Anyone into Overlanding?

[Joliet Johnny]

I found this great site that this guy runs 2 Toyotas and a BMW motorcycle on an offroad/camping experience the call overland.http://www.xoverland.com/videos.html As far as I can figure it out you find some crazy trail with great scenery and camp along the way. I originally bought my XJ to deal with snow and drive around trees that fall in our summer storms and had planned to build accordingly. I now want to build to do something like this. The wife pick next years vacation and I pick this for the following one. If anyone is into this please post picks/stories of your experiences with it.

[Carves]

After watching that xoverland mobs Morrisey Trail run in Wyoming ... I had two thoughts ....

One was memories of this now closed, aussie, baby version .... which was VW Beetle accessible in good weather ;);)

http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/n629/carves-oz/BridleTrack03.jpg


and secondly .... What drongo takes a pair of toyota coal barges and a trailer up a mule trail .. when the U.S. is full of more suitable swb 4x4s - for that kind of tasking :confused::confused:


If "overlanding" is making the whole trip, point A to point B, the journey .... then you'll probably find its way more satisfying - than highway blasting to a spot where you play for a few hours and return home.

As for vehicle setup ... It doesnt need to look like an african safari vehicle ... or an ARB sales catalogue image :rolleyes: ... Just load it up with what you need for the run ....

e.g. :o:o:o ... Ive got no shame ... :D:D

http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/n629/carves-oz/Trip%20Pics/02102012/031012-Tracks12b.jpg

[TimmyTXJ]

I know that "mudding" is kind of the status quo here in Texas (at least from my experiences) but overlanding is ultimately what I bought my Jeep for. I'd love to take it on a grand trek across the states and camp along the way!

[4.3LXJ]

I think Overlanding is getting a little out of hand for some. There are a lot of rigs out there that amount to 4WD motor homes. But I think by your definition, I have been overlanding and have set my rig up with that in mind. I have always been building it with the idea that I could drive it long distances and camp. Was going to post pics, but photobucket isn't letting me copy links this morning.

On of the neatest things I did was put an inverter in the back. I put an apartment sized fridge in, lash it down and have cold drinks and food on the trail or in camp.

But it doesn't take a lot really. The average XJ with our average build is an excellent candidate for overlanding

[junglejuice]

As for vehicle setup ... It doesnt need to look like an african safari vehicle ... or an ARB sales catalogue image :rolleyes: ... Just load it up with what you need for the run ....

[/IMG]

Does that count mine out Carves, I have OME suspension (ARB), an ARB bullbar and Cooper tyres (ARB)??????

http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x451/junglejuice72/13092011191.jpg

http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x451/junglejuice72/IMG_3385_resize.jpg

http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x451/junglejuice72/Xj%20build%20up/P1110346_resize.jpg

http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x451/junglejuice72/Xj%20build%20up/P1110296_resize.jpg


JJ

[4.3LXJ]

I have been balking at pulling a trailer. But I used to when I had a CJ5

[Carves]

Does that count mine out Carves, I have OME suspension (ARB), an ARB bullbar and Cooper tyres (ARB)??????


Absolutely ... darn prize winning ARB blingfest ...


:poke:


:D


Nahhh ... only kidding ... yours is a good example of ...

Buying only the bits you require from a supplier,
Making other stuff to suit your needs ... and
Prepping the running gear to suit ....


Much better method than just giving some retail outlet your lifesavings ... for a bunch of bits that they, say you need .. ;);)

Forgot yours was in here or I would have linked to it in my first post. :thumbsup:

[junglejuice]

Cheers Carves, you should know from my dealings on AJOR that most of my gear has come from some of the wrecks that I have had such as the ARB bar, the OME springs etc, I did buy the Coopers with the rims from the owner of AJOR but I had to buy the shocks which are in fact OEM JK Wrankgler shocks modded to fit the Xj, they have less travel then the OME units but a much better ride and better control on bumpy roads, this meant I had to bump stop the car to suit the shocks as can be seen in this pic along with my IRO adjustable arms...

http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x451/junglejuice72/4wd%20Action%20Photoshoot/IMG_1017_resize.jpg

How is your suspension set up coming along?

Cheers, JJ

[Carves]

How is your suspension set up coming along?

Cheers, JJ


Not as good as I would like .... but I'll fine tune a bit more - when I fit the new diffs.

[bluedragon436]

Does that count mine out Carves, I have OME suspension (ARB), an ARB bullbar and Cooper tyres (ARB)??????

http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x451/junglejuice72/13092011191.jpg

http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x451/junglejuice72/IMG_3385_resize.jpg

http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x451/junglejuice72/Xj%20build%20up/P1110346_resize.jpg

http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x451/junglejuice72/Xj%20build%20up/P1110296_resize.jpg


JJ

Want to know more the trailer setup myself.... I've thought doing overland.. not really a whole lot of chances or places to do that up in the NE area though.... but would still like to do it one day... so always looking into getting ideas

[junglejuice]

Want to know more the trailer setup myself.... I've thought doing overland.. not really a whole lot of chances or places to do that up in the NE area though.... but would still like to do it one day... so always looking into getting ideas

I have posted a thread about the build up

http://www.xjtalk.com/showthread.php?t=12053

It is awaiting approval from the mods, there are a fair few pics....

