The only definitions one should consider in the topic of Overlanding are "fun" and "enjoyment". Are you enjoying how you are spending your valuable time? Whether it be building out a rig, buying one already built, planning trips, executing trips, filming or not filming, the list goes on of variables but all that really matter is if you yourself are finding joy and having fun. Comparison is the root of self loathing and sadness. I run an old, albeit very well maintained, 2004 Grand Cherokee. I've enjoyed the buildout process and all the auxiliaries that come with 4x4 exploration such as camping and kayaking/canoeing. I've found a sincere joy in preplanning trips and planning future trips, especially with the exploration of digital maps, it's like a treasure hunt to mark what I find and go seek it out. Most importantly I am having fun!
All great points! I too enjoy building out my vehicle and doing DIY projects just as much as actually going out exploring and testing that gear. Glad you're having fun!
I really appreciate and agree with Overland Bound's definition of overlanding: Vehicle based adventure travel. To me, it's not about the most gucci gear, or the latest gadget, it's about having an adventure and getting out into the beauty of creation. At OB, one of our mottos is "it doesn't matter what you drive." I feel that this philosophy does an excellent job of encapsulating the spirit of overlanding, and doesn't exclude people. Sounds like it's closely in line with your view. Cheers, fellow overlander!
Yes, I too have been seeing a lot of chatter on this topic. I named our channel over landing our way because I’m not always out on the trail off bridge someplace. Yes we can be off grid for days due to having power stations solar 12 V fridge and what not but sometimes we also like to hit up a local campground and just work with people that are like-minded, and just love to camp. This year was the first time that I went to Expo West and Expo PNW. I love the people in the Overland community and that’s another reason why we have Overlanding in our social media name. To us, my wife and I oh and our dog Luna, just getting out away from the chaos that is society and being able to see an experience new things that otherwise we would not be able to see how we“overland“. I agree with what you said about just taking your vehicle out and go explore and see what it is that you like so that way you can figure out what kind of gear you need and or how you want to modify your vehicle. The journey two and from your destination is really the overland part whether is off trail or stumbling into a campground during the trip or whatever else you may run into is the Overland part. How we do it is we know our destination, but we have no idea where we’re going to stay on our way to that destination. Having to navigate and figure that out is a huge part of our Overlanding. We know what direction we are going to, but figuring it out on the fly is a lot of fun stumbling upon places that are not even labeled on the map.
I appreciate your overall philosophy, opinion & approach to overlanding/camping. When I found your channel not long ago, it’s what really caught my attention & why I subscribed. Thank you for your efforts with making such great content.
I remember when it was just called car camping. We loaded up in what ever the family vehicle was and went on a road trip somewhere to camp in the woods.
Yeah I think people are calling it overlanding because it sounds cooler and less suburban sounding. The current builds of overlanding vehicles are what we use to call bugout. I like that people are going out more now but since COVID there's been an increase in trash and traffic. That's the part that's making it less enjoyable now
Garden of the Gods in Colorado is cool too. :) Always appreciate your Podcast. I agree with just starting. I got my son started with each of us sleeping in the bed of our trucks with no tent or camper or anything. Just a sleeping bag and the wide-open sky. He tells me it was his favorite camping experience. Something rejuvenating about sleeping under the open sky.
Great points Fletch! I very much agree. Encouraging others to continue their path of getting outdoors more is something I enjoy a great deal. Another topic that gets intermingled with the discussion of "What is overlanding?" is the question of "What is more important? The destination or the journey?" For me, it is about the company. The destination or the journey isn't worthwhile if you don't have someone to share it with. While I've done some solo trips, I find them to be far less enjoyable than if I have someone to share the experience with. On that note... Holler if you ever get down to the Ozarks. I'd love to share a campfire sometime!
Agree with ya! And will do. I'm seriously looking at the Ozarks sometime in the next year or so. I want to get out there so bad and can't believe I've never been yet. The journey is a lot more fun with good people for sure!
Wait, are you telling me I should have named my channel “Colorado Overland Adventures”?! I’ve watched these videos and my take is everyone needs to chill on the talk, and instead just hit the trails. Stop worrying what Billy Bob thinks. For instance, am I a mallcrawler? Nope, but if the people I park next to at Walmart think I am, it is not gonna hurt my feelings. I believe the same should apply to overlanders.
