Five good habits for long term overlanding

[@zp8462]

A few good points, I like to add, after starting up, just drive a few steps off, stop and then do a camp walk-about to see what I forgot, fell under the car, left hanging in a tree ( and missed garbage) while listening to the idling vehicle as you suggested - also, some stuff easily forgotten like spade, etc, I stack against vehicle as I start packing up - and finally, to your packing guide, we have a saying “ everything has a bag and every bag has a spot” funny your comment on older Jeep oil usage, my vehicle is 20 yrs old so another good habit I have is I check oil daily if I do long trips, so cover the engine “once over” daily. Excellent advice given, as usual.

[@duane4972]

A twice a year walk around with graphite for hinges, door locks, door latches, hood hinges and mechanisms and such is important to keeping your vehicle working great and lasting a long time !! Especially since we drive in dusty, damp and harsh conditions so much.

[@solosaga5091]

It's amazing how many are clueless to graphite as a lube.

[@dathat555]

A bonus to keeping doors closed is not inadvertently draining the battery from interior dome and door lights left on, if the door is open for a long time. I do all my own maintenance on my vehicles and I do walk arounds fairly often, even when not on a trip. Surprising what turns up sometimes and can be caught early. When washing the vehicle is another good time to inspect.

[@calsurflance5598]

As a retired aircraft mechanic, both military and civilian, these walk around/preflight inspections are life saving. I’ve found many potential deadly defects through the years that the aircraft owner had no idea. From cracked engine mount to magneto leads chafed through on an engine mount tubing. Yes, a good walk around at least once a week on a car or truck can help you know your vehicle. Check oil and fluids. Hoses and belts, tires. Listen and even smell. Coolant smell, brake smell, burnt wiring, etc. It maybe an old cliche but take care of your vehicle and it will take care of you. Very well done video Dan!

[@mugumyapaultheafricannomad9488]

I have always driven old cars and my car I'm taking around on my trip was having 290,000km by the time i bought it from a certain Lady. Roughly, by default its a must to check everything in morning from oil level, water level in radiator, hydraulics, fluids, suspension.... And it stuck with me too..... I appreciate the tips Dan always.

[@duane4972]

I just retired a 1993 Jeep Cherokee after over 400,000 miles, yes it had the legendary 4.0 6 cylinder engine. Preventive maintenance and keeping watch on your vehicle is the key to getting that many miles out of your vehicle. The transfer case chain is the only major issue I had with the Jeep. It caused me having to replace the transfer case with a used one at about 300,000 miles, cost me $150 for the replacement one, I did the work myself. My cost per month of the Jeep was in the single digets !! I bought it used with 150 K miles.

[@matthewlockhart3226]

As always, great advice! In the Army we used PMCS: Preventative Maintenance, Checks and Services. Basically a daily walk around of any vehicle looking for any issues as well as checking fluid levels. And if any issues are found they're addressed ASAP. I still use it to this day.

[@EdwardQuixote]

Hi Dan, Tip #4 is really good, especially for the oil burners. However, I wouldn't recommend doing it at the petrol/gas station. Some fuel attendants will take advantage of your attention being elsewhere, and steal some amount of fuel from you. I live in Nairobi Kenya. There's a time this type of crime was so popular especially in Central & Western Kenya. So, for instance, when the attendant notices that you're busy on your phone, they'd direct the fuel nozzle to a jerrican that they've hidden right behind your car, or collude with some motorbike (bodaboda) guys such that they put some portion of your fuel into their bikes. It was such a messy scandal. I'm glad cases have reduced, but still, we've got to be cautious. Otherwise, thank you for these amazing tips!

[@christopherworrall7546]

Hi Dan, as always great content, and delivered in a positive, upbeat, knowledgeable, and highly informative manner. Kudos! I have an idea for a future topic: combating fatigue, loneliness, and sometimes even boredom or depression while long term overlanding. Your first book talks about fatigue on your way to South America and how you parked and worked for a while at a hostel to recharge and to get your perspective back. Curious about tips and solutions you might have for when everything is not a highlight reel and things seem less than stellar.

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

Thanks for the suggestion Christopher, I will film that for sure!

[@212caboose]

I do nearly all of these things already! I'll definitely need to start checking the engine oil during re-fueling- that's an excellent tip for those that have the 3.8L JK for sure!

[@johnsebastianbach]

My jeep burns a bit of oil as well, good to always check it.

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

I stepped up to 10W30 and it burns very little now.

