Welcome! Awesome to see another new member getting out and enjoying what the backroads have to offer.
I'll second what the guys have said already. Don't overthink it. You don't need all the crazy bells and whistles, you don't need massive tires or 36 LED light bars or any of that. I was out exploring in my Frontier just a few days after I bought it. My advice: get out and use it, and from that, learn what needs to be changed. I've got friends with trucks that are way more modded than mine, and I have no problems hanging with them on the trails I want to do.
My top five overland mod considerations:
1. Tires. Good tires in the proper size make all the difference in the world. I like all terrains, 32" or 33" in diameter. Skinny tires, like 235/85s or 255/85s, are excellent choices as well, since they give you all the clearance with fewer drawbacks, but they're not always ideal if you're in danger of sinking into the terrain. Keeping the tire size reasonable will make all the difference at the pump and when you need good handling on the road.
2. Suspension. Huge travel numbers are not the most important thing here. Load bearing capacity and ground clearance are generally more necessary, with travel being less so. Slinky suspensions aren't necessarily the best at carrying all your crap up the trail.
3. Armor. Nothing sucks worse than being stuck somewhere because you smacked something fragile against something much less fragile. Keep the vital systems protected, and you'll go a long way towards making sure you're able to drive home at the end of the trip. You'll also make sure you have money for the next trip. One of the first things my truck got was sliders.
4. Storage. One of my biggest irritations when camping actually had nothing to do with driving. I had a badly set up storage solution. Boxes and bags in lots of inaccessible places made camping a chore. Streamline everything and make it easy, and you're more likely to go. Remember, the object of the trip is the place, not the stuff. The stuff usually just gets in the way.
5. Attitude and skill. This is a personal one. Stay excited about exploring, and be ready to go places you didn't think you were going to. Be open to hitting another side road or even a different destination. And be ready for failure. Oftentimes I got in over my head and had to turn back because I was by myself or too inexperienced or low on gas or sunlight. So remember that getting there isn't the most crucial part. It's getting out. More skill will help you read the terrain better and be a better driver. You'll have an easier time going up stuff, and you'll know how to not break things.
But most of all, have fun!
any tips and advice welcomed!!
