For those just getting started in the overlanding lifestyle

[Hourless Life]

Thank you Eric. The ironic part is I am usually Mr. emergency medical guy. Not that i really enjoy any part of it but lived in a busy fire station for a couple years as an FF/EMT and had been involved with EMS in some way or another for almost twenty years. So normally I have medical bags & first-aid kits everywhere and if wearing long pants have an IFAK on my right ankle. This was just a stroll around an alpine lake that turned into a mini emergency. Definitely not life or death but it’s your kid so if you can reduce the pain and potential infection as soon as possible all the better. I’ve since dug out a small aid kit to stuff in a pocket for just such an occasion and along with my wallet, keys, and other things make sure my ankle rig is in order.

Which one do you use? Inquiring minds want to know. I was in the USCG for 20 years, so I'm right there with you. But I'm curious as to your small aid kit of choice Ghost.

 

[RoarinRow]

Now that I have taken my first overland trip, I have realized a couple of things. While this post talks about what you really need to go overlanding, there should be a follow up on what skills you should have and what to be prepared for after overlanding.

Some topics could include:
- mechanical skills (repair flat, deflating/inflating tires, prepping rig, torquing key elements of rig, etc. what things might break and how to temporarily fix it if possible)
- cleaning rig and stuff (how to remove dust, dirt, mud, wear and tear signs to look for, cleaning ground tent/RTT)
- organization tips (creating bins/boxes by function, weather preparation, loading/unloading prep)

As much as I love the concept of 'overlanding' I realize it just much more than prepping rig and getting out there. One really has to have some advanced skills to actually survive the trip and back. Also this is not a poor man's hobby by any means. Sure you can go out with minimal equipment, but it is going to cost time and money. Money for gas, food, supplies, and possible repairs. Someone who has money and skills will actually have longevity in overlanding. I see that now.

So for someone like me who has a somewhat fixed income and limited mechanical knowledge and full size rig will only probably survive in a group overland adventure on easy terrain lol. Sure checklist will help, but that's assuming one knows how to execute the things on the list. Guess I should attend the Overland Training Camp lol.

 

[smritte]

Now that I have taken my first overland trip, I have realized a couple of things. While this post talks about what you really need to go overlanding, there should be a follow up on what skills you should have and what to be prepared for after overlanding.

Some topics could include:
- mechanical skills (repair flat, deflating/inflating tires, prepping rig, torquing key elements of rig, etc. what things might break and how to temporarily fix it if possible)
- cleaning rig and stuff (how to remove dust, dirt, mud, wear and tear signs to look for, cleaning ground tent/RTT)
- organization tips (creating bins/boxes by function, weather preparation, loading/unloading prep)

As much as I love the concept of 'overlanding' I realize it just much more than prepping rig and getting out there. One really has to have some advanced skills to actually survive the trip and back. Also this is not a poor man's hobby by any means. Sure you can go out with minimal equipment, but it is going to cost time and money. Money for gas, food, supplies, and possible repairs. Someone who has money and skills will actually have longevity in overlanding. I see that now.

So for someone like me who has a somewhat fixed income and limited mechanical knowledge and full size rig will only probably survive in a group overland adventure on easy terrain lol. Sure checklist will help, but that's assuming one knows how to execute the things on the list. Guess I should attend the Overland Training Camp lol.

Exactly!
Watching you tube videos does not make an expert in anything. Getting out and experiencing it is what is needed. It takes years to learn what works and what doesn't, what to expect and you still have something pop out you never thought of. The expense part is also misleading. I meet people all the time who dump a bunch of money into their rig but don't understand the technology. If something goes sideways you hope someone in the group understands how to deal with it. If there's no one then it could spell trouble.
More often than not, its the simple things that get people in trouble. I ran into a small group in the middle of the Mojave, poorly equipped and separated from their group. Someone decided that radios where an unnecessary option. One had a CB that didn't work and another had a $25 GMRS/FRS radio with dead batteries. The CB guy said, its been in my jeep for years and I've never had to use it. These guys were on their first "overlanding" trip. I've had someone say to me "I never thought leading people would be this hard". Its not hard, just expensive and you need to pay attention. Some technical skills are a must though. Vehicle maintenance big must.
Glad to see you survived and I hope you had fun.

EDIT: Wait until you see someone brake a ball joint. It will be towed from where it broke. The last one I saw just went through a complete inspection. The tech was amazed how clean the rig was and how it was in great shape. No one ever check's ball joints and if you drive dirt roads, you have to check them all the time.

 

[RoarinRow]

Exactly!
Watching you tube videos does not make an expert in anything. Getting out and experiencing it is what is needed. It takes years to learn what works and what doesn't, what to expect and you still have something pop out you never thought of. The expense part is also misleading. I meet people all the time who dump a bunch of money into their rig but don't understand the technology. If something goes sideways you hope someone in the group understands how to deal with it. If there's no one then it could spell trouble.
More often than not, its the simple things that get people in trouble. I ran into a small group in the middle of the Mojave, poorly equipped and separated from their group. Someone decided that radios where an unnecessary option. One had a CB that didn't work and another had a $25 GMRS/FRS radio with dead batteries. The CB guy said, its been in my jeep for years and I've never had to use it. These guys were on their first "overlanding" trip. I've had someone say to me "I never thought leading people would be this hard". Its not hard, just expensive and you need to pay attention. Some technical skills are a must though. Vehicle maintenance big must.
Glad to see you survived and I hope you had fun.

EDIT: Wait until you see someone brake a ball joint. It will be towed from where it broke. The last one I saw just went through a complete inspection. The tech was amazed how clean the rig was and how it was in great shape. No one ever check's ball joints and if you drive dirt roads, you have to check them all the time.

Whew thanks I’m glad I made some sense from a newbie. It was/is a big realization for me and resetting my expectations on overlanding. I do have to take it seriously only because I normally have my family and again I have limited mechanical skills should I get in trouble. All my gadgets and comms will mean nothing in the end.

I will/am evaluating my rig’s capabilities vs. my skills vs. my desire to get out there. YouTube and this group gave me the confidence to get out there. Now to learn more to keep it going. Plus my money doesn’t grow on trees lol. Rig repairs or potential repairs is not on our budget at least not on a consistent basis.