Hi great program, keep it up. Short story, We were crossing Botswana in a Land Cruiser and broke a drive shaft. Stuck on the road/path for 2 days when a gentleman came down the path on a bicycle, asked us what was wrong, we showed him and he said he would solve it and kept on riding his bicycle. A day later he returned with a perfect usable drive shaft strapped to the frame of his bicycle. We fitted it and could continue our journey. I will always be thankful to that individual.
A few years ago I did a solo mountain bike trip through the deserts of Mexico for a few days. I was on my way back on the dirt road and came upon a van from Oregon on the side of the road. They couldn't figure out what was wrong with the front suspension. I went underneath and within a few seconds noticed their control arm had come loose because the nut came off (I suspected this because I had just dealt with this issue on my 4runner lol). I had to point it out to them specifically to get them to see it. I then told them about Coco's Corner a couple miles down the road where he has a bin of miscellaneous nuts so they could limp there. Then I left and continued pedalling on down the road. Pretty funny, how a guy on a bike in the middle of the desert shows up out of nowhere and fixes their broken down van. It would have been even more hilarious if I had a replacement nut for them. But bicycles are metric, this was an American van. I think the guys were a bit jealous of me, the girls seemed impressed at me, and wondering why their men couldn't figure it out. LOL
I used to be one of those people that have 6 of everything. Now I find myself getting rid of more and more equipment after every trip to save space and time. Great advice here.
"Need is the mother of ALL invention." "Adapt, Improvise and Overcome!" "Where there is a need there is a way." The idioms are too many to be carrying excess of anything. Thanks for sharing.
Interesting thing that those 'Bring a cooler' people don't mention is...when the fridge dies, it's STILL better insulated than a foam cooler. Just put the ice in it. That's how I do the fridge in my travel trailer. A few frozen water bottles lasts hours, and then I switch on the propane when I get to camp.
I actually carry an electric motorcycle now. I've had about 3 instances now where I wish I had a bike and didn't have to walk 5 miles because of a break down.
I forgot what channel I was watching for a second, and when you walked in front of the camera, I was really expecting an awkward Ronny Dahl "Hey There!"
Ronny's current myths series runs along the same lines as Dan's current series. Worth watching both to get the viewpoint of two very experienced tourers (but also quite different).
The key word here is Convoluted. The entire premise of an adventure is that you push yourself and meet new challenges. That's where the buzz comes from. Those folks in their grand edifices are relying on kit for comfort. They are innately scared of the unknown and of the dark. They seek solace in numbers and mass materialism. In short, some folk are not suited to expeditioning. The channels on You Tube clearly show this with all the effort and bank credit poured into keeping up with the Jones's Less is so much more. It's laughable that they turn up in camp with a 200k dollar "build" and a packet of 2 minute noodles.
I am planning on buying a one ton pickup to tow my toy hauler trailer I live in full time. I also want to install a more off road friendly suspension to do some off road camping on multi day trips. This is what led me to wanting to investigate "overlanding". Though i will not be traveling internationally as you do, I have great respect for your experience and advice. You have me thinking different than the "overlanding" market has had me thinking. My truck isn't going to change. My roof to tent probably won't change. How I equip the truck probably will. Thank you for the videos, I'll definitely keep going through them.
I totally overpack food. Always get some feeling I’m going to want more choices or need more. Then I get home and about 1/3 of the food has been uneaten. Need to trim back.
We roverland in Southern Africa as a lifestyle, in our contented Defender crew cab, we carry no fridge, no welder and even no GPS. We have two spare wheels, two 25 liter diesel containers to assist our two tanks of 100 liters and a 25 liter water container. We do have a winch on the front bullbar but in my 43 years of doing this have never yet used a winch. We have a high-lift jack and some snatch straps and chains, a spade and an axe. We have a two-plate gas stove and all cookware etc and have just spent the past six months of virus lockdown living in the roof tent.
Almost half of my pantry was dedicated to spices and condiments! I like flavorful food! And I like making it! I do tend to have a bigger kitchen though.
All very sensible advice as usual. We have a Toyota hilux for work in Sierra Leone and the local mechanics can literally fix anything , no booking required!!
Hey, Mate! I agree with you 100%. Most of countries in the Southern continent recycle most of the items we take for granted; we've got to appreciate life.
Not sure if anyone has mentioned this, but a packing line I like to use is, “Critical or Multiple.” Everything packed needs to either be mission critical, or have multiple uses. If not, nope. Of course there are a few luxury items that make things nicer, but 1-3 of those usually means 2-3 unused. Yeah, easier said than done, but definitely simpler. And, to anyone who knows how I pack everything, and over prep, it’s easier to give advice than take it! ;)
We are repairing many parts here in America and Europe too, the part like a starter is replaced at shop for a reconditioned unit and you need to send the core back, so you don't have to wait the time for the part to be repair ! This is true for most serviceable parts on a motor vehicle !
