Overlanding skyrocketed in popularity post-COVID, and it is all the buzz nowadays. It is not going anywhere, and it is easy to see why. You get to explore remote landscapes, disconnect from the grind, and still satisfy your inner gearhead.
But how do you dive in when you don’t yet have the right vehicle? Influencer promotions, trending Instagram reels, and online advice can feel overwhelming. Let’s cut through the noise and help you choose the best overlanding vehicle that balances comfort, capability, and your own overlanding style.
What Makes A Good Overlanding Vehicle?
An overlanding vehicle needs to be everything, all the time. It is your means of transport, including places after the pavement ends. Overlanding rigs haul all your stuff around, from camping gear and cooking supplies to emergency supplies.
You will be logging long miles on the highways to reach the trails and camping sites, so your rig needs to be comfortable on the pavement and capable off the road at the same time. It may sound a little overwhelming, many modern SUVs and trucks are quite skilled in many aspects.
Drivability and Capability
You may think rugged tires and off-road dependability are much more important than drivability and comfort, but in reality, you’re going to need both. Look out for a balance when you’re choosing the vehicle or picking out aftermarket mods. It is a sacrifice game; the more capable your rig is, the less comfortable it is on the highway.
An old ladder frame truck will be incredible off the road, but are you sure you would want to eat highway miles in that? Rugged mud tires may be highly capable on some trails, but they will drone and buzz loudly on your 5-hour commute to that trail. So, a vehicle with independent front suspension upgraded with All Terrain tires will give you a good balance of comfort and off-road performance.
Power and Range
You’re going to need both. The efficiency is also important, but it is not necessarily relevant, as any heavy rig will not be that efficient to begin with. What’s more important is range, as when overlanding, you will travel to remote places and drive on the trails away from civilization, meaning you won’t have easy access to gas stations. So you need to pick a vehicle that offers a good range from one tank of gas.
It goes without saying that modern turbocharged and hybrid trucks are more efficient than their V8 counterparts, but they might not match the power and torque that the good old V8 can provide. And as for the power, the more the better, for obvious reasons.
Reliability, Serviceability, and Parts Availability
This is pretty much self-explanatory. You will be out in the remote, so getting stranded is the last thing you’d want. Reliability is a huge concern in overlanding, and Toyotas are famous for being dependable. As you will be driving on rough terrain, some issues may arise here and there, so easily serviceable components would help a lot in your adventure, if anything goes wrong.
Easy-to-find and cheap replacement parts are also crucial when it comes to maintenance time, so an import Mitsubishi SUV might not be the best choice when the country is filled with domestic trucks and off-roader SUVs.
Aftermarket Support
Overlanding is a highly individual hobby so your rig needs to cater to your needs. This means upgrading it with aftermarket parts and accessories. You may need better ground clearance than stock, so you’ll need a lift kit. Or you may want to turn the truck bed into a living space, which means getting a modular truck canopy. Overall, customization is etched to the overlanding hobby, so you should definitely keep aftermarket support in mind.
Many manufacturers now offer overlanding- or off-road-focused trim levels in their new trucks and SUVs. One great example is Toyota’s Tacoma in the Trailhunter trim, the closest you can get to a factory-built overland truck. But even with the Trailhunter, you may still want to upgrade your rig for your needs or to make it unique.
Best Upgrade for Your Overlanding Rig: The Pedal Commander® Throttle Response Controller
Aftermarket support is a huge consideration when selecting your base for your overland build, but the Pedal Commander® throttle response controller is compatible with a huge range of SUVs and trucks. Basically, if it has a drive-by-wire gas pedal, there is a Pedal Commander® for it.
Pedal Commander® is a nifty upgrade for your build, as it gives you complete customization of your throttle sensitivity. Overlanding requires traveling on varying surfaces for a prolonged period, so having the option to optimize your throttle response to your driving conditions comes in handy.
Eco mode gives you efficiency on long highway trips to access the trails. It is also great for precise driving on rocky surfaces and tricky terrains where too much power might kill traction. City mode is the perfect balance of smooth power delivery and a snappier gas pedal, and it might be the ideal all-around driving mode for your overlanding journeys. Sport and Sport+ modes unlock the full potential of your rig and make hauling all your gear that much easier by providing you with unfiltered, instant power.
The built-in Anti-Theft feature allows you to disable the gas pedal, effectively turning the Pedal Commander® into a seamless kill switch for the gas pedal. It will definitely give you great peace of mind when your rig is parked at a remote campsite.
Click here and select your vehicle to order yours today!
What are the Best Overlanding Vehicles?
Buying a vehicle depends on many factors, like your needs or budget, and overlanding vehicles are no different. There is no single best option, but here are our picks to get you started:
Best Mid-Size Trucks for Overlanding:
-
Toyota Tacoma: The Tacoma boasts the famous Toyota reliability, while offering a recent redesign, modern tech, and an efficient and powerful i-Force MAX engine. As mentioned above, the Trailhunter trim is the closest you can get to an overlanding truck straight from the factory.
-
Jeep Gladiator: The Gladiator is definitely a conversation starter and one of the most unique trucks on the market. Its exterior is highly customizable, and trail-rated underpinnings are immensely capable for off-road. Rubicon is a great go-anywhere-do-anything option, while the Mojave offers Fox suspension.
-
Chevrolet Colorado: The Colorado is a solid and budget-friendly base for an overland build. The ZR2 trim level makes the Colorado a performance-oriented off-road truck, while the Trail Boss is a great middle ground with its 2” suspension lift, twin-tube Rancho shocks, 32” A/T or M/T tires, and a 2.7-liter turbocharged inline-4.
