Over-landing on a Budget

By Patrick Kingcaid w/Mid Tn Outdoors

Let’s start with the word Budget first. Budget the amount of money needed or available for a purpose. So yes you can overland on a budget. The question is what is the budget that you can spend on your over-landing gear and rig? In a past post, I said overland what you have rather than a four-wheel drive beast or sub-compact car. Just know you’re limitations with your rig. We also talked about shelters in past posts.

So now let’s talk about the rest of the gear you are going to need. Sleeping gear, food prep, camp furniture, and lighting are the basics needed for car camping or Over-landing. So before you blow your wad on this and please don’t load up your credit card trying to do this. Let’s lay out what I think is important.

  Your first concern is sleeping gear. Let’s start with the area you will be camping in. Spend your money wisely here and get a good sleeping bag, pad, or cot. Let’s face it, if we don’t get a good night’s sleep or stay warm enough at night, the trip will suck. 

Your next concern should be food prep. In another area, you’re going to spend your money wisely and just get what you need. Come up with one pot or pan meals so you are not packing the kitchen. I had a video out over on YouTube about my what I call chuck box. It has changed dramatically since that video. 

So let’s set our budget and let’s don’t break the bank and get out there. As far as the rest of the gear I talked about above camp furniture, get a chair at Walmart or even Big Lots to get you started. Lighting well I used an Everyready handheld for years and an Energizer headlamp for years. So that is all that is really needed to get out there. Once you have a few nights under your belt you will see what you really need and what you prefer out there. So set your budget and get started and most of all have fun.