These vehicles will get you there and back.
You’ll find various definitions of the word “overlanding,” but the best way to describe it is to say that it combines off-roading and camping. The goal is less about overcoming obstacles and destinations and more about the journey, which often takes you to remote locations.
It sounds easy enough, but there are a few non-negotiables when purchasing an overland truck, car, or SUV. Off-road ability is essential, but you don’t need something as extreme as a Bronco Raptor when a regular Bronco can do the job just as easily. The great thing about overlanding is that you’re not stuck on a set route, so you can drive around stuff.
For an overlanding 4×4, or expedition vehicle, if you prefer, we’d go with a reliable permanent or part-time 4WD system, preferably with a lockable center differential and another locker on the rear axle.
Ford
Ball and Buck
Our must-have attributes are, in descending order, reliability, packing space, comfort, and fuel economy. Generally, you want to avoid tech-laden luxury SUVs, which are pretty tricky to fix in the middle of nowhere. Cheap and classic overland vehicles that you can fix with a coat hanger and strategically placed spit are where it’s at.
Compiling a list of the best overland vehicles is tough because off-roaders, in general, are die-hard fans. This author believes the Jeep Wrangler should have been put out to pasture a decade ago, but some swear by them. Also, even I’m not dumb enough to deny that a two-door Rubicon is easily the best off-roader you can buy straight from the showroom floor. For this, there was no particular budget. An article on the best budget overland vehicles deserves its own feature.
Please feel free to add your own recommendations in the comments below, but here’s a list of five cars we think are best suited to overlanding.
Overland Expo
delta4x4
CarBuzz
Jeep Wrangler
Yes, I know I just slated the car a few moments ago, but the Jeep has a lot going for it. It’s not particularly safe in the event of a crash, the suggestion wheel (known as a steering wheel in most cars) is highly annoying, and the solid axles at the front and rear should be put back on an ox wagon where they belong. Thankfully, there is little to hit on overland trips in America, especially in Nevada.
But, on the bright side, there are reliable Wranglers (and not-so-reliable Wranglers), and there isn’t another car out there with as many accessories dedicated to it as this off-roader. Parts are readily available and cheap. You can also choose between two wheelbase lengths, depending on your needs. A two-door Wrangler is probably the best option in the small affordable overland vehicles category.
If you have a decent budget, we’d go for the 3.6-liter V6 introduced in 2012, and if you don’t have a lot of money to spend, even better. That means an older Wrangler with a 4.0-liter straight-six, which is the best of the lot. Or, get a second-gen Jeep Cherokee.
Shop around carefully; you might even find a model with some overland goodies already bolted to it.
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Jeep
Jeep
CarBuzz
Ford F-150
It’s hard to browse the internet for an overland pickup truck and not stumble across the Ford F-150. Ford’s famous truck remains the best-selling vehicle in the USA, so you won’t struggle to find parts or accessories for it. In fact, you can now use FordPass points to pay for overlanding gear.
Trucks work particularly well as overland vehicles because you have the added benefit of a load bin. You can stash all of your gear in the bed, meaning none has to go in the cabin. A bed is also much larger than an SUV’s trunk, so you can take more water, food, fuel, and clothes.
As for towing, you can’t beat a truck. If you’re looking for the ultimate overland rig, towing is a must. Several companies will build a camper on the stripped-down chassis of a truck, but in this case, the car can only be used for overlanding or camping purposes.
As with all the other cars on this list, a wide variety of engines and trim levels are available. The most reliable engines are the 3.5-liter EcoBoost and the 5.0-liter Coyote V8. Get a 4×4 with either of those engines, and you should be fine.