All good advice mate. You don't need heaps of gear to have fun offroading and over landing. My Pajero doesn't have a winch but it has factory lockers and goes everywhere that I want it to.
I used to carry around a heavy pack when I tramped around the backcountry. I got shoulder problems! Now all my gear fits in a pocket. ;-) I only take stuff I've actually used in 71 years of tramping around.
Overlanding for me and my wife is flying to a country, renting a 4x4, and driving through the country for a few weeks. So we only take what we can check on the plane, or ship to a destination. I would love to take a few years off work but we’re working towards early retirement so we can overland full time in our early 50’s
Am actually in the planning stages of a Canning Stock Route trip now. Hopefully all the Covidiots calm down and we can actually go. Have already done the Simpson desert. Cool video.
Great list. So all I need is: vehicle, fuel, phone (all -n-1, communication, gps, camera, resource for information), a tarp (shelter and everything else it can do), blanket, source of fire, a bar of soap, a change of clothes, two MRE’s (just incase I can’t find food), jug of water and a life straw, 1 pot 1 pan, a towel (could be replaced with another spare shirt, multipurpose) and a smile.
Another great video!! Best nuts and bolts videos on the real world of overlanding on the internet!! Keep up the good work of educating to the real world of driving around the world!
My philosophy is to look at what I can carry on my back for back country hiking / camping, add few luxuries like a decent pillow and a few more changes of clothes, plus a fridge and call it done.
I’m really intrigued by payload of vehicle and the weight is distributed over the four wheels. Many vehicles today have a really small payload if we put 4 passengers in it + camping and max out. I don’t know if it’s necessary but 4 scale under each wheel when we build a rig ? Really good video by the way.
Although welding machine is absolutely wasted space it's good to know that there is alternative. Every overland vehicle have dual battery system and it can be used for welding in emergency. I would definitely take few welding sticks as you can weld with dual battery and jump-start cables that everyone carry in their vehicle anyway. There is few videos on UA-cam how to weld with dual battery and it's one of the skills that every overlander should learn. It's not permanent solution but it can maybe save you and take you out from some remote place where help is not available.
I recognize myself in with the food, the first time i traveled internationally with my Jeep i brought so much canned food. 2 months later i had ½ of it left when i came home. Now when riding my motorcycle the pan American i have no food on the bike except for a granola bar in the tank bag for a quick snack. Bring water tho, water is important.
got my alternator rebuilt in Albania, got in the shop around 9 am, I was back on the road at noon, total cost about 80 euro. I do carry electrical stuff like fuses, wires, crimping tool, some plugs, a multimeter, few bolts, duct tape, small stuff like this.
Honestly Dan I've only thought of maybe 2 items on the list. 1) foods, 2) parts. And your absolutely right about those also👍. There's a 4 word line from an old Kinks song,,, " Paranoia will destroy Ya! " And it goes like that. 🤷♂️ I just dated meself 🙄. Thanks, and safe travels. G.🍻
Regarding the welder - a small MAPP torch and good bearing rods are a light weight replacement that brazing would likely hold up to get you out of the rough.
Even after taking an over 2 month long trip recently, I still got something out of watching this video watching it again a year later. I was using paper plates on that trip. I just looked, theyre still in the boot! Time to ditch those and save space. I still have a few cans of food too, but nothing major. But they do take up a lot of space. I will add to the list of things I didnt need and wont bring again- I bought one of those camp kitchens, you know, a big table that fold up swiss army knife style- its huge and heavy. I like it for what it is, but out of the 66 days I was on the road, I used it a total of 3 times. I also had a jerry can for gas that I bought. I didnt even bring it with, and never regretted leaving it at home. I never once came close to running out of gas.
Dan, you should make a separate video about the importance of the the differences between the winch and the wench. Proper mounting of both is extremely important ! And believe me there IS a difference! Also proper placement should be carefully explained and demonstrated as you won't go 10 feet if you get it wrong. Chalk this up to a hard learned lesson, perhaps the most important video you ever make.
In regards to the food thing. Its also nice to spread a little money around to stimulate the local economy by buying food when you're passing through. I've never been on a big overland trip but I try to do this anywhere I go.
Excellent list. The more I overland, the less and less I tend to bring with me as I learn on every outing that I have to unpack all the crap I didn't use, eat, drink........
I agree to everything that was said with one exeption. I would carry an alternator. My alternator once seized, it was totally blocked. As a result the fan belt failed because of riction-generated heat. This meant that my water pump wasn't moving either so that I could not limp home.
Re food - We take a few days worth and then put money back in the small towns we pass on our adventures. Feels good helping them out. We need them to prosper for future travellers.
