The Ultimate Overlanding Packing List
Who was the old Coach that said failing to prepare is preparing to fail? Sorry if that brings you back to baseline suicides and limited water breaks in the sweltering summer heat.
But now that you're an adult and you're going on overlanding adventures with your friends, it's time to take this saying seriously and dive into the weeds. Lets get you prepared with all of the essentials for your next trip, so preparation won't be your limiting factor.
Recovery Gear
This is the stuff that will get you out of a jam when you make a wrong turn. Getting your wheels unstuck happens to be big part of being ready for the test - because it's not a matter of if, but when.
The most fundamental piece of equipment for getting your wheels unencumbered is a recovery or traction board.
There are a number of brands that are producing traction boards. The most well known traction boards on the market are from MaxTrax. They have a few different versions, from lite to Xtreme, depending on how hardcore you plan on going. Essentially, traction boards provide a grippy surface to wedge under your wheel, and provide traction when you're stuck in the mud (or the sand, bog, swamp, your Grandmother's Shoe Fly pie, etc).
Maxtrax provides a detailed explanation of how to use the recovery board correctly in a spot of bother but we pulled out the cliff notes for you below:
- once you're stuck, don't attempt to get out quick by flooring it - get out and assess the situation once your realize there is an issue
- carefully remove debris - conveniently most recovery boards can be inverted and be used as a shovel
- if you're going forward, recovery boards should be on the front tires - the opposite if you're going in reverse
- place the recovery board on an angle to engage the tires
- having a lower tire pressure helps
- don't floor it - engage the tires slowly
Having an air compressor is essential as deflating your tires to the appropriate PSI is a must when overlanding. When the time comes to hit the road again, adding air pressure on the fly will save you the necessary MPG's on your way home.
Tow straps are handy if you're out with some other trucks. It's an easy way to pull your buddy out in a pinch. Just make sure your frame can handle whatever you're tasking it to perform.
It will all be worth it when you have a view like this....
The Camping Essentials
If you're reading this blog, you're likely familiar with a Roof Top Tent and the benefits associated with not sleeping on the ground. We dove into here with RTT 101, in case you missed it.
Is it essential? That may be a stretch. Is it highly enjoyable compared to fighting to find a flat spot on the ground, after a long day? Yes. It also provides an element of safety if you're far off the grid, and don't want the worry of a black bear disturbing your slumber.
We have a wide array of RTT's and related accessories found here.
For food - well we could probably write an entire blog about cooking practices at camp (mostly because we really like food here at BillieBars).
Having a good food experience really starts with the food selection process and having the right cooler. You don't want to have to deal with anything too time consuming from a prep stand point. An ideal meal would be
- pre-marinated chicken
- corn on the cob
- rice
If you're going to be using a propane powered grill, we'd recommend some sort of cooking mat to be used in between your factory or BillieBars Tailgate, as there is a melting point.
From there, safely discard your food away from camp so you don't get any unwanted visitors. Sleeping in a Roof Top Tent will definitely protect you in the event of a wandering bear. Shoutout to a customer a few years ago who ended up with their ground tent friends jumping in their RTT when a big black bear starting sniffing around.
Tools and Emergency Supplies
In the event of catastrophe striking it's important to be prepared for the worst. We'd highly recommend having a stocked first aid kit handy. Who knows what can happen when you're off grid, so better to be safe than sorry.
MyMedic gets quite a bit of positive press across forums. They are a little overpriced according to Redditors, but what they add in cost, they make up in convenience. Some of the contents include (but are not limited to):
- Quick Clot - stop the bleeding fast
- Antiseptic - keep it clean
- Tourniquet - you really did something that deserves attention
- Space Blanket - recover quicker from cold exposure
All of the above are items you'd much rather have, and not need. It's like carrying an umbrella on an overcast day. It won't rain it if you have it. Without it, you're likely to find yourself soaked in a deluge.
What other spare parts might you need? We've listed some below. You know your plans better than we do so do your own research.
- Spare turpentine or alternator belt - without it, you could be there for a while
- Tire Repair kit - always good to have, in the event your spare also goes caput
- Tool Set - mix of wrenches, screwdrivers and a rachet set could be your saving grace
- Mixed array of fuses- do your vehicle research and have these handy in case something blows out
- Zip Ties - enough said!
If you're going cross country with our Low Profile Bed Rack, it's important to check the torque on the crossbar bolts before a driving event. We do have spare hardware kits in the event that you didn't torque everything properly and a bolt rattles loose. The good news is that our bed rack has one of the highest safety factors that money can buy - which we dive into more detail here.
How to Organize your gear on your Bed Rack
If you've driven a truck for a while, and you go out on overlanding expeditions, then you know that maximizing your space isn't part of the deal, its the whole deal! Knowing where you gear is at any given point is imperative.
In terms of storing and organizing in the bed itself, having containers for items is extremely helpful. You could get as simple as Home Depot Totes, or you could spend a little more and go with a Decked System or the Ranch Road Cargo System.
There are a lot ways to skin a cat for bed organization - the important thing is that your belongings are dry and locatable.
For weight and distribution, we did a deep dive which you can read here. The last suggestion we have is kind of an obvious one - but only bring what you need! If it's not essential, you're better off leaving it at home and saving the space and weight. Lower weight equals better fuel mileage, and less stress across the truck itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is too much weight?
Again, we'd encourage you to read this article about weight distribution. Knowing your truck's carrying capacity (and towing if applicable) is imperative. Take what you need and nothing more and you should be just fine,
What's the most forgotten camping item?
The one you need! Honestly - chairs. Don't forget a good chair for the campfire. Other commonly forgotten items? Toilet paper. You don't want to forget that.
Where should I put heavy items?
The lower the better! If you have a low profile bed rack with space, on the rack itself is great. If not, the bed is even better. Mounting heavy items on the top of a cab height rack is where you could run into dynamic stress on the bedside.
As always, reach out to us here if you need help with your build. We'd love to help.
Most importantly, Get out there and Go!
