Overlanding is just driving?

[aai]

Every generation feels the need to feel as though they’ve reinvented something that’s been going on with prior generations since time began. That’s what “over-landing” is.

Look at countless adds from the 30’s, 40’s, 50’s, 60’s etc. and you’ll see families depicted loading up a car, station wagon, Jeep or whatever ready for a multi state camping trip. It’s nothing new. It’s just about buying a bunch of overpriced gear and posting pictures on social media.

People have been camping forever. Those who like to camp will continue doing it long after the Instagram crowd finds the next cool thing…

Agreed, I can picture families being together again especially around after the war. Loading up the vehicle and heading out just to enjoy the country side. Happy to be home and alive
https://www.motortrend.com/features/1403-1948-willys-overland-jeep-truck-backward-glances/

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[JT850]

I'm hooked on a Youtube show called "The story till now". It's a guy who owns a Gladiator that goes with buddies from other youtube channels and it's essentially overlanding but they do some pretty challenging stuff. I'd advise anybody to watch the shows, they are really well done and if I didn't have a job, this is what I'd want to do with my time.

I watch it. Love it

 

[JT850]

I have definitely found Camrys in places they don't belong.

A friend of mind recently said "No car is more capable than a car that you don't give a f@#k about" hahahaha

 

[Blade1668]

I'm hooked on a Youtube show called "The story till now". It's a guy who owns a Gladiator that goes with buddies from other youtube channels and it's essentially overlanding but they do some pretty challenging stuff. I'd advise anybody to watch the shows, they are really well done and if I didn't have a job, this is what I'd want to do with my time.

He's a member on here too.?

 

[HourlessLife]

IMO overlanding isn't even about off-road travel or car camping.

Sure off-road can certainly be part of it, and so can car camping.

But at the end of the day overlanding is really about extended, self-reliant, vehicle based adventure travel where different micro cultures are experienced and the goal is the journey itself not the destination.

It often involves international border crossings and different languages due to the nature of extended vehicle based adventure travel but doesn't have to.

I can tell you what it isn't:
It isn't just driving.
It isn't just car camping.
It isn't hard core off-roading to get to a remote camping spot.

But it can involve all of the above.

I think people just get jaded at terms that are used and become faddish. It's super easy and simple to be snarky or poke fun at something or someone as an armchair QB when you aren't out there yourself pushing the boundaries.

It is much more challenging (if you are genuinely interested) to stretch far out of your comfort zone and head out on the journey of a lifetime.

Personally I really enjoy overlanding and more importantly the people that we've met and the things that we've seen in our journey thus far. And I look forward to many more adventures and miles that lay ahead.

 

[JT850]

Ther

IMO overlanding isn't even about off-road travel or car camping.

Sure off-road can certainly be part of it, and so can car camping.

But at the end of the day overlanding is really about extended, self-reliant, vehicle based adventure travel where different micro cultures are experienced and the goal is the journey itself not the destination.

It often involves international border crossings and different languages due to the nature of extended vehicle based adventure travel but doesn't have to.

I can tell you what it isn't:
It isn't just driving.
It isn't just car camping.
It isn't hard core off-roading to get to a remote camping spot.

But it can involve all of the above.

I think people just get jaded at terms that are used and become faddish. It's super easy and simple to be snarky or poke fun at something or someone as an armchair QB when you aren't out there yourself pushing the boundaries.

It is much more challenging (if you are genuinely interested) to stretch far out of your comfort zone and head out on the journey of a lifetime.

Personally I really enjoy overlanding and more importantly the people that we've met and the things that we've seen in our journey thus far. And I look forward to many more adventures and miles that lay ahead.

There is definitely no hate coming from my end. I love the concept. My point is, people get a little off in the weeds with terms and definitions. What you described in your definition, to me, is what my family would call a road trip. Take that route that you aren't sure of, eat at that questionable diner, go to that local festival that you stumbled upon while passing through a town you've never heard of. All of those things in my opinion are part of "overlanding", or adventure if you want to call it that. And for my childhood, those things happened as just part of rural life and traveling on a budget.

 

[HourlessLife]

Ther



There is definitely no hate coming from my end. I love the concept. My point is, people get a little off in the weeds with terms and definitions. What you described in your definition, to me, is what my family would call a road trip. Take that route that you aren't sure of, eat at that questionable diner, go to that local festival that you stumbled upon while passing through a town you've never heard of. All of those things in my opinion are part of "overlanding", or adventure if you want to call it that. And for my childhood, those things happened as just part of rural life and traveling on a budget.

Totally understand that. Being a child of the 70s myself and a teen in the 80s, I get it. We used to do that all the time too. I remember sleeping in the back of our Chevy Vega station wagon and having some epic memories as a result. Road trips back then were awesome and I"m right there with you JT850. And we'd be foolish not to say that road tripping isn't part of overlanding, definitely a huge part of it.

When it comes to the term overlanding, like any other term it comes down to semantics. This is why the terms lose their meaning and ultimately get criticized or questioned, simply because they don't have a concrete definition.

