Overlanding Budget: Skimp Or Splurge

December 16, 2022December 16, 2022 JM Logan 0 Comments Budget, Cooler, mattress, Off Road Accessories, Overlanding, Overlanding Gear, Recovery Gear, Resourceful Traveler, Tents, Tires, Westin

If you’re on social media, then you know the type. It doesn’t matter what you’re into. Whether it be golfing, PC building, or overlanding, there’s always a slew of “gurus” out there telling you how to do things on a budget.

Sure, some of these people may provide genuinely beneficial information. But the popular *influencers* out there often serve up broad, topical information as they sit aloft in their ivory towers. Behind the scenes, their content and equipment are paid for by sponsors, clicks, and conversions – and rarely do they have to forage alongside commoners in the marketplace to source needed parts. Their spreadsheet is nearly limitless, but they ask us to heed their budget-building advice.

Now, I’m not here to bash on social media overlanding influencers. They can provide some great motivation and ideas for our own builds. But it can be patronizing when someone tells you to “stay patient” looking for deals, as they receive the latest products before they’re even available to us plebians.

So here at The Engine Block, we curated a few things you should be considering when attempting to fully enjoy the overlanding experience while also keeping costs manageable. We’re not influencers, and we don’t get free gear. But we’d like to think we know a thing or two about what is essential and what’s window dressing. We also are devoted to the notion that sometimes it’s just more rewarding to do more with less.

The Vehicle

We covered what to look for when buying a budget overlanding vehicle in a previous article. We even included a few of our favorite affordable picks. So, if you’re still in your overlanding infancy and do not have a vehicle, we recommend heading over there to find information to assist in the selection process.

One thing we will say here – and it seems strange to some – but the vehicle itself doesn’t always need to be the bulk of your budget. Getting something cheap and reliable as a basis, and then spending more on accessories and modifications, is a perfectly viable route to take.

Ask anyone experienced who’s got an older rig and they’ll probably tell you their aftermarket parts are worth more than the vehicle. And that’s what we’re mostly talking about here today – what parts are worth splurging on and where you can afford to skimp when building that overlanding budget.

SPLURGE: Tires

In general, tires are never a good place to skimp. In overlanding, this holds doubly true.

Start with finding the size tire you’d like to run. Then, do a little research as to what others with similar setups are having good luck with. Remember that popular tires sizes will most likely be more available and have better pricing than something more exotic.

Keeping the stock wheels on your vehicle also helps keep overall costs down. However, when it comes to the rubber itself, buy something from a reputable brand with a pedigree. That cheap Chinese set you see online may be appealing, but we recommend going with an American tire that can easily be found and replaced if need be.

Something higher-end will generally have better traction, puncture resistance, and overall construction. We also recommend carrying a full size spare if possible.

Close-up shot of aired-down tire with chunky tread climbing over a sharp rock — Your tires will get a workout on an overlanding trip, especially if you’re driving to areas with bad roads (or no roads at all). Don’t skimp on quality.

SKIMP: Expensive/Rooftop Tents

Okay, they look completely badass, we know. But do you really need that pricey rooftop or vehicle-specific cargo-mounted tent?

Think about the price you’ll pay – easily $1K minimum. Now, think about the great standard camping tents you can get for less than half!

Going even further, will you be frequenting places where a rooftop tent will be needed? Is your vehicle big enough, that you can sleep comfortably in it? If you plan on going with family or friends, a majority of these off-the-ground tents won’t sleep more than 2-3 people.

Look, we’ve recommended some great expensive tents in the past, but if you’re low on cash and balancing an overlanding budget, save it for something else.

Three vertical images depicting different overlanding sleep solutions, including a traditional camping tent, a truck topper, and a truck bed tent. — If elevated sleeping isn’t a necessity, you can likely skimp on the rooftop tent. There are great traditional ground tents on the market, as well as truck bed/trunk tents and truck toppers.

SPLURGE: Mattress Topper/ Mattress Pad

So, this may not be the most common thing you’ll hear, but what you sleep on – not in – can make or break a trip.

It doesn’t matter how enticing the itinerary or beautiful the scenery is, if you don’t get a good night’s sleep, you and the people you interact with won’t be sufficiently ripe to fully take in the experience. So, take your time, do your research, and test what you can. There are so many choices to consider – from air mattresses, cots, sleeping pads, hammocks and more.

