Overland Vehicle Build - THE MOST Essential Feature

[@unimog404]

My top priority is a fixed 2 person bed inside of my vehicle. So if I want to sleep or take a break and sleep for 45minutes I can do it without setting things up. My second priority is running water. So just a tap to get my water. I want no setup time when I park somewhere. And my 1965 Unimog is a good platform for my plans. I think you made the best choice for your setup to get it working with the big awning. But still alot of setup time and when it poors down you will be drenched before you can escape the rain.

[@stephenpanico]

Totally agree re: living space. We're getting an awning installed right now. We do a lot of desert trips and being stuck in the sun without shade is brutal.

[@DK5ONV]

You got the perfect Expedition Vehicle. All you need right now is a HAM Radio Licence to have a lot of fun as a mobile / portable station. That a be really cool. Your Friend Uncle Guenter from Germany just said that. Keep up the Good Work. 💯👍🙋‍♂️

[@Onward4x4]

I learned the need for a living space on my first trip where the rain pretty much forced me to sit in the driver seat waiting... I realized the need for a living space at that time.

[@pnikitin]

Awning is a really nice thing in trips but poleless awning is real game changer :-)

[@Defender110SLO]

Man, you were a living walking television in Africa. Why do you marvel at their doing. Yes the space where you can comfortably retreat is very important. Cheers 🍻

[@-DestinationNoWhere-]

A good playlist

[@thewanderingpinto5979]

I like your last setup Way better! A solid roof, walls and floor to protect you from the elements, bugs, and wildlife. You could as always carry an Easy Up canopy for quick shade and outdoor space, then retreat to the indoor space of your vehicle if the need arises.

[@TheJourneyAhead]

In Africa you get used to being the main attraction for a rural village next to the sleeping area. I had this experience myself several times on my last trips. But the people were always friendly and most of the time they left when you told them in a friendly way that you wanted to go to sleep.

[@project-overland]

We have the batwing on both our rigs (van and landrover) and had fox wings before that. Make exceptional living area. You can also zip in the RV5 tagalong to add extra sealed accommodation. We have a selection of sides, one of which has chimney flashing so we can have a stove inside. The last thing, not mentioned, is that every single piece of the batwing can be sourced as a spare part at very reasonable cost meaning it will last forever and can be repaired on the road if required- example the knuckle joints. They ship it with spares. Last of all, it is very light compared to others, which is important for those also sporting roof top tents etc where dynamic weight is an issue.. Great video as usual Dan!

[@almamdani6564]

I enjoyed your comment on SEMA 😂

[@Dave_Gurman]

Currently use a Supa Peg Supa Wing 270 which is the best awning for coverage and has provided 5 years of great service. Though it is not free standing so can not be put up by one person in gusty conditions. After many years of using this awning my must have requirements of a 270° awning are as follows: squared off front, free standing, coverage out from the vehicle >2.3m, zip on walls (not velcro). We're currently changing over to a Howling Moon 6 panel awning which is free standing (essential for lunch stops) and has a 180° front and 270° rear with 2.5m coverage out from the vehicle. This will be a game changer for ease of setup.

[@FourLowAdventures]

I bought one of those camping tarps on an impulse buy and it's awesome, I like it better than my ARB awning. It's about the size of a 6x3 marquee and weighs only a few kilos and it's not fixed to the car. Thinking of buying one of those hexa tents too, to get away from the mosquitoes. Or maybe one of those inflatable tents with a living room.

[@jimmethven8074]

Looks to be a great setup for shade in the sun and rain protection. Mosquitoes, not so much.

[@grn9209]

I recently added a 270 awning myself, totally agree 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@fwdadventuresza254]

Always food for thought 👍🏻 on this channel

[@andredupuis5432]

That’s great. The important thing is it suits YOUR needs and your travel style. You want to be in contact with nature. I get it. Good job! Cheers from 🇨🇦

[@cunawarit]

My wild guess before listening to what you class as the most important thing is: a full vehicle check and service. You can overland on anything, you don't need a lift or huge tyres, but you need to make sure your vehicle is reliable.

[@crescentmoon256]

too bas he was promoting rhino rack batwing awning

[@hacklabdesign]

Good video

[@gumbystown]

Place to sleep out of the weather

[@cameronwood1994]

You are absolutely right, living space is such an overlooked part of any expedition. Ideally, we'd have large areas of living space inside and outside, but we're not all Dani and Didi and we don't all have Sportsmobiles!

