How to Start Overlanding

Entering the world of overlanding can often be overwhelming. Seasoned guidance goes a long way when you’re curious about how to start off-road touring adventures. It’s easy to find at Overland Expos, ideal gathering places to dream big and discover the ideas and equipment to fuel your next escape. At this five-stop event series across the country, Hankook Tire shares in the spirit of exploration, offering hands-on driving experiences and connecting with adventurers.

But don’t worry if you can’t make it to an Overland Expo stop. We’ve captured the best moments from the series, plus outlined why to start (and how). A trio of expert overland adventurers provide all the inspiration and insight need to plan your trip, rig your ride, enjoy your camp, find your way, and upgrade your tires. Start here with some key, initial guidance from one of them—Outside contributor Bryan Rogala—and then jump-start your next journey with 100 Tips for Overlanding Far and Wide.

Modifying Your Rig in 5 Stages

Stage 1: Get Gas and Go

Most pickups and SUVs that have true 4WD with low range are capable of doing way more than you think straight from the factory.

Stage 2: Upgrade Your Tires

Tires transfer your vehicle’s power to the ground and give you traction. Switching to an all-terrain tire, like Hankook’s Dynapro AT2 Xtreme, is the single best off-road performance upgrade you can make. (Check out the full Hankook Dynapro lineup of tires designed for every off-road need.)

Stage 3: Camp Better

Ditch the ground tent and boost comfort. Options range from a simple sleeping platform inside your rig to adding a slide-in camper, a tow-behind, or building out the interior of a van.

Stage 4: Big Mods

If you want to get wild off-road, things like suspension lifts, steel bumpers, and winches are all good options to help you get even farther off the beaten path.

Stage 5: Bespoke Vehicles

If you’re planning to travel the world and unwilling to compromise on your rig, it might be time for a full-fledged expedition vehicle like a Truckhouse BCR or Rossmonster Baja.

How to Find a Killer Campsite

With a capable overland rig, you can get away from crowded campgrounds and claim the most amazing sites of your own.

• When planning your route, opt for BLM or Forest Service land. Both jurisdictions allow dispersed camping nearly anywhere there’s an established site or pullout, so you’ll have the most options for finding cool (and usually free) campsites.
• A mapping app like Gaia GPS can help you easily identify what type of public land you’re traveling through. BLM land, national forests, wilderness areas, state trust land, national parks and preserves, wildlife refuges, and more have their own color on the Public Lands layer in Gaia.
• Make sure you download maps for offline use onto your phone before you go.
• Apps and websites like Campendium, Freecampsites.net, and iOverlander can help take some of the guesswork out of finding a campsite. They’re loaded with information about everything from established, reservation-only campgrounds to Forest Service roads with known sites along them.
• Use the satellite layer on Gaia GPS or Google Earth to e-scout for campsites before taking a rough road. The imagery is often good enough to tell whether the area has campsites.

Hankook Tire’s Dynapro is a tire brand designed for SUV/Light Trucks with strong driving and braking performances on all terrains and through every type of weather, including on- and off-road conditions.