they do that because they take it out every other weekend, but also use that vehicle to get to work. Just because something is trendy doesn’t mean it has to be ruined for people. Just accept people where they are, and enjoy what you want to do regardless of them.
@SwellRunner I subscribe to your channel, and enjoyed the video.
Yes.
It helps greatly to be able to laugh at one's self.
What Overlanding is not is $200 catered camping trips.
Vehicle dependent Travel
Hmmm, Overlanding? We have been doing this since 1997, long before it was a term used to describe what it is we are doing. Before 1997, we were just going 4 wheelin and day hiking on the weekends locally and just not very often. Career and the restoration of our 1904 home simply didn’t allow time to venture any further. Then, in 97′ we began looking for campsites that required a high clearance 4wd to get to. I’d use my two or three week vacation to travel thousands of miles to get to these sites and camp, day-hike and back pack a bit. As time passed we acquired the gear we need to explore remote areas for 5 or 6 days before coming back to civilization for more gas, food and supplies and continue on to more remote areas. Now with retirement we are able to go out locally much more often and are able to take a 6 or 7 week tour of either Canada or the western United States. For us, “Overlanding” began when we crossed the line back in 97. We no longer had a weekend destination. We had the desire and the ability to make our tours much more about the journey rather than the destination. Sure, we have general destinations, however we now have the luxury of time which allows us to be more or less free birds when we are out and about. So for us “over-landing” began when the day trips ended back in 97. Is it trendy? I suppose so, but I’ve talked with a lot of people over the years and like anything else that becomes trendy the trend will pass, as some folks just are very uncomfortable when they find themselves completely off grid. I’ve been out with folks that have all the latest stuff, the latest rig, etc etc, and they find themselves very uncomfortable with being so remote. I think in the next 10 years we are going to see a lot of really nice used gear on CL as those folks continue to discover they simply aren’t suited well to “over-landing”.
I think OLDFOOLADVENTURES has it right on the money. So does Jason. It is about the journey. Not the destination. That’s why we outfit our favorite vehicles with the appropriate gear to thrive off grid. That’s why we carry the necessary tools to make our own repairs. That’s why we carry ax, shovel, and self recovery gear. We want to see something besides the interstate. In fact, we want to see what few others get the opportunity to even imagine. Wilderness!
My parents began overlanding in an Austin Healy Sprite with me laying behind the seats. I slept in the car. They slept on the ground under a canvas lean too. We traveled the western states before it was popular. I grew up this way. We eventually graduated to a yellow Volkswagon bus with a full rack on top. Each summer, we would leave just as school let out. We would return when it was time for me to go back to school. I remember the vast emptiness. I used to imagine leaving the roadway behind and traveling cross country by horse all alone.
Well today, my butt is too old to sit in the saddle for that long. I accidently came across Jason’s VLOG after purchasing my dream car at the time (used 2005 Toyota T4R Sport). Prior to that I had never heard the term Overlanding. I just wanted a cool looking 4 x 4 SUV that was dependable. Jason showed me that my 4th Gen T4R was my horse. Not only that it has A/C.
I made a few trips and made modifications / purchases to make the trips I was taking easier. In May 2018, I had reached my rigs capabilities. It was either time to start spending money on upgrading a 13 year old vehicle, or getting something ready to go. While traveling through Colorado, I saw a 2017 T4R TRD Pro on CarGurus in Utah. I traveled directly to the dealership and swapped vehicles. Now I had a better horse! I took it stock through Cinnamon Pass (Anamas Forks to Lake City, CO)a couple of days after it was opened by a dozer on May 10, 2018. Alone. It was amazing.
As soon as I got back I began looking for used gear on CL. Just was OLDFOOLADVENTURES predicted, I found a full RCI armor kit, GOBI Stealth Rack with Ladder, Ax/Shovel Mounts, and a full size ARB awning from a guy in Baton Rouge. It was a 7 hour drive for me one way, but I got the lot for the price of a new Gobi Rack without the wait.
We took off again and put it through its paces in South Dakota, Wyoming, and Colorado. Not to mention the states in between. We spent the entire trip avoiding the interstate and taking county roads when we could.
We downloaded Avenza Maps and then accessed the national forest maps to locate “Dispersed Camping” locations in the areas where we wanted to travel.
For me it is seeing the unspoiled beauty of the amazing country. So much so, that in May 2019, I am headed the long way to Prudhoe Bay.
Get out there and make your own adventure. Just make sure you have a dependable horse.
These days it means car camping with an Instagram account.
This is the simplified version I hear the most… Does my commute to work count?
Who says it needs to be off-grid? I will concede that that is what most of us here strive for, but it’s not necessary for the definition above. We did a 10 day, 5000 mile trip from MN to CA. We hit Rushmore, Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, the Vegas Strip, several beaches in San Diego, sea world, Disneyland, San Francisco pier, stayed with friends and family. All on pavement. I think that would also qualify as vehicle dependent travel, where the journey was as important as the destination.
what is instagram? my kids say I should post lots of photos on it, I just can't be bothered.. LOL
Who says it needs to be off-grid? I will concede that that is what most of us here strive for, but it’s not necessary for the definition above. We did a 10 day, 5000 mile trip from MN to CA. We hit Rushmore, Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, the Vegas Strip, several beaches in San Diego, sea world, Disneyland, San Francisco pier, stayed with friends and family. All on pavement. I think that would also qualify as vehicle dependent travel, where the journey was as important as the destination.
That sounds like a nice road trip, but my goodness 500 miles a day average? You need to stop once in a while, relax and smell the proverbial roses.. For me? Off grid is preferable, but of course the definition of overlanding is pretty broad. OB seems to encompass that very broad spectrum which is why I stick around.
Its not quite as bad as it sounds, the miles were heavily loaded on the front and back ends, the middle was pretty leisurely.
Overlanding is a vehicle journey that requires refueling from a source transported in addition to the factory fuel tank.
Not sure if your serious or not. My local gas station has their fuel transported by truck, does that count?
Thanks m_lars for the clarification.
I was serious. Perhaps too serious.
I fully abide by and agree with the OB core principles that Overlanding is for everyone and it doesn’t matter what you drive. Outfit and explore.
But what I think of as “true Overlanding” is a rare thing in the US. I don’t want to disparage anyone or be elitist or try to keep Overlanding “exclusive.” I’m glad people are getting out in the world. But I don’t think driving a Subaru around Death Valley for a few days is really “Overlanding.” I think taking a trip where you must carry fuel tanks is “true Overlanding.” That’s what I truly desire to do, but just because it’s what I want doesn’t give it any more value that what somebody else wants.
