If you are interested in the answer to this question, I’ll assume you already have quite some experience as a Four-Wheel Driver and are looking to expand your horizons to Overlanding. So, is Overlanding and Four-Wheel Driving the same? Well in many aspects, yes! Let me explain more below and share my experiences of the two with you.
Taking That Leap Of Faith Into Overlanding
The step into Overlanding is, for some, a large leap of faith. The leap of faith I’m referring to is directed towards your competencies as well as the capabilities of your vehicle and overall rig.
While some Four-Wheel Drivers set up their rigs for ground clearance, with mud tyres and submarine-like snorkels, the focus for Overlanders is to have a rig that’ll take them down that dirt road, explore any off-shoot tracks and be ready to do it all again.
For Overlanders, the trip is the journey and the destination is inconsequential. For a Four-Wheel Driver, the destination is often the target and journey often gets pushed to one side.
Valuing The Journey Rather Than The Destination
An example that leaps to my mind is Cape York in Far North Queensland, Australia. To a Four-Wheel Driver, their mind is perhaps racing around river crossings that’ll test the vehicle’s wading depth and the drop that is Gunshot Creek.
However, for an Overlander, the journey to the Cape is about the shared experiences, the communities and the natural wonders that are to be found at each revolution of the wheels.
Another example may be the conquering of the Big Red sand dune west of Birdsville, Western Queensland. This dune is just one of approximately 1,140 parallel sand dunes that stretch across the Simpson Desert (source birdsvillehotel.com.au).
Much of this thinking is perhaps because the Overlander plans to travel another day, and often many more after that.
Packing Your Rig Like An Overlander
Strangely enough, an Overlander will focus their investments on simplifying their camping needs and being sure that equipment carried has more than one use. They’ll also endeavour to carry spare parts and gear that allows on-road repairs, jury-rig fixes and self-recovery. Perhaps too, working with the environment, rather than seeking to purely conquer that ridge, gully or creek crossing.
For a Four-Wheel Driver, their focus is often to head to a base camp, unload the camping gear and take the empty (yet well prepared) vehicle on the tracks in a tactical manner to take on the challenges that present themselves.
Then, there’s the consideration that an Overlander is doing just that, which is going over the land loaded up with all their gear and accommodation. In this regard, the whole rig needs to get over the terrain, including their rooftop tent, trailer and/or camper.
For me, I am well and truly an Overlander. My travelling weight is well over that that may be considered a good fighting weight for tackling steep ascents and jumps between rock ledges with full articulation. Same goes for my exit, entry and underbody clearances.
Can A Four-Wheel Driver Be An Overlander?
So, can an Overlander 4WD? Yes, and the skills required to negotiate the terrain are often (and should be) gained in the learning stages by four-wheel driving. You would be brave to tackle a track if you’re inexperienced in what you and your vehicle and rig can do.
Then, can a Four-Wheel Driver overland? Again, yes. But, there’s a need for them to re-focus their thoughts on the bigger picture and enjoy the journey and not just that one sand dune or one steep creek bank descent.
Exploring Your Overlanding Horizons
Overlaying all this is the need to be self-sufficient when Overlanding and having the confidence to explore and expand your limits. So to summarize, is the pure definition of Overlanding a little grey? Most definitely! Will you know when you’re Overlanding? You bet! But remember to be careful always, as it is quite addictive.
See you out there. Dayv.
