​​What is The Best Vehicle for Overlanding​

We have seen a rise in the number of adventurous people participating in a challenging new way to traverse rougher terrain. It is called overlanding. It entails a combination of technical driving skill, a sense of exploration, and the need to remove oneself from the grid. It combines rustic camping with the latest technology and brute vehicle performance.  

Since there is a rise in overlanding as a recreational pursuit, there are now many tools the adventurous type will need to accomplish it. It all starts with choosing the right vehicle to get you going. 

An overlanding vehicle has to have a solid set of “bones.” Mainly a body-on-frame vehicle. It has to have the strength and a tighter level of flexibility in order to tackle conditions that most mere SUVs and trucks might not be able to handle. That includes everything from washed-out old trails after a massive storm to a rocky pass somewhere out west.  

As a guide to which vehicles you should look for, the Overland Expo’s blog site, The Compass, just listed several vehicles that will get you on your way off the beaten path. They are broken down by size class, and some of you may already know which ones will appear on this list.  

Before we dive into their list, there are a few things to look for in an overlanding vehicle. According to Overland Expo, you have to take a look at a vehicle’s payload, power output, fuel economy, size – namely, its overall width – its overall footprint, the way it drives, capability, reliability, and whether it fits in your budget. The latter point is important because you also want to budget for any modifications to make it into your overlanding rig.   

In the mid-size pickup truck class, Overland Expo listed the 2019-current Ford Ranger, 2014-2022 Chevrolet Colorado, and 2018-current Jeep Gladiator. 

Among Full-Size Half-Ton Pickup Trucks, they recommended the recent Toyota Tundra, the 2021-current Ford F-150, and the current Ram 1500.  

Going a size up, the Three-Quarter-Ton Heavy Duty Pickups recommended by Overland Expo are the 2023 Ram 2500 Heavy Duty Rebel, 2023 Ford F-250 Super Duty, and the current GMC Sierra 2500HD. 

When it comes to Body-on-Frame SUVs, they recommend the 2021-current Ford Bronco, the JL-generation Jeep Wrangler, and the current Toyota Sequoia.  

These are just the “top three” in each category. Other vehicles in these classes work very well in terms of converting them into overlanding rigs. They all share the same traits of ruggedness and agility that help tackle the rough country with ease and a high level of reliability. You probably heard that the Toyota Land Cruiser, Lexus GX, and Toyota Tacoma – among others – were also commonly seen on the rugged trails across North America.  

Your overlanding journey should start with a great vehicle from Alderman Automotive. Contact us to see what we can offer you as you seek adventure into the great unknown.