What do we really need?

[Tundracamper]

Thanks for the words of wisdom. I have been using my truck as is for camping and long dustance travelling with no problems for 13 years. The only change now is the need for more comfortable sleeping. Just over-researching the best way to accomplish that. There has been issues with ground clearance but so rarely I’m not spending money on it. No communications yet, no power to the bed of the truck yet.

I hear ya! It’s so easy to get caught up in accumulating gear, which usually just ways down the process to the point it’s no longer fun. I purchased a folding 4”(?) thick foam mattress on Amazon and that provides a very comfy sleep foundation in the back of my 4Runner. My wife laughs, but I don’t care. So nice to pop the tailgate in the morning and look out at the world after a great night sleep!

 

[grubworm]

i'm STILL trying to figure out "wants" and "needs". the wife and i got pretty heavy into this and while on trips, we found things we "needed", so when i got back home, i ordered it. while ordering, i also bought stuff i "wanted". next trip we loaded up our new gear and ended up not using any of it!

kind of goes along with me buying some nice expensive flashlights and when the wife gets up in the middle of the night to pee, she grabs the led light i got for free at harbor freight because it is small and light and she likes it better. all i can say is the more we travel, the more surprised i am as to just how little of our gear we actually used...and don't even get me started on food. we always seem to come back home with as much food as we started out with...still trying to figure that one out

 

[Mekcanix]

I really got mixed up between wants and needs and they got swapped around due to peer pressure actually.
I started our wheeling with a Bronco II with 31's and I was having a blast my "Adventure Rig" did what I wanted I got into the woods down some cut lines and hydro lines and then camped out of the way AWESOME! Made some friends who were hardcore rock crawlers, well, now I am beefing up and swapping out axles eventually on my third Bronco II I had 33's and a V8 and its was a beast offroad. I couldnt drive it very far due to fuel, not having enough lol. The I went to a XJ and I built custom axles custom everything (joys of being a millwright I think I can build most of what I want and I have been proven wrong on occasion). My wife at the time wanted no part of this life. Well my second wife loves being in the woods so we started camping way more with her kids, and I began to think differently.
Big tents portable kitchens eventually the XJ was parked and a crew cab sierra 1500 was the go to rig mild lift all is good.
Now we are getting older had a bad summer tenting and I hurt my back and knees.
So me and the missus decide on a small camper and now I recently had to retire the GMC and sell the XJ
My list of stuff to do to the new rig is now dictated by what we tow and how far we intend to travel with the present set up

And honestly I really love this setup the best

where I am going with this is where a few others have gone. Do what makes you happy, don't put yourself in the poor house building the ultimate "overlander" unless thats what floats your boat or you can still find the resources to enjoy it.
I found for myself and my family what I have now, in my early 50's, is the best I have had and my back bothers me less I can weather most storms easily I just cant get to "that spot" now we hike to it.

The purpose of all this is to get out and enjoy nature and breathe not who has the baddest rig with the most whiz bang gadgets

 

[reaver]

I really got mixed up between wants and needs and they got swapped around due to peer pressure actually.
I started our wheeling with a Bronco II with 31's and I was having a blast my "Adventure Rig" did what I wanted I got into the woods down some cut lines and hydro lines and then camped out of the way AWESOME! Made some friends who were hardcore rock crawlers, well, now I am beefing up and swapping out axles eventually on my third Bronco II I had 33's and a V8 and its was a beast offroad. I couldnt drive it very far due to fuel, not having enough lol. The I went to a XJ and I built custom axles custom everything (joys of being a millwright I think I can build most of what I want and I have been proven wrong on occasion). My wife at the time wanted no part of this life. Well my second wife loves being in the woods so we started camping way more with her kids, and I began to think differently.
Big tents portable kitchens eventually the XJ was parked and a crew cab sierra 1500 was the go to rig mild lift all is good.
Now we are getting older had a bad summer tenting and I hurt my back and knees.
So me and the missus decide on a small camper and now I recently had to retire the GMC and sell the XJ
My list of stuff to do to the new rig is now dictated by what we tow and how far we intend to travel with the present set up

And honestly I really love this setup the best

where I am going with this is where a few others have gone. Do what makes you happy, don't put yourself in the poor house building the ultimate "overlander" unless thats what floats your boat or you can still find the resources to enjoy it.
I found for myself and my family what I have now, in my early 50's, is the best I have had and my back bothers me less I can weather most storms easily I just cant get to "that spot" now we hike to it.