[07Negative]

I'm actually doing the overland thing on my XJ. I do a ton of road trips more than rock climbing or anything. I'm looking for reasonable M416 trailer to build up and live out of. The setup is not much different than a rockcrawler rig. But nicer driving for long periods of time. My first XJ was setup like this as well. Except I didn't really lift it. OME 2" non sense with Detroit lockers and everything had a skid plat. I drug my ass everywhere and on everything. Drove 25 states in that Jeep.
I now pay more attention to deserts so I spent alot of time in them. I like the geography, plants, and over all landscape. Take a kayak and bike with ya.
You can setup a shower too. There is this 25 or so gallon plastic gladder, a foot pump, and all the hoses and shower head. The bladder is clear. You keep it out in the sun all day it makes for warm water, which equals a warm shower at night. ARB does make a dope travel fridge. It's stupid expensive but its pretty sweet. You can also setup small solar panels on your roof. I work a Mac BookPro, cell phones, and MP3 player off of those solar panels.
Before I bought the house I live in now. I lived out of my current Xj for 4 months. My original Realtor funked up big time. I had already given my 30 day notice to move out of my apartment I was renting. On the 27th day of escrow. The person(s) that reads over contracts and paper stuff. Found that the complex I was trying to buy a apartment at wasn't FHA approved due to a 22% of the apartment owners were behind on HOA dues. I needed a place in 3 days. I decided, "funk it!" I'ma live outa Blaqk (that's my Jeep). I found a blog on these folks who all contributed to this blog but all lived out of their vehicles. Everyone's purpose was different, but valid. The economy took a fat runny shit and people were fed up. So I had read alot of this really optimistic guys opinions and experiences. So it made it alot easier to convince myself it was cool. I woke up some where new everyday before going into work.
I spent 12 days in Oregon wine tasting and lived in/on/off of my XJ. If I got too drunk to drive. Most of the winery guys would offer me a place behind the barn to park on. You can spend 3 days on Pyramid lake looking at all it's details from your kayak and still not be done analyzing it's existence. Then go 15 more miles east and hit up hot springs.
Camping at the top of Crater Lake in middle of the winter. It's 0F outside. Not even wildlife is out. But my XJ has made it to and from every place with only 2 malfunctions. Starter and I ran out of gas. I really dislike a lunchbox locker in the front axle, while driving through snow. Not to mention no manual hubs. But other than that, I say its tits. I like the overland ideology most. Compared to mud and rock guys.
Sure the well off to do folks have polished up the ideal/style pretty well. I take a bivy sack and pretty much go. But I like life kinda primitive.
As far as a rig setup. You can do it anyway you want. You don't need a lift really. Its certainly nice though. I like LCG heights. 3.5-6inch. I'm settling at 6" so that by the time I have all my gear loaded. I'll be at 5.5" on 35's. You really don't need much more than 35's even though they are small by todays standards. But thats a big ass tire. When you air down you get a good foot print, you get decent ground clearance for most objects on a trail, and tires are a dime a dozen. You don't need to go with these 1 ton axles if you can't afford it. A Dana 30 will do fine on 33's or 35's (either way I wouldn't run them in OEM fashion). If you have a Chrysler 8.25 it's a great axle as well. Easy to beef up and not too expensive. The NP 231 Tcase, when in good health is a champ. You get grappy gas mileage. So you get to pull over often for petrol and visit new places. Say hi to someone new.
Take out the back seat/bench. I'm 6'1. I can sleep in the back with my legs stretched out.
I only have a few pix of overland stuff. Hopefully these flickr links work
Jeep | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Crater Lake | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Mackenzie Falls | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Rubicon | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

[junglejuice]

I gotta say that the photo of crater lake is simply stunning, where is that located?

We don't have any of that sort of scenery here.....

JJ

[Carves]

I gotta say that the photo of crater lake is simply stunning, where is that located?

We don't have any of that sort of scenery here.....
JJ


awww JJ .... :o

You going to have to veer west a bit one day ..... when you're doing those Nth-Sth, top to bottom of Aust runs ... ;);)

http://www.mountgambiertourism.com.au/bluelake.asp

Mind you .... like our "mountains" ... our crater lakes are also a bit tired and shrunken ... geologically speaking ....

.

[4.3LXJ]

JJ, that one is in southern Oregon on the west coast. We have lots of those kinds of lakes in the high mountains. I grew up living at one that made that one look like a small pond.

[junglejuice]

awww JJ .... :o

You going to have to veer west a bit one day ..... when you're doing those Nth-Sth, top to bottom of Aust runs ... ;);)

http://www.mountgambiertourism.com.au/bluelake.asp

Mind you .... like our "mountains" ... our crater lakes are also a bit tired and shrunken ... geologically speaking ....

.

Whad'ya mean go west, I have been deep inland, I have been to Dubbo!!!!

I have also seen the sun setting over the west coast......



of Cape York.... ;)

[Carves]

Whad'ya mean go west, I have been deep inland, I have been to Dubbo!!!!

I have also seen the sun setting over the west coast......



of Cape York.... ;)


:D:D

Dubbo .. :rolleyes: .. who hasnt been there ? ... :D

Yeah, sun setting on a west coast is a brain tease eh ? ...

[junglejuice]

:D:D

Dubbo .. :rolleyes: .. who hasnt been there ? ... :D



I'm guessing on this forum quite a lot of people..... Most would have never heard of it.....

[4.3LXJ]

So has anyone been to Timbuctoo?