The word overlanding may be new to some adventurers, but it’s actually an old way of travelling that has been going on for centuries. It’s simply the practice of travelling from one place to another while exploring the wilderness and not following a pre-planned route.
This means that you don’t drive directly from A to B; instead, you take secondary roads or trails, which are often unpaved or barely accessible. These journeys take place in special overlanding vehicles.
These spacious vans come with everything you need for living and travelling off-road, including a bed, kitchenette and storage space. You can explore the great outdoors while staying prepared with these awesome overlanding vehicles.
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What Is Overlanding?
Overlanding is the adventure of exploring new places while travelling by land, usually in a 4×4 vehicle. Exploring the world by off-road vehicle has been a popular pastime for decades, and it’s experiencing a surge in popularity due to social media.
An overlander is someone who enjoys expedition-style travel where the journey is more important than the destination. They travel off-road in Jeeps, trucks, vans, and other vehicle types.
Overlanders make their own itinerary based on the location, the best times to go, the type of vehicle they have, and the type of terrain they are comfortable driving on. They often visit remote areas to experience nature in its purest form. Overlanding is a term that covers a wide range of activities.
The main things that all overlanders have in common are that they drive off-road and sleep in their vehicle. For many, this is a lifestyle choice or a way of travelling that is affordable.
Why Go Overlanding?
Overlanding is the ultimate form of adventure travel. It’s not just about taking the direct route from point A to point B, but exploring the wilderness along the way.
The best part is that you don’t need to be an expert to do this. Overlanding is the perfect way to get out of your comfort zone and explore the world on your own terms.
Whether you want to go alone or with a group of friends, you can decide the route, duration and the pace at which you travel.
Overlanding is a great way to save money. If you have the urge to travel but don’t have much cash to spend, then overlanding is for you. All you need is a sturdy vehicle and you’re good to go.
Advantages of going on overlanding trips
- You’ll Get to Experience Nature in Its Purest Form: Overlanders love to visit remote places because they want to experience nature in its most pure form.
- You’ll get to see things that very few people get to see.
- You’ll Meet New People: Overlanders are a pretty friendly bunch. There are tons of forums and groups online where you can find like-minded people to go on trips with, and you’ll meet tons of new friends along the way.
- You’ll Learn New Skills: When you’re overlanding, you’re forced to be resourceful. You might find yourself a long way from civilisation, and you may have to repair your car with whatever is lying around. Overlanders learn new skills along the way that they can use in everyday life.
Which Type of Campervan/Overlander Should You Go For?
When it comes to choosing an overlanding vehicle, the first thing you’ll have to decide is the type of vehicle you want to go for.
Full size vans are great for overlanders because they have lots of space and legroom, but they’re not always so easy to go off-road in.
Small SUVs and trucks are great for camping off the beaten path.
If you’re going alone, you’re better off going for a smaller vehicle. If you want to go with friends and want additional storage space, then you should go for a full-size van.
A great way to decide what kind of vehicle you want to go for is to go to an overlanding vehicle show where you can take the chance to see different types of vehicles on display and learn about what you like and what you don’t like.
The Adventure Overlander Show is a show held in the UK in the Spring time, for more information you can check out their website – Adventure Overland Show – Stratford-upon-Avon Racecourse (adventure-overland-show.com)
What’s in a Good Overlanding Van?
The best overlanding van will have plenty of storage space, a comfortable bed, and some way of going to the bathroom.
Make sure you have a sturdy roof rack for carrying large items.
An off-road bumper will help you manoeuvre through rough terrain and a roof-top tent is great for protecting you and your stuff and also providing an extra space to sleep.
All-Terrain tyres are also essential on an overlanding vehicle as you don’t want to be getting stuck when you go off-road.
TIP – These are the all terrain tyres that we have on our van, and they have worked really well for us whilst travelling all over Europe in the winter in the snow –https://www.atseuromaster.co.uk/consumer/tyres/brands/bfgoodrich-tyres/lt22575sr16bfgatko2lrdrwlg1000154520
Final Words
If you want to travel with style and adventure, then you should definitely try out overlanding.
This is a great way to explore the world while staying on a budget. All you need is a sturdy vehicle and the right gear, and you can hit the road.
You can create the ultimate road trip and completely immerse yourself in the experience.
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You can take a look at some of our other van life posts which include lots and lots of hints and tips on all things van life here – Van Life – Travel Information, Hints, Tips and Advice (threeasabird.com)
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I have always wanted to travel and luckily I always got to travel to some amazing countries while I was growing up with my family and this really encouraged me to continue this and get out into the world on my own when I was older.
My goal growing up was really to see as much of the world as I could, but then I started going to work and really concentrating on my career and travel took a back seat. I still tried to get away a few times a year but I always knew there was an end goal which was to travel as much as possible.
So I got my head down and worked as hard as I could as an e-commerce manager. I have always been techy, I love computers and websites, so that’s where it gave me the idea to start this blog and also have my own web design agency. If you want to check it out or need any help then please take a look rrwebdesign.co.uk (shameless plug there)
But after covid, we both knew this was now the right time to take the leap and go and see the world after being trapped inside our house and working from home for a couple of years. We realised more than ever that you only get one life and you really need to make the most of it and do what you love!
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