Does Overlanding Require You to Go Off Pavement?

[The Durangler]

I spent many years “Overlanding” in a 2006 Dodge Caravan. I installed a Tepui roof top tent. I put a set of ko2’s on it. It was the “Overland Minivan”. It went many places I never expected it to. My family and I had many adventures, both on road and off. People in the “Overland” community laughed at us. They said we should have a 4wd. Sadly, last year it died. We now have a 4 wheel drive that is significantly more capable. The other day my 13 year old son, who loved all things “Overland”, said to me, “Dad…I sure miss the minivan. It was the best.” He was right. We did not let haves or have nots prevent us from adventure. We did not let the opinions of others deter us from getting after it. It was simple. It was about the love of adventure. I think that many get lost in tires this and air compressor that….

Adventure is what you make it.

A-effin-men! I wish I would have seen you out on the trail with the minivan when I was in one of my solid axle, locked rigs... the only laughing would have been me laughing at myself for being in such an over-prepared rig as you cruised through with the van!

-TJ

Lol. Don’t get me wrong I wanted a super rig but I had kids and owned a minivan. I just made it work and we had fun.

 

[slomatt]

<Insert opinion number 1,467,433 on how to define "overlanding" here>

 

[John and Mandi]

Hi Dilldog
Overlanding is always on roads, but the road’s may turn to dirt and in some cases just disappear be at from storm damage or just ending.

Any vehicle can be used and the most inappropriate vehicles can turn into big adventure, Top Deck Travel used to drive Overland trips from London to Kathmandu in old UK double deckers on roads that today most people would only take a Jeep Rubicon!

We kept running into a Dragoman Overland tour in Peru. A quick glance at their fleet and one will see they just use a school bus for their North/Central American tours.

 

[John and Mandi]

Actually if we all admit it. Overlanding is nothing but a new name for camping and 4wheeling but more expensive...

At Expo East 2019 we ruffled quite a few feathers when we were answering a question during a panel discussion. I guess we said the quiet part out loud. The question was multifaceted but it came down to the difficulty and expertise required to drive the Americas. Our answer was "all we did was drive roads, some were great and some were horrible but we weren't felling trees and building bridges. If you can drive a vehicle you can drive around the world, just like all the locals do."

 

[Thomas Hastings]

Actually if we all admit it. Overlanding is nothing but a new name for camping and 4wheeling but more expensive...

At Expo East 2019 we ruffled quite a few feathers when we were answering a question during a panel discussion. I guess we said the quiet part out loud. The question was multifaceted but it came down to the difficulty and expertise required to drive the Americas. Our answer was "all we did was drive roads, some were great and some were horrible but we weren't felling trees and building bridges. If you can drive a vehicle you can drive around the world, just like all the locals do."

Man if that isn’t the truth. People have been traversing these roads with far less capable transportation long before us. But I like the part, “just like all the locals do.”

Maintained FS roads can be driven by nearly anything. Get you a case of bottled water, couple cans of spaghettios, pull into that designated camping spot and just like that, you’re an “Overlander” in your Prius for about $10, depending on how many cans of spaghettios you buy.

 

[DevilDodge]

I adventure with my truck in the forest.

Sorry! That is all I do. Can I stay?

 

[smritte]

Overlanding is nothing but a new name for camping and 4wheeling

Actually, we had 4wheeling and sometimes you went camping in your 4wheeler. Essentially, yes.

I hope everyone realizes, if this thread was in a diffrent forum, all the trolls would have screamed that "Its already been covered, multiple times". To me its fun reading diffrent perspectives.

 

[DintDobbs]

@SoCoRuss Pretty much that's where this thread was going! Overlanding isn't car camping, overlanding is car "glamping".

But the ultimate answer to the OP is still no, according to the definition given on the forum.

 

[Wanderlost]

Your question can be answered very simply; No, unless you want to.
You do you, I'll do me, they can do them.

 

[Red_Leaf_Overland]

Wh

@SoCoRuss Pretty much that's where this thread was going! Overlanding isn't car camping, overlanding is car "glamping".

But the ultimate answer to the OP is still no, according to the definition given on the forum.

What definition on the forum clearly states no?
The forum is designed to be inclusive to all by leaving definitions loose and painting a broad pictire. Its up to everyone else to come up with their own opinions.
Suchbis life. Nobody will agree on everything.

 

[DintDobbs]

@Red_Leaf_Overland That picture in your post is the part that says no, my guy.

Thread title: Does Overlanding Require You to Go Off Pavement?

(Refer to your pic of the forum's definition of Overlanding)

No, overlanding does not require you to go off pavement.

No joke. I don't know how to explain it better, my guy. The pic in your post right there says no.

 

[Red_Leaf_Overland]

@Red_Leaf_Overland That picture in your post is the part that says no, my guy.

Thread title: Does Overlanding Require You to Go Off Pavement?

(Refer to your pic of the forum's definition of Overlanding)

No, overlanding does not require you to go off pavement.

No joke. I don't know how to explain it better, my guy. The pic in your post right there says no.

Your right I was reading what you wrote wrong lol... so much back and forth on here... I'm tapping out.

 

[rich5665]

One must travel the paved road to travel the gravel road. So yes in my opinion, traveling over pavement would be considered over landing. I always thought the point was to throw your gear in your truck, SUV or all wheel drive,get away with friends and have a good time doing it.

 

[Thomas Hastings]

Isn’t everyone and everything technically over land unless you’re at sea but there’s land at the bottom of the sea so even when you’re boating or swimming your over landing. But there would not be anything if there wasn’t a planet in the first place so maybe the correct term is over planeting. Overplanet Bound!

 

[grubworm]

Isn’t everyone and everything technically over land unless you’re at sea but there’s land at the bottom of the sea so even when you’re boating or swimming your over landing. But there would not be anything if there wasn’t a planet in the first place so maybe the correct term is over planeting. Overplanet Bound!

well, that did it for me!

 

[DintDobbs]

@Thomas Hastings We have a winner!

 

[Kevin108]

Being a part of this community, filled with thousands of amazing builds, it's very easy to forget that almost everyone around the world are doing amazing adventures with stock rigs. Here, and places like this, we're just in a niche that showcases the modified. As a percentage of what's on the road globally, it's almost completely insignificant. Out of the major vehicle manufacturers here in the US, I can think of maybe 6 truly offroad-capable models amongst the dozens they offer.

It really can be as simple as having a vehicle, traveling with it, and sleeping in/around it.

 

[grubworm]

i see where overlanding is vehicle dependent travel...but i dont see anywhere where it is people dependent travel...

just sayin'...

 

[K12]

i see where overlanding is vehicle dependent travel...but i dont see anywhere where it is people dependent travel...

just sayin'...

because someone needs to drive the vehicle...

 

[John and Mandi]

And suddenly A.I. Overland was born...