Overlanding is Dead! Is it? Finally!!

[Snacktime]

I have a hard time seeing the benefit to the roof top tent. The biggest issue I see is leaving it on the vehicle exposed. Heat cycles, moisture and uv rays kill 90% of camping products on the market. A few contractor I work with bought those vehicle mounted shades that umbrella out. They lasted just as long as home depot pop up before being broken, torn or failing to retract due to environment. Not sure how people justify the limited life of these products.

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[SierraBronco]

I have a hard time seeing the benefit to the roof top tent. The biggest issue I see is leaving it on the vehicle exposed. Heat cycles, moisture and uv rays kill 90% of camping products on the market. A few contractor I work with bought those vehicle mounted shades that umbrella out. They lasted just as long as home depot pop up before being broken, torn or failing to retract due to environment. Not sure how people justify the limited life of these products.

But if you take it off how will people know you’re going to go camping at some point?

 

[userdude]

@B Miller is great. Less orientation towards consumption and comfort, plenty of discussion of self-reliance and how to deal with the unexpected. Because what otherwise seems under-emphasized in many of the breathless “overlanding” videos (pro and con) is how to get back safely (ie being stuck in place, self recovery etc.). Because if you really are dragging all that gear back “to get away”, comfort is great but it’s a false sense of security until the SHTF.

Sure we have a mattress for a ground tent and all the comms tech. But when we are going back solo in the high desert or mountains for one or more days, it’s unexpected weather, terrain or mechanical conditions that we plan for more that than what brands of camping gear or looking cool.

I see a separation between the influencer economy and it's various benumbing bs and actual people attempting to get out there and drive their own experience.

Recently I looked up videos to see how to use a NuWave induction burner (in my kitchen...) and found a video of a dude trying to show off how it worked on his expensive battery in some nearby wilderness. He literally said "I almost put my face on that!!" after burning his hand because, of course, "induction stoves don't get hot" and he full-on planted his palm on the burner. How this kid had everything he had, I don't know, but he wasn't much of an expert.

So y'know, let's do more hot takes from influencers looking to monetize more bs about how terrible [fill-in-the-blank] is for whatever draws the most attention.

 

[HalfmuleFarmer]

The tipping point is gear-whoring, or gear for the sake of gear. But people do it in every hobby, from woodworking to music making to playing golf. Gear rarely makes one better, but a lot of people like spending money. Overlanding is 95% retail therapy for (mostly) dudes.

 

[userdude]

But if you take it off how will people know you’re going to go camping at some point?

I thought they were pretty heavy, so I figured it goes on until it came off, full stop. At least you're protecting the hard top top from car washes, bird doo doo and of course, hail stones. I know there are people that get use out of them, though. Won't even guess what the actual use rate is, though.

 

[KT_bronco]

Honestly this thread is inspiring me to lay out all my gear on the garage floor, and then just start removing.

Here's an interesting example: all the gear acquisition syndrome early on convinced me I needed rotopax for extra fuel. The reality is, I've never once needed extra fuel. I've converted those to waterpax which free'd up quite a lot of storage space inside the vehicle. If I'm going someplace where I think I might want extra fuel, I'll only bring 2 extra gallons.

I just love when the jerry can illuminati descend upon a situation to lecture all the rotopax owners for spending a few extra dollars, knowing full well that we would need to carry it inside the vehicle, add a $2k to $3k bumper swing out, or a swing gate reinforcement that requires us limit our opening to 90 degrees. I suppose you could put them on the roof but I thought the idea was not to put heavy shit up there.

Another thing that has worked out: My EcoFlow glacier fridge, it has its own battery, its AC adapter tolerates the bronco's inverter port. I have 28-30 hours of cold, and running my engine recovers that fully within an hour of motion. It's fantastic, and doesn't require giant battery banks, etc. Its fully automated, it works beautifully. I can turn the damn thing on before I head to the store pre-trip, throw all my supplies and groceries in there, and get on with my trip.

I also thought I needed extra fuel everywhere and lugged around a metal jerry can inside. No more. Same with my traction boards. On a bronco group outing I finally had a chance to use those annoying bastards rescuing a jeep in the dunes. They didn't work, got buried. What got him out was airing down more and a shovel.

 

[HalfmuleFarmer]

“jerry can illuminati”

 

[B22-2023]

Honestly this thread is inspiring me to lay out all my gear on the garage floor, and then just start removing.

Same here, esp. on the RotoPax configuration; we’ve been doing it after every trip though and it’s a good habit - guilty like many, looking at some gear and saying “Why do we even have this clunky gadget? Put it for sale.”

 

[Steve B]

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

I throw an E-Tool in the back. It works great and it is cheap.

 

[broadicustomworks]

I think I'm helping derail the convo a bit here but here goes...
All the "gear" and "what if" stuff I have brought on every single off-pavement outing in the last 10 years (mostly day trips with a few multi-day or multi-week) thus far (knock on some wood) has not been used on myself.
I've used the winch, extra fuel, water, tools, and parts for others.
I am learning as I go on these longer trips to pack lighter and lighter, purchase gear that either reduces space usage, has some multi-use, or makes the experience a bit better/easier/safer.

My first foray into a cross-country trip was packed to the gills. A gigantic 75Q Magellan cooler, two meals/day for the three of us with all the "fixings" to prepare and eat, like 20 G of water in containers and bottles, clothes for each day, a Blackstone and Propane (and extra propane), extra sleeping bags and blankets, normal sized camp chairs, fuel, the list goes on.

Didn't need half of that crap. Did not touch half of it other than to unpack it, move it, deal with it the whole time.

Less is more. As in more freedom FROM everyday hustle and bustle. More time spent AT camp vs making camp and trying to set up 15 gadgets. More freedom of space both in the ride and in your own mind.

That 75Q cooler? Gone in favor of a EcoFlow and a fridge that takes up half the room. It (the big cooler) will fit in the back of a 4 dr, but only sideways. Which means you have to pack everything else around and on top of it. And conversely, UNpack everything every time you stop to camp/hotel sleep.

 

[Bruno]

$10-13000!!! Holy moly!

same price he has had for the Jeep products forever

 

[broncobase1]

Being into "overlanding" or not has nothing to do with liking the outdoors or camping. I'm not into overlanding or off-roading, my preference is hiking on foot where no vehicle can go. Why do I have a Bronco? Well as you can tell its not equipped for off-roading but I like it and its a great way to get to the trailhead and ski area parking lot.

 

[broncobase1]

The tipping point is gear-whoring, or gear for the sake of gear. But people do it in every hobby, from woodworking to music making to playing golf. Gear rarely makes one better, but a lot of people like spending money. Overlanding is 95% retail therapy for (mostly) dudes.

" gear-whoring" Haha have not heard of it put like that but you are spot on! You see it a lot even in hiking, people with tons of expensive gear when it's obvious they don't really care about hiking...

 

[DaPierogiKid]

Not really a wrong way to get outside, but the sterotypical "Overlanding" Rig has never seemed like the best way to do it for me. It is a great way to add a lot of semi-permanent weight to your rig, and pay RV prices for a tent. But hey, if it gets you out there, and you're having fun, Good on ya!

100%...who cares as long as you aren't hurting anyone or anything. Enjoy it the way you want to enjoy it.

 

[SierraBronco]

" gear-whoring" Haha have not heard of it put like that but you are spot on! You see it a lot even in hiking, people with tons of expensive gear when it's obvious they don't really care about hiking...

They’re just being with nature (while blasting music on a bluetooth speaker )

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