List Of Essentials You Need To Start Your Overlanding Journey

By Author: Oliver Bennet
Total Articles: 29
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There is a sense of accomplishment when you complete a long journey with your own vehicle. Overlanding offers this adventure of a lifetime, where you rely on self-sufficiency and your vehicle to explore different destinations away from the daily life in the city. However, you need to prepare and bring plenty of things to ensure that you can successfully drive through long distances, explore new places, and traverse rough terrain. Here are the important things you need to make your Overlanding experience safe and comfortable.

Vehicle
You need a capable and reliable vehicle for Overlanding. Your vehicle must be properly maintained and in good condition to handle a long-term trip. Most overlanders use rigs like SUVs, Jeeps, and pickup trucks as they offer all-wheel drive (AWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD) ideal for Overlanding. They add several gears and accessories to customize their rig and make it more suitable for the trip. Here are some of the common items equipped for Overlanding rigs.

1. All-Terrain Tires
Overlanding will take you to long stretches of highways and different kinds of terrain. ...
... Your vehicle must be able to provide a comfortable ride on paved surfaces and drive through mud, dirt, water, and snow with ease. A set of all-terrain tires can help your vehicle become more capable of going through these kinds of surfaces.

Installing all-terrain tires to your Overlanding vehicle provides plenty of benefits that are advantageous to tackling challenging terrains. These tires are specifically designed to have improved traction on any road surface than standard passenger tires. They have thicker and reinforced sidewalls designed to prevent punctures and bruises from loose rocks and debris. They usually have open and aggressive tread patterns and large gaps between tread blocks to grip loose surfaces like mud, snow, and dirt. This feature is more effective when the tires are a bit deflated as it widens its footprint to increase grip and traction. There are plenty of wheels and tires that offer enhanced on and off-the-road driving performance. Brands like Dick Cepek and Toyo tires are popular choices for versatile all-terrain tires.

2. Bumpers
Off-road bumpers are essential SUVs and truck accessories that protect the vehicle's front, and rear from obstacles often encountered on the trail. Bumpers are heavy-duty steel that can withstand scrapes and damages from rocks and bushes. It comes in different styles and sizes, such as tubular, modular, heavy-duty, and stinger. It comes in handy in Overlanding as it acts as additional exterior protection.

3. Skid Plates
Having vehicle body armor such as skid plates can ensure that your driving will be trouble-free from breakdown and damages. Skid plates protect the underside and vital areas of the vehicle underneath from harmful road elements. They secure the safety of the engine, fuel tanks,
transmission, transfer case, differentials, and rocker panels. Skid plates are beneficial in Overlanding as it provides complete underbody protection. Most Overlanding destinations are spontaneous and unknown; that is why having skid plates already equipped for your vehicle can help you alleviate your worries of damaging your vehicle.

4. LED Light Bars and Auxiliary Driving Lights
Overlanding is an extensive journey that can go for hundreds of miles of driving. Having a powerful source of lights available can help you cover ground and increase visibility during night and unpredictable weather conditions. The lighting is crucial for Overlanding as it can save your life and spare you from having expensive repairs that road mishaps can cause.

LED light bars offer a reliable light source that illuminates and spot obstacles and road hazards at night. It lets you perceive your surroundings with much more accuracy even while driving in off-the-grid places with no streetlights to provide an additional source of lighting. It comes in different lengths, several rows, and beam patterns. Other auxiliary driving lights and fog lights are useful while driving during harsh weather conditions. These lights can also be used as an additional source of lighting while camping.

5. Winches
Recovery tools like winches are helpful in unexpected situations like getting stuck on a rut while Overlanding. A winch mounted on your bumper is an accessible solution to pull your vehicle out of a tough spot when no recovery services are available. Your choice of the winch should be capable of lifting at least 1.5 times the weight of the fully-loaded vehicle.

6. Tonneau Cover
A tonneau cover is one of the truck accessories for a truck bed used to secure your gears and equipment. It guarantees complete protection from unpredictable weather conditions and harmful road elements that can damage your items. It also makes sure that your belongings won't be exposed to thieves.

7. Roof Racks
Roof racks are another utility accessory that can be used for most Overlanding vehicles. It provides additional storage space for your equipment and even luggage. Roof racks can also be used as a tent platform. This setup is ideal for when you want some elevation away from the ground and wildlife.

Vehicle Repair Equipment
There is always the possibility of getting caught in unexpected situations like road mishaps while Overlanding. Your vehicle might suffer from breakdown and damage that require immediate repair. Since Overlanding is a vehicle-reliant trip, you need to bring tools and equipment to repair and recover your rig. Note that basic mechanical and car maintenance skills are necessary to mend faulty parts of the vehicle. Here are some of the handy repair and recovery tools you need in case of an emergency.