Whats up Fletch! It has been a min since I got to comment here hahaha I have missed you! Anyways, I love your take on this. The truth is that it doesn't matter, and overlanding (like any other hobby), is what you make of it. Its like food! People love food, but some people love restaurants, others love cooking, others love sharing what they cooked with other people, but one thing they all share is their passion for food. I think overlanding should have a similar take, where we all just enjoy it in different ways depending on what we like and have access to, and neither of the takes are less valuable than the next. I remember when I first started, and people would ask how to start, and the standard answer was what you said, "food, water, and shelter". Its crazy how far we have moved away from that, because now people think they must have 35s, a RTT, maxtrax, rotopax, and all of this useless crap (in my opinion) that people have been led to believe they will need in order to travel down a gravel road. Thank you for openly speaking about this subject and how we need to make it more accessible to others!!
Good video Fletcher! I'm all for people going out and enjoying the outdoors anyway possible. As for those who claim it is not overlanding unless you do this or that, their first mistake is thinking people care about what they think. I know people who "its not camping unless you sleep in a tent out in the wilderness", some people are just told old for that and they want to sleep in a RV, I don't hold it against them one bit, I'm just glad they are out enjoying what this country has to offer, so many great places to camp and sights to see. Keep up the great work and videos, hopefully we will see you on the trail some day.
Great position on it we first got into overlanding by just doing overnight trips now we are doing long 400+offroad 4-5 or longer day trips just getting outside is so great. The biggest advantage I’ve seen for overlanding people is they don’t seem to fill a camping spot full of trash and leave it. Most overlanders clean up after themselves so much more than the people who go out and camp in their monster trailer that is the same as their house.
Yep, agreed. Around me, we find that mostly locals go in and trash spots and when we go out there, we'll generally take one of two trashbags out when we leave, cleaning up all the junk left behind (like entire tires? Whole tents? Who does that).
What a trip, I am sitting here at Kentucky Lake right now as well! My family has places at Loors, and I am close to finishing up the house I have been building in Cambridge Shores, not too far from there! Leaving in a couple days in my "Overland Rig" to head back west to the Sierra Nevada mountains where I live currently. Keep up the good work....I am getting ready to sell my F350 w 4Wheel Campers pop up rig, and get into a Pro4x for the new setup!
I've been called out for something similar. Honestly, yes I have a built rig and no I don't take it out on long trips or even every weekend. I do maybe 6-7 trips a year. But I have more than one passion and you might find me on those other weekends, doing photography stuff, at an F1 race in Europe, at a music festival, tooling away in my garden, or just having a restful weekend. But people see the rig and assume. I'm not one dimensional.
Yeah, good point! I enjoy having my vehicle because since I've always got a variety of gear on it, it's helpful even in non-overlanding situations. I recently was at a kids bday party (my niece) and my wife said "Oh shoot, I forgot a lighter at home to light the candles" and I said "No problem, I've got my fire starting stuff in my truck." Trip back home or to a nearby store saved, :D.
Well said I think people need to get back to the basics. I’m just going out and exploring and don’t worry about the judging and gatekeepers. We are out there to have fun
Really nice video Fletch - I appreciate your perspective and thoughts about being more open and inclusive and less "label-ey." Just get out there and do it! Peace. Goodwill. Adventure.
I'm in Shanghai, China, I do a 4 day weekend a couple of times a month... There are some amazing places I can get to from the eastern seaboard in that time, but it's all so population dense, every mountain and deep valley has ancient villages... Its more just exploring and camping, but we don't have any of the stuff like onxoffroad or gaia... Plenty of off road but civilisation is always just around the corner... Trying to escape the urban conurbation of 40 million people is not easy... But twice a year I take 3-4 weeks and drive west into Sichaun, Gansu Qinghai, Yunnan, Himalayas and Deserts... But it takes a week driving to get away from civilisation here... But when you do.... Yeah, you can get away... It's wild and dangerous, but amazing. Have no idea what overlanding is really I'm no overlander, I just like to explore by car and camp, and get off road and away from the sprawl... I leave Sept 1st for Qinghai and Gobi desert, 30 days, about 10,000km round trip... I live the entire year for it... Some will be dispersed camping, some will be guest houses, some will be campgrounds. Its all just good, the plan is to do the China, Central Asia, Europe, Africa route in the next couple of years...
I agree that he had a funny video. One thing I think he misses is that building the rig is as much of the fun for us. Maybe more so. We can focus on that after work and help us escape a little. I have been more like Tyler lately in that I have built rigs and am dialing my newest one back and trying to use it more than work on it.
