My father spends almost 300 days a year exploring the deserts of the USA. Being retired has allowed him the free time to do this. I'm quite envious really. This article is about his rig.
My Dad's current overland rig is setup with ease and simplicity in mind. At the young age of 81 he does not feel like setting up a roof top tent on top of a lifted 4x4 truck. Not that he could not do it mind you.
This Bowler as a small lightweight trailer that allows access to most locations with a regular 2x4 truck. The aerodynamic nature of this trailer also provides better fuel economy and higher top speeds. No special brakes, hitch or extended mirrors are needed either. A small pop up trailer is ideal too if you do not mind maintaining the canvas.
|
Arguably the most reliable and fuel efficient truck in North America, this is a 2x4 manual Ford Ranger. Certain times of the year, caution is needed to avoid getting stuck in heavy rains or snow. I do not think my Dad ever got it stuck.
With an onboard propane fridge and stove this is just as capable as my rig for sustained travel. The trailer option is nice too when you want to camp for a few days and explore the surrounding areas.
|
A small lightweight rig like this can get you to 80% of the places you would want to go. Overland travel is not reserved solely for those with dedicated off road rigs.
Easy access is always on my Dad's mind. The cap has access to the bed from three sides. Being a small ranger, almost everything is within reach.
Thankfully solar panels have become better, lighter and more powerful over the years. The panel on the left uses a cavas-like material that works even with a big scratch on it.
A generator gives you that extra bit of power when you need to make a smoothie. Not sure this is an overlanding necessity though.
|
Adding solar panels has become the norm on most modern rigs. My Dad has gone through the whole evolution of solar beginning in the 90's.
Raising a tent for longer duration stays provides more space for storing things.
My Dad is very tech savvy for his age. Keeping in contact is a bit tough in the vast tracts of land. Cell towers are not always within range. We bought him a weBoost Drive 4G-M Cell Phone Signal Booster (amazon.com) to increase his wireless range. This device was a bit costly, but you cannot argue with the good success. This is a must to stay connected while camping in outlying areas for extended periods of time.
|
RSS Feed