I live the "overland" life on the daily with my wife and four year old son. We haven't owned a home or property since 2014. Could you classify what I'm doing as a road trip? Definitely. But when you are 2000+ miles deep into the interior of another country that doesn't speak your native language and your "roadside diner" consists of a 80 year old woman flipping food over an open fire with bare hands, in a dilapidated mission that was built prior to the USA becoming a country it just hits a little different.

I think the big difference is the extended journey, the micro cultures, and the self-reliance while pushing the boundaries of what a typical roadtrip would consist of.

And for the record, I don't feel any "hate" coming from your end at all. I get it. I can totally see where you are coming from and don't really disagree with you all that much. There's just something a little more to true overlanding that is missed by our concept of it primarily here in the USA. Just my .02.

 

[JT850]

Totally understand that. Being a child of the 70s myself and a teen in the 80s, I get it. We used to do that all the time too. I remember sleeping in the back of our Chevy Vega station wagon and having some epic memories as a result. Road trips back then were awesome and I"m right there with you JT850. And we'd be foolish not to say that road tripping isn't part of overlanding, definitely a huge part of it.

When it comes to the term overlanding, like any other term it comes down to semantics. This is why the terms lose their meaning and ultimately get criticized or questioned, simply because they don't have a concrete definition.

I live the "overland" life on the daily with my wife and four year old son. We haven't owned a home or property since 2014. Could you classify what I'm doing as a road trip? Definitely. But when you are 2000+ miles deep into the interior of another country that doesn't speak your native language and your "roadside diner" consists of a 80 year old woman flipping food over an open fire with bare hands, in a dilapidated mission that was built prior to the USA becoming a country it just hits a little different.

I think the big difference is the extended journey, the micro cultures, and the self-reliance while pushing the boundaries of what a typical roadtrip would consist of.

And for the record, I don't feel any "hate" coming from your end at all. I get it. I can totally see where you are coming from and don't really disagree with you all that much. There's just something a little more to true overlanding that is missed by our concept of it primarily here in the USA. Just my .02.

I hear ya man. I've been fortunate to go places that a tourist visa won't get you. I've held middle eastern work visa's and lived indigenous in the Hindu Kush...I lived in Eastern Europe for a bit, and have for sure seen the underbelly of the world as a man out of place. I just think most American views of overlanding aren't exactly what overlanding is. From what I understand it started in Australia and ultimately had to do with moving livestock...could be wrong. And by that nature I just think we may have hijacked it's original intention. Either way, it is for sure about the journey. And does it really matter anyway? I don't truly believe so, but I do enjoy the discussion. After all, if you're having fun and living on your own terms, then you are already winning.

 

[Dryfly24]

I'm hooked on a Youtube show called "The story till now". It's a guy who owns a Gladiator that goes with buddies from other youtube channels and it's essentially overlanding but they do some pretty challenging stuff. I'd advise anybody to watch the shows, they are really well done and if I didn't have a job, this is what I'd want to do with my time.

I watch him all the time. Dude is nuts but I love it!

Have you seen the latest one? I cringe sometimes at what he puts that poor Gladi through…

 

[texanjeeper]

Yep, those sliders did their job on that video. He explains it in another video, when he says more than once, 'my Jeep is a tool'. That's the way he looks at it and really it makes sense.

 

[JT850]

Yep, those sliders did their job on that video. He explains it in another video, when he says more than once, 'my Jeep is a tool'. That's the way he looks at it and really it makes sense.

I loved that video. I had a 2018 jl that never left pavement. My Gladiator definitely gets scratched, dinged, and drilled into. Im with him 100% on using it as a tool. Doesn't mean trash it, but once I got over the shock and awe of an expensive vehicle I started really enjoying it.

 

[Orange01z28]

 

[869 KPH]

I watch him all the time. Dude is nuts but I love it!

Have you seen the latest one? I cringe sometimes at what he puts that poor Gladi through…

Yeah I keep waiting for Jeep to buy that thing for research purposes and give @Shaun a new one to beat on. Honestly out of all of it I think the hardest part for me to watch is the black paint, lol ??

 

[slowstang305]

I love his show! It is well made and filmed. He goes over some beautiful terrain and lucky to live where he does. He did a great job on his Gladiator build as well.

 

[Rubi_Rhod]

My Gladiator definitely gets scratched, dinged, and drilled into. Im with him 100% on using it as a tool. Doesn't mean trash it, but once I got over the shock and awe of an expensive vehicle I started really enjoying it.

For real. My last truck was a 17 Colorado. It was loaded up and very nice. But I could never get over not being precious with it. It was cheaper to run (diesel) but didn’t really have the best resale.

But the Glad, it definitely makes a case for being a solid multi-tool. I don’t mind using it as intended as a few whoops are expected with a Jeep. And it’s not the end of my wallet just because it’s not popular. Depreciation was far worse a sore spot than some pinstripes or a dinged fender has been.

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