The purpose of all this is to get out and enjoy nature and breathe not who has the baddest rig with the most whiz bang gadgets

Yeah, this pretty much is how we're rolling. We go out, use what we have, and adjust from there.

For example, on the first trip with the family, we took my 4 person coleman tent. While it worked for 2 adults, and a 3 year old, it was TIGHT. My wife would prefer to be able to stand up to get dressed (and I would as well), so we're going to bump up to the 6 person coleman instant tent. This will solve both the space problem, and the height problem.

We also decided that we need a larger cooking table, and better storage in the Xterra. I'm thinking these will BOTH be solved by building a drawer system for the back of the X, with either a table that is incorporated into the top of one of the drawers, or that slides out from the bottom. We WANT some warmer sleeping bags, and better sleeping pads, but for warmer weather trips, what we currently have will work just fine for the time being.

Another example is that both my wife and I have sleep apnea, which means we need to bring our cpaps. I used a 12v battery pack for myself, that would last me a couple of days, but it could only power one machine. I ended up buying a lithium power pack to be able to power the machines. I spent a bit more for the 540Wh pack, which will power both machines for 3 nights before getting low enough to require a charge. I also plan on using it to charge camera batteries, cell phones, and keep my daughter's tablet charged at camp.

I'm mentioning all of this to give you some insight into my thought process.

 

[Tundracamper]

I really got mixed up between wants and needs and they got swapped around due to peer pressure actually.

On a forum where the primary focus is gear? How can that be?

 

[HIALT2D]

Sometimes what I think I really need is a 12 step program... I seem to go through a process of thinking I need it, then convincing myself I can't live without it, then going through buyer's remorse because I bought it, packed it, forgot I had it or didn't use it.

 

[Murphy Slaw]

Bacon...

 

[freak4life]

I enjoy reading all the different posts and the variety of off road needs, some more hardcore, or just To travel and camp. I was reading through my old Fourwheeler, 4WD, Jeep magazines from the 70,s. They were looking for 31 inch tires so they could go on the rougher trails and get 8 or 9 inches of ground clearance. Are the trails that much more difficult or we taking harder lines needing 35, 37 or 40 inch tires? Are all the wants due to tempting advertising re tougher looking trucks or do we care more about damage to our very expensive vehicles? I’m careful because, like most, my vehicle is for everything I do. I’ve never been able to spend money for stuff I want but don’t need. Now i need to stop sleeping in tents on the ground re back pain. Going to try sleeping in the bed of the truck on a proper mattress/sleeping platform. There should be enough room having an eight foot bed. I also want taller tires, I want a slide in camper, I want pretty much all the toys. Let’s see how many become needs.

:) Needs vs wants, that amigo is a very subjective thing. When you have figured out exactly how to turn wants into needs please share with the rest of us. I have a lot more wants than needs.

 

[freak4life]

Bacon...

That is an absolute need, unless you are baking brownies.

 

[Downs]

These kinds of questions come up a lot on various FB groups (and here obviously). I always tell people not to fall into the "mod hole". Some basic camping gear, basic recovery gear and a gas card. Work from there and figure out what works best for you. My vehicle is also my daily driver so nearly every "overlanding" thing I have needs to be able to come out of off when I get home, I'm not lugging 100 lbs of gear around just to look cool.

Over time you'll figure out what you "need" and what you "want". Stuff like the fridge is more of a convenience factor. No ice, and it's not like you even NEED a cooler with ice to start with but cool water and a cold beer at the end of the day sure is nice. With fridge prices slowly creeping down even my cheap a&^ is looking at getting one.

But, yes I do believe that too many fall down that black hole of needing every little thing and before they've even left their driveway they've spent enough money to fund the fuel, food ect of a multiyear trip.

 

[smritte]

I like gadgets and comfort. Most of us have been doing this long enough to know what works and what doesn't. Trial and error is how we got our experience.

