The Important Stuff You Don’t Want to Leave Home Without
We know off-road travel and overlanding is exploding across the country and around the world so we thought we would set out to define some of the basic equipment and gear you will want to consider if you are new to the game. Here is a short list but there is even more in the video below.
TIRES
The first thing we recommend is tires. You want to have an aggressive tread pattern suitable for the types of driving conditions you will do. All terrain tires differ vastly from mud terrain and highway tires so it's important to understand the type of train you'll be driving on most before you buy. Maxxis, BF Goodrich, Kenda, Kanati, Mickey Thompson, Yokohama. Michelin, Nitto, Bridgestone, General Tire and Goodyear all make a wide range of tires that would suit your needs. The size of tires is also critical and if you're serious about off road you'll probably want to go to an aftermarket wheel with larger tires, this gives you more ground clearance and better approach and departure angles but you'll need to change gearing on your vehicle so consult your local dealer and do your research
SPARE TIRES
Most factories spare tire holders hang the spare underneath the vehicle but many off roaders opt to store their spares on the back bumper for easier access and better protection from rough terrain. There are a variety of companies that make tire carriers for Jeeps, four wheel drive trucks and vans including CBI, Relentless Fabrication, Aluminess and many more.
SUSPENSION
Aftermarket suspension is really critical in overland because most people add a lot of weight to their vehicles with items like bumpers armors refrigerators tools tents cooking camping gear spare parts etc. Companies like Icon Vehicle Dynamics and King Shocks make incredible suspension products for most serious four-wheel drive machines. Icon manufacturers both control arms, other running gear and the shocks themselves while King only makes shocks leaving enthusiasts to need to go to other companies like Total Chaos for sturdier control arms.
SKID PLATE
A skid plate is a really important piece of protective gear for off road adventure especially if you're driving over a lot of rocks. Some are made from aluminum while others are made from steel. Companies like Asfir, EVO Manufacturing and many others make quality skid plates.
BUMPERS
We also recommend heavy duty bumpers front and rear. Aftermarket bumpers offer the opportunity to mount winches and lights, provide added protection, additional recovery points and a sturdy point to jack the vehicle. There are a variety of companies that make these for four wheel drive trucks and vans including CBI, C4, Relentless Fabrication, Aluminess, Backwoods Adventure Mods and many more.
STORAGE
Depending on how long you'll be traveling storage space can be challenging for most people. One of the most popular items are plastic and aluminum storage cases clear by companies like Roam, Pelican and several others. We also recommend adding smaller storage such as fabric pouches or even small plastic cases to help you keep everything organized and close at hand.
OUTSIDE STORAGE
Vans and expedition vehicles are not exempt from storage problems and some resort to steel storage boxes that go behind the rear doors. Owl Vans is the market leader.
BICYCLES
Die to restricted space some people mount their bicycles outside of their van. Several companies like Kuat, OneUp and Quikr Stuff make quality bike racks that will safely and security hold mountain bikes and E-bikes even under the most strenuous off-road conditions.
DRAWER SYSTEMS
Several companies make drawer systems that fit inside of the bed of a pickup truck and back of other vehicles like SUV’s. Companies like Goose Gear and Decked make simple yet extremely effective drawer solutions with a deck on top. These systems can provide access to easy storage in areas that can otherwise become extremely difficult to reach.
TRUCK RACKS
Mounting items such as fire extinguishers, compressed air, recovery gear and mountain bikes on the outside of a truck, van or expedition vehicle is an extremely popular way to carry more gear effectively. Leitner Designs even makes a unique portable shower system like this hose and jug which can be used to rinse off other gear or can be used for showering.
MOLLE PANELS
Molle panels and Molle pouches are an effective way to organize smaller items both inside and outside of the vehicles and Molle panels are relatively universal and can even accommodate larger items like backpacks shovels and much more.
MOTORCYCLE STORAGE
Motorcycles are the most limited when it comes to space and therefore have to resort to either soft luggage or something like aluminum cargo boxes to carry their gear. Bags from Mosko Moto and Giant Loop are among the most popular for people who ride big KTM, Triumph, BMW and other adventure bikes.
