Your Overlanding Setup

[grips]

We all have different views of what an overlanding setup should look like.

Would like to hear from others their experiences and why their specific reasoning around their setup.

We have the 79 Cruiser that we kitted. Great for one night stops and weekend camping. However I don`t find it to be ideal in all situations.
Me and Karin can setup camp in around 10 minutes. Packing up in about the same time. Staying over for more than one night and site seeing make us to pack up every morning and setup camp again at the end of the day.

I have had my share of Caravans and is not a fan of towing trailers off-road. The off-road trailers I have seen can be an effort the setup and breakup camp.

Currently we are looking at a two sleeper caravan. One that setup as quickly as the Cruiser. I want to stop open the door, pop the roof and be able to sleep. Quick access to a kitchen setup and a shower facility that does not take forever before one can use it. We had a look a most of these type of off-road caravans but up until now we could not find one that is what we have in mind. The other side of the coin is that they are eyewatering expensive.
Lot of money to spend for two or three trips a year.

We also had a good look at ABBA type campers but they have some shortcomings and are in the same price range as an off-road caravan.

If you have a better solution please share.

[BushWacker]

Grips , although I’m fully kitted for self sufficient overlanding,
my 130 rig is , admittedly often, somewhat disorganized, not neat.
I generally travel with my RV1 Oz-Tent (in the canopy!) or a compact Tentco 2.1^3 Safari Bow Dome Tent
Have a 2.3m-long * 2m-out Awning & have side-panels for it , if needed, which opens out over my LR Al side-table.
I also have a Mini-Metalian with an Eezi-Awn RTT (not a TTT …), though generally only for several night @ venue stays.
Otherwise all the usual stuff: Aux battery, 43L fridge ( purposely small), 80L water, extra fuel in Jerries, Eiger Solars
etc etc etc
Set-up and pack-up can be as fast as any, though I’m seldom in any hurry & generally travel without deadlines.

All that said I’m looking long and hard at this set-up below which I saw at the Zwartkops show.
The canopy roof folds out to make two loft beds under a tent & the beds can roof side-cube enclosures
for kitchen & shower etc
I would however want a fixed built-in set up and not a slide-out unit on stilts etc

https://www.obiquacampers.co.za/

[AndreasR]

Ah Christo.

The never ending search for the ultimate overlanding setup. Just resign yourself to the fact that no such thing exists. Very thing is a compromise. If you want all the comforts while camping you will have to spend the time setting it up and breaking it down. The trick is to find a solution that is versatile. Something that is suitable for quick one night stops and for longer stays and something suitable for complete off grid camping.

My vehicle is well set up for overlanding. I can stop and be set up in minutes, much like your vehicle. Packing away is the same. However for longer stays in one place or when the wife is travelling with, then one generally requires a few more comforts.

I’m happy to find shade under a tree or in the shadow of the car so awning is very seldom used. I’m also happy to take a shower under the stars so seldom use the shower cubicle. Obviously with the wife that is different.

I have seen your vehicle set up and doubt there is much you can do to improve it. So you are left with towing a trailer. I am in the same situation. I have also been looking at trailers.

Currently I have a Metalian which ticks a lot of boxes but is really a duplication of what I have in the car.

Your concerns about towing a trailer are noted but I have towed my trailer a lot and do not find it to be too much of an issue. It’s a lot less inconvenient than most people think.

The initial cost of a trailer is very steep however they do keep their value pretty well so when your overlanding days are over you can usually get a good portion of your money back.

Most trailer layouts are very similar.

While looking for a trailer there are some things that I personally would consider as essential. Others will have different ideas.

A bed that can remain made up ready to climb into.
A Hansen geyser. Those other gas geysers all give too much trouble.
Ample battery power. Nothing worse than people sitting monitoring their batteries all day and moving solar panels all around the camp site.
Build quality.

Then there are a few nice to haves and things to consider.

Same wheels as your vehicle. This can work out expensive.
Ease of set up especially if weather is bad and you need proper shelter.
The weight of the trailer is always a consideration. Ease of towing in rough terrain and moving around the campsite.
Water tank capacity.

Most of my overlanding until now has been more one night or two night stops so the vehicle only set up has been great. I just did a 9000 km 5 week trip through Zambia and Malawi and I was very happy with my set up. I never had the thought that I needed to add anything else to my set up.

I think that I am at the stage where I have seen a lot of Southern Africa and am now at the stage where I would like to spend more time in certain places and spend a few nights in two or three places rather than one night in many places.This is why I am considering a different trailer. If you are going to stay a few nights in one place a trailer is nice. Set up time is also not as important as one night stops.

Good luck with your search. Keep us posted.

[grips]

Thanks Andreas. Maybe you don`t know but you were the inspiration for building the 79.

On that River trip we did sometime back your setup on the Cygnus Cruiser you owned left a permanent impression in my mind.

The ease of setting up camp with your rig were impressive.

Your Patrol also were super towing the trailer through that thick West Coast sand and dunes.

In the end I think I will end up with a trailer or Two Sleeper caravan. Problem to find the right one

[Mad Manny]

As Andreas says, there is no one answer.

My Conquest Trailer is perfect for 2 nights or longer, especially if we are two.

For one nights stays, especially on trips where you move frequently, it's a terrible set up.

I've recently done a few one night and two night stays, I've set up so many times I can do it alone us 30minutes.