That's true. I really enjoy building out my truck and changing my gear setup fairly often. There's some thrill to be had for sure in optimizing something or making something you wanted, but didn't want to spend the money on, just like actually getting out and exploring.
Oh my gosh! soooo true and well said, I really agree with the principal of your point, but would love to convers more with you aa Ibelieve this needs to be clarified insteade of miss lableing or the principale forgotent.
VERY capable classic truck,bought a used rtt to stay above the scorpions and rattlers in the desert,built a mount for the tent (like everything else on the truck,diy fab)fridge,solar generator (because we hate wet food)standard camping gear.we go and do what we want!!!!!
This is so true! Everyone has a camp, and they are entitled to that. You will always learn more if you visit other camps... pun intended! So people should be receptive to letting people in to visit 😉
Hiking is simply walking outdoors. Overlanding is driving outdoors. The same attitudes apply to "Adventure" riders in the motorcycle genre. I've had expensive big heavy bikes and now I have a light dual purpose bike. The BMW GS guys laugh and point at me. I was one of them. Now I'm getting into truck camping in my new Ranger. 23 Zero Swag, old Coleman stove, old Gott cooler, and a tarp. All under the tonneau cover. There are no mods on Ranger. I'm sure I'll have gatekeepers here in Colorado this year... I'll laugh all the way to the bank. Cheers.
I think the only thing that matters is if you had fun. Honestly it’s really only the internet where I see gatekeepers. Folks out on the trails are 99% of the time nice people. Also, where did you go in WV? I’m in Pennsylvania about 45 mins from the WV border
That’s ok! Just take your truck and go exploring and you’ll figure out the holes in your setup quick. Just don’t listen to most people on the internet who tell you you need to buy a bunch of stuff or that you need to do XYZ to be considered an overlander and you’ll have a good time. Enjoy!
"The best thing you can do for overlanding is to get people into it." No. The best thing you can do is do your own thing and leave everybody else out of it. Overlanding has become just like hunting. Overexposed, overcrowded and completely commercialized. The only good part is, unlike hunting, most access is still free for now. That doesn't solve the overcrowding problem though. A lot of trails are getting closed because of overuse and overcrowding and the lack of respect for property that comes with these things. We (my family and friends) did "overlanding" long before it was ever called that. We would pack whatever 2 or 4WD rattletrap we had and hit the road, exploring. It was just weekend or week long exploring trips driving where we could and were allowed to, to see the country. Good times. Now with RU-vid and "sponsorships" and all the rest, it is over exposed and overdone and just like hunting, has turned into a techno equipment race. Blah. My advice. Keep it simple. Use what you have and just go. If you find some good, uncrowded spots, (very unlikely now) keep it to yourself! The best "overlanding" trip I ever did was when me and three friends flew into Anchorage, rented a 4WD van and just hit the road for two weeks. No specific plans, no videos, just us and some minimal camping equipment and a atlas of Alaska. Best trip ever.
I agree with most of what you said. Personally, I don't think most overlanders are really in it for RU-vid or the sponsorship (I really just enjoy building relationships with folks and helping newer folks try something new that ends up changing their lives because they didn't know about it or were too nervous to give it a shot). Again though, most people who get into overlanding are inundated with the message to pack out what you pack in and to tread lightly so I've never come across any that trash campsites or intentionally damage trails or break rules. Generally, they are super respectful and part of the solution to the problems by helping to lead clean ups or by filling up an extra trash bag with stuff they find in their travels. Definitely agree with the "take what you've got and go" approach to getting started. You don't need super built rigs or fancy gear to get out exploring. That Alaska trip sounds badass, :D.
Not a "real" overlander. I pull an off-roadish teardrop trailer. But I'd rather be on some overlanding type of roads than some of the horrible washboardy roads I've been on. One such road is 60 miles long, and thank heavens, I left the trailer at a campground and looped around. I wish my Xterra had a bigger gas tank, as my two small containers wouldn't get terribly far. I don't go off by myself too much because I'm an old lady, and my first consideration is for my dog--I need to keep him cool. So we do go to forest service campgrounds a lot while school is in session (during the week), so it is quieter. The trailer can be difficult, like the time I came to a gate and had to back up 14 times to get turned around in the mud.
I've had some really good sites at self serve USFS campgrounds. Stayed at one last night that was on a lake in Kentucky and right next to a bathroom, so it was pretty perfect, haha.