Something I've noticed that I bring on every trip but never end up using is a large selection of my pots/pans. Usually I bring a couple different size pots and two different pans, but I only end up using one of each. I think that most people could probably name at least one thing that they are constantly bringing into the bush and not using a single time (past tools of course). It wouldn't be a bad prompt for overlanders to ask themselves while they're packing up for the weekend! When was the last time I used X on the trail?
Great video very informative and so true . Thanks for sharing . Enjoy your adventures , and informative and inspirational videos . Thanks again for all the great advice you give to us on over landing travel . Cheers from Steve Stott in Sutherlin Oregon U.S.A.
I brought a small pair of binoculars that I only used once. I was in Costa Rica on a mountain looking for a coffee shop. They got wet and fogged. I eventually ended up giving it to a policeman who really liked it.
I drove Alaska to Argentina without them, and never once thought I might need them. It depends entirely on where you want to go, and the kind of driving you like to do.
You don't need them if you stick to the tracks used by the locals. Locking diffs are expensive and add a lot of complexity. I have a limited slip diff at the rear which isn't much more than a standard diff, it does add useful traction and it's mechanically simple. For me a goood compromise.
About the only spare part I would think to carry would be few fuses, U-joints "depending" and few bolts nuts. But I did Overlanding "vehicle camping" in Europe in mid 90s. My spare stuff was 2 or 3 5 gal gas cans, that was due to questionable fuel supply and my cooking stove ran on unleaded gas to. A qt of oil that I never needed to use with out 5 more and a filter for change 😉. Now going "off-roading" a different game. Some don't understand the difference.
Great video. I use the exact same philosophy. I spent 4 weeks and 4500km's in and around the Simpson Desert. ( in the summer, not winter months ). Its surprising what u really don't need, and can still be comfortable.
Bringing a spare starter or alternator is redundant but stocking a basic rebuild kit for each is cost effective and takes up about as much space as 3 packs of Raman....lol
Hey Dan, nice channel. I've been giving a lot of thought to heat management. Did you tend to use your AC much (if at all). How much of a difference did the thermal insulation you did before the trip make? Would some kind of anti-UV window clear coating be worth it? In one of the videos I noticed the interior of the jeep was dusty, did that bother you?
it’s a great list - I guess you could have added not bringing too many clothes as well. It might be just a few of everything rather than the entire wardrobe, making allowance and anticipating for temperature and climate changes along the route.
I would like to know your thoughts on the American safari jxl. It extends the Jeep longer and also adds a similar sleeping setup as your system. Looks interesting. Thanks for all the great videos.
It looks interesting for sure, though it's expensive, and giving more interior storage space just means the ability to carry more stuff, which means going even further over the GVWR of the Wrangler.
Essentially all wrangler builds are over GVWR. If going for a weekend, maybe it's not a big deal (although it is illegal). But for years on the road in tough conditions, it's a serious issue.
some sort of water pump or a cooker you willl find in most market towns, cutlery, hand tools, etc. anyway. Something about food poisoning : happens rarely with street food, rather in Restaurants or Hotels, where they serve western cuisine, but are not really up to the Hygenic standarts
I felt exactly the same way, and I didn't have one for Alaska to Argentina and never wished I did. Three times in Africa it saved my bacon, and and handful more times I pulled out locals which is fun. Without the winch I can't imagine how I would have gotten the Jeep back on it's wheels in Uganda.
What kind of stove so you use? I have a Coleman propane stove but I've been thinking I should go electric so I don't need to worry about bringing our finding propane.
I bring redundant survival items, more than one way to start a fire, that i can use to cook if the stove fails, Duct tape if i need to weld something. if the fridge fails dump some ice in it. Water might be a good idea to have more than one container. but how far out are you going to be from water you can make potable.
Hi lift jack for me. Lb for lb there are better things to carry...But I am one of those that packs a crap load of food and water so I have basically swapped it for that lol. But I do sometimes stay out 2 weeks w/o resupplying so at least occasionally I can justify it.
Great ideas, Dan. I want to know how much does your RTT weigh? I have the Gobi rack and JB RTT, which is about 300 lbs. I'm thinking about changing up my system and getting the Ursa Minor.
You forgot a spare driver incase you break or quit or a spare vehicle in case yours gets stolen! This game can go forever with it just coming to the realization that anything can happen. Trust your creativity and resourcefulness. But carry cash
Ask and you shall receive! Here's my stove ua-cam.com/video/bi4opxsQmn0/v-deo.html And here's me cooking and talking about the kinds of food I had access to on the Pan American Highway and around Africa - ua-cam.com/video/gYi17mZfNek/v-deo.html
If you can't think outside the square and your not a multitasking problem solving person you shouldn't be out there !!!! I've come across so many people that just have no idea.... And I say what are you doing all the way out here ????? It's a good thing I've come along and I just shack you head. So yes de papered but better still know a bit and have commence. Great video 👍👍 thanks. From 🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺
Can you get your hands on a new Land Rover Defender at all? Be interested to hear how you think it might go for an overlanding vehicle. I haven't seen one in person yet (in Australia) but am keen to check one out, having had 3 or 4 Defenders previously. Looks to be a huge amount of tech and computers compared to the old ones. And airbags for springs... I'm not convinced. Anyway, if your local Land Rover dealer would lend you one for an afternoon, I'd be interested in your thoughts, as would a lot of other people I'm sure.
