Are most Overlanding rigs overweight?

[BAT]

No problems. We have overlanded or vehicle camped for over 40 years together. I use photos to help identify to others what our build is. Being over the listed GVWR is a key for many overlanders. The gladiator platform is a very viable option for people who want to go where other’s cannot. It’s capability is unsurpassed in the four wheel community. Staying within the listed GVWR is very difficult when building an overland vehicle.

While I don't do much overlanding I do a lot of remote travel and camping which can only be accessed by kayak and what you can bring in and out on your kayak or small shuttle boat and my Gladiator. Times staying up to a week remote. What someone brings overlanding in a JT or any other vehicle is mostly for comfort they wish to have during that trip. Couple 5 gallon jugs of water, bag of mountain house meals, jetboil/coleman stove, cooler of ice and food (This will only last you 3-4 days) tent and small generator would hardly put a gladiator over its GVWR.

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[Deleted member 30519]

Mines gotta be a fat pig. Front and back steel bumpers, steel side steps, apex winch, hooke cargo rack and about to add my draw-tight hitch in the spring. 5.13 gears at least

 

[Mtpisgah]

I had my JT weighed today. 6900lbs. Oops.

 

[Free2roam]

Does anyone have an Ovrlnd camper?

 

[WILDHOBO]

This is how we make it work. We carry everything we could ever want, but don’t overload the suspension. Seeing what can be spent on racks, etc., I’m not even sure we spent much more than you can building up the JT. The trailer wheels are also 5 on 5 hubs, so the trailer spare can act as a second Jeep spare, and vice versa. The trailer will take up to 37’s with no modifications or fender issues

 

[Free2roam]

This is how we make it work. We carry everything we could ever want, but don’t overload the suspension. Seeing what can be spent on racks, etc., I’m not even sure we spent much more than you can building up the JT. The trailer wheels are also 5 on 5 hubs, so the trailer spare can act as a second Jeep spare, and vice versa. The trailer will take up to 37’s with no modifications or fender issues

If ya wanna sleep in a rooftop tent.

 

[WILDHOBO]

If ya wanna sleep in a rooftop tent.

True, but it’s big and comfortable. Mattress bigger than California king. But yes, if you want solid walls, teardrop or bed camper. Just showing an affordable alternative to the rack and tent combo on the bed.

 

[Byrnesy]

As the title suggests I'm concerned about weight on my Gladiator. I have been reading the forum, as well as searching the internet for information. I've been building cars for over forty years. I also raced in the Viper Challenge Series so I know my way around a car. But this is my first foray into Jeeps.
I've seen lots of Overland builds that I like. Especially the ones from SEMA, but I just don't see how they can not be overweight. I have a JTR that i'm building into an overlanding rig. I plan on actually doing extended back county travel, but have no interest in rock crawling. I am an ER Doc. so I am trained to always think the worst. This has led me to start my build with safety and recovery in mind first. I installed a Fab Four Matrix front bumper with a 10K Smittybuilt waterproof winch. For the rear I installed a Road Armor Stealth bumper with a Warn 8000MS winch. Both winches have synthetic rope and wireless remotes.
Both winches and bumpers weigh 400 pounds total. My bride and I weight 335 combined. The door sticker says cargo and passenger weight should not exceed 1221 pounds. That leaves 486 pounds to further outfit the truck and add provisions for trips.Two five gallon Jerry cans full of extra fuel way 80 pounds. Ten Gallons of water weighs 84 pounds. Recovery gear will be at least 100 pounds. I'd like to carry an extra spare so that adds another 90 pounds.
That leaves 132 pounds for a rack,tent,gear,provisions etc. How is it possible that all of these awesome rigs I'm seeing are not overweight?

Kch
I just sold a RAM 1500 Hemi, down here in Australia, financial gain / debt reduction mainly. And now I am in a JTR.

Laws in Australia on Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM), Axle Loading, and Gross Combination Mass (Towing GCM) are tight. And close attention has been paid by authorities to a couple of motor traffic fatalities involving modded fourbies that were towing. To the extent in one they collected every single piece of debris to work out the total mass.

Hence the thoughts/predictions by a few smarter overlanders is that authorities will start roadside weighing of a lot of rig and defecting them.

I paid reasonable attention to my mods on the Ram and still added 600kg to it leaving me a usable payload of 250kg. This surprised the shit out of me.

