Overlanding is Dead! Is it? Finally!!

[Bruno]

Cant wait to get into a Ursla Minor
https://ursaminorcampers.com/products/bronco-camper

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[FastDriver]

I look at some of the people with overland rigs just like the ones that try living in a van. You spend too much time in situations that could tax your emotions stuck with a partner that you cannot get away from and you either go home and sell the vehicle or get a divorce. It is also a lot harder work than staying in your favorite resort. But you look cool commuting to your job - LOL.

 

[Red Sox 4Life]

Here’s some data from a guy who analyzed overlanding trends about a year ago. He used Google search trends and expo attendance as metrics: https://www.ordealist.com/overlanding-statistics/. His conclusion? Overlanding seems to have plateaued, but there’s no clear sign that it’s actually declining.

And @BearPatrol, I totally agree—keeping things as simple as possible makes the experience way more enjoyable. I’ve learned that spending more time on the trail is way better than constantly packing and unpacking at every stop. That said, my biggest game-changer was switching to a small fridge—I’ll never go back to a cooler.

What is the size and brand of your small fridge?

 

[KT_bronco]

What is the size and brand of your small fridge?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088M3NQYS?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1&th=1

Used to be cheaper. I went with the smallest one they offered.

 

[JediMcMuffin]

I kind of enjoyed this video, but I also I'm typically annoyed by any discussion that swirls around "is this or is this not overlanding" or "what is overlanding?" and this kinda feels like that.

I've definitely changed my tastes content wise as of late. Overland Trail guides is probably my best one for research future trips. I still watch TrailRecon for example, but have dropped any over-dramatized stuff.

Kinda funny though, is that watching content always gives me this weird annoyed state of "seriously people do this for a living? do they have jobs?". At best I can arrange to coordinate two or three long weekends a year that get me out of any work of family obligations.

The build of my Bronco has changed a bit. I've simplified things. Definitely agree with the fridge comments earlier in the thread. It's my most used piece of gear. I picked up a lightweight two-person RTT last year just to try it out. It's only 100lbs up there, I barely notice it other than some wind noise. It's likely coming off not because I don't like it but because my Bronco is a daily driver. I don't have anywhere to store it, so likely I'll sell it off.

All in all I'll say this video is good food for thought in a few areas. This was not a channel I followed before.

 

[MadMan4BamaNATL]

Indeed, but it's fun so we do it.


Love it, wish you could charge more.

You are right, it's not a research paper, but it took 2 second for him and me to do some cursory searches on google to get results back. It would have helped his argument and his publication 'driving line'.


Fair point, but he did disparaged dudes with crap on their trucks who don't know how to wheel, thats literally "hating". But he also mentioned later he has beginner videos which is great! So we can call that a draw.

This is great news, they are off the trails and out of your way! And those dudes buying gear doesn't make it more expensive for you. Only during covid did it do that because of very unique set of circumstances, but in the normal course of economics, more production leads to lower prices and more importantly more choice for you and me to pick from.

This is indeed an issue, one which I think can be resolved by opening more trails not less. Concentrating more drivers in less trails isn't going to help the situation. I also think off-roading has never really been a thing that local governments care about or even want very much in their districts. It's always an uphill battle to get much done about overused or damaged trails.

My thing is that just because someone says something that may not agree with you, doesn't mean they are hating; they just don't agree and have a different perspective.

The world won't always agree with us, nor should that be an expectation. We're here on the forum to debate topics and perspectives, so this is just how some choose.

There is always an adjustment period to anyone trying something new that is hard. For example, our Georgia club here on the forum is active and we invite guys to go on trail runs all the time. A few take us up on it, but that's maybe 6-8 guys, but we're always welcoming and give a lot of info on what to expect. We/I want more guys to come out. Nature is beautiful, the Bronco is capable, and it's fun. We're not gatekeeping people out, but trying to be as accommodating as possible for new guys to join; some bring the family. Just recently a newer guy just updated his Bronco to a new one that's more capable and he's itching to take it out. It's bad weather this weekend, so I encouraged him to keep working on breaking in that engine. Point is, he's caught the bug and his young daughter loves coming out too and she's been out in some interesting weather and still loves it; she's a wheeler! Such great bonding for father and daughter; that's what it's all about.

Again, this isn't a pissing contest, or at least it shouldn't be. Rock crawler, rock bouncer, trail runner, trail head wheeler, or backwoods wheeler, doesn't matter, just use that awesome Bronco even if to get that mountain bike to the trail, it's all good stuff.

 

[HalfmuleFarmer]

Cant wait to get into a Ursla Minor
https://ursaminorcampers.com/products/bronco-camper

$10-13000!!! Holy moly!

 

[broadicustomworks]

I wonder what the sales numbers looks like on those $350 Delta shovels for present day vs. 2020-2024...

 

[Wildsnak]

Cute video. But where I'm at rooftop tents are not 'vanishing'. I actually see more of them. Maybe that's just the PNW? I don't know.

I also am the exact person he's speaking of. I dive head first into stuff and figure it out as I go. I have no business being "on a trail" but I want to learn, probably won't 'rock crawl' but I do want to have fun with the new vehicle I bought.

