I got into offroading some 11 years ago. Well before IG or YouTube were staples of media, and at a time when MySpace was still actually competitive as a social media platform. Point being, I didn't really have access to the videos/photos/articles/forums that we take as inherent parts of today’s overland community.
Back in those days, the people I ran with and myself simply outfitted our vehicles in order of what we needed most and could afford. We didn't really think too much about sliders until the first time we smacked a rocker into a ledge. We didn't sweat winches too much since there were always a few of us out. We mostly focused on getting an adequate suspension and tires on the Jeeps, and then wheeling the absolute dog piss outta 'em. I smoked a radiator, a front carrier, rear pinion/spider gears, a driveshaft, and lord knows what else in the process. It was this break-it-fix-it-wheel-it-repeat process that really let me figure out what I was capable of, what I wanted to do while out, and what I needed to do to outfit the vehicle in turn. At the same time, we were loading up our rides with Coleman tents, fleece sleeping bags, $30 coolers, and enough beer to kill a gorilla and hanging out for days on end on trails.
Fast forward to today, and things have changed in many aspects, and stayed the same in others. These days, I immediately plan on equipping any offroad vehicle of mine with at least a front steel bumper, sliders, and skids in addition to the lift and rubber. I ran a winch on the JK and planned on putting one on the Taco, but waffled on that. I have the same Zeon series winch on the FJ as the JK now. A rear bumper for good measure, and a whole suite of tools. But much like the old days, I’m still managing to bust stuff regularly. 8 total CVs, 3 sets of tie rods, 2 front calipers, a front coilover, and a pair of wheel bearings each across the two Yotas so far. (Hooray for IFS). The more things change, the more they stay the same.
I’ve had people ranging from strangers I helped recover in the snow to women I dated ask me why I carry around all this recovery gear/tools and why the ride is outfitted as it is. And the simple answer is that it fits my driving style and realistic equipment I’ll need. Which brings me to the real point of this post; most people realistically don’t need the overwhelming majority of shit they’ve got bolted on/hanging off/sitting inside their vehicles. “Overlanding” has too regularly become an exercise in equipping one’s self with accoutrements that don’t fit their needs. You (yes you) possibly being included.
If you poll 100 people who consider themselves to be active overlanders on what they consider to be the basics needed, I’d be willing to bet that armor, lift, oversized tires, and things like traction boards will litter the lists. But I’ve come to realize that none of that is the case. Thinking back on the most true-to-tradition overlanding I’ve done (remote, offroad, long distance), none of it really necessitated any of that stuff. I almost never engage 4WD unless there’s snow on the ground, and the few other people I’ve seen out there have all exclusively driven stock vehicles. The majority of any overland trip is spent just running forest roads to features on the topo that I think will serve as good campsites. No locker needed. It’s not until I arrive on trails like OR’s Firebreak Five or AZ’s Pyeatt Draw that the extra 400 pounds of stuff I’m humping comes into play.
But I see a lot of people’s vehicles outfitted with extraneous gear that I personally know the driver has never, and will never use. And that’s not a judgement or gatekeeping arrogance. Rather, I point it out as a cautionary tale. Adding larger tires means more rotational mass; they assault steering components and axles. Lifting the vehicle puts more stress on ball joints and U joints. Carrying around extra weight increases stopping distance, wears brakes faster, and changes handling dynamics. In short, every variable you alter in a system effects the system as a whole. Generally speaking, you reduce the reliability and shorten the lifespan of components by modifying a vehicle. It’s a frustrating part of owning a heavily-modified 4x4, and often drives me to frenzy to this day.
The real shame is that this keeping-up-with-the-Joneses attitude that’s pushed these days sets unrealistic and or unnecessary standards for people who just want to do cool shit in their vehicles. I regularly see posts on Reddit, TW, and elsewhere where new users lament about how they’re “saving up to start overlanding”, but don’t have the money for armor, suspension, and tires yet. This despite them having perfectly capable TRD Off Road Tacos, JKURs, 3rd gen 4Rs, Fx4 Fords, you name it. A good set of all terrains in stock size will take any decent 4WD vehicle halfway around the world and back.
Keep up on your maintenance, and don’t add anything that doesn’t directly reflect a deficit in your goals or needs. If your vehicle cost you $40K and you’re driving it daily with payments, you’re probably not down to smash the doors in on a tree or drop it off a ledge. So why spend $1200 on bumpers and skids? And even if you’re in a $2K Craigslist special, there’s no point in hauling around half a Snap On truck if you don’t even know how to replace your own brakes yet. There are absolutely life-changing views and experiences you can find with a bone stock vehicle, so don’t feel hamstrung because you don’t have Johnny Influencer’s whizbang junk equipped.
Far be it from me to tell you how to build your vehicle. Some people just like the way stuff looks, and that’s perfectly fine. Others plan on growing into their vehicle’s abilities, which is also reasonable. I only want to help people understand that they don’t need expensive and heavy add-ons to see amazing stuff outdoors. Moreover, I think the majority of stuff that’s being sold as “overland” gear is almost exclusively suited for technical wheeling. But most importantly of all, every dollar spent on gear is one less dollar for beer. Prioritize accordingly.
-JOSH