Then after I sold it a few blokes at work starting asking me about my weights, 3100kg. And they put their rigs across the certified weigh bridge at work. One bloke was hugely surprised when his Landcruiser Prado (current model) went 2960kg. If if were not for a GVM upgrade from 3.2 to 3.5 tonne he could not tow. Even then with his family and caravan on he will be likely over.

Hence with my build on the JTR I am watching weight like a supermodel. Down under with have a legal payload of 700Kg or 1543 pound. Check my build post here

I went a offroad Animal Winch bar, no winch fitted as yet, and they are apparently available in the US it weighs only 28Kg , full steel construction. PCOR are working with them at this time also.

I went through the choice of RSi and Alu-Cab canopies and then went a different direction,see my thread.

I thought about changing tyres and wheels but do I need them? I, like you, are going to mainly overland this vehicle and use it to access Public Lands for Hunting. So I started checking tyre masses, and I was only going to go to 33's. Wow on five 33's I could gain upto 30kg or 66 pounds. Not much some say but that is 30 liters of water for a start.

And why affect the drive-ability of the JTR if not necessary?

I am currently working on fitting the rear out and I have come across some great products that will slash the weight of my proposed additions. But that is fortunate for me given I have a Trade/Engineering background. So keep a eye on my build or shoot me a PM if I can assist.

 

[TheHops]

While I don't do much overlanding I do a lot of remote travel and camping which can only be accessed by kayak and what you can bring in and out on your kayak or small shuttle boat and my Gladiator. Times staying up to a week remote. What someone brings overlanding in a JT or any other vehicle is mostly for comfort they wish to have during that trip. Couple 5 gallon jugs of water, bag of mountain house meals, jetboil/coleman stove, cooler of ice and food (This will only last you 3-4 days) tent and small generator would hardly put a gladiator over its GVWR.

Now that's camping! Rad!

 

[steelponycowboy]

My original overland build weighed in at 6800 lbs with me in it. Just removed all of it and had a new Project M camper from 4 Wheel Campers installed last week and I am currently at 6100 lbs. Not fully loaded for a trip but when it's all said and done, I will be at 6300 or less, a huge improvement. Part of that is the effective design and the use of lots of lightweight aluminum on the Project M.

 

[WILDHOBO]

My original overland build weighed in at 6800 lbs with me in it. Just removed all of it and had a new Project M camper from 4 Wheel Campers installed last week and I am currently at 6100 lbs. Not fully loaded for a trip but when it's all said and done, I will be at 6300 or less, a huge improvement. Part of that is the effective design and the use of lots of lightweight aluminum on the Project M.

Where did you find the RSE step Rotopax bracket? I’ve been looking everywhere, but they discontinued them.

 

[steelponycowboy]

Where did you find the RSE step Rotopax bracket? I’ve been looking everywhere, but they discontinued them.

Yes they did discontinue them. I bought mine when I ordered my JTRD in April of 2021. Stopped by RSE last summer on the way to the Teton Overland show in ID Falls and had them do a tune up on my step sliders and said I was a lucky guy to have the Rotopax brackets and told me they discontinued them, something about the new style of step sliders.

I guess if enough people email and ask them to offer them again, why wouldn't they ?

 

[Free2roam]

My original overland build weighed in at 6800 lbs with me in it. Just removed all of it and had a new Project M camper from 4 Wheel Campers installed last week and I am currently at 6100 lbs. Not fully loaded for a trip but when it's all said and done, I will be at 6300 or less, a huge improvement. Part of that is the effective design and the use of lots of lightweight aluminum on the Project M.

How much does that camper weigh and what lift are you running? Diesel or gasser?

 

[steelponycowboy]

How much does that camper weigh and what lift are you running? Diesel or gasser?

Diesel - 352 Lbs - 2" Mopar lift

 

[WILDHOBO]

Yes they did discontinue them. I bought mine when I ordered my JTRD in April of 2021. Stopped by RSE last summer on the way to the Teton Overland show in ID Falls and had them do a tune up on my step sliders and said I was a lucky guy to have the Rotopax brackets and told me they discontinued them, something about the new style of step sliders.

I guess if enough people email and ask them to offer them again, why wouldn't they ?

I’ve called them a couple of times to provide that suggestion. No luck thus far. If you ever decide to change things up and part with them, please let me know.

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