What Exactly is Overlanding, Anyway?
Overlanding is not for the faint of heart. Here’s what these highly technical road trips entail.
Written by Alex Reale
Reviewed by Serena Aburahma
For the outdoors-oriented among us, there are varying degrees of commitment. On one extreme we have the glampers, with their heavy-duty yurts,
EV
chargers, and optional spa packages. On the other, we have Alex Honnold, a free soloist so profoundly allergic to creature comforts that he’s probably never even heard the word “glamping” before.
Somewhere in the middle, we find the overlanders. Here’s a bit about the practice of overlanding.
Overlanding takes over
Overlanding is defined, in part, by
MotorTrend
as a “combination of remote travel, off-roading, and camping.” (By this definition, Lewis and Clark technically count as overlanders, unless you feel strongly about one specific meaning of “off-roading.”) First pioneered by an Australian surveyor and road builder named Leonard Beadell in the 1940s, says MotorTrend, the concept has taken off in recent years.
No one is really sure why popularity is spiking—perhaps the COVID-19 pandemic stirred up some restlessness—but many people have fallen in love with the idea of taking a 4WD vehicle somewhere off the grid, where all equipment problems and spectacular views are your own.
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A way of life
Overlanding can easily morph into a way of life. Proper overlanders often take their vehicles on international border-crossing journeys that last years—without leaving their family to pick up the mail.
In April 2020,
The Overland Journal
podcast featured Graeme Bell, who overlands with his whole family. Originally from South Africa, Bell, his wife, and their two children have traveled in their Land Rover Defender all over the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, and Europe.
In the interview, Bell regales the host with tales of the overlanding life—picking up odd hitchhikers in the Congo, having mechanical issues in the hashish mountains of Morocco, and living in a small space with three other people for months on end.
Bell comes off as chipper and cheerful. He didn’t choose the overlander life; the overlander life chose him.
MORE: An Overseas Classic: the Toyota Crown
What kinds of cars should I take overlanding?
If you’re one of the thousands of people who find these rugged road trips irresistible (attendance at “Overland Expo EAST 2022” in Arrington, Virginia was at record highs, so we know you’re out there), you’ll want to be sure you’re heading out with the right vehicle.
MotorTrend notes that a variety of vehicles can be converted into successful overlanders, including motorcycles, but there are a few fan favorites.
Jeep Cherokees, Land Rover Defenders, Land Cruisers, Tacomas, 4Runners, and even the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van…all great options for your overlanding adventure.
But be warned: getting the right vehicle is only one of many crucial prerequisites. Don’t ride off into the sunset without survival skills, the right tools, and the right experience. And it couldn’t hurt to bring along a great attitude. Graeme Bell can show you how.
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