Mud and stone ejectors run between the shoulder lugs to maximize traction and protect grooves from punctures.
Reinforced shoulders with commanding V-shaped shoulder lugs enhance grip in the roughest terrain and prioritize sidewall protection.
Sidewall-puncture protector guards you from chips and tears on gravel.
Massive tread design engineered for for ultimate off-road traction.
Wide zigzag grooves and V-shaped lateral grooves bite the surface on unpaved and snowy trails, easily evacuating water while keeping stones and mud out of the way.
Beveled edges and cushions between the shoulder blocks relieve impact and reduce road noise.
High rigidity of polygonal center and shoulder blocks improve off-road traction and handling.
Equally aggressive shoulder knobs (and deep sidewall blocks) help maintain control on loose surfaces, fast corners, and otherwise questionable travel over uneven terrain.
The dynamic tread pattern’s multidirectional grooves and sipes help tackle everything from snow to rock, mud, and sand—designed to grip, regardless of your direction.
Explore the top tire options in Hankook’s legendary Dynapro off-road lineup:
YOUR FIRST UPGRADE
XT
MT2
Overland Expos are the ideal gathering place to dream big and discover the ideas, inspiration, and equipment to fuel your next escape. Join the journey at this five-stop event series across the country, where Hankook Tire shares in the spirit of exploration, offering hands-on driving experiences and connecting with adventurers who are always ready for the next road ahead.
Aaron Mulkey
MEET YOUR GUIDES
Dynapro AT2 Xtreme
Dynapro XT
Dynapro MT2
Best for: RUGGED
TERRAIN
Best for: MUDDY
TERRAIN
MEET YOUR NEXT GUIDE
For the overlander who wants it all: performance, durability, and aggressive appeal
Biting block edges help with snow traction, including a staged profile that reduces road noise and integrated tie bars that further stabilize the tread blocks to optimize movement.
The all-season off-road performer with a 50,000-mile warranty, built to handle rugged conditions—and still provide a comfortable ride home
Built for excellent off-road performance in the wildest terrain—without compromising on-road comfort
DESTINATIONS
Mulkey’s ride: 2024 Ford Bronco WildTrak with Sasquatch package, plus a Yakima Skyrise HD Medium four-season rooftop tent. (The only modification, which I absolutely love).
Aaron Mulkey is a seasoned overlander and renowned ice climber who will bring his deep expertise in expedition planning and vehicle preparedness from his home base of Cody, Wyoming, to Overland Expo stops in Flagstaff, Arizona and Redmond, Oregon. Follow him on Instagram @coldfear.
DESTINATIONS
McGrady’s ride: After a pair of late-’70s camper van classics, McGrady opted for more reliable roaming with a 2019 Ram Promaster 1500—adding 600 watts of rooftop solar, plus a shore power inlet to keep her pup cool—though her eye remains on a 1985 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ-60.
Erin McGrady is an Asheville, North Carolina–based freelance writer, commercial photographer, and award-winning filmmaker. She’s been traveling in an adventure vehicle for the past nine years, sharing stories about people and places. Follow her on Instagram @e.mcgrady and @authenticstoryco.
Rogala’s ride(s): A 2018 Toyota Tundra running an OME BP-51 suspension and Tune Outdoor M1 camper, plus a 2023 Ram Promaster 2500 with a Wayfarer Vans build (because, he says, the appropriate number of adventure rigs = N+1).
Bryan Rogala is a New Mexico–based video producer and a go-to Outside contributor for overland gear reviews and off-road advice.
Erin McGrady
Bryan Rogala
Get an Awning
7 Things I Look for in a Camper
No overland rig is truly complete without an awning. They provide shade and protection from light rain and can effectively double your living space on a small rig. But skip the trendy 270-degree awnings you often see—while they can provide a lot of shade, they’re heavy, a pain to set up, and rarely fit back into their bag easily. Instead, look for a smaller, lightweight one that prioritizes ease of setup, like the legless Kammok Crosswing. It weighs 38 pounds, deploys in just seconds, and stores neatly back into its hard case.
If the point is to make car camping easier and more comfortable, you need these five things: a comfy bed, some form of running water, a heater, an electrical system with lighting, and a fridge. Each of those systems can be incredibly basic—like using a hand pump and a jug for running water, or a portable battery to run fairy lights and charge your phone. I also prefer hard walls, which are less prone to leaks and are better insulated, and to have standing room inside, which makes it a lot more comfortable to ride out bad weather.
01
03
Trailer, Van, or Truck Camper?
02
Consider the pros and cons:
Truck Camper
Pros:
Everything is available, from bare-bones to luxury builds.
Will go anywhere your pickup can go.
Can tow a boat or toys behind you.
Cons:
Have to exit the vehicle to access the camper.
Hard-sided campers are usually very tall and limit a truck’s capability.
