@BrandonPlumb-tm6cm
The biggest detriment of my quest to make my jeep cool, is the fact that my wife's family explored the majority of the desert southwest in a 70s Volkswagen beetle.
@scroungasworkshop4663
I’ve been four wheel driving in Australia for the last 40 years and I’ve learnt a few things along the way. Normally the two biggest reason a vehicle gets stuck is the driver. The inexperienced driver: this bloke doesn’t know what he’s doing. He doesn’t know what gear he should be in, he doesn’t know where to keep the engine revs at, he doesn’t know what line to take, he doesn’t know exactly where his wheels are and worst of all he doesn’t know his own limits. They think that keeping forward momentum means pedal to the floor and just try to crash though. The second is the lazy driver: this bloke doesn’t want to get out and walk the line, he doesn’t want to walk the water crossing to check for hidden obstacles or deep holes, he doesn’t want to adjust his tyre pressures to suit the conditions and he certainly doesn’t want to find an alternative, less difficult route. Like the inexperienced driver, he just wants to crash through. It’s amazing how many people underestimate what their vehicles are capable of straight from the factory and a lot of the time it’s the driver that gives up before the vehicle does. If you want a winch, get a hand winch like a Tirfor. It can pull your vehicle in any direction, it’s a lot lighter than an electric winch and there’s a lot less to go wrong. Being a hand winch, it’s a lot more work so it makes you think before you leap. Lastly something to keep in mind, the more recovery gear you have like double diff locks, electric winch, big wheels ect, the deeper in the shit you’re going to be when you do get stuck so it’s going to be even harder to get out. Great video guys. Cheers, Stuart 🇦🇺
@sworks7124
I was watching trail recon and got all excited so I bought a TRD Pro Tacoma and dumped 20k into bed racks, roof top tents, suspension, regearing, all the showers and heaters. Never went out camping one time and fucked up my truck so bad it was no longer usable for daily driver. I ended up selling all the gear for pennies on the dollar and regretted messing up my TRD Pro Taco which was so hard to get. I now have a Ranger Raptor and will never put one extra thing on this truck it is perfect from the factory. You guys made a really good video and discussion.
@dat2ra
I've been a field geologist for 40 years, mostly in the desert. My current ride is a 3rd gen 4Runner. Shrockworks bumpers, 2" lift, and yes, a winch, which I have used. I carry no gas (water is way more useful). I carry a Hi-Lift jack, long-handle shovel, tow rope, and an Audew self jumper, all of which have been used. The main advice I have is: 1) slow down, 2) get out of your vehicle and scout the best route, especially stream crossings, 3) don't use low range to drive in (you'll need it if you get stuck), and 4) respect the land by not driving off trail. There is a place for vehicles and a place where it's better to walk. Know the difference.
@ZipZoomZip
Some of the most fun I've had off-roading was in bone-stock vehicles with all-season radials. Low ground clearance, no skid plates, no winch, just driver skill. One time, my wife and I decided to take the adventurous way over a mountain ridge on the way home from a spring road trip. We were in a almost new, tiny, low slung 1984 Subaru station wagon. It had all-wheel drive, not 4x4. Our philosophy was that we would not drive anywhere we couldn't backtrack from, if necessary. We navigated through mud swamps covering the trail, to steep, rocky technical driving, and everything in-between. We came out above the clouds on top of the ridge to find 12 members of the local Jeep club. They were all lifted with 35-37" tires, skid plates, rock sliders, the whole nine yards. When they saw us, their jaws dropped. They looked at the shiny, almost new low-slung Subaru wagon with stock tires, the roofline barely came above the tops of their tires (slight exaggeration) and wanted to know how we got up there. Knowing we were on the only route (or at least the only mapped route) I said, "what do you mean?" They wanted to know if there was an easier way up to their regular weekend 4x4 spot that they didn't know about. I told them I came up the way I assume they came up, the easiest way. They said the easiest way up was the way we were going. When I confirmed that we came up from the same direction we had arrived, their jaws were hanging on the ground. It was as if they had wasted all that time and money modifying their Jeeps. As we were ready to depart, they told us if we made it this far, we wouldn't have any problem on the way out. Just goes to show you don't need a manly looking off-road rig to get most places people actually go.