POWER SOURCES & STORAGE
if you're going to be doing overnighters extra power as a must. Power can be divided into two distinct categories, portable and auxiliary portable power. Portable power stations by Jackery, Anker, Bluetti and See Devil have become very popular in recent years. Auxillary power solutions can be more complicated integrating DC chargers, 120 Volt inverters, solar chargers and more. These systems can be a hassle for the DIY hobbyist but can be eased by using integration and management tools like the ones made by Redarc. If you are using an auxiliary power system you'll need a high quality deep cycle or lithium battery such as Antigravity or Optima to store the power until needed.
SOLAR POWER
Some people use solar power which can be mounted on the roof rack or on top of a roof top tent which allows them to be charged whenever the sun is out. Others choos to go the budget route of setting up portable solar panels when they set up camp. The disadvantage of this method is you waste valuable sunlight wile in motion during the day. Cascadia 4x4 even make solar panels custom cut to fit your hood.
DRIVING LIGHTS
We recommend getting some quality driving lights even if you don't plan on doing a lot of nightime driving. Mount these on front of rear bumpers, on roof racks, in wheel wells and on the hood and you can light up 360 degrees around the entire vehicle. Baja Designs and KC Hilites are among the market leaders but there are many other aftermarket companies that make these as well.
ROOF TOP TENTS
Camping has never been better with today's technology hence the growing popularity of overlanding. With the the advent of affordable rooftop tents now it's easy to bring along a more comfortable mattress and sleeping setup. Some modern rooftop tents can be set up and closed down in seconds not minutes and they come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Anti Shanty, iKamper, Roam, 23Zero, Cascadia, Tuff Stuff, Thule, Go Fast, Overland Vehicle Systems, Yakima, Redtail Overland, Alu-Cab and ARB all make quality tents but there are lots more on the market with a wide variety of price points and features.
REFRIGERATION
Without a doubt one of the essentials we believe strongly in is a refrigerator. Dometic and IceCo are two of the most popular brands but there are many others. These refrigerators can run off your existing 12 Volt system, external batteries or 120 volts and some even have separate programmable zones allowing for fridge and freezer in the same unit.
RECOVERY BOARDS
One of the most popular items for any serious four wheel enthusiasts are recovery boards. MaxTrax makes the most popular ones but Action Trax, ARB, Exitrax, TRED and several dozen other companies make them as well.
WINCH
We also recommend a quality which from Warn or Smittybuilt and some good recovery gear including a kinetic rope, soft shackles, tree straps, winch rings or snatched blocks, a good heavy duty set of gloves, a shovel and more. A properly built recovery kit can save the day and get you free from sticky situations of all kinds.
COMMUNICATIONS
Communication is also high in our list of must have overland equipment and this includes 2 way radios, GPS communications like Garmin InReach and even satellite phones. We use Garmin products and also OnX Off-Road but there are other choices on the market.
NICE TO HAVE BUT NOT INDISPENSIBLE
The next few items aren't necessarily must haves but they sure can make life much more comfortable.
A quality rack system by Leitner Designs to help carry all your gear efficiently
An outdoor shower by Outback Outdoors or Geyser to keep you clean
An air compressor and an ARB Locking Differential if you are really serious
Awnings from Tuff Stuff, ROAM or many others are well worth it in the heat of the day
Starlink can keep you connected to the world and save your life in an emergency
Water purification from Guzzle H20 can help you extend your range
Outdoor lighting from See Devil or Risk Racing just makes camp life more enjoyable
Dash organizers/mounts for iPhone, iPads, Garmin GPS and GoPro help keep things tidy
A portable toilet or cassette toilet from Dometic or Porta Potti sure can come in handy
A long travel off-road jack from Hi-Lift or Pro Eagle can save a lot of headaches
We hope this short list and the accompanying video helps you get yourself and your rig outfitted for your next big adventure or your first big adventure. Either way we want you to be prepared.
See you on the trail.
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