You lose your truck bed for hauling.
Van
Pros:
Self-contained rig.
Pass-thru from the cab to the camper.
Easy to drive.
Cons:
Expensive.
Not very capable off-road.
They work best for two people.
Trailer
Pros:
Options for any vehicle to tow.
Roomiest.
Usually has the most amenities of any rig.
Cons:
Towing isn’t fun.
Can be poorly built.
Significantly decreases your vehicle’s fuel economy.
Silverton, Colorado
The main attraction in this high-country town is the Alpine Loop, an iconic route that runs from Silverton to nearby Ouray. There are plenty of old mining roads begging for exploration in the San Juan Mountains around Silverton, and it’s close to other famous routes like Black Bear Pass.
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 1:
Get Gas and Go
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.
Stage 5:
Bespoke Vehicles
Modifying Your Rig in 5 Stages
04
Vehicle Recovery Wish List
05
Rig Modification Mistakes
06
1. Don’t overlift your vehicle.
There aren’t many benefits to lifting a vehicle more than two to three inches. Doing so will raise your vehicle’s center of gravity too much and put extra strain on things like CV axle and driveline angles, without allowing you to fit a larger tire.
You have the basics, like rope and recovery boards. Now you want to be ready for anything. Different trips and rigs require different gear, but these items should be on your shortlist: Winch
Deadman anchor
Tree savers
Safe Jack
Shovel
+ 5 Ways to Get Equipped for Off-Road Adventure
2. Don’t go crazy on tire size.
It’s fashionable for some overlanders to run as large a tire as possible (often a 37-inch tire), but that’s mainly for looks. Yes, larger tires can help with off-road performance, but that’s at the expense of everything else. If you don’t regear your axles, your rig will be more sluggish on the road, handle worse around corners, and wander on the highway. Translation: Anything larger than a 33-inch tire is really not necessary and will just ruin how your rig drives or cost you a lot of money to get it running right.
Baja, California
A paradise for surfers, bikepackers, and adventure-lovers, Baja is also an overlanding hot spot. Trips can vary in length from a week to several months, but starting in Tecate and following sections of the Baja Divide 4x4 Route is a great starting point.
Outer Banks, North Carolina Can’t make it to Baja? You can get a similar beach-driving experience in North Carolina’s Outer Banks, on the Cape Lookout National Seashore. Once you’re done exploring the coast, you can take off on the TransAmerica Trail, which starts near Cape Hatteras and runs all the way to Oregon.
Baja, California A paradise for surfers, bikepackers, and adventure-lovers, Baja is also an overlanding hot spot. Trips can vary in length from a week to several months, but starting in Tecate and following sections of the Baja Divide 4x4 Route is a great starting point.
Silverton, Colorado The main attraction in this high-country town is the Alpine Loop, an iconic route that runs from Silverton to nearby Ouray. There are plenty of old mining roads begging for exploration in the San Juan Mountains around Silverton, and it’s close to other famous routes like Black Bear Pass.
Off-Road Skills
06
Know Your Gear
05
Don’t Get Lost in the Dream Rigs
04
Upgraded Tires
03
Rooftop Tent
02
Prep for Recovery
01
Find clinics:
Improve your technical driving skills in a controlled setting. These classes typically occur in small group settings—a perfect connection point with other like-minded overlanders. Brands from Land Rover to Ford Bronco offer driving experiences across the country that feature expert instructors.
Don’t get lost in the dream rigs. If you’ve got a 4WD vehicle, you’re closer to jump-starting your overland journey than you realize. With eight inches of clearance, a small handful of key purchases can get you immediately out exploring desolate dirt roads.
Spare aware: Find where your spare tire is located—and then replace it. Don’t rely on the one that came with your vehicle.
Don’t sacrifice quality sleep in the backcountry. Rooftop tents have made major advances for faster setup, lighter hauling weight, and stronger wind-ready designs. Spend more on a fancier hardshell or hybrid if you plan on overlanding for the long haul. As they say, “buy once, cry once.”
Gloves and shovel: When Plan C becomes digging, you’ll want a real shovel. Bulldog offers a solid option to dig you out.
Recovery gear isn’t one piece of gear—it's an assorted kit of contingency items assembled to get you out of various jams. Depending on the terrain and your vehicle, you’ll generally want the following:
Rugged Ropes: Beyond recovery boards, Plan B is often recovery ropes like Maxtrax Kinetic Ropes—safer than chains in the event that something fails. Maxtrax ropes are designed to be used with a Maxtrax Fuse Shackle.
Recovery boards: These are essential. Often attached to vehicle sides for quick access, they’re an easy go-to for getting unstuck. Maxtrax MKII boards are trusted for their reliable durability and aggressive teeth.
