Published on June 19, 2026 04:15 am
Overland Expo West has two important resources: gear and people. It’s a showcase of new and innovative products, but it’s also a gathering of people who have a lot of experience on the road. This year we looked to experienced overlanders, who we’re calling “Overland OGs”, to get their best gear and travel tips. It was not difficult to find overlanders who had spent five, 10, or even 40 years adventuring. Here’s his best advice.
Keep it simple: start with what you have
Many novice overlanders overdo it in the gear department. He believes that $10,000 worth of luggage guarantees a great trip. The OGs we spoke to said nothing could be further from the truth. Too much stuff weighs you down, makes it hard to pack, and doesn’t get used often.
“My main advice for people who are thinking about moving on the road is to go and make do with what they have, or build your rig very slowly,” said Raquel Hernandez, who travels with her partner Sam Salvay and runs an Instagram account. @YogaLaxers. “Take a third of what you think you want to upgrade, experiment with it, find out what you really like or dislike — before you go out and spend a lot of money on something you may regret.”
Lesa Nesmith (SimplyLessa on YouTube) has been car camping since 1978 and lives on a $1,000/month fixed income, so she can’t afford to spend money on the latest gear. But that doesn’t stop him from going out. She drives an affordable 1998 Chevy Tracker and doesn’t feel the need to keep up with the Joneses when it comes to flashy gear.
She says, “I buy some of my stuff at Walmart. If I can figure it out, if I can go (on an adventure), you can go. Just go do it.”
David Genden has been adventuring in various four-wheel-drive vehicles since 1988. He currently runs a big Iveco 135E18, but says he graduated to something complex after starting out simple.
“To enjoy off-roading and the outdoor life, I think it’s probably about making the most of what you already have. You don’t have to have a brand new super shiny rig. You can actually go out and have a really fun time in a $2,500 old pickup truck with a tent in the back and an old mattress,” he said.
When it comes to fancy navigational technology, he recommends staying analog.
“I’m old school. I like to look at a proper map and go, ‘Oh, this looks like a really nice road, I’m going to drive there.’ And then of course there are always amazing views and all the fun things along the way,” he said.
Alan Ivy and his wife Fancy started overlanding in South Africa in 1980. Like Jandem, he now drives a large and well-equipped overland vehicle – a refurbished fire truck from Switzerland – but he started simple and advises others not to let the vehicle hinder them.
Allen said, “My only advice is don’t look back. Get out there with everything you’ve got.”
Be prepared, be smart, be flexible, be careful
The Overland OG also had advice on how to deal with the unpredictability of off-road life.
Stan Dietzman, who has been off-roading since 1971, said he learned over time that he had to be self-reliant if he wanted to go anywhere off-the-beaten path.
“My biggest advice is: Be comfortable helping yourself out of a difficult situation. Don’t rely on others, because that’s setting yourself up for failure,” he said. “I’ve put myself in bondage more than 12 times, but the idea of being able to get out of that bondage is what made it enjoyable for me. I feel like I can go anywhere now and feel like I can get home.”
Steve and Sioux Toburen, who have been adventuring together for the past 50 years, take a different approach. When they realize something could go wrong, they stop before it’s too late.
Steve says, “Be conservative. Hold back rather than push the boundaries.”
The Sioux say, “If you want your wife to keep going with you, come back.”
When? bradley enloe He built his own off-road 1982 Toyota Sunraider, thinking it would be his ticket to pristine camping spots that he owned. Instead, he found himself camping next to other people all the time. At first he hated it, but eventually he realized that meeting people was part of the adventure.
“People pull 40-foot fifth wheels with their generators, and you think, ‘Get up, get out of there.’ But when I stop, I meet some of the most genuine and incredible people,” he said. “The challenge of living on the street is when you’re broke, you need to be rescued, you need help. I’ve met some people who have said, ‘Hey, if you’re ever in our area, contact us. We have a place for you, whatever you need.'”
jeff and christy hose He has been overlanding since 1994 and says he has learned that if they go off course or encounter an unexpected change in plans, it is an opportunity to learn and explore.
“You have to be flexible and adaptable on the road. Don’t panic,” Jeff said. “You never know what’s going to happen and you should take that opportunity to go see something you didn’t plan on seeing.”
Christy reveals her secret to being ready to keep going on adventures, no matter what comes your way: “Have a daily ritual,” she said. “I think it’s important to brace yourself every day…take a little precaution. It helps you be prepared for anything that comes your way that day, because most of the time you don’t know.”
