WHAT IS OVERLANDING
Overlanding is about tents , vehicles , trails , campsites , camp cooking , with great people in the great outdoors , creating a memorable experience . There is definite skill involved in overlanding and much of it is acquired over time . But above all , it ’ s a mindset to overcome and forge on .
To put it simply , overlanding is vehicle-based , on-road and off-road , adventure travel with a focus on self-reliance , resilience , and enjoyment of the journey . Since the dawn of four-wheel drive vehicles , modern overlanding has captured the imagination of eager adventurers worldwide .
At the heart , overlanding is a love of the great outdoors , camping culture , and exploring new places . There is also a core obsession with vehicle mechanics , customization , and building out a unique rig that suits the personality and needs of the specific overlander .
The most appealing aspect of overlanding is - anyone can do it . There are great resources available for learning about : trip planning , off-roading , navigation , vehicle repair and other aspects of overlanding . You can start small or go big - often it starts with a weekend here or there and then becomes more serious over time as the love for overlanding grows . It is habit forming and it could change your life forever .
HISTORY
Overlanding is a relatively new phenomenon in the United States . In essence , overlanding is a fusion of camping and off-roading , combining elements of each to form a distinct automotive / outdoor hobby . While it may be new to Americans , overlanding has been popular on other continents for decades .
Overlanding has its origins in the Australian outback , where early overland routes were formed to facilitate intracontinental travel and trade . It evolved first from horseback and then to rail , before it was finally mechanized for motorcycles and automobiles .
Nowadays , overlanding is done more for recreation than necessity . Yes , overlanding is sometimes referred to as “ car camping ,” but it goes much deeper than that .
There ’ s more to life than being glued to bright screens on digital devices . For passionate overlanders and expedition enthusiasts , it ’ s about breaking out of the box and into the great outdoors . Coincidentally , the word about overlanding caught on over the internet , and more people have been breaking away from the digital highway and venturing down roads less traveled .
It is built on the spirit of adventure and self-reliance — the idea of travelling into the wilderness , carrying only the essential gear for whatever you expect to encounter . An overland trip might be a simple off-the-grid weekend , or a months-long excursion to a remote destination .
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