Well I agree with most of what you are saying but in Australia, and where I go, there will not be any shops etc for many days and you might not see anyone for a week or more. In desert country, it is essential to take additional water in particular as well as food in case of breakdown. Deserts get to >45-50C during the day and
Over the years I've removed a lot of stuff I used to carry for remote travel in Australia. But seriously the video should be titled "Overlanding Advice for Muppets"
Great videos Dan. I love your down to earth thought process on these things. What do you recommend for toilets? And would love to know if you have any ideas that would help for the wife.
those unthinkable scenarios where youre "stranded" are always gonna pop up no matter how prepared you are.. to me half the fun is figuring out how to navigate them.. a trip with the local offroad club isnt as fun if no one brakes anything for everyone to chip in and make a plan to sort out
.. I'm getting comments on FB of people justifying bringing the welder! "I'm going around the world, so I know SOMETHING will break, and I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it".
You're not the only one, quite a few people are saying things on similar lines. But there are also comments from people who have crossed continents or multiple countries, and every single one of them says "you don't need it". So I think there's a divide between people at home planning compared to people who have actually done it. That's the gap I hope to bridge.
LOL only a month's food, you should see what the wife has packed for a 2 week trip, with what we got I guess we could survive for 6 months. glad you didn't say coffee pot, certainly an essential item. instead of a dozen coolant pipes I take a few rolls of silicon tape. would recommend you take a spare fan belt tho.
Hey! We are those people that got their alternator fixed in Mozambique. Fun to get referenced in one of your videos.
Hey guys!!!
Hi great program, keep it up. Short story, We were crossing Botswana in a Land Cruiser and broke a drive shaft. Stuck on the road/path for 2 days when a gentleman came down the path on a bicycle, asked us what was wrong, we showed him and he said he would solve it and kept on riding his bicycle. A day later he returned with a perfect usable drive shaft strapped to the frame of his bicycle. We fitted it and could continue our journey. I will always be thankful to that individual.
It is always heartwarming to hear how friendly and kind random strangers can be!
A few years ago I did a solo mountain bike trip through the deserts of Mexico for a few days. I was on my way back on the dirt road and came upon a van from Oregon on the side of the road. They couldn't figure out what was wrong with the front suspension. I went underneath and within a few seconds noticed their control arm had come loose because the nut came off (I suspected this because I had just dealt with this issue on my 4runner lol). I had to point it out to them specifically to get them to see it. I then told them about Coco's Corner a couple miles down the road where he has a bin of miscellaneous nuts so they could limp there. Then I left and continued pedalling on down the road. Pretty funny, how a guy on a bike in the middle of the desert shows up out of nowhere and fixes their broken down van. It would have been even more hilarious if I had a replacement nut for them. But bicycles are metric, this was an American van. I think the guys were a bit jealous of me, the girls seemed impressed at me, and wondering why their men couldn't figure it out. LOL
Your jeep might breakdown. You should fully kit out a 2nd one, and tow it behind this one. Just in case, you never know, eh!😂
Or just bring a Toyota!🦉
Battle Fiercely - My thoughts exactly : « That why I have a Toy HZJ78.... «
Battle Fiercely 👍 My motto : some guys have toys...I have A Toy!
"Might breakdown" - it's a Jeep, it will most definitely breakdown.
🌮
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 i know a guy smh
I used to be one of those people that have 6 of everything. Now I find myself getting rid of more and more equipment after every trip to save space and time. Great advice here.
"Need is the mother of ALL invention." "Adapt, Improvise and Overcome!" "Where there is a need there is a way." The idioms are too many to be carrying excess of anything. Thanks for sharing.
Interesting thing that those 'Bring a cooler' people don't mention is...when the fridge dies, it's STILL better insulated than a foam cooler. Just put the ice in it. That's how I do the fridge in my travel trailer. A few frozen water bottles lasts hours, and then I switch on the propane when I get to camp.
My first thought, too :)
... Just remember to bring a spare overlander in case your overlander goes out.
@@MarcillaSmith That's what the Dual-Sport on the bike rack is for.
I actually carry an electric motorcycle now. I've had about 3 instances now where I wish I had a bike and didn't have to walk 5 miles because of a break down.
a wise man once said if you always think of the what if's you will never go anywhere!!!!
