WHAT HAPPENED TO THE DIY SPIRIT OF OVERLANDING?

This topic has been rolling around in my head for a couple of years now. Lately, I've been hearing the same sentiment from a lot of fellow long-time overlanders: What happened to the heart (and the DIY spirit) of the overland world?

Where did the passion for "build it yourself, do it yourself" go?

These days, the most common questions I get from people new to the scene aren't about route finding, trail repair, or camp setup. Instead, it’s: "Where do I buy this?" or "Which product do you recommend for that?"

Don't get me wrong, I have great sponsors who produce solid gear, and they would love for me to tell everyone to go buy the latest gadgets from them. But selling products isn't my main goal in overlanding. What I actually care about is inspiring people and teaching the practical skills it takes to get out into the backcountry. There shouldn't be a financial barrier just to walk through the door of the overland community.

Here are some photos of my 1985 Toyota 4Runner, that I drove all over the Western USA, showing my various DIY overlanding additions: Rear cab/cover with removable windows, rear bumper, roof/bed racks, gas can holders, and a rear awning!

The Days of Paper Maps and Garage Projects

When I first figured out how much I loved going on long "car camping" trips, nobody was buying turnkey rigs.

Back then, the passion was about the process. I was sewing up my own tents, building out custom storage platforms in the back of my truck, and figuring out how to pack food and water for multiple days without relying on portable refrigeration.

My DIY rear storage for my Land Cruiser includes a fridge slide, water storage, and a slide-out Bar!

Those were the days that built my passion for this lifestyle:

• Spending hours planning routes using paper maps and old guidebooks.

• Working late into the night finishing a homemade tent or setting up a bed in the back of the rig.

• The excitement of driving down a trail without knowing every single detail of what was waiting at the end.

  
  

Is it Time to Bring Back the DIY Spirit of Overlanding?

I miss those early days. But the truth is, that spirit hasn't disappeared, it's just buried under a lot of marketing and technology.

You can still find that original feeling of discovery anytime you want. All it takes is putting down the screens, stepping away from the online storefronts, and simply driving around that next corner just to see what's there.

That's the heart of exploration, and we need more of that right now.