No piece of equipment has a more direct impact on your ability to overland than tires. Look for tire versatility: between performance on uneven, varied terrain (both wet and dry) and a smooth, quiet ride on the highways. And don’t overlook sidewall protection, which is key to preventing punctures or blowouts, especially when you’ve aired down.
Traction first: The Hankook Dynapro AT2 Xtreme fits the overlander who wants performance, durability, and aesthetic appeal. The multidirectional grooves and sipes of the aggressive tread pattern can tackle everything from snow to rock to mud to sand—adding grip in forward and reverse. The high-depth sidewall blocks add assurance even with reduced tire pressure. If you only head off-road on occasion, check out the fuller Hankook Dynapro range.
Track progress: Keep a logbook or spreadsheet for your vehicle. When you change your oil or add a new component, note it. Reference the log for calendar reminders on fluid changes, filter swaps, etc. Pro tip: Add purchase notes and a warranties column so you’re prepared should you need a replacement.
Get IRL tips: The Overland Expo hosts five events across the country where you can tour the insides of different vehicles, take an off-road driving class, put your hands on the latest gear, and talk shop with experts. It’s a community gathering, gear fest, and overlanding education center rolled into one.
Don’t just get equipped, get prepared—because when you get truly remote, no one’s coming to help.
Go guided:
Many outfitted tours allow you to bring your own rig or rent one. Better yet, some (like Four Points Adventures) sweeten the field training with an all-inclusive option featuring chef-prepared meals.
Just getting started? No shame in being a beginner, but you’ll save time, money, and—let’s face it—heartache if you get some instruction. Fortunately, there are plenty of options.
Your Backyard Anything new is an adventure. I see a dirt road, and I just go drive it. Sometimes it’s great, other times not. But then I know. So there’s a case to be made for just going. Go explore. Last week, I found this place I’d never been to called the Grand Canyon of Wyoming, just two hours from my house. It was amazing, and I had no idea.
Off the Beaten Path Closer to home, I love the Beartooth Mountains and the Big Horn Mountains. Farther afield, anywhere in Alaska and anywhere in the desert! Why? They tap into something deep and timeless. Rugged and remote regions strip everything down to what matters: feeling alive, beauty, survival, and wonder.
Canyonlands National Park Moab is well-known as an off-road mecca and deserves the hype, but even better: Escape the scene by heading southeast toward Canyonlands National Park. The classic White Rim Road—100 miles of epic panoramas set against fantastic red-rock formations—is worth the challenge of getting a spring or fall NPS permit.
Deschutes National Forest With 1.8 million acres of roaming room only 20 minutes from Bend, Oregon, this escape is a great place to ease into overlanding. (Tip: Point your rig toward China Hat Road to link up with Arnold Ice Cave, which is technically a lava tube.) Bonus: Bend makes a sweet reentry point packed with great restaurants and craft breweries.
Death Valley National Park By night, enjoy inky-black skies that earned this desolate corner of the Mojave Desert a Gold Tier International Dark Sky Association Designation. By day, explore otherworldly landscapes surrounded by peaks reaching 11,000 feet. All the time: experience unmatched solitude.
Familiar Places Made New No need to travel halfway across the country for an off-road trip. Using Gaia GPS, zoom in and out on the Overland layer to find overlooked roads in nearby areas. Or try tackling familiar roads in new conditions. Different weather will change the nature of even the most familiar path.
Overlanding East of the Mississippi Western states get all the attention when it comes to overlanding, but the country’s eastern half has plenty to offer if you know where to go.
Cape Lookout: A ferry will drop you on a secluded beach of North Carolina’s Outer Banks. The rest of the adventure is up to you.
North Maine Woods: Find remote—as in “make sure you know what you’re doing” remote—on old logging corridors that can be traveled more by moose than people.
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula: The Great Lakes provide a gorgeous backdrop for four-season adventuring, especially come winter.
Better Family Time
Give your kids a gift of adrenaline, dirt, and memory-making that can’t be had where roads are paved and predictable. Begin your next family adventure by having your kids help plan and pack. Enlist them for help with navigation and camp chores, and soon they’ll be learning to read trails and dreaming of big escapes themselves.
It’s Accessible
Self Reliance
In a world where avoiding risk is the default, overlanding has real consequences that will test skills and preparation. You’ll never forget the first time you successfully dig your vehicle out of the sand or change your tire in the woods without roadside assistance. Save yourself, gain confidence, and go home with a helluva story.
You don’t need the perfect rig to scratch that explorer’s itch. Most vehicles with AWD and eight inches of clearance can handle light off-road adventures. Get started with what you have, and upgrade your rig as your skills and ambition progress.
Things I’ve Learned
4 Words
Just because a trailer is marketed as “off-road” doesn’t mean you should take it everywhere. I learned this the hard way when I got a 21-foot Black Series trailer stuck in a sandy wash outside of Page, Arizona.