@wadehughes8986
We go solo remote off road camping (in Australia) for weeks on end. I can tell you, when you’re by yourself and you’re stuck on a slippery ridge, then it’s such a relief to be able to winch yourself out of trouble. You don’t need something until you need it. Good vid, keep up the good work.
@vertstang123
I just got back from the Pomona Off Road Expo, they had tons of overlanding gear. It's like taking your house with you camping, electronic gadgets, refrigerators, battery packs, solar panels etc. What happened to a tent, a Coleman stove, a lantern and an ice chest?
@TheStonecrusha
It's all about perspective as well! As an adventure motorcycle camper, "overlanding" on four wheels is pure luxury glamping to me! Something as simple as those oversized camping chairs you guys are using in this video is a huge luxury!
@ShowseeTravels
You’re 100% right. When I was a teenager we did a lot of these things without even 4x4. Sometimes the journey isn’t where you want to go but where you end up.
@Ashursardan
Perfect video! This is exactly what I needed to see. I’ve been car camping since ‘93 and modifying what I haul around with each excursion, but have always felt like I might be missing something. I first heard about overlanding a couple of years back, but saw the expensive rigs that were associated with the movement and had to ignore it because of the limitations of my wallet. I’m very pleased to have seen your video because you have let me know that what level of camping I do does not require such investment. Thanks for being straightforward and not putting on machismo airs about your knowledge and experience. You have provided the most useful information on the subject I have seen thus far.
@timkasten343
I was deer hunting a couple years back, while glassing from the top, we were watching a bunch of 4 pretty blinged out Overland rigs guys talking about this section they were going up, blocking the road, when a old stock Subaru blew past them and left them in the dust. Never laughed so hard. Welcome to the mountains boys 😂
@Gzus
16:14: "Take the vehicle you have, go out into the woods, and camp!" This comment nailed it! Too many people confuse glamping with camping. I prefer minimal stuff to pack (and re-pack when leaving), and most 4x4 vehicles nowadays are waaay more capable than n00bies give them credit for, so they spend unnecessarily on stuff that they don't really need. That being said, for me, a winch was a MUST because I wheel solo almost 100% of the time, and it's more for self-recovery than it is for pulling out others.
@CullodenCowboy
It kills me when I see videos of guys sleeping in their $5000 rooftop tent when they have enough room in the back of their truck to sleep. Saw a video recently where a whole group got stormed on and everyone was soaked and freaking out in their rooftop tents while the one guy sleeping in his truck bed kept on snoozing happily.
@dustondoesit3913
Growing up in Colorado I’ve seen kids bring 20 year old Subaru station wagons up jeep trails to get to our parties. It’s the driver more than the car.
@OFF_169
I was talking to my buddy about this the other day. We got down to basically saying if you really want to mod all you need is a truck with 4x4, good tires, a 2-2.5 inch lift, and maybe some higher clearance bumpers, speaking specifically on what you need to do with a truck.
@eighty6films
I work in & offroad my vehicle daily… 70%-80% of the stuff you “need” is worthless weight that just slows you down, wastes fuel & takes up space. NO to wheel spacers… weak point & WILL break
@theoutdoordad7395
Camping + instagram = overlanding. I started camping outside with no tent no sleeping pad just a tarp and a sleeping bag. If you had a bucket it was a luxury chair. Nothing wrong with the overlanding hobby but I agree with you guys, beginners should know camping can be affordable and easy to start. Been camping for 30+ years, the more I camp the more I value bringing less but value comfort more.
@drewpknutz1410
I work with a guy who has gone into the deep end, he's got all sorts of axes, shovels, lights, winches.. whatever hanging off his Tundra.. A few months back we had a get together at some local sand dunes and a friend got stuck.. We asked dude if we could use the shovel on his rig and he said "No man, I lost the key to that like 6 months ago".. lol.. totally useless gear, we goof on him all the time for that
@thesolarsailor
I like this video, it seriously reduces newbies barriers to entry. I have been doing this type of adventuring in stock rigs for over 3 decades. Currently I drive a stock 2004 Ram 2500 4x4 with 285/75/17 Goodyear Wrangler tires. Most gravel roads are designed for loaded 80K pound log trucks, have snacks, plenty of water, an axe and shovel and use a whole bunch of sense and not drive into what you cannot drive out of.
@Automobros