Low budget...ideas for mods?

[SCsheepdogoffroad]

I'm planning a trip to depart sometime in the first quarter of 2021 to cross the Trans American trail with my dog Sadie in "Tiny" my 2018 Tundra, with a couple of 500+ mile trips before to help get things situated. Unfortunately, right now that's all my budget allows for and knows how long it'll take to hear back from sponsorship requests...Any ideas of the best solution to my problem (besides the lottery)?

 

[M Rose]

Second hand parts, look up budget builds on YouTubeand see what the non-sponsored people are doing

 

[oneleglance]

You already have everything you need, just not everything you want.
You have yourself, a new truck and a dog. That is plenty to have a great trip.
Goodwill , craiglist or forums for anything else you feel you must have as used saves cash for gas and honestly that is the best thing to spend money on.
Just go out and have a great time, the trips will determine your real needs.
Remember people have been doing this for 1000's of years, by foot, by horse, by bike, moto and Model T's

 

[MOAK]

Good luck on any sponsorships. I attempted that once, with the company I worked for, to no avail. I spent a lot of time putting together a bullet point presentation. They thanked me for my time. They got back to me about a week later with a very kind email stating that it was an interesting idea, but they had no interest at this time.

 

[M Rose]

Good luck on any sponsorships. I attempted that once, with the company I worked for, to no avail. I spent a lot of time putting together a bullet point presentation. They thanked me for my time. They got back to me about a week later with a very kind email stating that it was an interesting idea, but they had no interest at this time.

@MOAK , I liked your post because of the blunt honest truth. If any of these people
Out here full time adventuring deserve a sponsor it would be you and @Road, you guys are the prime example of what Overlanding is. @Jeepsies have been nomads for a long time before picking up sponsorships...

To the OP, you want to make this a buisiness talk to (@Jeepsies @oneleglance ) it’s not an easy game. And sponsors don’t just come out of the wood works.

 

[MOAK]

@MOAK , I liked your post because of the blunt honest truth. If any of these people
Out here full time adventuring deserve a sponsor it would be you and @Road, you guys are the prime example of what Overlanding is. @Jeepsies have been nomads for a long time before picking up sponsorships...

To the OP, you want to make this a buisiness talk to (@Jeepsies @oneleglance ) it’s not an easy game. And sponsors don’t just come out of the wood works.

Whoa- that’s a nice compliment and I find myself humbled with your words. But yea, a bullet point presentation accompanied by a short video, then nearly an hour long meeting. Soo, now we use , a lot of second hand stuff including camera gear, pelican cases, etc. I’m always looking for the bargain while still maintaining an eye for well built kit.

 

[Chuckem12]

Offerup, LetGo, Goodwill, Ebay, Craigslist, yard sales, trash bins...sometimes you get lucky....just be ready to jump when the deal presents itself. You'd also be amazed how reliable and durable wood can be too. Check out some videos on youtube for making some of the most sought after stuff.

 

[Joey83]

Are sponsorships really worth it?

 

[genocache]

Is the TAT even possible that time of year? Maybe do a fund raiser trip(pick a health issue or women's support group) to gain some street cred to back up a pitch for sponsors.

 

[oneleglance]

Are sponsorships really worth it?

No, not worth it at all if you place any value on your time.
Here is how I lay it out to people.
Take whatever you make per hour (after taxes) now think of it like this.
You want a sponsor to cover a bit of gear that cost $100 and after taxes and all you make $10/hr (that is $17/hr before taxes which is $33k a year, pretty reasonable).....that means that bit of kit cost you 10 hrs of work, a day and a quarter more or less.

Now to get it sponsored...
Have a website, social accounts, forum history and all that already.....
Then put together your proposal of why giving you that $100 gear is a better way to sell gear vs a banner ad, IG post or whatever else they do....remember they are in the biz of selling stuff not giving it way....and you are competing with raffle prize seeking events, other folks and everyone else that wants money and stuff.
If you are quick and good you will spend about 1-2hrs putting together your proposal, figuring out who to send it to and any follow up communication....
That means you are $10-20 invested before they say yes....and add that up for any no's you get to count against any yes.