[@solooverland3666]

Interesting! I’m of the opinion that most tend to overemphasize their living space in the desperate attempt to recreate home comforts well beyond the essentials of safe shelter, water, cooking, hygiene. There’s certainly an obsession/fetish with gear in this space…

[@cameronwood1994]

@@solooverland3666 There is a very fine line to be drawn in this area, but where you draw the line is very much up to you. I'd love to have somewhere to sit and sleep inside the vehicle, and somewhere to store my clothes etc., but that's about it. The last thing I enjoy is recreating home, it's normally the first thing I try and escape from!

[@solooverland3666]

@@cameronwood1994 Totally agree! 👍🏼 I sleep/sit up in my 4Runner. All I need is my -25° flannel winter sleeping bag, 45L fridge, stove (maybe), 5gals. of water and 100W solar, clothes in a gym bag. Weight is the enemy 🤷 As you say, to each their own - more than one way to open a banana, and some like to take the designer pots and grand piano along!

[@adamj1299]

The ability to sleep well and live well !

[@robmacca67]

Interested to know how u deal with the bugs, mozzies, etc… Plus when it does rain, I hope u have a reasonable fall on your awning for the water to run off… I would be adding a stretcher for swag as well to get off the ground to prevent your swag base from getting muddy/wet

[@betweenthepines4000]

Dan excellent my friend and well thought out once again. We added the compact to the overland trailer, you may have seen in the gladiator forums. Its a great unit if you set it up and down correctly.

[@black_widow_overland]

I think sleeping/place to hang out in when weather is crappy would be pretty essential.

[@dainjahrus]

Looks great! Would love to hear about why you chose this specific batwing awning versus other ones on the market :)

[@Gazoony]

Can you adapt/Fit this shelter on either: #1 Ram 1500, or #2 Little Guy Teardrop Trailer. Can the product be adapted to either?

[@ethanwong9950]

I’ve been wondering what your living space was going to be! I put a 180 awning (ovs, but it’s the same design as a bunch of other 180s) on my 4Runner last spring and it’s been a life saver. Initially I was planning on sleeping in the vehicle, but with the fridge, dry food and other storage requirements it just turned out easier to live under the awning. Even for a quick afternoon in the park, the shade is so nice. Bugs can still be a bit annoying so I got a thermocell and that pretty much fixed it.

[@gumbystown]

Well that is an awesome upgrade! But it's one thing to sleep on the ground for a weekend but every night every day I'll pass. And when it rains I bet it will still get wet their water will still run off of the Jeep onto the ground and water will still probably run from every direction under the roof even with the walls. And I would be seriously worried if there was a windstorm.

[@lawrencedodi4767]

Totally agree!

[@anthonymarino4260]

once again experience talks. well said

[@BittnerBuddenbrock]

I've a awning on my Jeep but hardly ever put it up - most of my trips are into the desert! To put it up for a quick lunch stop it's to cumbersome to put it up and in the evening there is no need - sun's to low and shines in under or already gone. Rain is very seldom and if it mostly comes forceful and sideways! No way to really peg it down either! A retreat to the inside of your vehicle is, never mind how small, an important issue - especially when the weather does go nasty wet and or cold!

[@tomlauritzen9522]

Looks great Dan; what's the plan on windy days. That's been my #1 concern with my build. I have a 8' X 8' awning with complete canvas sides or you can roll those up and it's sealed with bug netting. Since I haven't gotten to head for the Arctic like planned all the way back to the start of Covid I've only done short trips over the weekends and just as of yet stayed long enough to want to put everything up. So no idea how much wind the awning and room can take.

[@tar21man]

Hey Dan. Love from India mate. Just wanted to know why a jeep tho.? Could have bought a Toyota from the start. Isn't it more reliable? Thanks.

[@ncd7184]

Keep an eye on that awning. We installed one for a customer in our shop and it was used once and one of plastic hinges broke.

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

I've used it dozens of times now without a problem - the rule is to ALWAYS peg and rope it down.

[@polkinnen1501]

Why the bad wing awning?there are many other 270° options and easier to operate without any weight increase (Eezi awn) hard to get? or to prize maybe?

[@UlrichGoetz]

Why did you chose not the AluCab Shadow Awning, they stand free.

[@thomasmullins1783]

I sold my fj cruiser (pictured in my profile) and got a 2003 tahoe. Has the auto locking diff and 4.10s so it's got that at least, but while it's crap offroad, it's way better to live with for trips. More space/real-estate to use

[@wildcatoutdoors]

SEMA doesn't hold much interest for me with most vehicles impracticality. Just got my overland pros 270 degree awning and it is great for the price, excited to put it to use.

[@rsvp6]

I wonder how well it works, plus ease of setup and take down in higher wind conditions or driving rain?