Having an older vehicle and driving way off pavement means more tools. More tools means you better know how to fix things or their just extra weight. If you cant fix your rig you need something newer or stay close to the highway.

Recovery gear is a whole new world of wants and needs. Having front and rear 14k winch's look cool but now your stuck in the sand and no sand anchor. You NEEDED a traction board.

You really NEED great lighting for night driving off road. 5k in led lights later and you drive to camp in the daytime, have dinner before you lose the sunlight. By dark, your by the campfire. But hey, those light bars look great reflecting fire light.

I use to run with a guy that had 3 huge first aid/trama kits. He had no training. That's ok though, someone in his group may have training (I was the only one). I also hope someone in his group knew how to use the field blood transfusion device he paid over 1k for. All three kits had the same stuff (except the transfusion machine). He only needed one.
I think my favorite thing though is watching these off road experts on their sponsored U-Tube channels, telling you how you "need" their sponsored gear. Don't forget to subscribe so my sponsors will pay me as well as give me more gear.

I think most of us could go on and on with this. I like the cool factor as long as its functional. Everything I have makes me happy and works for what "I" want. That's what is needed.

 

[M Rose]

this, this and this.....
but don't need a traction board, a Pull Pal or a buried spare tire works just as good

Another great anchor is that Hi-Lift that everyone says is useless...

 

[smritte]

but don't need a traction board, a Pull Pal or a buried spare tire works just as good

Another great anchor is that Hi-Lift that everyone says is useless...

AKA...sand anchor of some kind.
Traction boards are cheaper but, a pull pal is cooler. I actually wish I had a pull pal, I just haven't had a use for it yet.

 

[M Rose]

AKA...sand anchor of some kind.
Traction boards are cheaper but, a pull pal is cooler. I actually wish I had a pull pal, I just haven't had a use for it yet.

Recently I really wish I had one and had a winch on my Bronco... might have saved the drive shaft... I swear that stream bank jumped right under my drive shaft...

 

[slomatt]

If you really want to be able to call yourself an overlander you need all the things. Roof top tent, scottle, Maxtrax, forky murder shovel, Scandinavian axe, Icon Stage 11 suspension, etc. :)

Seriously though, if you want to go offroading and camping I think you just need 4 things:
1. Common sense - If something feels risky don't do it, this is the best way to avoid getting stuck (especially important if you don't have recovery gear).
2. Lots of water - You can go weeks without food, but water is critical (look up the "rule of 3s").
3. Appropriate clothing to handle the worst case weather conditions.
4. Before you leave let someone know where you are going and when to expect you back.

In my opinion everything else is non-essential and just increases your comfort or how far you can get down the trail. Recovery gear is always useful, but no matter how capable your truck is there is always a way to get it stuck, which is why #1 is so important. After each trip it's good to think about what gear would have made the trip more enjoyable, and then potentially invest in those places.



Average tire size does seem to be increasing, and that can mean that trails get more dug out and that people are looking for harder obstacles. That said, you can run the Rubicon on 32s or 33s (I have pictures) so huge tires are definitely not required.

 

[smritte]

1. Common sense - If something feels risky don't do it, this is the best way to avoid getting stuck

I swear that stream bank jumped right under my drive shaft...

Hold my beer and watch this.............

 

[M Rose]

Hold my beer and watch this.............

Actually it was a fluke... the snow melted out from a cattle guard leaving a crust on top... i have never seen a drift like this before... so any ways as going over it I slid a little and slid right into the ditch with my left front tire... due to the way the snow melted I had no choice but to drive forward and out... had I had a winch or something to anchor my highlight to I could have pulled my front end back onto the road.

 

[Autism Family Travels]

That is an absolute need, unless you are baking brownies.

What? you have never had chocolate bacon brownies? you have not lived yet! try it!

 

[freak4life]

What? you have never had chocolate bacon brownies? you have not lived yet! try it!

I have and did not like the combination. I make my brownies from scratch and walnuts are the only addition.
:)

 

[freak4life]

Deadman Off-Road: Creators of the Deadman Earth Anchor

The Deadman is the most versatile off-road recovery anchor on the market, capable of anchoring to just about anything. Made in the USA.

www.deadmanoffroad.com

for getting out of sand using a winch.