As someone who owns a very unique Overland rig, I am gatekept out of most Overland communities and I'm not taken very seriously... and that's fine... I dont need anyone's approval. However... whenever I say "Overlanding is..." it's always quantified with ".... to me" because I respect that the meaning of Overlanding is going to be different to everyone. Whenever I hear someone try to define or argue what Overlanding is, as if they are an authority on what the definition is... I immediately discount their opinion as coming from someone that's shallow and easily threatened... and I am immediately suspect of any opinions they have to offer as biased and intolerant.
@AllThingsOverlanding we have a 2005 Chevy Astro with a 5 inch lift, 31 inch tires, with lots of mods that make it an excellent Overland rig. It'll never be a rock crawler but it goes a lot of places most would think it's not capable of.... it continues to impress me.
I think "overlanding" is what you make it. It shouldn't matter what anyone thinks or says. The companies ripping people off just because they add overland to their products to charge more is pure bullshit.
Well, I do think that there are road trips and I do think that there are camping trips. And I think there is a category for overlanding, and I do think there is a category for expedition. I figure over landing is a capable self-sustained vehicle traveling off the beaten path. I do believe it is very healthy for everyone to get Outdoors breathe some fresh air and get something dirty.
Right. And we can be honest with ourselves, right? Like, if I drive a couple of hours away to a national forest and drive in without exploring and then just pick a dispersed spot and camp, I'm not going around telling all my friends I went on an epic overlanding trip. But, if someone says they're building an overlanding rig and outfitting it to explore and sometimes takes it on a camping trip, I won't go online and rail against them calling them "fauxverlanders" or anything, haha. I guess that's my point is that there are so many people who delight in trying to crap on others passion or hobbies when they should just chill and enjoy exploring and do it the way they want, haha.
@@AllThingsOverlanding when I was young, there was no such thing as overlanding really. It was all camping Except for maybe When I was a teenager watching the camel trophy trucks that I saw on wide world of sports.
Overlanding is not a hobby, it's a style to reach a unique destination (and on roads less traveled). It existed long before CoVid and glamping trailers and roof top tents or scottles. The fact that it has turned into a fad is a bit offensive to those who put in the tough work.
Ahh, there's the gatekeeping. I sincerely doubt that the old school, original "overlanders" would be offended that people are finding ways to be more prepared and enjoy exploring and finding new unique destinations, even if they're not doing it as a means to move cattle across Australia. Not trying to be flippant, but to the point in my video, does it even really matter to try to make a hard cutoff as to what "real" overlanding is or what it isn't? Again, I think "real" overlanders would be thrilled that more people are getting out and exploring, not mad that they're "not doing it right." But, that's just my take on it.
@@AllThingsOverlanding Appreciate the response, but under that logic, RV'ing now constitutes Overlanding. Nothing like having your condo on wheels to provide all the creature comforts of home while you are out exploring the great outdoors. Full size fridge/freezer...check....60 gallons of water...check, ....72" satelite TV....check....leather couch and lounge chairs w/massage...check....
@@pl5861 I think it’s pretty obvious that most people aren’t taking an RV down any sort of trail or exploring any destinations very far off paved concrete. That’s why there’s an actual term called RVing. But whether you’re in a fully built Jeep gladiator that you spent $150,000 on or a 20-year-old Nissan frontier with some gear and a cooler, if you go exploring and enjoy the journey and are relying on your vehicle for your needs, I don’t see why anyone would want to discourage that or tell those people that they aren’t really over landing. If you just wanna make people feel bad and try to keep people from continuing to grow into doing longer and more remote travel than you make artificial rules like what is or isn’t over landing. My point is simply that I try to encourage people to start where they can and use what they have to see if it makes sense to go further into the hobby. What’s the motivation or benefit to trying to diminish people’s efforts to spend more time outdoors and to build vehicles they can rely on to explore? Does it hurt anyone who legitimately travels overland to move cattle full time as an occupation when others emulate that in order to grow as a person using their own money and time? Like, I don’t understand why this has become a talking point and why anyone cares. I think we should let people live their lives and spend their money how they want. If we get more environmental stewards out of it and more support and financing for public lands, then I’m all for it.
Over Landing: -Level 3 trails -No water or electric hook ups -No natural cell service -only rescue by helicopter -No restrooms or showers provided -Living off self contained grid -elevation of 2000 ft Camping: -Level 1 and 2 trails -luxuries of home nearby -paying to stay the night -Hook ups -Cell service -Amenities -sea level elevation or up to 2000 feet….. 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