A winch is one of those pieces of gear you’ll rarely use, but when you do need it, you really need it. I once buried a trailer to the axles in sand while exploring by myself. Thankfully, there was a lone boulder I was able to winch off of, freeing my rig and avoiding an extremely expensive tow bill.
Don’t get caught up in the game of modifying your rig too much. Simple is usually better. The more stuff you bolt onto your rig, the heavier it becomes and the more there is to break.
Adventure, exploration, self-reliance, solitude.
Camp Softly
01
Care for the land: Travel and camp on durable surfaces—trails, snow, gravel roads, and rock. Avoid camping in sensitive areas, and stay at least 200 feet from lakes and streams. Think like a steward: If you’re going to damage the site, keep moving. As the LNT saying goes, “Good campsites are found, not made.”
Mind your fire: Before you depart (and likely lose cell service), check for any current burn bans. If fires are allowed, keep them safe, small, and contained in provided pits or rings. And don’t pack firewood unless you know it’s allowed—in some areas it’s illegal to move wood (and potentially the pests that live in it) across state lines and even county lines. Buy local or harvest downed wood (where allowed) near your campsite.
Leave your site better than you found it by following all Leave No Trace principles. The easiest way to minimize impact is with better trip planning and preparation. Here’s how.
Better Eats
02
1. Brown the pancetta in a deep skillet until crispy. Leave the excess oil in the skillet, and add a quarter cup of flour. Stir on low until smooth. Slowly add two cups of milk. Continue to stir until it thickens. 2. Add one cup of grated cheddar cheese and one cup of grated Gruyère. 3. In a separate pot, cook one pound of macaroni. 4. Drain macaroni and combine with the pancetta and cheese sauce. 5. Add salt and pepper to taste. 6. Fold in baby arugula.
Huevos rancheros for breakfast: Use the tortillas, salsa, and avocado later that evening for a Southwestern dinner of shrimp tacos.
Upscaled seafood for dinner: Pan-fried crab cakes pair well with sautéed garlicky green beans and corn. Make six crab cakes for dinner for four, and use the remaining two crab cakes in your breakfast omelet.
S’mores never get old: Swap out the milk chocolate for dark chocolate. Pair with your favorite cookies instead of graham crackers.
3 Easy Meal Hacks
03
Set Up a Better Camp Kitchen
03
How to Find a Killer Campsite
02
Sleep Soundly
01
• Get a table with more prep space than you think you’ll need, like this simple Lifetime fold-in-half table.
• Use a Dometic GO Hydration jug and portable faucet for water, and bring a collapsible sink— running water does a lot for comfort at camp.
• It’s rare to use two burners at the same time, so go with a cheaper and smaller one-burner butane stove instead.
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 allow dispersed camping nearly anywhere there’s an established site or pullout, perfect 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 on. 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 GPS.
With these four essentials, you’ll sleep as well on the road as you do at home.
• A memory foam mattress, like the Hest Foamy (or Dually, for two people).
• A good pillow, like Hest’s Camp Pillow.
• A comfy quilt, like the Aeronaut Hoverquilt, instead of a sleeping bag.
• A good sleep mask and earplugs, like this like this kit from Matador, to drown out noisy neighbors or light from a full moon.
RIG YOUR RIDE
CAMP COMFORTS
DESTINATIONS
WHY I GO
Blue Ridge province: There’s a reason Overland Expo East is held in Arrington, Virginia. Explore the nearby mountainous belt covered in national forests.
Daniel Boone National Forest: Eastern Kentucky’s off-road latticework will keep your interests (and rear differential) engaged, especially when fall’s leaves turn.
Find Your Way
Upgrade Your Tires
Enjoy Your Camp
RIG YOUR RIDE
PLAN YOUR TRIP
100 tips
for overlanding far
and wide
Make Your
E
E
P
A
C
S
Ease in: Don’t be overwhelmed by all the gear; start with the essentials and slowly add items that enhance comfort and safety.
Off-Road Basics for
4-Wheel Beginners: 1. Understand the different 4WD modes on your vehicle and when to use them. 2. Use a spotter outside of your vehicle to overcome difficult obstacles. 3. If I want to crawl over something or up a steep incline, I typically choose 4WD low to increase torque at low speed.
Think tires: Getting the right tires is the easiest way to boost your rig’s off-road performance and safety, especially when covering all seasons and terrain—mud, rocks, sand, and snow. A durable all-terrain tire ensures better traction, stability, and puncture resistance—not to mention fuel economy and ride comfort on long hauls. Start your search with Hankook’s Dynapro lineup of versatile tires that perform across all types of terrain, balancing off- road traction with durability and highway ride.
Map out a trail: Find trails with an app like Gaia GPS. But don’t spend too much time behind the screen or the wheel. Go explore: Sometimes that dirt road will lead to an incredible overlook or camping spot!