Then they say yes....
Time spent thanking them.
Time spent installing/video/edit
Time spent using/video/still/edit/post/comment reply
Time spent updating them on what you have done (at least you can do that quarterly)
Oh and are you trying to recover the value of your camera/audio gear and editting software?
Oh and what about the fact that your buddies/family don't want to go on your video trips because you are too slow, they have to be quiet and out of frame and you don't enjoy they trips anymore.

Yeah add all that up and see if you are better off working extra hours or a side job vs asking for sponsorship.
And don't forget you have to cover the time/effort of all the NO's with the value of the YES's

Now I am spoiled as an ICU RN that I can pick up lots of extra shifts. I am spoiled that I have been building SEMA rigs since 2007 and get out alot across the Southwest. I am spoiled that I like to travel alone or with folks who don't mind when I am on a media trip. I am spoiled that I am an amputee and can pull some heart strings.

But the math is the math......you have to either NOT value your time or really really enjoy the media aspect of it all to make sponsorship worth doing.
Unless you are fine being a sucky human being and just ask for things and give crap results or no effort to the companies.

 

[Tundracamper]

While one would think from watching YouTube that tons of mods are needed for most trails, I have found that not to be the case. I have a stock 4Runner TRD OR and I am about to complete the GA Traverse - even with stock tires. Yes, many of the boulder trails out west require big tires, etc, but I think for many trails there really isn’t that much you “need.” Of course, YouTube will convince you otherwise, but that‘s the point of YouTube - to sell stuff. See, those sponsored channels are all convincing you that you need to buy stuff - and you want a sponsorship to do that. Ironic, don’t you think?

 

[MOAK]

No, not worth it at all if you place any value on your time.
Here is how I lay it out to people.
Take whatever you make per hour (after taxes) now think of it like this.
You want a sponsor to cover a bit of gear that cost $100 and after taxes and all you make $10/hr (that is $17/hr before taxes which is $33k a year, pretty reasonable).....that means that bit of kit cost you 10 hrs of work, a day and a quarter more or less.

Now to get it sponsored...
Have a website, social accounts, forum history and all that already.....
Then put together your proposal of why giving you that $100 gear is a better way to sell gear vs a banner ad, IG post or whatever else they do....remember they are in the biz of selling stuff not giving it way....and you are competing with raffle prize seeking events, other folks and everyone else that wants money and stuff.
If you are quick and good you will spend about 1-2hrs putting together your proposal, figuring out who to send it to and any follow up communication....
That means you are $10-20 invested before they say yes....and add that up for any no's you get to count against any yes.

Then they say yes....
Time spent thanking them.
Time spent installing/video/edit
Time spent using/video/still/edit/post/comment reply
Time spent updating them on what you have done (at least you can do that quarterly)
Oh and are you trying to recover the value of your camera/audio gear and editting software?
Oh and what about the fact that your buddies/family don't want to go on your video trips because you are too slow, they have to be quiet and out of frame and you don't enjoy they trips anymore.

Yeah add all that up and see if you are better off working extra hours or a side job vs asking for sponsorship.
And don't forget you have to cover the time/effort of all the NO's with the value of the YES's

Now I am spoiled as an ICU RN that I can pick up lots of extra shifts. I am spoiled that I have been building SEMA rigs since 2007 and get out alot across the Southwest. I am spoiled that I like to travel alone or with folks who don't mind when I am on a media trip. I am spoiled that I am an amputee and can pull some heart strings.

But the math is the math......you have to either NOT value your time or really really enjoy the media aspect of it all to make sponsorship worth doing.
Unless you are fine being a sucky human being and just ask for things and give crap results or no effort to the companies.

Very true my friend. Our first couple of trips I spent way too much time behind cameras, setting the stage, filming, editing, etc etc. Work and dedication made our tours lot less fun. Hell I’m retired, what was I doing? I have another hobby/passion that I could easily turn into an eBay cottage business, I put out high quality and there is demand. Nope, not doin it!

 

[joshjunior]

I'll make this suggestion. Get some trips under your belt and then decide what YOU need. Having tons of gear is cool.... If you actually use it.

I'm not an expert on this stuff. But I have been in the Offroad community for a bit so grain of salt and all that jazz