[@jamesdismoreMain]

Dan, Thank you for your inspiration. My global overlanding journey starts tomorrow morning. I plan to visit every country in the world. I will continue my monthly $20 Patreon contribution to you to help support your dream. Thank you again buddy. I would not have done this without you. Oh, when your ears are burning that is me cussing you when my vehicles rolls over, or I run out of gas 100 miles from no where. I expect both good and bad to come from this over the years so technically it is your fault I am on the road, inspirartion is a double edged sword. Thank you, because The Road Chose Us...

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

So, so AWESOME!!! I'll reply to you on Patreon! Cheers, and all the best for the grand adventuers that lay ahead!

[@cameronwood1994]

Interesting point about checking engine oil, some cars such as mine are notorious for burning oil. In fact, Land Rover say that, and I quote from their book A Guide to Land-Rover Expeditions "oil consumption for an engine in good condition should be better than 250 miles per pint" (402 km and 1.2 US pints; 0.57 litres respectively). Whilst I'd say that's higher than my normal usage, which is generally around 500 miles (805 km) per pint, it demonstrates how important checking your oil regularly is.

[@solosaga5091]

True conversation with a friend: Me: "Freezer, what's that noise?" Freezer: (while turning up the stereo) "What noise? Me: (laughing) "I think there's something wong." Freezer: "When it breaks, I'll know what to fix."

[@metaxaanabeer]

One thing we suffer from on northern Vancouver Island, especially in the old Forest Service sites is mice. Closed doors always! but they get in via the engine compartment and somehow manage to squeeze into the passenger area. I've found a little peppermint essential oil in a spray bottle and spritz down the entire engine compartment including firewall really helps.

[@matthewlockhart3226]

In northern Michigan it's porcupines that can be bothersome. I've heard placing moth balls under a vehicle will keep the porcupines from gnawing on transmission lines,

[@katieharris8320]

@@matthewlockhart3226 I've found a dryer sheet in the glove box is helpful!

[@duane4972]

Excellent tips !!! I have been using most of them for years, good habits and the Peace of mind will keep a smile on your face and less stress makes life so much more enjoyable !!!!

[@adelarsen9776]

Habit / Tip Always check 3 times where you pull up and get out to make sure you have not left anything behind and nothing has silently fallen out of the door. Always take time to look and check.

[@tattooedmillionair]

great idea although 3 times may be a bit much for some people but i like the idea of when you are about to "move out", move 1 to 1-1/2 vehicle (include trailer if applicable) and get out for a quick final check if something got left behind on the ground, or sitting on your bumper waiting to fall, etc., trailer hitch secure, etc.

[@adelarsen9776]

@@tattooedmillionair Always good to check.

[@thomasmullins1783]

When I'm not on a trip, I check my stuff bi weekly. But on trips, I check at least once every few days. But I know my vehicle pretty well, I've done a ton of driveway work to it so I can definitely say I'm familiar with it. But these are great points! Love this video as well as your others, Dan!

[@vinceblanchard1069]

I do most of those things now and also when I’m on a trip, every time I leave the vehicle for a restroom break, pickup food or whatever, when I return I always walk the long way around the vehicle to get into the drivers door, gives me a chance to quickly do a visual on things such as tire pressure, trailer connections etc.

[@AndrewBrowner]

still amazed at how terrible they design the gap between the drivers seat and center console in modern vehicles... phones are always sliding off laps into the crevice and gone down between seat sliders and the abyss where you need to stop get out slide the seat all the way ahead and reach for it from the back seat area.... might be room for a little 15$ amazon item if you make Velcro and mesh that attaches to the seat and center console to catch items, change, keys ect but still allows seat adjustment

[@danmoulton]

Great mindfulness for overlanding and travel in general!

[@mikehzz9848]

I always do a final walk around camp to make sure nothing has been left behind. I quite often find something in the grass or hanging somewhere.

[@gaj5701]

More of an addition to putting things away than a totally new idea. Ensure you put food & associated equipment away after use, including clearing up after kids. This is particularly important in areas where wildlife interaction is a given & explosion camping, as I call it when it looks like all the camping/cooking gear exploded out of the vehicle, can lead to unwanted encounters. Fraser Island in Oz is a prime example where campers set up base camps with food left out in bags & poorly sealed containers for the duration of their stay & wonder why the Dingoes come in for a look. Protect yourself & protect the wildlife please!!

[@anneli1735]

Keeping my doors closed is a life long habit meanwhile to prevent any type of animals entering my vehicle unwantedly - like humans, snakes, rats, insects etc. 🙄

[@carlosmora4908]

Good tips! Thanks for the video!

[@ESUSAMEX]

I always lock all the doors after entering my car. I do this even before staring it. My friend taught me this after her neighbor had a guy try to open the driver's door and pull him out to steal the car. The door was locked and the driver was able to step on the gas petal and get away safely.