It's the same thing my wife and I did with motorcycles years ago, ended up on a whim taking the course, loved it, now we are year round riders and it's our main source of transportation (even down to one car).

We did this with Kayaks ... and now go a few times a year.
We did this with dirtbikes ... and now go a few times a year.

I bought a roof rack, I bought a couple boxes to store stuff on top (Ironrigs 4x4 is near me so that was cool to actually see the stuff before buying). I bought a smaller tent (no rooftop, sorry folks). I got molle racks, and side panels for whatever I plan to put there. Honoestly, it had to go out of the car since I have two big dogs and two adults (and sometimes older kid) to take with me.

I do see a lot of snark around forums and FB posts, I can only hope it's more in the friendly way than actual 'gatekeeping' or 'hate'. This video tends to be a little over-dramatic and very accusatory of folks giving something a shot. The air quotes, the assumption everybody with a rooftop is an instagramer, I think that is a really small subset of people, since most folks don't have the money to throw at something like this if they aren't invested.

If it's not for you and you sold all your stuff and went to Cabo? Cool! You gave it a shot, and that's what really matters.

In my opinion, it's a double edged sword. I love that more people are getting outdoors, but that also means ... well, more people are in that 'outdoors' we all seek. But this is going to happen either way, our land is finite, but the population grew 80 million new folks since 1990. That's a lot of people and there were bound to be some outdoorsy folks in that explosion.

I do get the "Overland" overexposure, though. I joke with my wife to "get out and spot me" while I'm driving around town and when it gets bumpy (Portland roads ...) say "serious overlanding, hold on".

 

[JustWideman]

There is no point to "off-girding" overland if you bring all the grid amenities with you like fridges and Starlink and then need trailers and lifts to hold it all adding weight. backup food, water, gas and an emergency sat phone like it is intended, or it is just like the Glamping fad, but on wheels.

 

[Burndup429]

Every time I see one of those “tricked out to the max” overlanding rigs, I can help but think of the opening credits of Beverly Hillbillies where they have every random item they own hanging off that T truck.

 

[Gettyup]

Wow, that’s my family growing up going camping!

 

[Summit981]

A lot of people got caught up in the hype of "gear" and seemed to be swept up in that without really thinking thru the "why?" of it all. It all goes back to what the heck "overlanding" really means. For that, I go back to the editors, writers and photographers at Overland Journal. They define overlanding long ago as: 'Self-reliant adventure travel to remote destinations where the journey is the primary goal, typically involving mechanized, off-highway capable transport and camping as the primary form of lodging.'

Even more helpfully, they qualified it with the following characteristics:

• Overlanding is often, but not exclusively, associated with vehicles like trucks, SUVs, motorcycles or bicycles capable of off-highway travel.
• The focus is on exploring less-traveled areas and interacting with unique cultures.
• Overlanding is about experiencing the journey, not necessarily about conquering obstacles or reaching a specific destination.
• Overlanding often involves crossing international borders and experiencing diverse cultures.​
• Overlanding trips can last for months or even years, allowing for in-depth exploration.
  

  
  

  A lot of people don't get that you can take a caravan by camel into the Saudi Arabian desert and explore wadi's and canyons and, yep, that would be considered going "overland". We've all been overwhelmed by manufacturers who imply that "you need this or that" to be overland when the simple matter of the fact is that it's all a bunch of branding to sell gear.
  

  And folks really get caught up in it. In another section of this forum, I read this guy's post where he was tearing down the guy's post and pictures of a cool trip and telling him that, "no, that's not overlanding because you were sleeping outside in a tent. You didn't have a rooftop tent so therefore you aren't overlanding." Really sad!
  

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[Shrek27]

Just watched the video. Had no idea “Nitto Pit Crew” existed until about eight minutes ago. Hopefully this isn’t one of those random facts that my brain decides is necessary to retain.

Good video though. Agreed on all points especially the fahking rooftop tents. Things are so ridiculous. Can’t remember who it was but a guy on the forum made a video on how his bronco kinda started on fire but didn’t but also didn’t know if it was going to happen again as it was on the fuel tank skid. I believe he didn’t feel comfortable driving back in to town, understandably, so decided to camp for the night. But…rooftop tent. Attached to the top of the thing that might start on fire. Wifey and I had a good laugh on that one.

I saw that vid. That was @B Miller . He roams the eastern Oregon deserts for days at a time with some saved waypoints to find, explore and film. Mostly good content.
He slept under a tree away from his Bronco that night. As a firefighter, he knew better than to sleep over a leaky gas tank, but also stay close in case it lit up for some reason.

 

[broadicustomworks]

I saw that vid. That was @B Miller . He roams the eastern Oregon deserts for days at a time with some saved waypoints to find, explore and film. Mostly good content.
He slept under a tree away from his Bronco that night. As a firefighter, he knew better than to sleep over a leaky gas tank, but also stay close in case it lit up for some reason.

Yep.
His videos are great. No pomp and circumstance, no fluff.
Those who want to be entertained vs. people who just want some realistic, good quality content would disagree.
I like his calm demeanor and approach.
His videos are THE reason I want to get out there at some point in the future in E. Oregon and just spend a few weeks away from it all.

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