The Best Overland Vehicle is the one you Own

Us Americans are constantly told we need to keep up with the Joneses. And if you spend even a little time on social media, YouTube, or flipping through overland mags, you’ve probably found yourself drooling over some fancy, tricked-out rig crawling through Utah slickrock or kicking up dust in Baja.

Hit up popular YouTube channels like TrailRecon, The Story Till Now, or Revere Overland, and you’ll see brand-new rigs decked out to the nines—sometimes multiple new rigs per channel. But here’s the reality check: how many folks actually have $100,000 sitting around for a new build? I’m guessing it’s a small fraction of people who enjoy overlanding or the outdoors.

Not everyone, in fact most folks don't have $100k laying around to buy and build a kitted out rig.

And more importantly—unless you're doing this full-time—is that six-figure setup really going to make your adventures more fulfilling? Probably not.

The truth is, most people can’t (and probably shouldn’t) drop that kind of money on a vehicle. If you can afford it, great—enjoy the spoils of your financial freedom. But it’s certainly not a requirement to get into overlanding. In fact, if you're just starting out, we always recommend spending some time with the hobby before throwing tens of thousands into a new rig and gear. Take the time to learn what works for your lifestyle—and make sure this isn’t just a phase you’ll outgrow in a year.

At its core, overlanding—or adventure travel, whatever you want to call it—is about getting outside and chasing experiences. Not what you’re driving.

You may have heard the phrase before, but in case you haven’t: the best overlanding vehicle is the one you already own.

This looks like a fantastic, and extremely affordable option to go exploring with!

Can your rig get you to the places you want to go? Is it reasonably reliable? If the answer is yes, then congratulations—you already have a solid overlanding setup! And even if you don’t have 4WD, there’s still a ton of terrain you can explore—especially if you bring along a buddy or two for backup.

Sure, we recommend avoiding remote areas in bad weather if you're in a 2WD or AWD vehicle, but in dry conditions, many routes on Overland Trail Guides are easily doable without four-wheel drive.

National Forests and BLM lands are crisscrossed with thousands of miles of graded dirt roads. You’ve probably pulled into a dispersed campsite after 10+ miles of dirt, only to see someone in a Prius, a Tesla, or a minivan already there. The road to Saline Valley Warm Springs in Death Valley is over 30 miles of washboards and sandy stretches, yet people make that trek every day in all sorts of vehicles—including Priuses.

Of course, we’re not suggesting you take your Prius to the Maze District in Canyonlands—use common sense. But with a little planning, just about any vehicle can get you out to some remote and stunning places.

If you're in the market for something new (to you), the used vehicle world is full of great options. Toyota, Jeep, Subaru, and Mercedes (Sprinter vans) all offer excellent value and reliability. While used Toyotas command high prices, a well-maintained 4Runner or GX470 with 150,000 miles can still have years of life left—and it’s not unheard of to find one for under $10k. If you're flexible, rigs like the 1st-gen Tundra or Sequoia can be absolute bargains.

Other underrated but capable options include Nissan Xterras, Subaru Outbacks, and Mitsubishi Monteros—reliable, affordable, and trail-ready with just a few basic mods.

At the end of the day, chasing perfection—whether it’s a dream build or some ultimate gear list—can become an excuse for never getting started. But overlanding (and life) isn’t about perfection. It’s about momentum.

A “good enough” vehicle that gets you out there is far better than a $100k build collecting dust in the garage.

So gas up the car you’ve got. Toss your sleeping bag in the back. Call a couple friends. And go make some memories.

Because the best adventures start when you say yes—not when your build is finally “done.”

Our good friend Rolando drives his gen 1 4Runner thousands of miles every year, which usually includes at least a couple of Baja Trip, and he's usually grinning ear to ear when he's out!