So true, I see this all the time!
I forgot what channel I was watching for a second, and when you walked in front of the camera, I was really expecting an awkward Ronny Dahl "Hey There!"
Ronny's current myths series runs along the same lines as Dan's current series. Worth watching both to get the viewpoint of two very experienced tourers (but also quite different).
I wonder if Dan & Ronny have considered a collaboration chat - that would be pretty cool.
One of the best video about overloading I have seen in recent times 👍
The key word here is Convoluted.
The entire premise of an adventure is that you push yourself and meet new challenges. That's where the buzz comes from.
Those folks in their grand edifices are relying on kit for comfort. They are innately scared of the unknown and of the dark. They seek solace in numbers and mass materialism.
In short, some folk are not suited to expeditioning. The channels on You Tube clearly show this with all the effort and bank credit poured into keeping up with the Jones's
Less is so much more. It's laughable that they turn up in camp with a 200k dollar "build" and a packet of 2 minute noodles.
Some of my best experiences were going to the local markets and open markets, you meet the nicest people.
I am planning on buying a one ton pickup to tow my toy hauler trailer I live in full time. I also want to install a more off road friendly suspension to do some off road camping on multi day trips. This is what led me to wanting to investigate "overlanding". Though i will not be traveling internationally as you do, I have great respect for your experience and advice. You have me thinking different than the "overlanding" market has had me thinking. My truck isn't going to change. My roof to tent probably won't change. How I equip the truck probably will. Thank you for the videos, I'll definitely keep going through them.
I like the way you stress being flexible and improvising when necessary.
Thank you for sharing your experience these five things are definitely not necessary
I totally overpack food. Always get some feeling I’m going to want more choices or need more. Then I get home and about 1/3 of the food has been uneaten. Need to trim back.
My first trip i bought a ton of poptarts and ramen. Ate the poptarts and ramen once, and fast food the rest of the way lol
We roverland in Southern Africa as a lifestyle, in our contented Defender crew cab, we carry no fridge, no welder and even no GPS.
We have two spare wheels, two 25 liter diesel containers to assist our two tanks of 100 liters and a 25 liter water container.
We do have a winch on the front bullbar but in my 43 years of doing this have never yet used a winch.
We have a high-lift jack and some snatch straps and chains, a spade and an axe.
We have a two-plate gas stove and all cookware etc and have just spent the past six months of virus lockdown living in the roof tent.
Sounds like the perfect setup!
Well done and I am amazed that these 5 Things are actually brought along by anyone doing any regular overlanding.
Actually in Africa here we rebuild almost every spare parts from brake pads refilling, tyres, cylinder, sanything u can think of...
Proper old school mechanics... Much appreciated
Almost half of my pantry was dedicated to spices and condiments! I like flavorful food! And I like making it! I do tend to have a bigger kitchen though.
All very sensible advice as usual. We have a Toyota hilux for work in Sierra Leone and the local mechanics can literally fix anything , no booking required!!
Hey, Mate! I agree with you 100%. Most of countries in the Southern continent recycle most of the items we take for granted; we've got to appreciate life.
Not sure if anyone has mentioned this, but a packing line I like to use is, “Critical or Multiple.” Everything packed needs to either be mission critical, or have multiple uses. If not, nope. Of course there are a few luxury items that make things nicer, but 1-3 of those usually means 2-3 unused. Yeah, easier said than done, but definitely simpler. And, to anyone who knows how I pack everything, and over prep, it’s easier to give advice than take it! ;)
We are repairing many parts here in America and Europe too, the part like a starter is replaced at shop for a reconditioned unit and you need to send the core back, so you don't have to wait the time for the part to be repair !
This is true for most serviceable parts on a motor vehicle !
Excellent again!!
Love this top list format, been very helpful.
👍👍🤠. Az., USA.
All good advice mate. You don't need heaps of gear to have fun offroading and over landing. My Pajero doesn't have a winch but it has factory lockers and goes everywhere that I want it to.
I used to carry around a heavy pack when I tramped around the backcountry. I got shoulder problems! Now all my gear fits in a pocket. ;-) I only take stuff I've actually used in 71 years of tramping around.
Overlanding for me and my wife is flying to a country, renting a 4x4, and driving through the country for a few weeks.
So we only take what we can check on the plane, or ship to a destination.
I would love to take a few years off work but we’re working towards early retirement so we can overland full time in our early 50’s
That sounds like an incredible way to see the world, and you avoid a ton of hassles that way!
Am actually in the planning stages of a Canning Stock Route trip now. Hopefully all the Covidiots calm down and we can actually go. Have already done the Simpson desert. Cool video.
Covidiots, brilliant.
Great list.