1. Use a low gear with more torque and less speed.
2. Try the tried and true: Rock back and forth.
3. Air down your tires. To air back up, I use a compressor that connects to the vehicle battery.
4. Always carry a tow strap so someone else can help pull you out—or so you can help someone else.
5. Have a backup to communicate. I use the new iPhone satellite function but also pack a Garmin inReach.
Back To Basics
Feel Wild
Discover New
Whether it’s an incredible view or a deep canyon full of mysteries, I love the anticipation of what’s to come. Like a kid before Christmas morning!
In untamed spaces, I feel curious, alert, and alive—like a pioneer, pushing into the unknown. These places remind me that adventure still exists.
Camping in the backcountry, you disconnect from the distractions
of daily life and reconnect with nature. Beyond the chance to reset mentally, reduce stress, and build resilience, camping fosters a
sense of adventure and strengthens relationships.
Sleeping bag, sleeping pad, and pillow
Tent or sleep in vehicle
Map downloaded
on phone, flashlight/ headlamp,
and first-aid kit
Weather-appropriate layers, rain gear, and extra socks
Nonperishable meals, snacks, water bottles, and a purification method
Multitool, sunscreen, bug spray, and a trash bag for Leave No Trace practices
Lighter, waterproof matches, stove (if you plan to cook), and cookware
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 2:
Upgrade Your Tires
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 3:
Camp Better
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 4:
Big Mods
01
02
03
Everything tastes better outdoors. But that doesn’t mean you should settle for freeze-dried goop. Instead, fire up this one-pot pancetta mac-and-cheese dish:
01
03
02
01
02
Bryan Rogala
Erin McGrady
Aaron Mulkey
MEET YOUR GUIDES
Mud and stone ejectors run between the shoulder lugs to maximize traction and protect grooves from punctures.
Reinforced shoulders with commanding V-shaped shoulder lugs enhance grip in the roughest terrain and prioritize sidewall protection.
Sidewall puncture protectors
Massive tread design engineered for ultimate off-road traction—without compromising on-road comfort.
Best for: MUDDY
TERRAIN
Built for the wild
Wide zigzag grooves and V-shaped lateral grooves bite the surface on unpaved and snowy trails, easily evacuating water while keeping stones and mud out of the way.
Beveled edges and cushions between the shoulder blocks relieve impact and reduce road noise.
High rigidity of polygonal center and shoulder blocks improve off-road traction and handling.
Best for: RUGGED
TERRAIN
The all-season off-road performer with a 50,000-mile warranty, built to handle rugged conditions—and still provide a comfortable ride home
For the overlander who wants it all: performance, durability, and aggressive appeal
Go the distance with durability backed by a 70,000-mile limited treadwear warranty.
Biting block edges help with snow traction, including a staged profile that reduces road noise and integrated tie bars that further stabilize the tread blocks to optimize movement.
The dynamic tread pattern’s multidirectional grooves and sipes help tackle everything from snow to rock, mud, and sand—designed to grip, regardless of your direction.
Best for: All-Terrain Travel
Dynapro AT2 Xtreme
Dynapro AT2 Xtreme
Dynapro XT
Dynapro MT2
YOUR FIRST UPGRADE
Explore the top tire options in Hankook’s legendary Dynapro off-road lineup:
AARON MULKEY
AARON MULKEY
AARON MULKEY
AARON MULKEY
ERIN MCGRADY
ERIN MCGRADY
ERIN MCGRADY
ERIN MCGRADY
BRYAN ROGALA
BRYAN ROGALA
BRYAN ROGALA
BRYAN ROGALA
Things I’ve Learned
02
4 Words
01
Just because a trailer is marketed as “off-road” doesn’t mean you should take it everywhere. I learned this the hard way when I got a 21-foot Black Series trailer stuck in a sandy wash outside of Page, Arizona.
A winch is one of those pieces of gear you’ll rarely use, but when you do need it, you really need it. I once buried a trailer to the axles in sand while exploring by myself. Thankfully, there was a lone boulder I was able to winch off of, freeing my rig and avoiding an extremely expensive tow bill.
Don’t get caught up in the game of modifying your rig too much. Simple is usually better. The more stuff you bolt onto your rig, the heavier it becomes and the more there is to break.
Adventure, exploration, self-reliance, solitude.
Set Up a Better Camp Kitchen
03
How to Find a Killer Campsite
02
Sleep Soundly
01
Just like outfitting your rig, a few key pieces of gear make all the difference.
• Get a table with more prep space than you think you’ll need, like this simple Lifetime fold-in-half table.
• Use a Dometic GO Hydration jug and portable faucet for water, and bring a collapsible sink— running water does a lot for comfort at camp.
• It’s rare to use two burners at the same time, so go with a cheaper and smaller one-burner butane stove instead.
• Keep your camp kitchen utensils in a tool roll so they’re easier to access and better organized.