I agree with this statement.
Personally I try to avoid the term completely, but I’ve yet to find an Off-Road Car Camping Bound forum. Maybe it’s out there… [emoji4]
I've read and re-read these posts. I've listened to Jason on the video. In full disclosure I unsubscribed from his channel months ago. I'm a member of EP and I subscribe to OJ. I'm by no means any sort of elitist, cripes I drive a 22 year old rig and tow a home built trailer. We photograph different places and things, and I write stories about our experiences in the back country. I share those stories with family and friends and hope that once in a while they find themselves into the printed medium so that others may enjoy my stories as well.
I cannot for the life of me understand why using, or over using the term overlanding is even a debatable subject. Why are so many folks, Jason included, so damned defensive, then somewhat abrasive, about the use of the word overlanding? (rhetorical question) It all just begins sounding like a sales pitch after a while.
Look, if you drive, ride a horse, mule, motorcycle or bicycle, train, or walk without traveling in the air of on water then you are an overlander. If you do any of the above and stop somewhere along the way to actually breath or heaven forbid, take in the local culture, then does that make us gypsies or simply modern day hobos with a little money in our pockets?
I cannot for the life of me understand why using, or over using the term overlanding is even a debatable subject. Why are so many folks, Jason included, so damned defensive, then somewhat abrasive, about the use of the word overlanding? (rhetorical question) It all just begins sounding like a sales pitch after a while.
Look, if you drive, ride a horse, mule, motorcycle or bicycle, train, or walk without traveling in the air of on water then you are an overlander. If you do any of the above and stop somewhere along the way to actually breath or heaven forbid, take in the local culture, then does that make us gypsies or simply modern day hobos with a little money in our pockets?
Well…since the original meaning of overlanding is the moving of cattle "overland" from one place to another, perhaps those who take offense could go with another term.
There is "trekking".
There is also "tripping".
There are several other possibilities as well.
I kind of like those first two. Put them together and you could have "tripping trekkies"!!!!
I don’t take offense to it. It’s just become kind of cliche.
This line is great. It’s become more about a look.
It has become a brand new Toyota, with a RTT, Hi-Lift and all the expensive kit you can add to it, quickly followed by the obligatory “just get out there with what you’ve got” statement. Right before they go into a high production value video showing a box someone sent them, or describing the thought process behind the flashlight they chose for the team in their next overland expedition. And all of the sudden one starts feeling the NEED for (insert product here).
It’s cool that something you’ve done for years is now popular. The new products that come to market are great! But then it’s too much.
Maybe it bugs me a little more because I live next to, and work in, a mountain resort town where having “the look” is VERY important. Lots of beards, plaid shirts and craft beer!
This line is great. It’s become more about a look.
It has become a brand new Toyota, with a RTT, Hi-Lift and all the expensive kit you can add to it, quickly followed by the obligatory “just get out there with what you’ve got” statement. Right before they go into a high production value video showing a box someone sent them, or describing the thought process behind the flashlight they chose for the team in their next overland expedition. And all of the sudden one starts feeling the NEED for (insert product here).
It’s cool that something you’ve done for years is now popular. The new products that come to market are great! But then it’s too much.
Maybe it bugs me a little more because I live next to, and work in, a mountain resort town where having “the look” is VERY important. Lots of beards, plaid shirts and craft beer!
I don't mind the use of the word "overlanding" at all, it doesn't bother me at all.
However – everything else you said is spot on! I agree 100%. It has become way too commercialized.
I know of a handful of hardcore vintage Land Rover enthusiasts who use to attend, as well as organized, some of the highest profile Rover events in the country. These were events where you got down and dirty; you drove obstacle courses, you tested your winching skills, you did a lot of things you'd see done during a Camel Trophy race.
Note though that I said they "use to attend".
Eventually these events, organizations and clubs got inundated with posers who wanted the lifestyle without doing the work. They threw money at it instead of learning how to make do. And then the hipsters got involved as well.
These these events, organizations and clubs became more and more "look at me" things. It became a pissing match to see who could out do who by buying the latest and greatest.
Hell…several of the posts I see deal with people showing off equipment that costs more than some people make in a week!
Anyway, back to those these events, organizations and clubs. Those that are no longer involved said they got tired of it. They hated participating any longer because the events became more and more nothing tha glamping. These people would show up in rigs that cost in excess of $40K, tricked out in all the latest and greatest name brand gear. Guess what – they didn't do much of anything other than sit around and pat each other on the back and saying things like "oh, I see you got the latest this-that-or-the-other from (any name brand)".
The wife and I looked at a bunch of photos from one of these events that took place a couple years ago. She couldn't believe she saw women in them that were "roughing it" in ensembles that approached the $1-$2k range.
About 6 months ago we got our annual invitation to attend one of these events. It was to start on a Friday afternoon and go till Sunday afternoon, with the main events taking place on Saturday. On Saturday there were two trail rides scheduled, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Each one was to last roughly 2 hours. Between the two rides the participants were to be treated to a catered lunch. After the second ride, promptly at 5PM, cocktails were to be served. After that, a catered dinner. Both meals were being catered by a restaurant noted for its food and high prices. Afterwards came the highlight of the weekend – a raffle and door prizes. The total value of these items was $33k – there were only about 200 invitations sent out.
My wife is the chairman of a small town's annual spring festival. This thing draws several thousand people over the same amount of time and the total value of the door prizes they give out is a lot less than $10k.
So yes, this "lifestyle" has become one big advertisement for snooty businesses who think their products are God's gifts to mankind. It has also become one big "love fest" for posers and such.
It is no longer – in the mainstream anyway – about getting out there and exploring; not about a man and his rig taking on the world.
If a person wants to see what TRUE overlanding is and what the TRUE spirit of overlanding should be, all they have to do is read the book "First Overland: London-Singapore by Land Rover".
In all honesty…when I look at my Rover and consider what gear I want to go with it all I have to do is look through this book. These guys spent over a year in their Land Rovers without ANY of the fancy-shmancy gear often talked about on this forum as well as others like this one. They didn't have RTTs, on-board fridges, GPS, and so on. HELL – they didn't even have AC! On top of that they had to learn how to be mechanics and not just take their rigs to a shop and throw money at it.
I really wonder how many people on here, as well as on those othe boards, could do what they did.
Guess I'll get off my soapbox now…
I was just listening to the story of the Oxford Rover from First Overland being tracked down and returned to the road on the Centre Steer podcast. Incredible story.
I was fortunate enough to get one of the books signed by all of the members. I still talk with Tim Slessor periodically. He has given me lots of advice on practical gear.