So all I need is: vehicle, fuel, phone (all -n-1, communication, gps, camera, resource for information), a tarp (shelter and everything else it can do), blanket, source of fire, a bar of soap, a change of clothes, two MRE’s (just incase I can’t find food), jug of water and a life straw, 1 pot 1 pan, a towel (could be replaced with another spare shirt, multipurpose) and a smile.
Another great video!! Best nuts and bolts videos on the real world of overlanding on the internet!! Keep up the good work of educating to the real world of driving around the world!
Thanks, will do!
Another installment of timeless, invaluable wisdom. May your passive income stream run long and deep.
Thank you kindly!
If you don't like a video, why don't you just skip ahead to a different one?
My philosophy is to look at what I can carry on my back for back country hiking / camping, add few luxuries like a decent pillow and a few more changes of clothes, plus a fridge and call it done.
That's exactly what I did for Alaska to Argentina... minus the fridge!
I’m really intrigued by payload of vehicle and the weight is distributed over the four wheels. Many vehicles today have a really small payload if we put 4 passengers in it + camping and max out. I don’t know if it’s necessary but 4 scale under each wheel when we build a rig ? Really good video by the way.
Although welding machine is absolutely wasted space it's good to know that there is alternative. Every overland vehicle have dual battery system and it can be used for welding in emergency. I would definitely take few welding sticks as you can weld with dual battery and jump-start cables that everyone carry in their vehicle anyway. There is few videos on UA-cam how to weld with dual battery and it's one of the skills that every overlander should learn. It's not permanent solution but it can maybe save you and take you out from some remote place where help is not available.
Another great video Dan, really hitting home the golden rule around keeping GVW as low as possible.
Always!
I recognize myself in with the food, the first time i traveled internationally with my Jeep i brought so much canned food. 2 months later i had ½ of it left when i came home. Now when riding my motorcycle the pan American i have no food on the bike except for a granola bar in the tank bag for a quick snack. Bring water tho, water is important.
got my alternator rebuilt in Albania, got in the shop around 9 am, I was back on the road at noon, total cost about 80 euro. I do carry electrical stuff like fuses, wires, crimping tool, some plugs, a multimeter, few bolts, duct tape, small stuff like this.
Spot on. I especially like the repair option.
Honestly Dan I've only thought of maybe 2 items on the list.
1) foods, 2) parts.
And your absolutely right about those also👍.
There's a 4 word line from an old Kinks song,,,
" Paranoia will destroy Ya! " And it goes like that. 🤷♂️
I just dated meself 🙄.
Thanks, and safe travels. G.🍻
Regarding the welder - a small MAPP torch and good bearing rods are a light weight replacement that brazing would likely hold up to get you out of the rough.
Even after taking an over 2 month long trip recently, I still got something out of watching this video watching it again a year later. I was using paper plates on that trip. I just looked, theyre still in the boot! Time to ditch those and save space. I still have a few cans of food too, but nothing major. But they do take up a lot of space.
I will add to the list of things I didnt need and wont bring again- I bought one of those camp kitchens, you know, a big table that fold up swiss army knife style- its huge and heavy. I like it for what it is, but out of the 66 days I was on the road, I used it a total of 3 times.
I also had a jerry can for gas that I bought. I didnt even bring it with, and never regretted leaving it at home. I never once came close to running out of gas.
I guess I'm not going to bring that 2nd arc welder this weekend...
Good video
Dan, you should make a separate video about the importance of the the differences between the winch and the wench. Proper mounting of both is extremely important ! And believe me there IS a difference! Also proper placement should be carefully explained and demonstrated as you won't go 10 feet if you get it wrong. Chalk this up to a hard learned lesson, perhaps the most important video you ever make.
In regards to the food thing. Its also nice to spread a little money around to stimulate the local economy by buying food when you're passing through. I've never been on a big overland trip but I try to do this anywhere I go.
Excellent list. The more I overland, the less and less I tend to bring with me as I learn on every outing that I have to unpack all the crap I didn't use, eat, drink........
Spot on.
I agree to everything that was said with one exeption. I would carry an alternator. My alternator once seized, it was totally blocked. As a result the fan belt failed because of riction-generated heat. This meant that my water pump wasn't moving either so that I could not limp home.
Interesting, I've never heard of an alternator seizing. I didn't know they could do that!
Re food - We take a few days worth and then put money back in the small towns we pass on our adventures. Feels good helping them out. We need them to prosper for future travellers.
Something I've noticed that I bring on every trip but never end up using is a large selection of my pots/pans. Usually I bring a couple different size pots and two different pans, but I only end up using one of each. I think that most people could probably name at least one thing that they are constantly bringing into the bush and not using a single time (past tools of course). It wouldn't be a bad prompt for overlanders to ask themselves while they're packing up for the weekend! When was the last time I used X on the trail?