1. Spare Tire
A flat tire is not an isolated case in Overlanding. Your tires are more exposed to road elements that can cause damages and even puncture your tires while driving long distances and in rougher road conditions. Having a spare tire is invaluable while Overlanding because auto repair shops could be miles away from your location. It also eliminates the problem of getting stuck in the middle of the road due to a flat tire. Ensure that you also have a jack to lift the vehicle and allow you to change the tire.

2. Hand Tools
Bringing a tool kit can help you fix some damaged parts immediately. Having accessible hand tools can also make it easy to complete various tasks like setting up camp. Your tool kit should be suitable for your vehicle and skill level. It should also include safety gear like gloves and goggles.

3. Tire Repair Kit and Air Compressor
A tire repair kit is an alternative solution when you don't have a spare tire with you. It is a quick remedy to flat tires by providing a sticky repair sealant and air into the tire. However, it has a few limitations, such as the puncture should be on the tire tread not bigger than 4mm. It is usually paired with an air compressor that you can use for inflating tires and reseating tires that slipped off the rim. The air compressor can also inflate air mattresses used for camping.

4. Portable Battery Jump Box
Since you will be mostly independent while Overlanding, a portable battery jump box is a lifesaver when your car battery becomes weak or dead. It is a 12-volt jump box that allows you to jump-start your battery independently without the need for help from other drivers. It provides a quick surge to start your engine again.

5. Extra Fuel and Fuel Container
Running out of gas is another problem you might encounter while Overlanding. Like with auto repair shops, gas stations can also be miles away. Keep an emergency supply of fuel to ensure that you won't run out of gas. Inspect the fuel container if it is tightly sealed and there are no spills or leaks of fuel.

Camping
An Overlanding trip can take days or even months depending on the route and duration of travel. The journey won't be complete without camping essentials used for instant shelter, cooking, and leisure. Here are some camping essentials that can help make your Overlanding safe and comfortable.

1. Tent
A tent is a must-have item if you're planning to set on an Overlanding journey. It offers an affordable alternative shelter to staying in hotels whenever you need to rest for the night. There are plenty of types of tents that provide different styles of sleeping arrangements to suit your preferences. You can go for a simple and minimal setup with a standard camping tent and sleeping bag. You can also get a tent that you can set up on your vehicles, such as a truck bed tent, rooftop tent, overland tent, and canvas topper. You can also bring an air bed and mattress to get some quality sleep during your Overlanding journey.

2. Coolers
Coolers help keep your ice, water, and other beverages cold for a more extended period. If you're carrying perishable food items, you might as well bring a cooler with you to keep them last longer.

3. Dry Storage
Keep your daily essentials secured and organized using dry storage such as a large plastic bin. Use the dry storage to keep your camping accessories like a first aid kit, flashlight, and toiletries in one place that is clean and easy to access. You can also use this as a personal pantry to store food and cooking supplies.

4. Camping Stove and Cooking Equipment
The time spent enjoying a meal outdoors is one of the most memorable parts of Overlanding. Bringing a portable stove can make it easy for you to prepare and cook hearty meals. Be sure to bring kitchen items like cooking utensils and reusable dinnerware to make your outdoor lunch and dinner more convenient and comfortable.

5. Food and Water Supply
Some Overlanding routes are off-the-grid, where stores and restaurants won't be available. You must have access to food and water at all times. Bring calorie-dense snacks and healthy food items that won't be easily affected by the temperature for a quick energy source. You also need to have a large water jug that can provide you with a gallon of drinking water per day. These items are important to ensure that you won't starve or dehydrate in the middle of your journey.

6. First Aid Kit
First Aid Kit is necessary for any outdoor activity, including Overlanding. You can make your first aid kit with bandaids, alcohol, antiseptic solutions, ointments, sterile gauzes, plasters, painkillers, and multivitamins.

7. Flashlights
Flashlights come in handy when you need an instant source of light. It is also a convenient lighting source during emergencies and when you need to inspect your rig for problems.

Overlanding requires serious preparation because your safety should always be your priority in every journey. This list provides essential stuff you might need to make your Overlanding experience safe and successful. You can always adjust the list of things you'll bring to maximize the safety and comfort of your trip.

I've been writing automotive-related content for 5 years. It started as a hobby but it opened up an opportunity for me to make it a career. I contribute articles about off-roading and truck parts and accessories at 4WheelOnline.