By the way… when it comes to fancy-shmancy gear, I had ment ti point out a couple of glaring examples.
The 1st one is the trash bag/duffel people hang on their rear spare tire. Some will pay big bucks for a name brand and turn their noses up to an Alice pack.
The 2nd one is sand ladders. People will pay into the hundreds for the latest and greatest yet ignore the humble Marston Mat. I wonder if they realize this things were some of the first, widespread used items for sand ladders and that they were built for use in sand. I see sets of sand ladders made out of polymer type material that sell in the hundreds. Those are typically only 4' long. You can get a good, 10' section of Marston Mat for about $95 or less, sometimes a lot less.
To be honest, when I think of "overlanding" I think of a long list of hashtags at the bottom of a picture of a very clean truck that isn't being used anywhere near the limits of its capability.
#idontknowwhatoverlandingisijustwheelandcamp
well said everyone above… from now on I will refer to myself as the hippie trippie trekker. Peace out !!
Yes, overlanding is trendy right now. Trendy terms aside, it’s also just the current take on something people have been doing forever. Exploring. And what’s wrong with someone driving to work everyday with a roof top tent on their vehicle? If that makes them happy, and they enjoyed the RTT the one time they used it, and spent the rest of the time enjoying being trendy, then cool? Doesn’t effect me being able to camp or do whatever I want to. On the flip side, maybe they do that because they take it out every other weekend, but also use that vehicle to get to work. Just because something is trendy doesn’t mean it has to be ruined for people. Just accept people where they are, and enjoy what you want to do regardless of them.
@SwellRunner I subscribe to your channel, and enjoyed the video.
Amen well said. Thank you.
I have a love, hate relationship with sites like this. And I happy to see I'm not alone. I even consider myself as anti-overland. It's not that I'm against camping, exploring, getting out into the wilderness. I love doing it in our Jeep, I'm even building a teardrop to pull through the desert and mountains. I come to sites like this to find new places to go, and more important it is find roads and trails that are suitable for the trailer. I hate when you see a trip report and it looks like a cool place to go and there are a ton of cool pictures but not details of the route. One time I even PM'e the OP if he had a track of the trip. He said he wouldn't share it. So why the hell post anything in the first place. It's ego, I'm know where these cool places are but am not going to share with you because I'm and better at Overelander than you. But here is a link to the YouTube video I made, make sure you subscribe. No I'm not going to subscribe, I don't do Twitter or Instagram either. I do have Facebook but it is only for friends that I know and family.
So what is Overlanding? It's a lifestyle. People have seen figured out a way to profit off of camping and four wheeling. It is no different than Harley selling a lifestyle around a motorcycle. Throw in the social media stuff and you have Overlanding.
I was watching a video someone posted on this site. I can't tell how many time they said "Do it for the Gram". No, don't do it for the Gram. Do it because you want to do it, take a picture and share it with your close friends and family. Not a bunch of strangers you don't know but want to impress.
I just want to grab my wife, camp gear, food and drink (soon teardrop) and head out in the Jeep for a night or week. Some times we'll go a few days and not see another person. Sometimes we'll be in a traffic jam in a National Park. Some will call that Overlanding, we just call it camping.
Todd
So what is Overlanding? It's a lifestyle. People have seen figured out a way to profit off of camping and four wheeling. It is no different than Harley selling a lifestyle around a motorcycle. Throw in the social media stuff and you have Overlanding.
I was watching a video someone posted on this site. I can't tell how many time they said "Do it for the Gram". No, don't do it for the Gram. Do it because you want to do it, take a picture and share it with your close friends and family. Not a bunch of strangers you don't know but want to impress.
I just want to grab my wife, camp gear, food and drink (soon teardrop) and head out in the Jeep for a night or week. Some times we'll go a few days and not see another person. Sometimes we'll be in a traffic jam in a National Park. Some will call that Overlanding, we just call it camping.
Todd
So what is Overlanding? It's a lifestyle. People have seen figured out a way to profit off of camping and four wheeling. It is no different than Harley selling a lifestyle around a motorcycle. Throw in the social media stuff and you have Overlanding.
I was watching a video someone posted on this site. I can't tell how many time they said "Do it for the Gram". No, don't do it for the Gram. Do it because you want to do it, take a picture and share it with your close friends and family. Not a bunch of strangers you don't know but want to impress.
I just want to grab my wife, camp gear, food and drink (soon teardrop) and head out in the Jeep for a night or week. Some times we'll go a few days and not see another person. Sometimes we'll be in a traffic jam in a National Park. Some will call that Overlanding, we just call it camping.
Todd
Preach it brother!!
So what is Overlanding? It's a lifestyle. People have seen figured out a way to profit off of camping and four wheeling. It is no different than Harley selling a lifestyle around a motorcycle. Throw in the social media stuff and you have Overlanding.
I was watching a video someone posted on this site. I can't tell how many time they said "Do it for the Gram". No, don't do it for the Gram. Do it because you want to do it, take a picture and share it with your close friends and family. Not a bunch of strangers you don't know but want to impress.
I just want to grab my wife, camp gear, food and drink (soon teardrop) and head out in the Jeep for a night or week. Some times we'll go a few days and not see another person. Sometimes we'll be in a traffic jam in a National Park. Some will call that Overlanding, we just call it camping.
Todd
Well spoken Todd. I confess it took me a while to figure out what kind of gram you were talking about. A few years back I was invited to be a charter member of a website that was all about trails. Once I figured out that a very detail oriented point to point, turn to turn, waypoint to waypoint, description of trails was going to be published I dropped out, rather quickly. For us there is nothing more exciting or adventerous then putting the map away and exploring by the seat of our pants. I agree about the instagram stuff. Our daughters suggested I post up all our best photos. Ah, no thanks.. They are for family and friends. (sidenote; If a photographer were any good, wouldn't they be paid for their best work. LOL)
So what is Overlanding? It's a lifestyle. People have seen figured out a way to profit off of camping and four wheeling. It is no different than Harley selling a lifestyle around a motorcycle. Throw in the social media stuff and you have Overlanding.
I was watching a video someone posted on this site. I can't tell how many time they said "Do it for the Gram". No, don't do it for the Gram. Do it because you want to do it, take a picture and share it with your close friends and family. Not a bunch of strangers you don't know but want to impress.
I just want to grab my wife, camp gear, food and drink (soon teardrop) and head out in the Jeep for a night or week. Some times we'll go a few days and not see another person. Sometimes we'll be in a traffic jam in a National Park. Some will call that Overlanding, we just call it camping.