Some really good points Steve 🇦🇺. Would be good if you cover hygiene and cleaning up. Thanks
Will do
Great video very informative and so true . Thanks for sharing . Enjoy your adventures , and informative and inspirational videos . Thanks again for all the great advice you give to us on over landing travel . Cheers from Steve Stott in Sutherlin Oregon U.S.A.
Glad you like them!
I brought a small pair of binoculars that I only used once. I was in Costa Rica on a mountain looking for a coffee shop. They got wet and fogged. I eventually ended up giving it to a policeman who really liked it.
Did he buy you a cup of coffee?👍
great video. how important are locking differentials? is this also something that can be done without if u already have a 4x4?
I drove Alaska to Argentina without them, and never once thought I might need them.
It depends entirely on where you want to go, and the kind of driving you like to do.
You don't need them if you stick to the tracks used by the locals. Locking diffs are expensive and add a lot of complexity. I have a limited slip diff at the rear which isn't much more than a standard diff, it does add useful traction and it's mechanically simple. For me a goood compromise.
Great content as always Dan !! 🌲🇨🇦🙏
Thanks 👍
Thanks Dan for some wonderful advice. Love your content.
About the only spare part I would think to carry would be few fuses, U-joints "depending" and few bolts nuts. But I did Overlanding "vehicle camping" in Europe in mid 90s. My spare stuff was 2 or 3 5 gal gas cans, that was due to questionable fuel supply and my cooking stove ran on unleaded gas to. A qt of oil that I never needed to use with out 5 more and a filter for change 😉. Now going "off-roading" a different game. Some don't understand the difference.
I've had myself cloned. In case I die on the trail, my clone will take over for me.
Great video. I use the exact same philosophy. I spent 4 weeks and 4500km's in and around the Simpson Desert. ( in the summer, not winter months ). Its surprising what u really don't need, and can still be comfortable.
Bringing a spare starter or alternator is redundant but stocking a basic rebuild kit for each is cost effective and takes up about as much space as 3 packs of Raman....lol
For my first "overland" trip, I packed 2 weeks of food plus emergency food (MREs). Yeah, totally didn't need to do that.
All great advise, particularly the rebuilding of components.
Hey Dan, nice channel. I've been giving a lot of thought to heat management.
Did you tend to use your AC much (if at all). How much of a difference did the thermal insulation you did before the trip make? Would some kind of anti-UV window clear coating be worth it?
In one of the videos I noticed the interior of the jeep was dusty, did that bother you?
it’s a great list - I guess you could have added not bringing too many clothes as well. It might be just a few of everything rather than the entire wardrobe, making allowance and anticipating for temperature and climate changes along the route.
Wise words!
Great advice.
I would like to know if you did a GVM Upgrade on your jeep. What is your total weight when you are ready to hit the road?
I'll do a video on that soon
I would like to know your thoughts on the American safari jxl. It extends the Jeep longer and also adds a similar sleeping setup as your system. Looks interesting. Thanks for all the great videos.
It looks interesting for sure, though it's expensive, and giving more interior storage space just means the ability to carry more stuff, which means going even further over the GVWR of the Wrangler.
@@TheRoadChoseMe that's a good point. I do like the idea of having some extra storage and space but the gvwr is something not considered. Thank you
Essentially all wrangler builds are over GVWR. If going for a weekend, maybe it's not a big deal (although it is illegal). But for years on the road in tough conditions, it's a serious issue.
some sort of water pump or a cooker you willl find in most market towns, cutlery, hand tools, etc. anyway. Something about food poisoning : happens rarely with street food, rather in Restaurants or Hotels, where they serve western cuisine, but are not really up to the Hygenic standarts
There's a saying I heard - don't pack your fears. That's how you end up with a 90lb pack for a 3 day hike 😂.
Great video. I have my reservations about a winch. They are very heavy and very expensive and im sure ill somehow make a plan if im really stuck
I felt exactly the same way, and I didn't have one for Alaska to Argentina and never wished I did.
Three times in Africa it saved my bacon, and and handful more times I pulled out locals which is fun. Without the winch I can't imagine how I would have gotten the Jeep back on it's wheels in Uganda.
Great video!
Thanks!
2 people that thumbs down this video lug a welder everywhere 😂
Those were welder suppliers!🤦
What kind of stove so you use? I have a Coleman propane stove but I've been thinking I should go electric so I don't need to worry about bringing our finding propane.
You're right to think propane will be hard to get - here's my stove and why ua-cam.com/video/bi4opxsQmn0/v-deo.html
Where’d you get all your consumables? Oil filters, crush washers, etc.
I carried enough with me and then re-supplied in countries I knew had Jeep dealers
@@TheRoadChoseMe oh nice, good to hear they’ve got worldwide service
I bring redundant survival items, more than one way to start a fire, that i can use to cook if the stove fails, Duct tape if i need to weld something. if the fridge fails dump some ice in it. Water might be a good idea to have more than one container. but how far out are you going to be from water you can make potable.