This choice hit home for me, as I slept on the same lousy air mattress for YEARS when I went overlanding and can’t remember getting one half-decent night’s sleep. I switched to something different with a thick mattress topper and now look forward to laying my head down when the day ends.

Woman lays out a bright green sleeping pad inside her tent. — Any money you save on a tent should go straight into a quality sleeping pad or mattress topper.

SKIMP: Powered Fridge

Look, I know how cool (literally) a sweet compressor fridge is for keeping all those drinks chilled. But just like the expensive tent, ask yourself: Is this worth the money?

Fridges have been steadily rising in price. And, while I would say half-a-decade ago that a fridge wouldn’t be a terrible buy, that $1K could go toward tires, suspension, or fuel.

Plus, if you have a fridge lurking in your cargo area, consider that you may need to upgrade your battery/electrical to keep it powered properly, or install additional components so it won’t drain your main battery. These units can be large and heavy as well, taking up precious room and adding to what is likely an already hefty curb weight.

Only if you plan on exclusively cooking perishables for your meals each day would I say this is an essential purchase. Otherwise, just get yourself a Yeti – or Yeti knockoff to save some dough.

See our fridge vs. cooler comparison here.

Man removes bottle of soda from gray cooler while friends in background hang around a bright orange Jeep with camp awning. — Many of the brands who make those flashy electric fridges, also manufacture high-performance coolers and ice boxes at a fraction of the cost.

SPLURGE: Recovery Gear

So perhaps you’re not doing what would be considered hardcore off-roading. That doesn’t mean you should be hitting the outdoors completely vulnerable to a deep mudhole or downed tree. All the expensive racking, lighting, and interior creature comforts won’t be able to assist if you get stuck halfway to your destination.

We advise having several recovery options for you (and others) who may need help along the way. This includes a winch, shackles, recovery boards, jacks, and recovery rope. You don’t need an industrial commercial winch, but having a reputable branded unit accompanied by a bag of accessories can be a trip and life saver.

Close-up shot of Jeep Wrangler front-end winch, with rope pulled taut. — When you find yourself in the trenches, you want a surefire way out. Good recovery gear is worth the investment.

This also means learning how and when to use each piece of equipment and accessory as well—and this ties in nicely with our next point…

Invest In Your Own Knowledge

If you’re looking to save additional money within that overlanding budget, it is well worth your time to study up on your rig. Whatever vehicle you drive, there’s sure to be a dedicated community that knows every nut, bolt, and failure point of your car. Join them.

Immerse yourself in message boards and physical car meet-ups if possible. Not only will this help build knowledge of the main systems of your car – drivetrain, electrical, suspension, safety – but also it will help with assisting you in selecting aftermarket and replacement parts. It’s a good bet that whatever you plan to put on your vehicle, someone has already done it and can tell you the pros and cons.

If you’re not a car person, start with learning the basics maintenance of your rig. Change its oil, swap out the spark plugs, replace the brakes. While you may be more interested in the places you’re going to than the car you’re driving in, it’s still worthwhile to have as much knowledge about the ins and outs of your rig as possible.

When you’re exploring the remote wilderness, remember that you are your own mechanic. While it may take some time to acquire and practice, knowledge is free. And it is hands down the most useful thing you can bring along with you.

Meet Westin

If you’re looking to spruce up that older or late model ride to tackle the trail, Westin has a complete line of off-road, overlanding, and professional products to keep your vehicle capable and comfortable.

With a full line of lighting, cargo management, liners, and SuperWinch recovery products, Westin has everything you need to keep your vehicle on route to your destination.

For budget overlanding, we love the affordability of the SuperWinch LP series winches. And with 3-stage planetary gearing, durable steel cable, and a 12’ remote, its far from bare bones.

To protect your investment, Westin fenders and rock rails keep your body panels defended while providing proper clearance for those bigger tires that we recommend you adding.

Plus, since overlanders keep the trek going when the sun sets, Westin LED lighting and mounts will ensure you see everything in your surroundings as you find that perfect spot to post up for the night. No matter the make, model, or purpose, Westin products are a smart choice for when fit, finish, and durability are essential for your active outdoor lifestyle.