What is Overlanding? Well imagine outfitting your truck with off-road provisions, camping supplies, food, and everything else you could imagine needing for a few weeks, driving to the outskirts of your town, then taking a sharp turn off the paved roads and heading out into proverbial “God’s country” to get away from it all. Some people might say you’ve lost your mind to leave the convenience and security of civilization, but others would just say you’re taking an overland trip, maybe heading for overland camp.
But what is overland camping, and how is it different than other kinds of camping? To be sure, “camping” means different things to different people.
There are RV campgrounds where you can pull in with your house-sized vehicle, plug into the electric grid, water supply, septic system, and even WIFI, and enjoy all the comforts of home except for your usual postal code.
At the other end of the spectrum, you can park your car at the edge of the world and then paddle, portage, with all your gear out to the middle of nowhere, and pitch your tents so far off the grid that if you get lost, they may never find you.
Niether of these are Overlanding.
But then, what does Overlanding mean?
To put it simply, Overlanding is literally “over landing,” with emphasis on off-road travel to under-documented, and minimally explored lands.
Overlanding is not a new concept, it seems to have been started many decades ago out of sheer necessity in places like Australia, where there were no paved alternatives and plenty of “nowhere” to find yourself with nothing but your own self-reliance to keep you alive. Nowadays, we go Overlanding not because we have to, but because we can. It turns out there are still many interesting places to go after the road ends and the wilderness begins, and as a bonus, there’s nobody to take your money when you get there. How long you can stay is really a question of how much free time you have, how prepared your rig is, and how self-reliant you really are.
Why Overland?
As with life itself, or as it should be, the emphasis of Overlanding isn’t really on the destination, but rather on the journey. Overlanding is about pushing physical and mental boundaries to arrive somewhere new. While the gear is important when asking “what is overland travel” what actually sets Overland apart from other forms of travel is the mindset.
In a world increasingly defined by boundaries and titles Overlanding, for many, is an escape from the expectations of the world. In a true overland experience, the only limitations are your own knowledge and grit. The freedom that comes with being reliant only on yourself can not be bought in a store or created and packaged in a guided tour.
Some overlanders have been known to set up overland camp and inhabit remote parts for extended periods of weeks or months, while others may only stay a day or two at their destination with much of their time allotment spent only on the way to and from.
How to Overland.
Most often travel overland is done with some sort of motorized vehicle. The vehicle could be as minimal as a dirt bike with saddle bags or as head-scratching as a 23’ RV with four-wheel drive, a lift kit, and knobby tires. Typically it’s something in the middle, like a pick-up, SUV, or cross-over style vehicle with some amount of customization to enable significant off-road resilience as well as provisions for an extended stay off the grid.
The vehicle, or “rig” as you’ll hear it called, is everything when it’s time to travel overland. Overlanders choose destinations that can’t be reached easily, certainly not in a typical car, RV, or minivan. There may be mud holes, rocky roads, fallen trees, and other obstacles to overcome on the journey. When you’re Overlanding it’s just you, the rig, and the elements.
Overland camping requires a different mindset than typical camping because of its “off-grid” nature. You need to think of not only the provisions you need to simply stay overnight but also the things you’ll need in case of emergency or extenuating circumstances. For example, supplies to repair your rig or gear, emergency first-aid, extra food and water should definitely be considered for long over land trips.
There are many more things to consider and learn when diving into Overlanding. The internet hosts a wealth of information to help you get started! Check out this awesome article from Expedition Overland™ about how to get started Overlanding.
How Peragon can help
As important as the right rig are the accessories you choose for your overland set-up. If you have chosen a pick-up as your overland vehicle, a truck bed cover should be at the top of your list! Keeping your cargo safe and secure on your adventures is critical.
The solid aluminum, retractable Peragon cover combines the best features of security and accessibility needed for your overland journey. The cover provides secure storage for the rest of your gear. It retracts out of the way and into your bed, never limiting your visibility from behind. The panels can be removed in under a minute without tools using the quick release feature to give access to the entire bed when needed.
Overlanders tend to like the Peragon cover with its open-into-the-bed design, allowing for greater utilization of above-the-bed space. There are a number of ways that you can get out from under the bed rails and create a platform for just about anything.
The Peragon truck bed cover is compatible with a variety of racks that can greatly enhance your overland rig. Racks are used for important things like rooftop overland tents, water storage systems, and carrying traction boards necessary for any overland trip. Find the cover for your truck here.
Check out some of these awesome overland set-ups from Peragon customers!
@boozermcguiness showing of his parent’s awesome adventure set-up 
The Seles family of @bigheartstinyspaces 
The Seles family of @bigheartstinyspaces 
The Seles family of @bigheartstinyspaces
Where to go from here
The best thing to do to figure out if overland camping is for you is to just get out there. Start small. Go hit a State Park or one of our other national treasures for a night or two. Once you’ve got a few trips under your belt, you’ll start to get an idea for the type of camping that you like to do and whether or not you want to invest further time and money into getting more properly set up for overland camping.
If you make it that far, think about visiting one of the major Overland Expo events, where you can find a great deal of instruction, as well as vendors that will help you narrow down the type of equipment that you’ll need.
The options for overland camping are seemingly endless and there’s a wide range of ways to do it.
I have a 2023 Tacoma TRD Sport with a bedliner & one dealer told me that there’s a small gap in the corners & no matter what tonneau cover u buy you will get water inside the bed. Will this one leak, too.
The Peragon cover is not waterproof but most customers do find it to be very water resistant. We do send foam pads to fill that gap and help prevent water intrusion.
Where is the closest dealer in my area ? 45810
We are factory-direct and ship straight to you. Most customers find they can install the cover in around 2 hours. We have truck model-specific manuals as well as an in-depth video installation guide. We also have a fantastic team right here in Wisconsin that is available by phone, email, or live chat to answer any questions you might have! Some customers do opt to find a local auto shop that will install it for them but we do not have any authorized installers