• Opt for a portable fridge instead of a cooler so you don’t have to worry about soggy food or running out of ice.
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 allow dispersed camping nearly anywhere there’s an established site or pullout, perfect 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 on. 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—often good enough to tell whether the area has campsites.
With these four essentials, you’ll sleep as well on the road as you do at home.
• A memory foam mattress, like the Hest Foamy (or Dually, for two people).
• A good pillow, like Hest’s Camp Pillow.
• A comfy quilt, like the Aeronaut Hoverquilt, instead of a sleeping bag.
• A good sleep mask and earplugs, like this
Baja, California
A paradise for surfers, bikepackers, and adventure-lovers, Baja is also an overlanding hot spot. Trips can vary in length from a week to several months, but starting in Tecate and following sections of the Baja Divide 4x4 Route is a great starting point.
Silverton, Colorado
The main attraction in this high-country town is the Alpine Loop, an iconic route that runs from Silverton to nearby Ouray. There are plenty of old mining roads begging for exploration in the San Juan Mountains around Silverton, and it’s close to other famous routes like Black Bear Pass.
Outer Banks, North Carolina Can’t make it to Baja? You can get a similar beach-driving experience in North Carolina’s Outer Banks, on the Cape Lookout National Seashore. Once you’re done exploring the coast, you can take off on the TransAmerica Trail, which starts near Cape Hatteras and runs all the way to Oregon.
Baja, California A paradise for surfers, bikepackers, and adventure-lovers, Baja is also an overlanding hot spot. Trips can vary in length from a week to several months, but starting in Tecate and following sections of the Baja Divide 4x4 Route is a great starting point.
Silverton, Colorado The main attraction in this high-country town is the Alpine Loop, an iconic route that runs from Silverton to nearby Ouray. There are plenty of old mining roads begging for exploration in the San Juan Mountains around Silverton, and it’s close to other famous routes like Black Bear Pass.
DESTINATIONS
Rig Modification Mistakes
06
Vehicle Recovery Wish List
05
Modifying Your Rig in 5 Stages
04
7 Things I Look for in a Camper
03
Trailer, Van, or Truck Camper?
02
Consider the pros and cons:
Get an Awning
01
2. Don’t go crazy on tire size.
It’s fashionable for some overlanders to run as large a tire as possible (often a 37-inch tire), but that’s mainly for looks. Yes, larger tires can help with off-road performance, but that’s at the expense of everything else. If you don’t regear your axles, your rig will be more sluggish on the road, handle worse around corners, and wander on the highway. Translation: Anything larger than a 33-inch tire is really not necessary and will just ruin how your rig drives or cost you a lot of money to get it running right.
1. Don’t overlift your vehicle.
There aren’t many benefits to lifting a vehicle more than two to three inches. Doing so will raise your vehicle’s center of gravity too much and put extra strain on things like CV axle and driveline angles, without allowing you to fit a larger tire.
You have the basics, like rope and recovery boards. Now you want to be ready for anything. Different trips and rigs require different gear, but these items should be on your shortlist: Winch
Deadman anchor
Tree savers
Safe Jack
Shovel
+ 5 Ways to Get Equipped for Off-Road Adventure
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.
Stage 5:
Bespoke Vehicles
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 4:
Big Mods
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 3:
Camp Better
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 2:
Upgrade Your Tires
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 1:
Get Gas and Go
If the point is to make car camping easier and more comfortable, you need these five things: a comfy bed, some form of running water, a heater, an electrical system with lighting, and a fridge. Each of those systems can be incredibly basic—like using a hand pump and a jug for running water, or a portable battery to run fairy lights and charge your phone. I also prefer hard walls, which are less prone to leaks and are better insulated, and to have standing room inside, which makes it a lot more comfortable to ride out bad weather.
Truck Camper
Pros:
Everything is available, from bare-bones to luxury builds.
Will go anywhere your pickup can go.
Can tow a boat or other toys behind you.
Cons:
Have to exit the vehicle to access the camper.
Hard-sided campers are usually very tall and limit a truck’s capability.
You lose your truck bed for hauling things.
Van
Pros:
Self-contained rig.
Pass-thru from the cab to the camper.
Easy to drive.
Cons:
Expensive.
Not very capable off-road.
They work best for two people.
Trailer
Pros:
Options for any vehicle to tow.
Roomiest.
Usually has the most amenities of any rig.
Cons:
Towing isn’t fun.
Can be poorly built.
Significantly decreases your vehicle’s fuel economy.
No overland rig is truly complete without an awning. They provide shade and protection from light rain and can effectively double your living space on a small rig. But skip the trendy 270-degree awnings you often see—while they can provide a lot of shade, they’re heavy, a pain to set up, and rarely fit back into their bag easily. Instead, look for a smaller, lightweight one that prioritizes ease of setup, like the legless Kammok Crosswing. It weighs 38 pounds, deploys in just seconds, and stores neatly back into its hard case.