Todd
Todd –
I really like what you said, especially the part about social media. I don't do Facebook anymore at all, too much drama and "me, me, me" attitudes. Don't do Twitter, Instagram and etc either. I do love the looks I get when people say "just follow my…" or "what's your…" and I tell them I don't have an account. You'd think I was from Mars or something. I know of people, online, who will not talk to you unless you follow them.
As to "overlanding"… not too long ago I saw a very expensive type rig that had been tricked out with all the latest and greatest gear. There wasn't a spot of trail dirt/mud on it; looked like it just rolled out of the showroom. From what I could tell it was in the middle of an epic overlanding adventure – parked at a Starbucks in the middle of the most expensive/exclusive shopping strip mall in the area. Not too far from Banana Republic and Backwoods.
Now this is overlanding. This way I always have WiFi. No need for the truck either. I do have a substantial suspension upgrade on the rolling platform the camper sits on… and a solar panel… outside.
Vehicle dependend travel, I call it taking a roadtrip.
Gotta have WiFi to post epic videos!
toposs just doing some further thinking about "overlanding", my personal rig and overlanding as our forefathers knew it.
When it comes to my rig – a '63 Land Rover SIIa 88 SW trop top – I consider the gear available at that time as well as what those who traveled overland via older vehicles and animal drawn wagons.
The basic gear was all the same. Some was fancier than others, yet it was all designed to do a job and survive the long haul.
A buddy of mine desperately wants a vintage LR like mine but with the 109 wheelbase. When I find one for sale I pass the info along to him. After his reply to the 1st one I sent all the others are basically jokes. In response to the 1st one he asked questions such as "does it have AC", "does it have power steering", and so on.
His questions, along with so many posts I see on here and elsewhere have often made me ask "really – seriously?".
It use to be that overlanding was more than vehicle dependent camping or going out and running trails.
Back then you wouldn't find all the luxuries you find on so many rigs today – onboard fridges, air systems, GPS/communications arrays, and so on.
We, as in those who like to get out and enjoy vehicle dependent living, have strayed from the tenents of "KISS" and have fallen for all the gadgetry one can get.
Don't get me wrong – I LOVE gadgets – but there are limits.
For example, our forefathers didn't have onboard fridges yet they took food with them and survived. What are you going to do if your fridge no longer works for some reason?
What if your onboard air system breaks down, you have a flat and the spare needs air?
What if you fancy GPS/communications array doesn't work and you're out in the middle of nowhere?
Do you see what I'm getting at? We have gotten to the point that we realy on, or must have all of these sophisticated gadgets to make life easier and more comfortable.
I know some of you will say"if the fridge goes out I'll use a cooler"; "if the GPS goes out I'll use a map"; "if the air system goes out…what?".
I don't use any of those items. In fact, I'm striving to use no gear newer than my rig. The only exception is a cellphone, but I don't use the GPS.
My "onboard air system" is an air pump that can connect to the battery as well as a foot powered one. I use a cooler for food or pack foodstuffs that don't require being cold. I use actual maps – gazetteers & topos – and I know how to use them as well as use a compass.
I don't want to be at the mercy of a bunch of gadgets that can break down.
The same can be said about your rig. The rigs I see so many get are incredibly complicated. It's about to the point you have to be a trained mechanic to change the spark plugs or starter! How many people out there, who buy such vehicles, can HONESTLY say they can fix the thing if it does on them out on a trail? AAA can't get everywhere and mechanic shops aren't open 24/7 and as prolific as Starbucks.
My rig is a simple, basic rig. It was designed to be worked on out in the middle of nowhere with the most basic of tools. I even have a picture of one that busted a tie rode and it was repaired using a tree branch! Can that be done with today's rigs?
In fact, I'm about as far from being a mechanic as you can get however, part of the deal in purchasing my Rover is that I had to learn to fix it. I can now say "yes – yes I can". I might be slow, but I can do it.
As part of learning to do this I completely dismantled my rig – and I mean completely – and am rebuilding it. Every single part, down to the last window retainer screw, will have passed through my hands by the time I'm finished. This process has been a tremendous learning experience and I am now intimately acquainted with every aspect of my rig.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that we need to get away from all the fancy rigs and gear and get back to basics. And when we look at purchasing a rig, or a bit of kit, keep KISS in mind and ask yourself – "do I really need this and can I operate without it or fix it if it breaks down.
I get where you’re coming from, but this may be a little too far in the opposite direction. You are living the relicrun.com every time you go out. I don’t think modern gadgetry is detrimental. It doesn’t, however, make you an overlander because you have it. I’m not sure your rig is great example of spending less money either, but I may be misinterpreting “fancy” as “expensive”. Don’t get me wrong, I’d LOVE to own a Series Land Rover, but frankly, I can’t afford it. I can afford my LR3 and yes, I do my own maintenance and repairs. I think we can all agree though, it’s not about the gear!
Literally 75% of this thread is people being elitist and acting "holier than thou" because of differences in opinion about equipment, social media, and terms like "overlanding", which ultimately is semantics.
The big point of Jason's video is one of acceptance, he's offering a bunch of different perspectives on something that's become popular. There's nothing wrong with that. There's also nothing inherently WRONG with:
social media
sharing pics of adventures with people (strangers or family)
buying expensive equipment
NOT having an instagram or social media account
NOT buying expensive equipment
Being a traditional "overlander" who is actually spending a large portion of the year traveling ONLY in remote areas
Being a boring ordinary person who goes car camping and calls it overlanding
Being an insta-famous "overlander" who gets all of their 10's of thousands of dollars worth of equipment discounted or free from ridiculous companies who are profiting off of something that all of a sudden became trendy
There is, however, something sad and arguably wrong about someone who feels the need to go outside of themselves and criticize someone else for their individual preferences. Talking about the relative health or wisdom of those different choices, sure. But guess what? Most of the opinions in this thread are LITERALLY saying "Hey, look at me, I do it better than those _______ schmucks over there, I don't want to be elitist or anything, but lets be real here". Why? I would honestly rather hang out with a dude in a backwards hat with a lifted bro truck that is shiny and pointless, over hanging out with a "true overlander" who was fixated on criticizing said backwards hat dude. We're not discussing moral issues here. Literally talking about going camping and exploring. No need for anybody to be this elitist or critical of any other group. I don't really believe anybody in this thread really fits either category, most of us are somewhere in the middle, which makes these small minded elitest statements even worse. But it would be super nice for there to be a conversation about "overlanding" without constant criticism of all the other versions besides one's own.
I really enjoyed Jason's video, as I do all of his videos, but I don't think it was really worth all this. Unsubscribing.