[@captainbarnicle8548]

What's your logic for putting the bat wing on the drivers side? In Australia we always put our awning on the passenger side so we can use it if we are parked on the side of the road.

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

Based on my internal storage locker, extra weight of fuel, kitchen and water, and where I mounted the solar panel on the roof rack.

[@jerrymyahzcat]

@@TheRoadChoseMe I went with a slide out solar panel - slides out from under the roof platform forward over the windscreen this shading the front of the vehicle without increasing the footprint.

[@cmoreoverland6739]

Often with rim comes wind. How does your awning work then? Do you need to disassemble at night?

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

I peg and rope it out, it's been great in non-stop rain and wind for the last 4 days. Video coming soon.

[@deepheight]

Fridge - cold beer

[@OnlineopticsCoUk]

Whats going to happen in a 4 day wind and rain down pour, maybe in Australia you dont get these weather windows? That thing does not look very stable for example Scottish weather would destroy it. The last system was far more robust, couldn't you have fitted a batwing/awning as an extra to that setup and still had a backup in bad weather or was weight an issue?

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

I always peg down the legs, and then use multiple ropes. It's been a few good wind storms already and been solid.

[@leithmurray736]

I own a long wheel base VW T5 transporter. I don’t believe these awning are designed for anything other than a standard wheel base vehicle ?

[@whitexicanat-large681]

Day to day comfort.

[@craigwoodward4566]

Hey Dan. Ursa Minor doing a camper for the Gladiator yet ?

[@wesleymcgonagle3394]

Mate! i lived out in outback Queensland for a few years, in Birdsville, Bedourie, Karumba, Mt Isa. to name a few places. After a little rain or when the water and floods, you are going to get flies by the trillions No Joke, make sure you pack a head net. You might want to actually think about a screen room of some sort. Again depends on the time of year, but its not fun... just a thought?

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

How it is up there outside the rainy season? I'll be in the North and West from about March-October (ish)

[@wesleymcgonagle3394]

@@TheRoadChoseMe I'm assuming you're talking about Australia not just Queensland, western Queensland Birdsville, Bedourie or if you head out across the Simpson Desert are iffy until April/May is called channel county for a reason, the flood waters from the northern Monsoon's make there way down and basically flows between the Dunes and fill all the billabongs and become creeks or raging rivers...Even though not one drop of rain fell within hundreds of miles away... It's been many years since I've lived out there but if you get the slightest rain the dirt roads are practically impassible. Southwestern QLD flooding happens around March'ish. but Mt.Isa Across the top of Australia it will be the best weather and lowest humidity. Obviously can't predict Mother Nature lol. but if there's any other more specific info you'd like, let me know. Good Luck Dan, I'm so looking forward to riding along on this adventure with you.

[@bob6383]

🇬🇧 is the most essential thing…. Kylie in the passenger seat? ❤️

[@yorkchris10]

Kind of a large privacy shower with all curtains.

[@spudboy1328]

I think THE most essential thing is a reliable base vehicle. I've been watching Eva Zu Beck repeatedly breaking down in her Land Rover Defender, and the best you could say is she's got some great content for her KZbin channel and she's met some nice mechanics, which I guess is an adventure. After that you're talking water capacity, fuel capacity, to give you range to be away from civilisation for a good amount of time. Then it's things like sleeping setup; fridge; shelter; kitchen setup; tyres; compressor; and so on.

[@sheldoncelliers450]

Repeatedly breaking down? No, one issue with the gearbox from an old vehicle that was then exasperated by a clueless mechanic. Once it received the right maintenance from the Land Rover mechanics all was well. Get a land cruiser and go snap axles some place else with your bias.

[@spudboy1328]

@@sheldoncelliers450 I am a Land Rover person, so I've been there. I've had Series I , II, III, 90, 110, 130, & PUMA vehicles. Also Discoveries and Range Rovers. Not a Land Rover basher, until it comes to the brand new Defender, and then I am speechless. But it's pretty hard to put reliability and dependability and Land Rover in the same sentence, and I base that on about 25 years of personal ownership.

