TIPS AND TRICKS FROM ALU-CAB EXPERTS
Tired of the same old vacation destinations and looking for a way to reconnect with nature? Overlanding might just be the answer you’ve been searching for! But before you hit the road, it’s crucial to have a solid plan in place. Luckily, the experts at Alu-Cab have you covered. With years of experience in the overlanding community, they know exactly what it takes to make your adventure a success. From packing essentials to navigating rough terrain, the gurus on the Alu-Cab team have some seriously game-changing tips and tricks.
In this blog, we’ll be sharing their insider knowledge so you can embark on the ultimate overlanding journey, just like a pro. Get ready to take your outdoor experience to the next level and discover the freedom and adventure of overlanding with tried and tested insights from our overlanding oracles.
- Travel with a short roll of fake lawn, rolled up and fastened. It’s perfect to roll out outside your camper or base of the tent ladder.
- Carry a dirt trapper mat in the rear of your camper. It’s a great way to manage dirt when camping.
- If you’re carrying a few Ammo boxes, number them on all sides other than the base. Then, make a list of major items in boxes and keep it handy. It’s a major time saver as you will permanently be opening the wrong box. Don’t put names on boxes as things change so numbers are better.
- Always travel with a good, well-sized travel mug. These are perfect for carrying coffee before you set out on an early morning game drive. They’re also great for those hot summer nights when you want to keep your G&T cold and may prevent the ice from melting.
- Always travel with lots of clothing pegs. They are super useful for keeping packets closed and hanging items..
- Place a small shovel of coals under your seat to keep you warm when sitting around a fire.
- Take along a rechargeable fan when traveling in hot climates. It can save your life on those hot summer nights in the tent or in the camp.
- Always travel with a jet boil. You can boil water anywhere with it or cook.
- A very important accessory to fit to your vehicle is a tire pressure monitor. Catching a puncture early can save the tire.
- If traveling into remote areas make sure to download your music or you may not be able to access it for a long time.
- Make sure you have recovery trax for challenging terrains.
- Always have a sturdy spade on hand.
- Don’t forget to pack the basics, like toilet paper – don’t leave home without it!
- Always pack more water than you need. A daily water supply of about 5 liters per person is a good benchmark.
- Having the right tools is crucial. Some essentials include a packed toolbox, spare fuses, a soldering iron and a puncture repair kit with a compressor.
- Make sure you have enough fuel. Carry enough fuel to cover a minimum of 1000 kilometers. This is the gold standard.
- Consider a sat-phone or in-reach device when traveling to remote areas. This is especially important when you’re traveling solo.
- Keep paper maps handy as they are oftentimes much easier to orientate than a GPS.
- When prepping meals, use only the items you need in order to minimize clean up and waste.
- Do your serving and eating out of sturdy paper plates that can be burnt on the fire afterwards. This will help minimize water usage and waste on the road and also helps with sustaining fires.
- Pack tins, not bottles. Tins can be crushed, they’re lighter and take up less space than glass.
- Decant things to make them more disposable at the end of your trip.
- Pack what you’re going to eat last at the bottom and what you’re going to eat first and the top of the fridge. This will limit you having to dig inside your freezer to get to the item you want.
- Take out what you’re going to eat for the day out of the freezer and pack it into the cooler box. This will help defrost your frozen food while still cooling down your drinks. This will also help you conserve ice and energy as the freezer will be open for a shorter amount of time.
- Start with the destination in mind, then understand the type of journey you wish to take to get to the end/turn-around point, allowing for some random “adventuring” along the way.
- Utilize any community-based advice, trip schedules or navigational aids available to you as a base, then take some time to apply your own style of traveling to the day-to-day plan.
- Don’t be too set on a route. Be flexible, adaptable and ready to follow an alternative path or two.
- In remote or challenging environments, be prepared to go slow, which is great for taking in the scenery, enjoying the sounds and smells, while also ensuring your equipment doesn’t take too much high speed punishment.
- If you’re heading off to a destination for a time, perhaps to scuba-dive, kiteboard, hike or enjoy game-watching, it’s important to travel to your comfort zone and perhaps do a midway stop in a place you’ve not considered before. You never know what amazing places or experiences you may get to add to your life.
- A key part of any overlanding trip is ensuring all your equipment and vehicle is 100% in shape for your needs. Having a “dry run” a week or 2 before the trip is essential to sorting out any tweaks/niggles that pop up. Plus, you start getting the amazing vibe and energy for your trip going!
So, what are you waiting for? Fuel up, load up and hit the road to immerse yourself in the breathtaking landscapes and rich experiences that overlanding offers. The freedom and thrill of the open road await you and now you’re equipped to make the most of it.
Remember, as you embark on your overlanding journey, stay safe, respect the environment and embrace the unpredictability that comes with the territory. Your next great adventure awaits and with the wisdom shared here, you’re well on your way to experiencing the ultimate freedom of overlanding. Safe travels and may your adventures be filled with endless discovery and joy!