[@davidbrytowski4477]

Read the owners manual. There is so much valuable information in there. I have a manual transmission that requires GL 4 gear oil. If I would have changed it with GL 5 the sulfur would have ruined the MT.

[@Onward4x4]

Very good practical tips. Thanks!!

[@jcf6597]

More great info Dan!

[@JoshSinnott97]

Hey mate, what water tank is that on your spare wheel and how have you mounted the maxtrax? Brilliant ideas. Thanks for the educational video

[@solooverland3666]

I always close my doors - I don’t need any trail bunnies to mess with my blissful solitude 😎

[@GATORADDAM]

Yep. I'm very security minded myself.

[@SpencerHogg]

Love your videos

[@AdilKhan-sh9fv]

along with tyres, also worth checking the underbelly in case some shrubs are there

[@johnfulater2945]

Speaking a walk around - You are missing a cover on your front driving lights. Great videos.

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

Thanks! The clip broke when I hit a deer last summer, and I have the cover inside, I just need to find a way to make it stay on there!

[@tattooedmillionair]

@@TheRoadChoseMe you are suppose to say "I meant to do that to see if you are paying attention" :-P

[@cameronwood1994]

This will be interesting... now I've got internet again!

[@MountainRoots]

Dan I'm curious, have you put an undercoat on your Jeeps undercarriage? I've been contemplating that for our rig (the road salts here in Virginia just eat up the vehicles!)

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

Yes, when I bought it used it already had that and it's brilliant - underneath the frame looks brand new.

[@MountainRoots]

@@TheRoadChoseMe right on, I think that's important if you plan on keeping your rig any amount of time.

[@kamikazekunze]

Love you channel. We are curious what brand of fuel tank is that behind your spare tire? Thanks a bunch!

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

It's an AEV Fuel Caddy, designed specifically for the Jeep. It's 10 gallons, and it works perfectly.

[@iamdrglass]

Dan, you mentioned putting down your ebook ect ect. Do you regularly travel with ebooks to save space? And did you just down load a bunch at the start of your trip? I am a big fan of paper, but I can see space would be a issue for long term travel and tablets would be a viable option especially with all of the charging options now days.

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

Absolutely, yes - I talk all about it in this one - kzbin.info/www/bejne/h5-2l5KtZ5mol8U

[@morethan3756]

Open doors also mean rodents and dead battery because of dome lights being on.

[@HayesHaugen]

Don't touch the radiator fan! If you really know the technicalities of how your specific vehicle works it might be OK. (radiator fans can spin up without warning even while car is off).

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

I spin the mechanical fan that I added to the front of the engine :)

[@bob6383]

Great common sense tips lad

[@robertvoss9111]

I live in western Europe in one of the safest, lowest crime rate- countries in the world, and I always lock my car even when I walk two meters from it. It's such a habid, if I'm bringing in groceries from the street into my house I'll take the first bag, lock the car, and repeat.

[@d37tae]

This may be a bit more nebulous of a concept for a video, but I feel like it would be inline with your general approach "when choosing to have less is a better choice for me"... or "minimalism and overlanding" or something like that. Many many many people think that more is better. End of story. And if you are taking less, it is just for cost reasons. And I feel like people don't fully understand the issues that can be included by just having more. People really don't understand that I don't want a long vehicle. I don't want a tall vehicle. They don't understand that there are tons of problems and inconveniences you can eliminate by just choosing to be OK with less/smaller. I know you have done lots of videos on weight, or cost, or vehicle choice, but maybe summing all of that up into a higher level picture could be helpful for some people. I think most people think "well, if this guy had $10,000,000 he would be driving a 6x6 MAN expedition vehicle", which probably isn't the case. There are many reasons some of us just don't want to deal with the issues that comes with, even if it has additional "luxuries".

[@tonyanderson191]

One of the best habits I've gained,is to never throw your keys on the seat when you are doing something with the door open.always, always put them back in your pocket when you're done with them! You will thank me later!

[@bobbeebobbee6998]

Look like pizza oven on the back door

[@gumbystown]

I've noticed in the most of your videos you're always talking about theft and people stealing stuff and you have to hide every item you have every second so it doesn't get stolen that sounds like it's a serious problem there with theft or do they target.

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

The thing is I was on the road for 2 years for the first trip, and 3 years for the second. So it's not like you'll get robbed on day one, but when you're talking about 700 or 1000 days.... then the chances go up a bit. Thieves are opportunistic, and they will look for and take anything that's easy.

[@NiketBorade]

Drive Toyota FJ Cruiser instead of Jeep Wrangler and you don't have to think about these things.

[@Drugaskan]

Dan, thanks for all your knowledge you share with us. Best wishes from Germany