[@ricoman7981]

I commented on this question once before on this channel. Back in the 1980’s and ‘90’s I spent a lot of time overlanding in Africa for trips as short as 6 weeks all the way up to 6 months at a time, sleeping in tents or out in the open under the stars every night. Some were organized trips in ex military trucks, one in a Land Rover in the Serengeti, once by myself in a rental vehicle in South Africa and once hitchhiking in Zimbabwe and Botswana. Not once did we/I have a refrigerator and it would have been great to have one. I’m not even sure if 12 volt compressor fridges were available back then. Having said that, a refrigerator would have to share top spot with a stove. Although 95% of the time we/I cooked on an open fire, there are many times on a long trip where a stove is essential due to wet weather or simply long tiring days of tough driving. On those occasions, a stove and some dehydrated packaged food requiring just boiled water, mixing and eating is a godsend. There are many other essential items that go without saying, like toilet paper and a trowel to dig a hole with, but for me I would not have been as comfortable without a high end lightweight and completely waterproof rain jacket. As so much time has to be spent outdoors on trips like these, it makes all the difference in the world to be able to do what you need to do outside in the rain and be comfortable and dry. I grew up hiking and camping in the mountains and being warm and dry made all the difference to enjoying every day or just suffering and enduring.

[@markrigney4372]

There’s so many better awnings than the bat wing now. Self supporting and have drop poles with retainers when the wind picks up. Many of them are South African designed as well.

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

From my research, they are all very heavy...

[@jerrymyahzcat]

@@TheRoadChoseMe around 29kg. Not too heavy.

[@samanshafigh]

The number 1 feature is: A good place to sleep safely and reasonably comfortable

[@trevorschroeder6745]

Fridge for me but I plan on getting 23 zero 270 in next few months I hope 🤞

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

I'd much rather eat a quick PB&J Sandwich (with no fridge) while sitting out of the rain than cook and eat a filet mignon I took out my my fridge in the pouring rain!

[@lemaitrethemonk]

The most essential thing to have on an Overland Vehicle is the title. If you have a car payment and have put over 10k in upgrades, that person needs to attend a finance class.

[@daviddaniels09]

I would say probably how much space you have to do everything that is a part of your daily routine. Depending on what kind of person you are, this might not be as important, but I feel like no one essentially wants to be living in a coffin (small space) for long periods of time.

[@michaelgee7509]

Reliability

[@Nickle314]

Comfortable seat

[@k53847]

Comfortable seats and a credit card for all the hotels? :)

[@NasTimeAdventures]

I've done a lot of trips without using my awning but I've never done a trip without taking one.

[@lukehutchinson6754]

Do you have any more walls or just the 2? Cheers 🍻

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

2 for now, I'll get more when they are back in stock.

[@aforceofawitch8377]

A vehicle 😋

[@blurglide]

The only problem is you have to break camp every time you want to drive somewhere. Not a big problem most days, but if you're staying somewhere for a few days it could be an issue

[@i4nic256]

How do you deal with mosquitoes with that open setup?

[@spudboy1328]

AeroGuard...

[@terryoleary5424]

It’s a pretty hard task to pic the most important, Nothing is more important than water ....... but being able to escape the elements is extremely high .

[@dids_lfc4113]

🙏🏽Thank god for the double tap skip button! 🤦🏽‍♂️😅

[@j.h.9410]

The most essential is ofcourse: a can of Bush Chook for every day you'll be out. No brainer

[@j.h.9410]

In all seriousness though, you are dead on about living space. I lived out in the bed of my Silverado when I lived and travelled in Canada and the US. It was my first big trip (I travelled 3.5 months after working about 7-8 months) and very basic, just had a cot and a cooler in the back. But I had a raised fiberglass top and could sit/cook/hang-out in the back of it which was great. Then when I worked/travelled in Australia I build out a van because remembring the Chevy truck I wanted a bit more comfort. So I got a 'real' bed, a fridge, solar. And again a very good time. Now when I'm living back home I usually travel to Scandinavia with a tent, and that's a lot of fun but after 3-4 week you're sick of it. It's all about the living space. Right now I'm drawing up plans for a Panamerican vehicle, and it's not very big but I am planning to get some decent interior and exterior space to live/work/cook because I know it'll make all the difference.

[@robertvanderploeg410]

There’s no thing as MOST essential. But lots of very important essential things: air compressor, spare wheel, tools, safe place to sleep, water, fuel, tools etc etc

[@ConfidentCactusCuddler]

durability!?

[@SamS-lq4bn]

I think a stove if essential

[@999ths]

light weight

[@Finiteintelligence]

My guess, available parts.

[@NativeDad1968]

Organization

[@Daniel-pv8jl]

Worst awning. It will be ruined the first heavy wind. Should have invested in a bush company or Alu cab or just straight out awning

[@wademataira3247]

Petrol lol

[@Livotlout]

Shade......

[@rufusr.freighttrainjones9699]

Appreciate your content but this video could have been cut by two-thirds. How many times can you say the same thing over and over? Economy of words is best.

[@bucolicbuffalo3329]

Toilet paper

[@christophervonesh6249]

Bed.

[@sophenlen6665]

Ehh Jeeps..