Edit: I know some of this is in jest and humor. That's cool and all, but I still don't agree. Lots of people out there view the overlanding and offroading community as one that is very elitist and closed off. Threads like this, even if elitist statements are made only in jest, help keep our community in that negative viewpoint.
The big point of Jason's video is one of acceptance, he's offering a bunch of different perspectives on something that's become popular. There's nothing wrong with that. There's also nothing inherently WRONG with:
social media
sharing pics of adventures with people (strangers or family)
buying expensive equipment
NOT having an instagram or social media account
NOT buying expensive equipment
Being a traditional "overlander" who is actually spending a large portion of the year traveling ONLY in remote areas
Being a boring ordinary person who goes car camping and calls it overlanding
Being an insta-famous "overlander" who gets all of their 10's of thousands of dollars worth of equipment discounted or free from ridiculous companies who are profiting off of something that all of a sudden became trendy
There is, however, something sad and arguably wrong about someone who feels the need to go outside of themselves and criticize someone else for their individual preferences. Talking about the relative health or wisdom of those different choices, sure. But guess what? Most of the opinions in this thread are LITERALLY saying "Hey, look at me, I do it better than those _______ schmucks over there, I don't want to be elitist or anything, but lets be real here". Why? I would honestly rather hang out with a dude in a backwards hat with a lifted bro truck that is shiny and pointless, over hanging out with a "true overlander" who was fixated on criticizing said backwards hat dude. We're not discussing moral issues here. Literally talking about going camping and exploring. No need for anybody to be this elitist or critical of any other group. I don't really believe anybody in this thread really fits either category, most of us are somewhere in the middle, which makes these small minded elitest statements even worse. But it would be super nice for there to be a conversation about "overlanding" without constant criticism of all the other versions besides one's own.
I really enjoyed Jason's video, as I do all of his videos, but I don't think it was really worth all this. Unsubscribing.
Your opinion is yours, my opinion is mine. Any statements I have made are not necessarily the views of station management or ownership. I don’t KNOW what Overlanding is. I do see what the word has come to represent and I don’t care for it. My opinion. In my statements I have tried not to single anybody out and tried to speak about the general trend. You have brought up Jason a few times, is that the person who made the imbedded video? If so I haven’t seen anymore of his videos, and won’t search them out. I don’t care for the unnecessary spin-ny boxes followed by, “oh, sorry I didn’t get to this sooner wonderful company who sent me stuff, I’ve been too busy to show my appreciation”. Maybe that’s an incorrect interpretation, but it came off that way TO ME. If you like his videos, great, there’s nothing wrong with that. I didn’t care for the style, again, my opinion. The title of this thread seemed like they were looking for opinions, so I chimed in with my thoughts. Maybe I made a flippant comment as an attempt at humor, if it came across as elitist it was misinterpreted. I’m a flippant humor sort of guy. But apparently because I disagree with your view I’M wrong. Ok, duly noted.
Sounds like we're approaching this a little differently. No, I don't think you're inherently wrong because you disagree with me. Also, yes, Jason is the guy in the video. He's got a youtube channel, he posts lots of videos. Honestly, on a personal level I am bothered and annoyed by many of the same things you've mentioned, so I do empathize with your viewpoint, however I also empathize with some of the views and more boring, every day perspectives that are largely criticized here. For me, I can get into the philisophical discussion of defining something, but it unfortunately seems that many of these discussions turn into arguing about who's right and who's wrong, and it just feels pointless. I will say though, generally the discussion in this thread DOES come across elitist. Hence my comments. I'm a pretty literal, serious person, so there's a good chance others aren't meaning it or taking it nearly as seriously as I am. However, its important to consider the effect of one's words.
I recently looked at an LR3, perhaps it's my location but it was a few thousand more than my Series. The wife was interested in getting it; the maintenance issues bothered her. It's a bit to mechanically sophisticated for me…I doubt I'd be able to do any major repairs that would come along.
HOWEVER – I got mine about 10 years ago; I didn't pay much more for it than my dad paid for his 54" ZTR mower. Looking at similar ones today…dang, they ain't cheap!! I can't believe how much people are willing to pay for them now. Guess it has got to have something to do with "overlanding" becoming so hip. I bought mine because I like the style and it's "primitive". When I got it I had no idea it was considered THE quintessential exploration, overlanding and safari vehicle – I just knew I liked it.
Have you seen the SIs that Land Rover is restoring and selling? IIRC the first one's asking price was $125k.
Nothing wrong with relicrun, that's my kind of overlanding.
Along similar lines of relicrun… there use to be an event called "The Great Race" that ran coast-to-coast and each vehicle had to be 50+ years old. They stopped doing it around 2008/9 due to soaring gas prices. It is slowly coming back but the route is greatly reduced. If you're interested here is the link – https://www.greatrace.com
Have you seen the SIs that Land Rover is restoring and selling? IIRC the first one's asking price was $125k.
I paid around $5600 for my ‘06 last fall. I doubt you could find any Series for that money. Like everything Land Rover, the problems are overblown. For some reason they’re the brand everyone loves to rag on. Mine needed a a suspension compressor that wore out due to pin holes in a front air strut. A strut that was original to the vehicle approaching 12 years old and 170,000 miles. I’d hardly call that problematic.
I haven’t seen the factory restored ones yet, though I have heard of the program. That program is what lead to the Oxford Rover from first overland being tracked down and put back on the road.
My concern is with the large number of threads on this forum with titles like "Am I an overlander?", "What vehicle/gear do I have to buy to be an overlander?", and "What is overlanding?" that are giving too much power to what is essentially a meaningless term.
"Overlanding" can truly mean whatever you want it to mean, and because of that it is not at all elitist. The problem arises when people do try to define the term, or imply that not everybody can be an overlander, or that there is some kind of overlander scoring system.
My answers to the above questions are:
"Am I an overlander"? – Yes, if you want to be.
"What vehicle/gear do I have to buy to be an overlander?" – Nothing, just get out and start exploring.
"What is overlanding?" – Whatever you want it to be.
I haven’t seen the factory restored ones yet, though I have heard of the program. That program is what lead to the Oxford Rover from first overland being tracked down and put back on the road.
I paid $5k for mine. I've seen a couple others sell for about the same in the past couple of years. I know a guy who got a great SI, that runs, for $3k, so they are out there.
The problems with the LR3 we looked at were worse than what you mentioned, it had several issues, one was the suspension compressor, plus a head gasket and other things. They wanted $8,500.
