These mud-splashed Jeeps, Toyotas, and Land Rovers (just to name a few) are decked out with nifty rooftop tents, snazzy snorkels, and a whole slew of other fancy add-ons.
Congratulations! You’ve been exposed to the Overlanding community.
“The who?” you say.
The Overlanders!
What is Overlanding?
Move on over van-lifers and make way for the new kids on the block. Overlanding is a community, a travel style, a lifestyle…and a movement. The phenomenon is a blend of off-roading and camping, a fusion of automotive enthusiasts and outdoorsmen…er, outdoors people. The main goal is to travel self-sufficiently to remote areas over land.
While Instagram might have you believe it’s a rich man’s hillbilly sport, that’s not the case at all. There are no hard rules or regulations to be a part of this clan. All you need is a vehicle (preferably off-road capable) and the will to get off-the-grid.
Australian Roots Take Over the Americas
The term Overlanding actually traces back to Australia, referring to cattle ranchers who drove herds of livestock over great distances through the outback.
But, the modern-day evolution spawned way back in the 1940s, when long-distance cattle routes became official roads suitable for the 4×4 vehicles of the era (Unimog, Mercedes, Jeep, and Landrover).
Although Overlanding still remains alive and well in Australia, the most recent rendition of the movement is happening in the Americas.
Particularly in the USA, Overland expos are now regularly popping up all over the nation uniting a brand-new era of folks who just want to get lost on both the open and dirt roads.
The Ultimate Road Trip
The trending objective is to get as far away from civilization feasible, for as long as possible. Beyond the warm sunny weekends of the summer, Overlanders are making lofty commitments to traverse a big block of states, the whole nation, or even a continent or two. It’s not uncommon to see Overland rigs tagged with stickers stating “Alaska to Argentina.”
Overlanders are indeed driving this route in one giant road trip, typically over 6 months to a year. Although, some people have made it a lifestyle with no true ending point in sight.
Many travelers are doing this with modified vehicles, a sort of off-road camper hybrid. Overlanders are typically self-contained, independent, outdoor enthusiasts with plenty of off-road know-how.
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How to Start Overlanding
Not everyone is set up for the lifestyle, has the cash to get properly outfitted, or can commit to an endless road trip. Luckily, tour providers and car rental services throughout the Americas have taken note of the movement. It’s relatively easy to rent an off-road rig and test it out for the weekend, the month, or the season.
Look for car rentals here. 👇👇👇👇
Others may have the rig, but lack the time or the will to navigate through endless nations. In this case, some travelers skip half the route by shipping their car to meet them in the desired landscapes. A few popular Overlanding places include South America, Australia, and Africa.