I'm happy to say I've never done any of these
Hi lift jack for me. Lb for lb there are better things to carry...But I am one of those that packs a crap load of food and water so I have basically swapped it for that lol. But I do sometimes stay out 2 weeks w/o resupplying so at least occasionally I can justify it.
What’s your sweet spot vehicle weight you try to stay at for the Jeep?
Under GVWR if at all possible!
Great ideas, Dan. I want to know how much does your RTT weigh? I have the Gobi rack and JB RTT, which is about 300 lbs. I'm thinking about changing up my system and getting the Ursa Minor.
The Ursa Minor adds about 160lbs compared to the stock hard top.
Always bring an extra engine and transmission in case one of those fails
That sounds like a few Land Rover guys I met along the way! Multiple engine AND transmission rebuilds going around Africa like I did.
@@TheRoadChoseMe If you're in a land rover, you probably really do need two of everything
🤦🍻🍻🍻😆
You forgot a spare driver incase you break or quit or a spare vehicle in case yours gets stolen! This game can go forever with it just coming to the realization that anything can happen. Trust your creativity and resourcefulness. But carry cash
I like to see or talk about your cooking set-up
Ask and you shall receive!
Here's my stove ua-cam.com/video/bi4opxsQmn0/v-deo.html
And here's me cooking and talking about the kinds of food I had access to on the Pan American Highway and around Africa - ua-cam.com/video/gYi17mZfNek/v-deo.html
I love the practicality!
It's the only way I know how!
great content !!!!
my favorite Chanel
Wow, thanks!
If you can't think outside the square and your not a multitasking problem solving person you shouldn't be out there !!!! I've come across so many people that just have no idea.... And I say what are you doing all the way out here ????? It's a good thing I've come along and I just shack you head. So yes de papered but better still know a bit and have commence. Great video 👍👍 thanks. From 🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺
Can you get your hands on a new Land Rover Defender at all? Be interested to hear how you think it might go for an overlanding vehicle. I haven't seen one in person yet (in Australia) but am keen to check one out, having had 3 or 4 Defenders previously. Looks to be a huge amount of tech and computers compared to the old ones. And airbags for springs... I'm not convinced.
Anyway, if your local Land Rover dealer would lend you one for an afternoon, I'd be interested in your thoughts, as would a lot of other people I'm sure.
I hadn't thought of asking a local dealer... I might look into that!
Nice video! Have you talked about tools you need to bring and what not to bring?
Yep, that was my last video - ua-cam.com/video/WZqPGCa6uMM/v-deo.html
True 💯
Love the videos man!
Well I agree with most of what you are saying but in Australia, and where I go, there will not be any shops etc for many days and you might not see anyone for a week or more. In desert country, it is essential to take additional water in particular as well as food in case of breakdown. Deserts get to >45-50C during the day and
Over the years I've removed a lot of stuff I used to carry for remote travel in Australia. But seriously the video should be titled "Overlanding Advice for Muppets"
Great videos Dan. I love your down to earth thought process on these things. What do you recommend for toilets? And would love to know if you have any ideas that would help for the wife.
I've never taken anything - it's just what I can find in towns at gas stations and what-not, or the shovel from the Jeep!
Do you carry a sat phone?
Spare belts for the engine and maybe a spare thermostat. Keeping the engine cool can save a lot of money!
those unthinkable scenarios where youre "stranded" are always gonna pop up no matter how prepared you are.. to me half the fun is figuring out how to navigate them.. a trip with the local offroad club isnt as fun if no one brakes anything for everyone to chip in and make a plan to sort out
I've welded my motorbikes foot gear pedal at a tea shop in the middle of nowhere in Vietnam
More sound advice. Thanks Dan.
Great list mate. I've seen some ridiculous loads for just day trips... I did laugh at the welder, but have heard of people packing one...
.. I'm getting comments on FB of people justifying bringing the welder!
"I'm going around the world, so I know SOMETHING will break, and I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it".
@@TheRoadChoseMe I feel personally called out by that.
You're not the only one, quite a few people are saying things on similar lines.
But there are also comments from people who have crossed continents or multiple countries, and every single one of them says "you don't need it". So I think there's a divide between people at home planning compared to people who have actually done it. That's the gap I hope to bridge.
@@TheRoadChoseMe self fulfilling prophecy... carry a load of crap in case something breaks, then something breaks because it's overloaded...
Most overlanders in the states are off roading down a freeway to Starbucks.
LOL only a month's food, you should see what the wife has packed for a 2 week trip, with what we got I guess we could survive for 6 months.
glad you didn't say coffee pot, certainly an essential item.
instead of a dozen coolant pipes I take a few rolls of silicon tape.
would recommend you take a spare fan belt tho.