Best Full-Size Trucks for Overlanding:
-
Toyota Tundra: The Tundra offers Tacoma’s capabilities in a bigger body. It comes with the same reliability, durability, aftermarket support, and the community behind it, only with more space inside and a larger body. TRD Pro is one trim level that is capable of off-roading and highly customizable for overlanding.
-
Ram 1500: The 1500 is a truck with a huge community and aftermarket support behind it. It drives comfortably and comes with a host of engine and trim level options, so finding one for your needs is not hard. The RHO trim is the sportiest of the bunch, and offers Bilstein Black Hawk E2 adaptive suspension and a high-output Hurricane inline-6 engine.
-
Ford F-150: The F-150 is the best-selling truck in the States for almost forever, and it caters to virtually any need with its endless trim levels and configurations. The Tremor trim level is versatile for overlanding, as it comes with a winch-ready front bumper, 33” M/T tires, and EcoBoost V6 or optional 5.0L V8 engines.
Best Three-Quarter-Ton Trucks for Overlanding:
-
Ram 2500: The 2500 offers an immense level of payload and towing capacity if your overlanding gear is heavy. It comes with Cummins diesel or V8 petrol engines, capable and heavy-duty underpinnings, and a good aftermarket support to accessorize it for your overlanding adventures.
-
GMC Sierra 2500 HD: The Sierra 2500 brings luxury to the full-size truck market without compromising the heavy-duty capabilities that are required for this segment. It comes with Duramax diesel or 6.6L V8 gas options, and can be upgraded from the factory with AEV accessories such as steel bumpers, underbody protection, and wheels.
-
Ford F-250 Super Duty: The F-250 comes in many cab and bed configurations, so you can get exactly what you need for your overlanding customizations. Powerful engines include the 7.3L V8 and the 6.7L Power Stroke diesel. The Tremor package adds factory upgrades like 35-inch tires, skid plates, and off-road-tuned suspension, making it a serious contender for an overland conversion.
Best Body-on-Frame SUVs for Overlanding:
-
Ford Bronco: The Bronco is one of the best off-road-focused SUVs with available Sasquatch package, 35-inch tires, locking differentials, and advanced 4x4 systems. It offers robust performance with EcoBoost engines and its removable roof and doors make it another unique overlanding vehicle alongside the Wrangler and Gladiator.
-
Jeep Wrangler: The Wrangler is the benchmark for ruggedness. It has solid axles, locking differentials, and it s available with multiple engines, including the 4xe plug-in hybrid. It’s a highly customisable platform for overlanding with strong aftermarket support and proven trail reliability.
-
Toyota Sequoia: The Sequoia is essentially the SUV version of the Tundra, so it combines full-size SUV versatility with body-on-frame capability. Power comes from the i-Force MAX twin-turbo V6, and available TRD Pro upgrades improve off-road performance.
-
Ineos Grenadier: The Grenadier is a new contender in the body-on-frame SUV segment. While relatively new, the Grenadier would make a solid base for an overlanding build, as it comes with solid axles, locking differentials, and a stout, BMW-derived inline-6 engine. The whole package is engineered for off-road exploration in mind.
Luxury SUVs for Overlanding
-
Land Rover Defender: The Defender is a British off-road icon, and the newest generation offers loads of premium and luxury features. It blends refinement with impressive off-road skills. Defender is available with air suspension, advanced terrain response systems, and a range of engines from mild-hybrids to powerful V8s.
-
Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon: The G-Wagon might just be the most iconic off-roader worldwide. Comes with triple locking differentials, low-range gearing, and a twin-turbo V8 option. It retains its rugged roots while delivering top-tier luxury. The G-Wagon is equally at home in the city or on remote trails.
Best Overlanding Vans
-
Ford Transit: The Transit is a versatile van for overlanding and camper conversions. It is available in multiple body configurations and with AWD options. It provides a spacious interior for camping builds, making it a popular choice for campers and overlanders.
-
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter: When it comes to #vanlife and camping, the Sprinter is THE van to get with immense aftermarket support and a huge community behind it. It offers diesel or petrol powertrains, 4x4 capability, and multiple configurations. The tall roof and long wheelbase provide ample space for customization.
Final Word
At the end of the day, the best overlanding vehicle is the one that fits your lifestyle, budget, and adventure goals. Whether it’s a fully-built heavy-duty monster like the Ram 2500, the trail-rated Wrangler with endless mod options, or a Benz van turned into a mobile cabin, the key is finding balance between comfort, capability, and reliability.
Frequently Asked Questions About Best Overlanding Vehicles
Q: What is the most reliable overlanding vehicle?
A: Toyotas are widely regarded as the most reliable overlanding vehicles, especially the Tacoma, 4Runner, and Land Cruiser are praised by their owners in online overlanding communities. Their long-lasting drivetrains, global parts availability, and massive aftermarket support make them go-to choices for overlanders.
Q: Do I need a 4x4 for overlanding?
A: Not always. Many overland trips stick to gravel roads and light trails where AWD is sufficient. But if you plan to tackle technical terrain, river crossings, or deep sand, a 4x4 system with low-range gearing is a significant advantage.
Q: How much should I budget for an overlanding vehicle?
A: It depends on many variables. A capable used rig can be built for $15,000–$25,000, while factory-ready options like the Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter or Jeep Wrangler Rubicon can push $70,000 and above. Always budget extra for modifications, recovery gear, and camping setup.
Q: What’s the difference between overlanding and off-roading?
A: Overlanding is focused on long-distance travel and self-sufficiency. Your vehicle doubles as transportation and a living space. Off-roading is usually day trips or short runs on technical terrain. Many vehicles can do both, but overlanding rigs prioritize range, storage, and comfort as much as off-road capability.