I hadn't heard that Land Rover Classic, a.k.a. Reborn, was any kind of inspiration for Adam Bennett's restoration of Oxford. Last I heard was that Adam got tired of seeing it rotting and worked out a deal to get the remains of Oxford off Saint Helena and back to the UK. He acquired ever part he could identify as having come from Oxford as well. He had to trade a refurbished Defender to get Oxford. Once in the UK he got the help of Black Paw 4×4 in York to help restore it. I had heard it was being featured at the Bicester Land Rover Legends show.
The problems with the LR3 we looked at were worse than what you mentioned, it had several issues, one was the suspension compressor, plus a head gasket and other things. They wanted $8,500.
I hadn't heard that Land Rover Classic, a.k.a. Reborn, was any kind of inspiration for Adam Bennett's restoration of Oxford. Last I heard was that Adam got tired of seeing it rotting and worked out a deal to get the remains of Oxford off Saint Helena and back to the UK. He acquired ever part he could identify as having come from Oxford as well. He had to trade a refurbished Defender to get Oxford. Once in the UK he got the help of Black Paw 4×4 in York to help restore it. I had heard it was being featured at the Bicester Land Rover Legends show.
At $8500 they’re smokin’ something funny. I’ve seen ones like that for $3k
According to the interview I listened to he was at the factory for a tour when the last defender was coming off the line. They had a restored Series I in a show room for a photo shoot and he asked them why. They wouldn’t immediate tell him why it was there, but he got it out of them. He asked to buy that one and they said “that’s not how it works.” He was supposed to tell them what he wanted and they find a car and restore it. He said he wanted a UK car “with a history” so he started tracking down 4 or 5 different significant cars. Oxford was the first one he found. It was at least a 2 hour interview that I listened to.
According to the interview I listened to he was at the factory for a tour when the last defender was coming off the line. They had a restored Series I in a show room for a photo shoot and he asked them why. They wouldn’t immediate tell him why it was there, but he got it out of them. He asked to buy that one and they said “that’s not how it works.” He was supposed to tell them what he wanted and they find a car and restore it. He said he wanted a UK car “with a history” so he started tracking down 4 or 5 different significant cars. Oxford was the first one he found. It was at least a 2 hour interview that I listened to.
Yup, way over priced. Wife wasn't interested at all after doing some comparisons.
Interesting….wonder why he didn't mention that in the articles…no biggie.
That sounds about right. Per a guy I know working with them LR is finding appropriate candidates and buying them. They then offer it to the customer and they can choose either a full historical restoration or a historicalish restoration with modern upgrades.
They are getting ready to open a Land Rover Classics shop in Savannah Georgia. They'll be offering restoration services on classic Jags and Rovers as well as maintenance services. I'm hoping to get a tour of the place once they are up and running.
They’re not that great. They ride like a luxury car on the freeway (I’ve put nearly 30k on mine this year), get decent gas mileage for a 7 passenger, have a good safety record and are excellent off road. Plus, they still look like a proper Land Rover, not some rounded over crossover.
I’m extremely sad and depressed that I paid $75 to be apart of this bull shit form. You are so right about how some people profit. If I could get a refund I would
Well, I generally find this forum to be more civilized than others that are similar. This particular thread is probably the worst I’ve read and it’s been pretty civilized. Fewer trolls, less flaming and way fewer 4 letter words. Don’t forget the tangible items you got with your membership as well.
I don't visit the forums much regulary any more. As OB grew over the past few years it is hard to keep the trolls out. But I still believe in the morals that Michael and Corrie set out so still proud to be a OB member.
As to answer the question. For me it just means getting out there, exploring. Taking trips, seeing new things.. If its a day out or a week camping, just go out and explore.. When my GF is done with her education (being a hotel / restaurant manager) and she has a steady job we'll think about saving up and setting out for bigger goals. But for now it is all fine.
That may be, but it’s still better than most! There’s a brand specific forum that comes to my mind, it’s name is a combination of Discovery and World Wide Web. Theyre bottom feeders, and proud of it.
Sorry, I had to
This weekend reminded me of a way in which the "overlanding" term has been helpful. We camped at a local place, and one of our Jeeper friends visited with us in his Wrangler (TJ). It is pretty capable, but was built in the style of pure off-roading, without much traveling or camping in mind. This guy loves to camp, but his Jeep isn't well outfitted for it. So without any prompting, he started using the word to differentiate between what he had (a well capable off-road build) and what we had (also capable, but definitely pointed more towards longer distances, multi-day overnight camping, and more cargo and gear carrying options). So he started talking about how he is going to begin moving his build towards more of an "overlanding" style so that him and his son can enjoy more camping in it.
When I first got into XJs (before I knew anything about overlanding), the reason I got turned on to overlanding (as a term) and awareness of this particularly community was because Jeep people on the Jeep forums would occasionally post pictures of their builds, and some of them seemed totally targeted at camping/exploring vs. just hardcore wheeling. I was drawn to those builds, and the term "overlanding" was ever-present. So I looked it up on my own. I was much more interesting in camping/exploring, so the rest is history.
I'm ok with the term however anybody uses it. I'm old enough, and secure enough, that I feel no pressure to keep up with anybody that is dropping a ton of money on gear and gadgets. To me, for North America at least, I see it as "car camping" with some additional emphasis on the capability (and perhaps uniqueness) of the vehicle as well as working the vehicle into the adventure in various ways (for example, multi-day camps with more than one destination, or camps with trail rides mixed in, or finding the longest stretch of non-pavement travel available in your region, etc).
I wrote a comprehensive article about this on my blog:
https://overlandsite.com/what-is-overlanding/
What do you think??
https://overlandsite.com/what-is-overlanding/
What do you think??
I like your write-up and history of Overlanding.
Further, it doesn’t matter to me how someone defines Overlanding — if they’re getting outdoors in a vehicle and enjoy themselves, good for them. And I really don’t want to engage in an Internet forum squabble (BTDT too many times).
All I would say though about your definition is that the difference between Overlanding and road-tripping is that in addition to the journey being the point, Overlanding has a “significant” portion on unimproved roads. What defines “significant?” That’s up to you or anyone else who is headed out there.
For me it would be to try to find a route over as much unimproved roads (dirt, gravel, logging roads, etc etc) as possible to a destination that holds my interest. Could be a ghost town, a great hiking trailhead inaccessible by anyone but through-hikers, or maybe just a fun “long way” to get to a mountain lake.
Again, however you define Overland is fine with me, I’m just adding another way of looking at it.
What is not over landing might be easier.
Good stuff Jason…Need some gals to represent. While I am told we are unicorns, we are out here! =)
But the discussion is within said circles.