For your needs Christo having camped with you a few times, I think the 79 is great for static camping, but if you need to move frequently or if you want to go for day drives, it has its limits.

Maybe a small trailer with a Bundutop automated RTT either on the trailer or the vehicle would be best.
If you mount it on the Trailer then you can use the 76 rather than the 79.

[Mad Manny]

Incidentally, a mate of mine bought a nearly new Conqueror Comfort, fully kitted, for a fair price.

I camped with him and helped him set up.

Next to my old, battered 18 year old Conquest, his looked fantastic, made mine look old and dreary...

The Comfort has a L shaped kitchen, a geyser & a lekker awning,
But...
The kitchen slides out the back but the fridge is in the nose, so they are on opposite ends of the trailer.
The geyser has to pop up to be used, so if it rains you need to push it down and close the lid.
The gas bottles are mounted right on the front, so you have to take one out and carry it to the back, put it on the ground and connect it to the stove.

I wouldnt change my Conquest for the Comfort.

[BushWacker]

… further to my post above (#2) the set-up I envisage obviously applies to a bakky with a reasonable sized bin
(130 DCs is 1.65*1.65m approx, many single cab bins are bigger).
One plan would be to source a bin the same as ones bakky
and stick it on a rolling trailer chassis from BurQuip or the like … then if one had a such slide out canopy unit
one could travel with it either on the Bakky or on the trailer.

I agree with the importance of versatility … eg
ahead of a trip I can kit up to sleep on the ground with the
Oz Tent or Dome Tent ( later esp for windy conditions)
or even on the platform in my canopy or if I want the RTT
go with it on the Bakky or on the Metalian.

Im looking at having two 4-square, 3-fold HD mattresses made up that can be used in any of the above sleeping set ups …
etc

[Mad Manny]

All decent single cab bakkies in SA have a bak that is just under 2400mm long.
No 'sit behind engine' Bakkie reaches 2400mm or longer...

[AndreasR]

I think the point has been missed slightly by some. Christo is very happy with his vehicle set up. What he is looking for is a trailer that will provide a bit more comfort. ie no RTT or TTT. He already has that on his vehicle.

[Mad Manny]

Oh, I read it differently. Thought he wanted a setup where by if he goes for a drive he doesn't have to pack up the 79...

[Leon]

Christo jou cruiser setup lyk goed en soos jy se dit werk vir jou dis die belangrikste. Ek mis my camper at ek agter op my F gehad het . Ek kyk ook vir n karevaan net vir twee mense moet lig wees en vinnag opslaan , ek is besig om te kyk om n aliminium karevaan te laat bou vroeg volgende jaar as my goed uit werk.

[jotto]

Morning Christo

I had the same issue, well rigged overlanders, from my shorty Pajero to LC79. I tried normal roof top tents - the last one died after setting it up once - never again. I then went to use our own clamshell RTT, much better, but still climbing up and down for SWAMBO was rough.
I then built our first (prototype) squaredrop trailer. This is a game changer for us - I have never toured or camped this easily and comfortably.

I don't mind towing it, since it weighs about 600kg loaded. I have a full kitchen at the back, double bed and lots of cupboard space. Onboard water, shower etc.

Setup is in 2 minutes - you just open the back door, open up the awning and done. It takes longer to decide where to park the trailer and find the optimal orientation.

[Mad Manny]

A set up video from stopping and unhitching to sitting down with a beer, in real time, would be great, thanks Jotto....

[jotto]

A set up video from stopping and unhitching to sitting down with a beer, in real time, would be great, thanks Jotto....

Hehe, I will show you at Holnek in a few weeks. You can do the video.....

[Bugger]

Grips I think most of us use Andreaz as inspiration as he have been Around the block.

My Syncro camper is same as your Croozer
Well.sorted and setup is minutes. But not ideal for longer stays

So I had a 1st Challenger Wilderness trailer but was a good lesson of what not to buy
Small RTT and had to climb out and under the bed was dressing room.

Then I bought the Jurgens Xt140
Modified with side kitchen and draws
RTT with dressing tent attached and sides but one he'll of a mission to set up.
With very low roof at kitchen I was swearing everytime
And Ammo case sliders in the rear -Still shit steeling lots of space


So upgrades i did that made a huge difference Setting up and breaking down



270 Awning Adjustable height-Cut some of the overhang from RTT off-Kitchen side and made sides to close all sides if necessary.
Both rear Sliders build Ally boxes and Gained a huge amount af extra space.
Sorted the the tent with clips to pull it up like Mannys Conquest that you can clean bottom of tent before folding in


Negative points still
2 separate water tanks inside of trailer -Always spill when filling
The fact that it has wheels arches makes inside space alot smaller than like Mannys Conqueror Conquest-But even worse is if you doing off road and it rains or you drive Very Muddy roads.....

All that mud gets dumped on and before the wheel Arches and a story to clean before you can set up your camp.On 3 trips I could not even open the side doors as the Mud was that Thick



So I have been Looking for Exactly that type of Trailer you are interested in

2nd hand a older Conqueror Commander is a very strong contender for me as it tickets most of that boxes.
Bed is made up and when you stop you do not have to pop up the roof to sleep
I have seen some for around R175-220K

So there are the small Bush lapa options aswell

Hope some of my info.help you with Our problem
.
.

.

.