Overlanding has taken over as one of the top off-roading hobbies for people with RVs and various types of trucks and SUVs. While most people expect it to be about an off-road vehicle with a rooftop tent or towing a camper over insane terrain, the practice of overlanding is actually about the expedition. If you are looking at getting into overlanding, then continue reading for some great tips and tricks on successfully planning and carrying out a beginner’s trip.
Where To?
Believe it or not, overlanding isn’t about having the biggest or baddest vehicle or the most expensive gear. The mission is to have fun and be safe while living in-the-moment. If you are new to this, where should you go? Some state and national parks can be more strict in their rules about camping and off-roading. However, national forests and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands are typically more open and have fewer rules and regulations to worry about. Always plan ahead so you can put together the best trip.
Will You Need a Permit?
Before you go anywhere, you should know exactly what you are getting yourself into. Some places have various rules you need to follow, including permits to travel on backcountry lands or even reservations to drive through and camp. Other places even restrict how many days you can be there, so plan accordingly.
How Self-Sufficient Are You?
One of the main things you need to ask yourself when off-roading, overlanding, or even just camping, is this: can you rely on yourself? Having the proper amount of food and water when overlanding is paramount. Having one gallon of water per day should suffice in terms of just using it for drinking. However, if you are traveling during the summer, then you should, at the very least, have two gallons per day. Also, if you are going to use said water for keeping yourself clean, then you should probably bring no less than 4-6 gallons of total daily water. The more trips you take, the more at ease you will become in your preparation. Some RVs actually have 24-to-35-gallon water tanks. Keep in mind that you will need to have a solution for your bodily waste. You can get portable cassette toilets for your vehicle, and you can use portable waste bags that will let you to more easily deal with waste while hiking away from your overlanding vehicle.
Are You Good with Conserving Resources?
When taking an adventurous trip, it is best to over-prepare. The more food, water, and fuel you can reasonably carry, the better. Tuna fish, peanut butter, ramen noodles, protein bars, and assorted snacks don’t take up lots of space, and they will keep you from starving if your trip goes wrong or longer than you initially intended. Some overlanders add an extra auxiliary fuel tank to their vehicle just in case, and it’s never a bad idea. Another thing to keep in mind is power. Do you intend to run laptops, tablets, or other devices while relaxing? Then you should think about adding extra battery power with another alternator that can charge those batteries either while you’re driving or via solar panels. It’s also not a bad thing to assume that you will travel more miles per day than your initially planned calculations, and this is why it’s good to have more than you think you’ll need, at least for your first few trips. Once you take more trips or become more familiar with an area, you can relax a bit as you’ll have a better understanding of what potentially lies ahead.
Make Sure to Make Time for Fun
In the end, it is important to have fun. If you prepare and make sure you have as much of everything that you can store and carry, you should be okay. Get out there and enjoy yourself. Remember to find ways to get in some movement outside of the RV as exercise, but also so you don’t feel trapped in a vehicle driving for so long.
Why Choose Valley RV Supercenter
At Valley RV Supercenter, we offer the best prices and services to everyone. Whether you are looking for a new or used RV, we have what you are looking for. Our amazing staff will always work hard to provide you with the best experience imaginable, and our finance department can assist you in finding the best rates on all RVs. When it’s time, our service department is second to none and will take care of your vehicle as if it were their own, providing you with peace of mind. For those looking to rent an RV for a weekend or an extended period of time, we offer the perfect options for your traveling needs.
And if you are looking for a vehicle to pull your RV, we have a truck center where you can find the best vehicle for your needs. We look forward to helping you.
