Overlanding is all the rage these days. Us OGs called it vehicle camping in the days of yore, but everything that reaches the limelight must receive a social media makeover (I’m looking at you, “influencers”). Without getting into the nitty-gritty of defining what qualifies as overlanding (or ticking off any “content creators”), I want to dive into some of the basic considerations my wife and I make when taking on a new overland vehicle project. After all, overlanding without a vehicle is just camping… I think?
As you may know, Hanna and I just bought a brand Ford F250 Tremor to serve as the basis of our next overland build. We put a lot of thought into what vehicle we wanted to purchase for this purpose, which required us to think ahead. We needed to have a strong idea of what our overlanding setup would be in order to choose the right vehicle to facilitate it. In other words, we started with the end goal and chose a vehicle that would help us reach it.
The platform for our new overland build - a 2022 F250 Tremor
As part of that journey, we had to make several decisions about how we want to travel, camp, and explore. We had to take a realistic look at our lifestyle and determine what we needed in a vehicle and overlanding setup to best facilitate it. So, we put our heads together, reflected on our past adventures, discussed our future goals, and came to some conclusions.
I’m here to share our process of building our F250 Tremor overland build with you. I think the considerations we made before purchasing our truck may help you as you consider your next (or current) overland rig. So, without further ado, let’s get into it!
Travel Style
As time has passed and Hanna and I have become more well-traveled in the overland sphere, our preferred travel style has changed. When we first discovered off-roading (in more than the rough forest road sense), I got a bit caught up in it. As a result, our early builds were tailored toward conquering challenging terrain and seeking out difficult trails. Our camping setup mattered, but it was definitely a secondary priority. So, too, was on-road comfort.
The more we traveled, the more we appreciated the scenery and enjoyed the journey rather than the obstacles. Our priorities started to shift from crawling to seeking out beautiful campsites and remote areas. Our build changed accordingly. 38” tires turned into 35”. We allocated our budget to comfort at camp and better on-road manners.
Now, our priorities have drifted even further toward extended travel, on-road comfort, and a suitable long-term work and living space. While our F-250 Tremor build will inevitably be off-road capable, even with the camping setup we plan to equip it with, the goal is to focus more on longevity when leaving home behind. This goal dictated a larger truck, a camping setup with more amenities and indoor space, and the sacrifice of some ability to tackle extreme terrain and tight trails.
Amount of Use
Depending on the frequency and extent you intend to use your overlanding rig, you may tweak the route you take when building it. Weekend warriors, for example, may choose to focus on a more off-road capable vehicle, with camping taking a slight backseat to capability. The distance between home and the destination probably isn’t more than a few hours, so the desire for on-road comfort might not be as strong as an overlander lives in their vehicle. This is especially true if trips only take place every few weekends rather than consistently.
Our last overlanding trip in the Jeep Gladiator stretched over two months.
Speaking of living in your overland truck, duration matters as much as frequency. A few days at a time is one thing; spending weeks or months traveling and living out of your rig is an entirely different animal. Suddenly, a ground tent or even a rooftop tent might not cut it. This is what happened with Hanna and me—the longer we spent on the road, the more we desired a comfortable space in which to work, relax, and live, especially when the weather was less than desirable and that calendar page flipped from one month to the next.
Terrain You’ll Encounter (or seek)
Are you the type to wander down any random trails you pass or are you more of a planner?
As you may have guessed, I used to be the former. In our previous builds, we could pick just about any trail at random and feel confident that we could either conquer it or safely navigate our way out. The Jeeps of our past were nimble enough to mitigate risk and exceedingly capable. Since moving to a more cumbersome platform in exchange for more comfort and size, I’ve pretty much accepted I will have to research more heavily and avoid certain terrains.
Our first Jeep Gladiator build was more on the rock crawler side.
When selecting a vehicle for overlanding, it is important to be realistic with your travel style, the terrain you will encounter (or seek out), and the degree to which you are willing to compromise ultimate for other vehicle features.
Payload and Towing
When discussing overland builds, it is easy for me to slip into the mindset of a self-sufficient vehicle setup—bed racks, canopies, tents, and so forth, all part of one mobile unit. However, as Hanna and I have expanded our definition of an overland rig and taken an interest in full-size builds, I’ve realized that the capability of a vehicle is not limited to its ability to tackle the toughest trails—it also includes minor details like payload and towing.
If you plan to load your vehicle with heavy gear (and it adds up quickly, trust me), you will want to familiarize yourself with your vehicle’s payload capacity. This becomes especially important when considering truck bed campers, rooftop tents, and the like. Similarly, the tow rating of your vehicle will come into play if you choose to overland with a trailer. Even small teardrops and tent trailers can push the limits of smaller vehicles, so plan accordingly!
Aftermarket Support
Outfitting your rig for adventure is an exciting (albeit challenging) process that really allows you to express your preferences and ready your build for the type of overlanding you most enjoy. The aftermarket community is rapidly growing for us overlanders, and there are already a plethora of companies bringing innovative, functional, and downright cool products to us vehicle-based travel folks.
That being said, the aftermarket support for certain vehicles is much stronger than it is for others. Jeep and Tacoma owners have their pick of just about anything they want, while full-size rigs, SUVs, and less-common platforms are often left out. While that is changing, it is still an important consideration when choosing an overlanding vehicle, especially if you plan to heavily modify it.
One of our favorite Jeepers (@jeepasaurus_rex on Instagram) has a heavily modified Gladiator.
As a side note, vehicle manufacturers are also catching wind of the overlanding trend. Companies like Ford and GMC are joining Jeep and Toyota in producing overland-ready vehicles from the factory. Models like those in GMC’s AT4 lineup or Ford’s Tremor offerings provide incredible platforms on which to build an overlanding rig with minimal modifications.
Know Your Compromises
There’s no question that you can build an overland rig that fits your intended usage, pulls on your heartstrings, and helps you make lifelong memories. Despite all these being true, I’m going to make a bold assertion here—there’s no such thing as a perfect overlanding build. No matter what you do, you will be making compromises. Comfort translates to reduced off-road capability, size means worse efficiency, a trailer limits where you can camp, and so on.
The new rig is comfortable but HUGE.
Before you start building, it’s a good idea to know what compromises you’re willing to make. Unfortunately, knowing your priorities typically requires trial and error. Even then, they’re likely to change with time, life, and experience. In other words, get used to constantly tweaking your build throughout its lifespan or regularly trying different platforms (ask me how I know).
What is the Best Overland Vehicle?
Ah, the age-old question. In my opinion, there is no single answer. There are numerous vehicles that provide excellent platforms on which to build your dream overland rig. At the end of the day, the best overland vehicle is the one you use. The point of these vehicles (other than being a blast to modify, work on, and look at) is to get you out there and experiencing new, beautiful things.
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