This article about why you should rent an overland rig is brought to you by Basecamper, the go-to place for all your overlanding rental needs.
A Quick Introduction to Overlanding
What is overlanding? Is it just off-roading and camping mashed together? Yes, and no. Basically, overlanding is defined as mechanized travel over land—usually for long distances, multi-day trips, or both.
Most importantly, overlanding vehicles help you to be self-reliant for the bulk of your travels. It’s not just about the destination, but rather the journey all along the way. From research and planning, to gearing up, and setting out on your adventure to explore.
So, let’s take a look at why renting an overland vehicle (or as we in the hobby refer to it as, a rig) could be an excellent choice for your next adventure trip into the backcountry. Mainly focusing on the pros of why you should consider renting first if you aren’t sure if overlanding is for you.
Sheer Convenience
To be able to rent an overland rig that is ready to roam is the peak of sheer convenience, and a frictionless process to experience. Having all the camping equipment to sleep, eat, ‘relieve’ yourself, and even bathe, are all very good reasons to consider renting an overland rig.
More often than not, you’ll find that most ‘upfitted’ rigs will strike a very good balance between “roughing it” and “glamping”. That means that you are going to find yourself with some of the creature comforts you’ve come to expect from technology and innovation.
Also, in most cases when you are done with your trip, you just turn it back in for the host to get it all cleaned up. Seriously, that is probably all that needs to be said for the people out there who simply don’t enjoy all the nuances that come with getting out into the wild.
Cost
The cost to rent vs. ownership of an overland rig is obviously much more affordable. The average upfitting that goes into an already expensive vehicle can easily add up to tens of thousands of dollars (yes, they can even get into the hundreds of thousands). So, renting for a fraction of the cost of ownership is a no-brainer when it comes to getting your overlanding feet wet.
You also have to consider all of the maintenance and repairs that come along with any vehicle. When you start to add numerous accessories, custom wiring, mounting, and countless other factors, you’ll see that the clear choice is to rent an overland rig first.
Who knows, you may not actually enjoy the lifestyle outside of doing just a few trips per year. Or maybe you use the rental experience to learn what it is you do and don’t like, which will help you be more efficient in your own build.
Of course, there are other factors to keep in mind — for obvious reasons renting an overlanding vehicle compared to a standard car rental is typically going to cost more. Plus, you’ll probably get lower mpg’s (miles per gallon) on your trip.
That said, consider the fact that you are able to stay in the backcountry, and won’t need to drive to a town to find and pay for a hotel/motel room each and every night. Think of the amazing sunsets and sunrises you’ll miss. You can still grab a proper shower every couple of days (some vehicles even have shower options onboard) and consider yourself a water conservationist.
Customizable Experience
For some, this is a huge factor.
Most of us can only travel during our time off from work. So when you live thousands of miles away from where you want to explore and you have limited time, you really need to find a way to cut back some of the driving.
Renting an overland rig across the country allows you to enjoy more of the trip. On top of that, you can pick what style of vehicle is the best fit for that region and for the activities you have planned. All of which gives you more versatility and capability during your trip.
This customization process also helps you build up your vehicle and gear diversification skills for future trips. It’s an opportunity to practice, experience new things, and get out of your comfort zone. Some even say that this process is the main reason they enjoy exploring and going out on adventures in the first place. To take on new challenges, learn new skills, and grow as an individual along the way.
Renting a car or RV isn’t anything new, but this unique style of adventuring in an upfitted overland rig is definitely worth checking out. And for the newbies or extra-nervous explorers out there, remember that you can also opt for a more compact and/or comfortable vehicle for your first time out.
There are all kinds of options out there for all kinds of people. So, go find the right rig for you, rent it for a weekend, and embrace the adventure ahead!
