Essential Gear for the Overland Adventure

“It’s not about the destination, but rather the journey” — or something like that — is the age-old maxim. If that’s true, and if you’re a gearhead, really there’s no more satisfying way to journey than via expedition-ready overland rig. And as manufacturers continue to offer up off-road-ready vehicles straight from the factory, the call of the overland trip grows louder, and adventure arrives more easily.

If you’re ready to answer the call, there are a few things you should put on your shopping list. Aside from your basic camping gear, survival tools and your standard vehicle maintenance essentials, you’ll want an array of gear that will keep you high and dry (in a good way) and your truck or SUV from getting stranded. The list quickly becomes expensive, but it’s better to invest now than be stuck later.

James Baroud Discovery Extreme

A rooftop tent is a nice investment as it will help save space in the back of your vehicle and will keep you off the ground, away from any dangerous insects or vermin. The James Baroud Discover Extreme has been proven in Dakar Rallies and wind-tested up to 74 mph, and it’s waterproof. Not only is it tough, but it erects automatically and features interior lighting along with a solar-powered vent that can either bring in more air or extract it. As an added bonus, it also has an integrated storage rack.

WARN M8000

The value of a good winch is immeasurable, and WARN has been making some of the finest recreational off-road winches since 1959. The M8000 has become a mainstay in the off-road community for decades for its value, effectiveness and simplicity. WARN suggests you pick a winch with 1.5 times the pulling capacity as your vehicle’s GVWR, so while the M8000 is great for smaller off-roaders like the Jeep Wrangler or Nissan Xterra, if you’re driving something a bit more burly you should consider jumping up in capacity.

WARN Medium Duty Winch Accessory Kit

Your winch won’t do you much good if you don’t have the right accessories. This kit from WARN comes with everything you need: D-shackles, a tree protector, a 30-foot tow strap, a snatch block, gloves and a heavyweight bag with room for more winching accessories you amass over the years.

BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2

We chose the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 as one of our favorite winter tires, but its off-road accolades are not to be forgotten. The BFG All-Terrain tire was the original all-terrain tire and has remained a favorite since its debut in late ’70s. The latest generation combines both on-road manners and off-road capability with a sturdy sidewall construction and long-lasting tread.

ARB ARB505 E-Z Deflator

It’s likely you’ll encounter rock or sand at some points on your overland excursions. For maximum traction you’ll want to let out air from your tires. This deflator from ARB will remove the valve core from the tire for quick deflation.

ARB CKMA12 Air Compressor

Because you won’t want to run on deflated tires for the entirety of your journey, you’ll want to add an air compressor to your shopping list as well. This unit (also from ARB) is light, compact and can be easily installed under the hood of your truck or SUV.

H3R Performance HG250R

Though rare, vehicle fires do happen, and be they caused by fuel or electronics, you want to be covered for both. H3R makes some of the best extinguishers for vehicles of all types and are rated for “Class B” (liquids) and “Class C” fires (electrical).

ARB Deluxe Bull Bar

A bull bar is not just a menacing aesthetic enhancement (let’s face it, that’s a big part of the draw), but it also makes for a mounting point for any extra lights or winch you want to add to your rig. But a well-built bull bar will also help protect your truck — you do not want to hit a deer or tree and deal with the resulting damage. Once again, off-road powerhouse ARB comes in with a solid accessory that is available for a variety of popular overland vehicle choices.

KC Pro-Sport Gravity LED

If you need to tackle terrain at night, you’ll want as much visibility as you can get. KC has long been a go-to for off-roaders in need of a little more light, and their LED option should not disappoint — they’ll give you the extra visibility you need to see upcoming obstacles without drawing much power from your vehicle.

Hi-Lift XT-485 Jack

We’ll let Expedition Portal explain at great length why the Hi-Lift Jack is one of the most important pieces of equipment to have on an overland trip, but it boils down to this: in addition to being used as a jack, it can be used as a heavy-duty clamp, as well as a “come-along” for winching your vehicle out of trouble in case your winch is out of commission.

MaxTrax MKII

There’s an old trick that you can use some old carpet or your car’s floor mats to get unstuck in the snow and ice. The MaxTrax uses the same principle of temporary traction but is more durable in case you get stuck in something more harrowing than a little snow and ice.

Gerber E-Tool Folding Spade

Lightweight, compact and sturdy, this folding survival shovel from Gerber is ideal for digging your way out of sticky situations without taking up too much room in your truck or SUV.

Wavian NATO Jerry Fuel Can

A good jerry can (or two) is a necessity for increasing your range out in the middle of nowhere. This modern take on the classic metal jerry can retains the solid build quality of the original but is also EPA and CARB compliant.

Husqvarna Curved Handle Hatchet

Aside from basic fire-building duties at camp, a good hatchet will be useful for clearing any fallen trees and excessive vines on the trail. This option from Husqvarna is compact, lightweight and is made from hand-forged steel and a hickory handle. In a pinch, the flat side of the head can be used as a hammer.

Magellan eXplorist TRX7

Magellan has been in the GPS game for 30 years, but the TRX7 is the brand’s first foray into hardcore 4×4 navigation. It comes preloaded with maps, over 44,000 off-road trails from National Parks and public lands as well as other points of interest. In addition, it allows you to record your own trails and data (which Magellan also uses to improve its maps) and see ratings of trails from other explorers, who can log information like incline difficulties and the depths of water crossings.

Yaesu FT-8800R HAM Radio

For communication out in the middle of nowhere, you can’t do much better than a HAM radio. HAM is powerful enough to transmit over dozens of miles (compared to CB’s range of about 5 miles or so) in case you need to get into contact with the nearest authorities or rescue teams. Yaesu is a favorite among off-roaders, and paired with a good antenna and your Amateur Radio License (yes, this is a requirement, but not difficult to obtain), you should be set.

McMurdo Fast Find 220

While it’s a good idea to have your overland rig outfitted with a HAM Radio, as a backup or last resort, a personal locator beacon (PLB) is a no-brainer. While it lacks the messaging service of higher-cost PLB devices, the McMurdo Fast Find is simple, and will alert a search-and-rescue team via COSPAS-SARSAT of your location within minutes of activating.

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