Rogala’s ride(s): A 2018 Toyota Tundra running an OME BP-51 suspension and Tune Outdoor M1 camper, plus a 2023 Ram Promaster 2500 with a Wayfarer Vans build (because, he says, the appropriate number of adventure rigs = N+1).
Bryan Rogala is a New Mexico–based video producer and a go-to Outside contributor for overland gear reviews and off-road advice.
It’s Accessible
03
Self Reliance
02
01
Better Family Time
You don’t need the perfect rig to scratch that explorer’s itch. Most vehicles with AWD and eight inches of clearance can handle light off-road adventures. Get started with what you have, and upgrade your rig as your skills and ambition progress.
In a world where avoiding risk is the default, overlanding has real consequences that will test skills and preparation. You’ll never forget the first time you successfully dig your vehicle out of the sand or change your tire in the woods without roadside assistance. Save yourself, gain confidence, and go home with a helluva story.
Give your kids a gift of adrenaline, dirt, and memory-making that can’t be had where roads are paved and predictable. Begin your next family adventure by having your kids help plan and pack. Enlist them for help with navigation and camp chores, and soon they’ll be learning to read trails and dreaming of big escapes themselves.
3 Easy Meal Hacks
03
Better Eats
02
Camp Softly
01
Huevos rancheros for breakfast: Use the tortillas, salsa, and avocado later that evening for a Southwestern dinner of shrimp tacos.
Upscaled seafood for dinner: Pan-fried crab cakes pair well with sautéed garlicky green beans and corn. Make six crab cakes for dinner for four, and use the remaining two crab cakes in your breakfast omelet.
S’mores never get old: Swap out the milk chocolate for dark chocolate. Pair with your favorite cookies instead of graham crackers.
1. Brown the pancetta in a deep skillet until crispy. Leave the excess oil in the skillet, and add a quarter cup of flour. Stir on low until smooth. Slowly add two cups of milk. Continue to stir until it thickens. 2. Add one cup of grated cheddar cheese and one cup of grated Gruyère. 3. In a separate pot, cook one pound of macaroni. 4. Drain macaroni and combine with the pancetta and cheese sauce. 5. Add salt and pepper to taste. 6. Fold in baby arugula.
Everything tastes better outdoors. But that doesn’t mean you should settle for freeze-dried goop. Instead, fire up this one-pot pancetta mac-and-cheese dish:
Care for the land: Travel and camp on durable surfaces—trails, snow, gravel roads, and rock. Avoid camping in sensitive areas, and stay at least 200 feet from lakes and streams. Think like a steward: If you’re going to damage the site, keep moving. As the LNT saying goes, “Good campsites are found, not made.”
Leave your site better than you found it by following all Leave No Trace principles. The easiest way to minimize impact is with better trip planning and preparation. Here’s how.
Death Valley National Park By night, enjoy inky-black skies that earned this desolate corner of the Mojave Desert a Gold Tier International Dark Sky Association Designation. By day, explore otherworldly landscapes surrounded by peaks reaching 11,000 feet. All the time: Experience unmatched solitude.
Familiar Places Made New No need to travel halfway across the country for an off-road trip. Using Gaia GPS, zoom in and out on the Overland layer to find overlooked roads in nearby areas. Or try tackling familiar roads in new conditions. Different weather will change the nature of even the most familiar path.
Canyonlands National Park Moab is well-known as an off-road mecca and deserves the hype, but even better: Escape the scene by heading southeast toward Canyonlands National Park. The classic White Rim Road—100 miles of epic panoramas set against fantastic red-rock formations—is worth the challenge of getting a spring or fall NPS permit.
Deschutes National Forest With 1.8 million acres of roaming room only 20 minutes from Bend, Oregon, this escape is a great place to ease into overlanding. (Tip: Point your rig toward China Hat Road to link up with Arnold Ice Cave, which is technically a lava tube.) Bonus: Bend makes a sweet reentry point packed with great restaurants and craft breweries.
Overlanding East of the Mississippi Western states get all the attention when it comes to overlanding, but the country’s eastern half has plenty to offer if you know where to go.
Cape Lookout: A ferry will drop you on a secluded beach of North Carolina’s Outer Banks. The rest of the adventure is up to you.
North Maine Woods: Find remote—as in “make sure you know what you’re doing” remote—on old logging corridors that can be traveled more by moose than people.
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula: The Great Lakes provide a gorgeous backdrop for four-season adventuring, especially come winter.
DESTINATIONS
Off-Road Skills
06
Know Your Gear
05
Don’t Get Lost in the Dream Rigs
04
Upgraded Tires
03
Rooftop Tent
02
Prep for Recovery
01
Find clinics:
Improve your technical driving skills in a controlled setting. These classes typically occur in small group settings—a perfect connection point with other like-minded overlanders. Brands from Land Rover to Ford Bronco offer driving experiences across the country that feature expert instructors.