I have to sometimes wonder just how many people on here really want to know what Overlanding is. My wife and I became aware of Overlanding several years ago and wanted to learn more about it. We subscribed to Overland Journal and Outdoor4x (we have every issue), and joined Expedition Portal. Soon after this we ran across Overland Bound where we saw this same discussion. Back then people asked that question because they truly wanted to know what this thing is, and people responded with the intent of helping. People engaged in this subject because they honestly wanted to exchange information about the hobby, to learn and to teach. As the forum grew I noticed a change quickly taking over this question. It wasn’t long before it was about “ME”. I ask the question to impose my view on others or answer to show I am the one true expert of all things Overland. It is truly enjoyable to see that we are moving slowly back towards the exchange of information.
But, we still have the four classifications of thought here. The first is the guy who has an understanding of what Overlanding is and does not let his bias play a role in his response. Then there is the guy who understands Overlanding but can’t help letting his bias play a role in his response. Next is the guy whose bias controls his understanding of Overlanding and drives his response. Lastly is the guy who thinks his understanding of Overlanding is the only true version of Overlanding and all others who think they know are worthless scum. The first two are the guys who want to exchange information, to learn more about it themselves and to help teach others. The third guy has good intentions, I will give him credit for that, but can’t control his bias enough to be able to either learn or teach. And the last guy . . . you make your own determination.
So, who really wants to know what Overlanding really is? Let me ask this question. You go to Overland Expo (either one) and you see two tents, booths, or tables. At one is a couple that has been overlanding full time for 5, 10, 15, or more years, they have been to nearly every continent and most countries, they have no Youtube videos but have written at least one book. At the other table is a couple who got into Overlanding six months ago and have 27 Youtube videos of them in the United States. Which table are you going to visit?
I have several books from the people who would be sitting at the first table. From these books I have learned a lot about Overlanding and, although they each have their own style or interests, there are three basic things I have learn that are common to each of them.
The road one takes is the road that is required to get where you want to go. Rarely have I seen where they take a road or trail solely to be on that road or tail. They took a road or trail because it got them to some place they wanted to go. Often times it was the only way to get there but at other times there were reasons for taking a different way. One book I have is from a guy who traveled the length of Africa who, even though he could have run many dirt trails, he often preferred to run on asphalt roads instead because of the bike, or because of his skill level, or the simple fact he was traveling alone.
They stay at hotels and established campgrounds when the situation dictates. Sometimes people simply want to get a hot shower after a period of time in a hot, dusty, or muddy environment. But often times, they stay at hotels for security reasons. Many parts of the world are full of people you just don’t want to be near or authorities feel its best you aren’t near them. There are also situations where remote campsites are just not availability. Many times campsites aren’t available because too many people have come before them and abused the privilege resulting in the closure of camping areas.
And lastly, cultural stops, towns, villages, or historical sites, are an important part of Overlanding. Visiting historical sites is pretty self-explanatory. Visiting towns and villages is often time simply getting fuel and resupplying but all of the books I have read the people make a point of visiting market places to meet local people and eat at restaurants to learn about local foods. The basic ideal is how do you get to know an area without getting to know the people who live there.
After five years of being involved in Overlanding, what is Overlanding to us . . . Exploring . . . Learning
But, we still have the four classifications of thought here. The first is the guy who has an understanding of what Overlanding is and does not let his bias play a role in his response. Then there is the guy who understands Overlanding but can’t help letting his bias play a role in his response. Next is the guy whose bias controls his understanding of Overlanding and drives his response. Lastly is the guy who thinks his understanding of Overlanding is the only true version of Overlanding and all others who think they know are worthless scum. The first two are the guys who want to exchange information, to learn more about it themselves and to help teach others. The third guy has good intentions, I will give him credit for that, but can’t control his bias enough to be able to either learn or teach. And the last guy . . . you make your own determination.
So, who really wants to know what Overlanding really is? Let me ask this question. You go to Overland Expo (either one) and you see two tents, booths, or tables. At one is a couple that has been overlanding full time for 5, 10, 15, or more years, they have been to nearly every continent and most countries, they have no Youtube videos but have written at least one book. At the other table is a couple who got into Overlanding six months ago and have 27 Youtube videos of them in the United States. Which table are you going to visit?
I have several books from the people who would be sitting at the first table. From these books I have learned a lot about Overlanding and, although they each have their own style or interests, there are three basic things I have learn that are common to each of them.
The road one takes is the road that is required to get where you want to go. Rarely have I seen where they take a road or trail solely to be on that road or tail. They took a road or trail because it got them to some place they wanted to go. Often times it was the only way to get there but at other times there were reasons for taking a different way. One book I have is from a guy who traveled the length of Africa who, even though he could have run many dirt trails, he often preferred to run on asphalt roads instead because of the bike, or because of his skill level, or the simple fact he was traveling alone.
They stay at hotels and established campgrounds when the situation dictates. Sometimes people simply want to get a hot shower after a period of time in a hot, dusty, or muddy environment. But often times, they stay at hotels for security reasons. Many parts of the world are full of people you just don’t want to be near or authorities feel its best you aren’t near them. There are also situations where remote campsites are just not availability. Many times campsites aren’t available because too many people have come before them and abused the privilege resulting in the closure of camping areas.
And lastly, cultural stops, towns, villages, or historical sites, are an important part of Overlanding. Visiting historical sites is pretty self-explanatory. Visiting towns and villages is often time simply getting fuel and resupplying but all of the books I have read the people make a point of visiting market places to meet local people and eat at restaurants to learn about local foods. The basic ideal is how do you get to know an area without getting to know the people who live there.
After five years of being involved in Overlanding, what is Overlanding to us . . . Exploring . . . Learning
Love this…thank you for your thoughts.
I definitely see the value of people who overland for years or even decades all over the far flung reaches of the world. I value their experience and the wisdom they've gained from it, because I can learn a ton from them that can apply to my experience.
What I don't like is the assertion that unless I do what they did, I'm not an overlander. Not that I especially care about that title anyway, but I won't be dissuaded from exploring by naysayers and elitists.
I don't go exploring the wild places to gain some kind of supposed prestige as an "Overlander." I will probably never set foot in Africa or spend years at a time overlanding because that's not my life. I'm a husband and father of five kids and the sole breadwinner, as well as a law enforcement officer, so ten year African expeditions aren't in the cards for me, and that's perfectly fine.
You can argue whether I'm an "Overlander" or not, but I'll just smile and plan my next sojourn in the amazing majesty of God's creation. Africa is grand, but BC alone has enough dirt roads and wilderness that one could spend a lifetime exploring and never see it all, nevermind the rest of Canada, the second biggest country on earth, or our friendly neighbors to the south.
