Sleep-Inside SUV
Depending how tall or short you are, and how flat you sleep, the slumber space in an overlander must accommodate. The right SUV setup allows you to have a lighter weight, yet off-road-capable vehicle. But the sleeping area usually takes up a considerable amount of gear storage space.
The Ford Excursion offers up massive interior volume for all sorts of overland build-out options, Plus, they utilize a tried and true platform and drivetrain, especially the 7.3L Powerstroke diesel.
No need to spend a ton of money on a rig. This little 4Runner build came cheap. Plywood framed the build-out and the owners drove it the length of the Americas. To be sure, it was a cozy setup.
Trailers
Trailers allow you to have a daily driver vehicle, and a fully sorted and stocked base camp parked in your driveway.
The drawback is that you have to deal with a trailer, both in cities and remote mountain tracks, and your camp footprint won’t be very small.
Roof-Top Tents
The ever-popular roof-top tent (RTT) sat atop just about every type of vehicle you can imagine at the show. While way more expensive than most ground tents, they are much less expensive than a dedicated overland rig.
Nissan hits the overland market hard with the “Project Basecamp” build.
A simple go fast/super fun option is to throw an RTT on a Ford Raptor and hit the gas, little to no modifications required.
Importing cool off-road vehicles like the Nissan Patrol is a great option, as long as they are more than 25 years old.
The Land Cruiser Troopy is an awesome platform that will take you anywhere on the globe. But I have to admit, I’d sleep inside and use the roof for kayaks and other adventure gear, vs. putting an RTT up there.
You can strap an RTT on nearly ANY vehicle.
Ground Tents
A perfectly viable option is to throw that trusty ground tent into the vehicle you have and hit the road. In fact, you don’t even need four wheels to have an amazing overland ground-camping adventure.
The drawback, depending on the adventure you’re on, is that you generally need a flat piece of land to set up camp. And doing that is generally frowned upon in most urban areas. Oftentimes you will have to purchase a campsite.
While the Toyota LC200 is expensive both new and used, it’s truly an impressive on- and off-road vehicle.
There is little that will stand in the way of a Land Rover Defender 90.
A small lift, good tires and some skid plates, and a Subaru makes for an extremely fun adventure-mobile.
No matter which overland vehicle suits your travel style, budget, and current adventure plans, don’t let funds or responsibilities deter you from getting out there to explore. Find your own overland path and live a life of adventure.