Go guided:
Many outfitted tours allow you to bring your own rig or rent one. Better yet, some (like Four Points Adventures) sweeten the field training with an all-inclusive option featuring chef-prepared meals.
Just getting started? No shame in being a beginner, but you’ll save time, money, and—let’s face it—heartache if you get some instruction. Fortunately, there are plenty of options.
Track progress: Keep a logbook or spreadsheet for your vehicle. When you change your oil or add a new component, note it. Reference the log for calendar reminders on fluid changes, filter swaps, etc. Pro tip: Add purchase notes and a warranties column so you’re prepared should you need a replacement.
Get IRL tips: The Overland Expo hosts five events across the country where you can tour the insides of different vehicles, take an off-road driving class, put your hands on the latest gear, and talk shop with experts. It’s a community gathering, gear fest, and overlanding education center rolled into one.
Don’t just get equipped, get prepared—because when you get truly remote, no one’s coming to help.
If you’ve got a 4WD vehicle, you’re closer to jump-starting your overland journey than you realize. With eight inches of clearance, the following trio of key purchases can get you immediately out exploring desolate dirt roads.
Spare aware: Find where your spare tire is located—and then replace it. Don’t rely on the one that came with your vehicle.
Traction first: The Hankook Dynapro AT2 Xtreme fits the overlander who wants performance, durability, and aesthetic appeal. The multidirectional grooves and sipes of the aggressive tread pattern can tackle everything from snow to rock to mud to sand—adding grip in forward and reverse. The high-depth sidewall blocks add assurance even with reduced tire pressure. If you only head off-road on occasion, check out the fuller Hankook Dynapro range.
No piece of equipment has a more direct impact on your ability to overland than tires. Look for tire versatility: between performance on uneven, varied terrain (both wet and dry) and a smooth, quiet ride on the highways. And don’t overlook sidewall protection, which is key to preventing punctures or blowouts, especially when you’ve aired down.
Don’t sacrifice quality sleep in the backcountry. Rooftop tents have made major advances for faster setup, lighter hauling weight, and stronger wind-ready designs. Spend more on a fancier hardshell or hybrid if you plan on overlanding for the long haul. As they say, “buy once, cry once.”
Gloves and shovel: When Plan C becomes digging, you’ll want a real shovel. Bulldog offers a solid option to dig you out.
Rugged Ropes: Beyond recovery boards, Plan B is often recovery ropes like Maxtrax Kinetic Ropes—safer than chains in the event that something fails. Maxtrax ropes are designed to be used with a Maxtrax Fuse Shackle.
Recovery boards: These are essential. Often attached to vehicle sides for quick access, they’re an easy go-to for getting unstuck. Maxtrax MKII boards are trusted for their reliable durability and aggressive teeth.
Recovery gear isn’t one piece of gear—it's an assorted kit of contingency items assembled to get you out of various jams. Depending on the terrain and your vehicle, you’ll generally want the following:
McGrady’s ride: After a pair of late-’70s camper van classics, McGrady opted for more reliable roaming with a 2019 Ram Promaster 1500—adding 600 watts of rooftop solar, plus a shore power inlet to keep her pup cool—though her eye remains on a 1985 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ-60.
Erin McGrady is an Asheville, North Carolina–based freelance writer, commercial photographer, and award-winning filmmaker. She’s been traveling in an adventure vehicle for the past nine years, sharing stories about people and places. Follow her on Instagram @e.mcgrady and @authenticstoryco.
ERIN MCGRADY
AARON MULKEY
• 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—often good enough to tell whether the area has campsites.
• Keep your camp kitchen utensils in a tool roll so they’re easier to access and better organized.
• Opt for a portable fridge instead of a cooler so you don’t have to worry about soggy food or running out of ice.
Best for: ALL-TERRAIN TRAVEL
PLAN YOUR TRIP
Overland Expos are the ideal gathering place to dream big and discover the ideas, inspiration, and equipment to fuel your next escape. Join the journey at this five-stop event series across the country, where Hankook Tire shares in the spirit of exploration, offering hands-on driving experiences and connecting with adventurers who are always ready for the next road ahead.
Aaron Mulkey shares his overland lessons learned, first with a few off-road essentials outside the flagship Overland Expo West in Flagstaff, AZ, and then after outfitting his ride from top to tire at the 2025 Overland Expo PNW in Redmond, OR.
Aaron Mulkey shares his overland lessons learned, first with a few off-road essentials outside the flagship Overland Expo West in Flagstaff, AZ, and then after outfitting his ride from top to tire at the 2025 Overland Expo PNW in Redmond, OR.
PLAN YOUR TRIP
PLAN YOUR TRIP