Let’s say we have three couples in vans, each a Sprinter 4×4. The first was built by Roadtrek, the second was built by the owner, and the third by Sportsmobile. Each travels all year round going to National Parks and camping in National Forests. Which is the Overlander? Does who built the van determine who is the Overlander?
The term Overland is just a title, a way of describing what we do in the easiest way. It’s also a way of searching for information in the least amount of words, enter Overland in Youtube to view videos related to Overlanding. The people who own the first van call themselves Full Timers, the second Vanlifers, and the third Overlanders. If they are driving the same vehicle and doing the same thing, what is the difference? Mind set.
I use to think the vehicle’s capability, the ability to get to more remote sites, was what made the difference between the old couple in the Class B, the young couple in the homemade conversion, and the middle aged couple in the Sportsmobile. Over the years I have seen a number of people overlanding Africa, North and South America, and so on, in Porsches, Mercedes sedans, Minis, and the like. The ability of the vehicle to crawl rocks or take on swamps, even being a 4×4, has nothing to do with it. Most of the books I have read have not been by people traveling in 4×4 Land Rovers or Land Cruisers but motorcycles. So, if it’s not the vehicles capability, what is it? Mind set.
I’ve seen a number of people try to place set rules on Overlanding to lay down the lines as to what is and is not Overlanding. The first is its Overlanding only if you drive on dirt. Take a look at Expedition Overland, Central and South American series. I don’t think many on here would debate if they Overland or not but by this rule, they are not. In these two video series the overwhelming majority of miles traveled were on asphalt (only looking at the trip itself and not the travel to get to the trip). In everything I’ve read and videos I have watched concerning people doing travel just as Expedition Overland, asphalt miles far outweigh dirt miles. This would mean the dirt rule is false. I could go through each rule but they all fall apart when we look at the people who have been actively doing it for years. So again, what is Overlanding? Mind set.
I am told that Overlanding is about exploring. Go to any country in the world and you will likely see the Full Timers, Vanlifers, and Overlanders all parked right next to each other. Go to any National Park and you will likely see the same thing. Exploring is about seeing new places but, unless you are going to the bottom of the ocean, what you explore is only for your own self-knowledge. When it comes to exploring some differences do start to show. You are more likely to see more Full Timers and Vanlifers in places like Gatlinburg, Overlanders tend to want places that are more remote. (But remember, when the legends of Overlanding started to define the term they were thinking of Botswanna, Tanzania, the Outback, not some hidden corner of the Natahala National Forest. They weren’t thinking about getting away from people, they were thinking about getting away from people they see every day.) So, I have to ask the question again, what is the difference? Mind set.
We went to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) once and sat in the famous Cades Cove traffic jam behind all the Mercedes sedans, vans, Jeeps, Land Rovers and other vehicles. Wanting to escape the tourist mess, we ventured onto Rich Mountain Road. We were probably the first vehicle to travel this road in at least a week, if not more. It was a great adventure, it was a great road. This road is what opened our eyes to the possibility that there was more to life. The difference between us, soon to be Overlanders, and the rest of that mess was we had the willingness, the courage, and the capability to take that road. What makes the Overlander different from the Full Timers and Vanlifers is the desire to see what is down that road, trail, or path that the others are not willing to take. It’s the ability to see Rich Mountain Road not as a way out of a mess but as a great adventure and enjoy what it has to offer. It’s the eagerness to head off into the unknown and to appreciate that we were seeing something very few people will ever see. Yes, we stopped to smell the roses and they were fantastic.
I have heard a number of people say they have been Overlanders for years, justifying it by saying they go to a particular National Forest several times a year and camp in the same spot each time. Personally, I see that as just camping and not Overlanding, you don’t have the exploration or require any courage because there is no adventure in the unknown, but that is just my opinion. If this is the most adventure the person can muster, then I say that is cool. Everyone has their own situation, money, time, capability, skills, courage that determines their limitations to Overland. As long as the person has the desire to be an Overlander, to take at least a small step forward each time, then cool, I fully support you. But keep in mind that we all have our own situation and we need to respect that. Accept your limitations and be proud of your accomplishments. One of the couples I have the most respect for is traveling the world in an ’87 Land Cruser they paid a couple thousand for, and have to repair almost every town they stop in. Just remember, don’t try to drag others down by making up rules that will only fit you, it only tells people you are not proud of what you have and what you have accomplished.
Well said. I would generally agree with that.
The couple you mentioned reminds me of a couple I know – they went from London to Singapore in a $500 series Land Rover. Pretty amazing.
The couple you mentioned reminds me of a couple I know – they went from London to Singapore in a $500 series Land Rover. Pretty amazing.
London to Singapore? How long ago was that!?!?
Last I heard an attempt was going to be made to duplicate the "First Overland" trip but all the red tape and political issues wouldn't allow it. That couple must of taken a much different route…
Last I heard an attempt was going to be made to duplicate the "First Overland" trip but all the red tape and political issues wouldn't allow it. That couple must of taken a much different route…
It wasn't all that long ago, a few years now maybe? There's a YouTube video about it:
Thanks, I'll have to look them up.
Here's a full write up:
https://gearjunkie.com/london-singapore-family-road-trip-old-land-rover-hyland
To me, THIS is overlanding. I really like the fact that they didn't feel the need to have to have all the fancy extras people seem to need. Just look at what all they took and compare that with other set ups – KISS in all its glory!
Yes, I know, what I just said will upset a few people out there, and it's just my opinion. Yet there it is, proof that ya don't need all the fancy bells-n-whistles.
Dang…just did some additional research. Ray Hyland is an actual member of "The Explorers Club", a "Fellow of the RCGS", the COO for the 'Overland Journal' as well as a contributing editor for it and the 'Expedition Portal' website.
https://gearjunkie.com/london-singapore-family-road-trip-old-land-rover-hyland
To me, THIS is overlanding. I really like the fact that they didn't feel the need to have to have all the fancy extras people seem to need. Just look at what all they took and compare that with other set ups – KISS in all its glory!
Yes, I know, what I just said will upset a few people out there, and it's just my opinion. Yet there it is, proof that ya don't need all the fancy bells-n-whistles.
Dang…just did some additional research. Ray Hyland is an actual member of "The Explorers Club", a "Fellow of the RCGS", the COO for the 'Overland Journal' as well as a contributing editor for it and the 'Expedition Portal' website.
He and Mary Anne also run the BC Overland Rally, which is an outstanding event. I attended last year and it was phenomenal. Plus they're just absolutely lovely people. 🙂