What characteristics does a good overland rig have?

"BaconSandwich is tasty." (baconsandwich)
07/20/2020 at 15:46 • Filed to: None

Rather than asking specifically what makes/models are good for overlanding*, I’m really more curious about what characteristics make for a good overland rig.

Hammerhead Fistpunch, in a comment, brought something to my attention that I hadn’t heard of before - limb risers. Basically, a tensioned cable or otherwise stiff piece of material that helps deflect tree branches up and over a vehicle, instead of having them smack into the windshield. It makes sense that you want to avoid having a branch smack into a windshield way out in the middle of nowhere.

This got me thinking - what characteristics does a good overland rig have? Thinking about it on my own, I think there’s a few immediate ones that come to mind:

* Reliability: no one wants to break down in the middle of nowhere. Having a vehicle that is durable, and that doesn’t brake down seems like kind of a no-brainer.
* Ease of repair: second only to repairability , is being able to fix something when it does break. Being able to keep a vehicle running with simple tools can be the difference between getting out on you r own or not getting out at all.
* Ground clearance: the ability to drive over things without them causing damage to the under-side of the vehicle. If you are out in areas where not a lot of other vehicles go, you’ll need at least some ground clearance.
* Thermal management: This goes for both heat and cold. Both overheating and not being able to function properly in cold conditions could be a severe limitation, depending on where a person is traveling.
* Suspension articulation: ground clearance can get you so far, but being able to keep all the wheels (or as many wheels as possible) in contact with the driving surface makes sense.
* Approach/departure angles: this makes more sense in terms of driving more technical areas, but being able to get up/down things without scraping off the bumper of the vehicle makes sense.
* Break over angle: getting high-centered doesn’t sound fun. Having a vehicle with a short enough wheel base relative to the size of the tires seems like it would help with this.

Surely there’s a bunch of other stuff that I’m missing. What does the hive-mind of Oppo say about the subject?

* For my definition of overlanding, I’m assuming a vehicle that is capable of going off-road, down poorly maintained trails. N ot necessarily some sort of rock-crawling monster. The quintessential “drive through the hard of Africa”, not “drive the Baja like you stole it” . Although there does seem to be a bit of overlap between the two, in terms of required capability.

DISCUSSION (21)

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > BaconSandwich is tasty.
07/20/2020 at 16:04

Minimum 4 wheels

BaconSandwich is tasty. > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
07/20/2020 at 16:10

That does make sense. Perhaps phrased differently “stability”. You can’t be falling over every time you encounter an obstacle. That also brings up center of gravity. Having a high center of gravity means it’d be easier to fall over. Lower = better.

PowderHound > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
07/20/2020 at 16:14

Maximum of 6? maybe just a max of 3 axles.

ClassicDatsunDebate > BaconSandwich is tasty.
07/20/2020 at 16:16

120v transformer.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > BaconSandwich is tasty.
07/20/2020 at 16:16

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/americas-best-overland-vehicle-2016-1782331565

Snuze: Needs another Swede > BaconSandwich is tasty.
07/20/2020 at 16:17

Lower = better.

Which is completely at odds with your ground clearance requirement. Yay compromise!

BaconSandwich is tasty. > ClassicDatsunDebate
07/20/2020 at 16:17

Power on the go. Definitely a handy thing.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
07/20/2020 at 16:17

Yeah, 4 is pretty good.

Kinja'd!!!

nermal > BaconSandwich is tasty.
07/20/2020 at 16:18

Add in Appearance and Cool Shit.

Needs to look sweet for the pictures. Also so that you can stare at it while on the road, at home, or doing normal day-to-day stuff.

Needs to have a buncha neat accessories to play around with as well. Traction mats, winches, light bars, other light bars, round lights, square lights, tow straps, tents, awnings, fridges, solar panels, GPS, etc.

The difference between overlanding and just regular ass car camping is the... bravado of it all .

Nothing > BaconSandwich is tasty.
07/20/2020 at 16:22

If you’re loading up for over landing, decent payload numbers.

ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy > Nothing
07/20/2020 at 16:29

Came to say this. This has been the biggest knock against overlanding w/ the Wrangler.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > Snuze: Needs another Swede
07/20/2020 at 16:29

Well, part of that may come down to the drive train. I’m quite enjoying the idea of en electric overlander.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy
07/20/2020 at 16:30

How much weight do you generally add in terms of gear and people?

ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy > BaconSandwich is tasty.
07/20/2020 at 16:33

No clue. The Wrangler JK Unlimited payload is around 1,100 lbs and again, folks in the know act like that ain’t enough.

When adding people, gear, fridge, fuel, and water, the weight adds up quick.

onlytwowheels > BaconSandwich is tasty.
07/20/2020 at 16:45

Also, parts availability. A limited market, limited production, older, obscure vehicle has a similar parts supply.

Nothing > BaconSandwich is tasty.
07/20/2020 at 16:48

If you’re really over landing, and not just car camping, you need water, fuel, cooler/fridge, camping gear, food, etc. If you start adding armor, it’s not unheard of to be adding 1500-2000 lbs.

Nibby > BaconSandwich is tasty.
07/20/2020 at 17:19

should have at least 5" of ground clearance

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > BaconSandwich is tasty.
07/20/2020 at 18:51

A min of 24in of travel.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > BaconSandwich is tasty.
07/21/2020 at 00:13

The ability to use the internal space of the vehicle with maximum efficiency

BaconSandwich is tasty. > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media
07/21/2020 at 00:16

I've been thinking a lot about that. I think there's definitely some interesting options that will open up with EV drive trains. Maybe not a great example, but the Audi AI:Trail comes to mind.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > BaconSandwich is tasty.
07/21/2020 at 00:39

As someone who has ‘overlanded’ (and continues to do so) in a Volkswagen transporter like this one:

Kinja'd!!!

...I look forward to the possibility of this sort of packaging on a Ranger sized (which this essentially is) and capability equivalent platform (which this isn't!) . Which some of the electric and hybrid drivetrains may be able to deliver...