Overlanding on a Budget: How to Plan an Affordable Adventure
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Overlanding on a budget may seem impossible after you start shopping around for gear, and it only gets worse when you start modifying your vehicle. While you may see a lot of awesome vehicle builds and lifestyle content creators that have hundreds of thousands of dollars in equipment, it’s completely possible to start Overlanding on a budget. One of the major ways to do this is by planning out your expenses.
Where to find budget gear?
If you’re looking to start buying some gear for your overland adventures, it’s actually pretty easy but finding them on a budget is a different story. Usually, finding a local outdoor and camping store would be your best place to look as they usually have discounts going on, unlike major chain retailers. One of the nice things about the internet is that it allows you to basically shop from any store in the comfort of your own house. I like to find my camping gear in places like Amazon and Walmart as they offer a lot of the essentials at a portion of the “name brand” cost and last just as long.
If you’re looking for a place to start, here are some of the budget essentials that we’ve found:
Jackery Explorer 240 - Check Price
Coleman Gas Camping Stove - Check Price
Pacific Pass 4 Person Tent - Check Price
Odoland Camp Cooking Mess Kit - Check Price
Coleman 0°F Mummy Sleeping Bag - Check Price
Plano Storage Box - Check Price
Modifying your Overland rig on a budget.
This is generally where Overlanding starts to become very pricey. While most vehicles are pretty overland capable, there may be some minor modifications that need to be made depending on where you’re planning to explore.
The best way to save some money and really create a budget for building your overland rig is to simply just start exploring and really pay attention to the things your vehicle excels at and what ends up becoming a problem that can be fixed with some modifications. One of the most overlooked modifications for overland vehicles is the tires. Tires that are more suited for off-road conditions will make a huge difference in your vehicle’s capabilities and will help you decide if you need to make additional modifications before spending a lot more money down the line. I would highly recommend a good set of all-terrain tires as they will give you the best fuel mileage when driving your vehicle (to save you some gas money) as well as they perform pretty well offroad too.
Another big modification you tend to see people do with their rigs is a new suspension setup. While your stock suspension on your vehicle is usually pretty capable, most people tend to make this modification to increase the offroad capability and ride height to gain more ground clearance over obstacles you may encounter. If you find yourself needing more ground clearance and want to stick to your budget, I would NOT recommend using any type of spacer lift as it can increase the wear and tear on your vehicle and cause you to spend more money on repairs as well as they just don’t perform that well offroad. Instead, I would advise going with a more budget-friendly suspension option from manufacturers like Bilstein or Eibach which make tons of different options for a lot of vehicles. It may also just take some research to find the best budget option for your specific vehicle.
Other modifications you may see are things like metal bumpers, rooftop tents, bed racks, and roof racks. While these are typically pretty handy for protecting your vehicle, providing extra storage, and having a more secure and comfortable sleeping area, they are definitely not needed to start Overlanding. The best way to save money with these types of modifications is to look for special discounts from the manufacturer or even just wait and save money to buy them when you truly feel like you need them.
Name brand isn’t the only option.
Although you may see other Overlanders sporting high-end, name-brand gear, it’s not always the only option you have. Instead of searching for things through local retailers or chains like Walmart, Amazon, and REI you can often find their off-brand versions that are produced to be as sturdy or even sturdier than the name brand counterparts. Some of the lesser-known brands that are known for making high quality gear are listed down below:
You can also pick up some pretty good used gear from places like Goodwill, garage sales, Facebook Marketplace, or eBay that are used but still very good especially if you’re on a budget. Some retailers, like Patagonia, REI, and Geartrade also offer used gear to offer a more sustainable way of keeping used gear still good by basically cleaning it up and making it good as new.
Always make a plan.
Budgeting is all about planning your finances. If you’re getting into Overlanding on a budget, it’s the exact same thing. Before heading out, the best thing to do is to plan things like your route, how many gas stops you will have, your food situation, and how long your trip will be. Finding these things out before the trip allows you to really figure out how much the trip will cost so you can create a budget around it and you can actually enjoy it without worrying about money.
Although things like stopping for gas can’t really be changed, you can plan ahead and save some money by packing enough food for the trip so you don’t have to spend money on eating out. If you don’t want to spend money on things like a Dometic refrigerated cooler, then you will want to pack food that isn’t temperature sensitive.
One step at a time.
If you’re making your budget and slowly seeing the cost rack up, don’t worry. You don’t need to purchase all of your equipment or modifications right now, you can slowly build them up over time or purchase them when necessary. The great thing about Overlanding is that there is a huge group of people that are willing to give you some tips about locations you may be planning so you know what you’ll need beforehand and how long it will take for you to purchase everything.
Be on the lookout for deals and coupons.
A lot of retailers offer coupons and discount codes seasonally or to their followers so always be on the lookout for a new opportunity to save money. These same companies also offer a lot of influencers special discount codes that they can give to their followers as well, so if you have someone you’ve been watching that’s in the Overland or outdoors scene, you can always reach out to them to see if they’ve partnered with the company.
We have partnered up with some awesome brands and have our very own discount codes as well. Here is a list of the discounts you can get through being a fan of Overlandaholic!
Discount Code: Overlandaholic
Discount: 10% off wheels up to $60.
Discount Code: Overlandaholic
Discount: 5% off your entire order