New to Overlanding...Will This Truck Be a Suitable Platform?

[TXBoots]

Hi everyone,

Glad to have found this sub-forum!

Not too long ago I bought a 2016 Silverado Z71 upfitted by Tuscany Automotive (pictures below!). It's on a 6" Pro Comp lift, upgraded performance shocks and rolling on BFG KO2 35" tires. It's certainly no Jeep but a run through the local OHV park showed that it's decently capable. My question is this...do I have a good platform to build an Overland rig? Every single video I've watched to learn more about builds, equipment etc etc use a Toyota of one kind or another. I live in Texas...so the biggest problem I see is that most overlanding areas near me (Oklahoma, Arkansas, Central/West Texas) seem more suited to smaller vehicles due to trail size and approach/departure angles...and looking at what people run in Colorado it seems like the same story in many ways. Gotta admit...it's almost got me wanting to just trade in for a 4Runner TRD Pro, haha.

If this rig does work...next question is about gear? I'm planning on a steel bumper with winch up front and finally found the hitch mounted gates that can hold a full size spare + jerry can on back. Beyond that...sort of an open book although I'm assuming a ARE cap at a minimum.

Apologies for the volume of questions but definitely a true, if enthusiastic, beginner at this.

Thanks!

TXBoots

 

[Coachgeo]

You can throw money at anything and turn it into an Expo rig. So the question is more like.. "is this a Cost Effective rig to make an Expo rig out of or should I sell and start with different truck". "If sell and start over would be more cost effective".. "then which truck?" Course "which truck" part of that question would be best in a different thread; and similar threads already exist. Thus review the newer threads on that subject to start with if the consencis is your best off to start over.

 

[Paddy]

"Run what cha brung" my first overlanding vehicle was a 1984 Honda Accord. It did some fun wheeling, camping, and pot smoking and adventuring.

 

[MagicMtnDan]

Depends what you're gonna do with it - how you're gonna modify it and how hard you're gonna run it offroad.

I've off roaded in a full size lifted Chevy Avalanche on 35" AT K/O's and it went everywhere I wanted to go. It did present some size issues out here in the desert (the trails are all Jeep sized/width) but it went everywhere even though it got pinstriped. Full size trucks can do it all except fit through tight spaces. They have plenty of benefits - easy to drive, fix, mod and lots of space.

I'm not a fan of Pro Comp stuff but it could be fine.

 

[pugslyyy]

"Run what cha brung" my first overlanding vehicle was a 1984 Honda Accord. It did some fun wheeling, camping, and pot smoking and adventuring.

Lol, mine was a 1982 Chevy Malibu Station wagon.

You can have a grand time in whatever you bring, don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

 

[UHAULER]

I wouldn't get too hung up on the word "overlanding" Do what you want and go where you want and you will find what works for you.

 

[Jelorian]

Welcome aboard! Nice looking truck! Like other's have mentioned just run what you have. While you won't find as much aftermarket for your rig as you would for a Jeep or Toyota, there is still stuff out there and what you can't find off the shelf, you can have custom made.

With regards to the size of your rig, have you checked out THIS section of the forums. Those rigs will make your full sized truck look like a compact.

 

[Marine]

Like the others have said, run what you have. Hell my first was a Ford fairmont, put a lot of miles on that ******* heap and walked a lot when it broke down. Nice looking rig by the way

 

[Martinjmpr]

I'm no "expert" when it comes to the nebulous concept of "overlanding" (which is really just "car camping", at least in the US) but I would say that the only things you need to think about are things like additional fuel (since on many "overland" trips you might go several days or more between gas stations), where you're going to sleep, whether it's a ground tent, a rooftop tent or modifying your vehicle so that you can sleep in it some way (with your short bed you might be able to sleep in the back, or in the back seat), how you're going to carry your food and cooking equipment, etc.
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Many of us who started out using simple coolers/ice chests to store our food eventually got tired of melted ice and soggy food and went to 12v refrigerators. There are quite a few 12v fridges out there and none of them are cheap (they start around $400) but they will last for years if taken care of and the luxury of having cold food without having to constantly refill with ice is worth a lot in terms of peace-of-mind.
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Of course, just as adding a lift kit so you can put on bigger tires then sometimes means you need to go with lower gears, adding a fridge in some cases means having to beef up your electrical system since that 12v fridge has to run even when your engine is off. In my case I added a 2nd 12v "house" battery that runs through an isolator to a dedicated 12v power outlet to run my fridge and any other accessories I may eventually put on them.
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Other things to consider might be some kind of GPS unit. Being a cheapskate I rely on an old Garmin touch screen unit and a lot of paper maps, but some people get very fancy with tablets or computers mounted to the center console. If you travel in a group, communications is another aspect to consider, there's the old standby of CB which is "good enough" for most people but for clearer signals and longer range, many go with HAM radios, typically 2 meter radios that can communicate between vehicles and also communicate over long distances using the many repeaters that are all over the US.
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And then the last thing I'd think about would be recovery and emergency gear, which can be as simple as a shovel and strap and a car first aid kit, or a winch and a full trauma bag (if you know how to use it - I don't which is why I just roll with a first aid kit. )
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None of this stuff HAS to be expensive (or even new.) I spent plenty of nights traveling the West in a 2wd Ranger, navigating with paper maps, cooking over a Coleman single-burner stove and carrying my food in a cheap cooler from K-Mart. Sure, I have 4wd, a fridge and a GPS now, but if I didn't I wouldn't let that keep me from exploring the back country.

 

[js9234]

I saw your truck on the Texas Overland FB page. You have a great platform. I just got my quote today for an ARE for my 3500 Ram CCSB. It was $3365. That's a little too steep for me. I'm gonna look at a canvas one that can roll up the sides and still use a RTT. The ones I've seen were under $1K. I would stick with what you got and put your money into gear instead of a new vehicle.

 

[p nut]

There are plenty of trails you can take a full-size truck on. Lots of backcountry roads to explore. I consider my relatively stock truck to be suitable (for what I do). Just throw a tent, sleeping bag, and food in the cooler, and head out.

 

[ExplorerTom]

I'm no "expert" when it comes to the nebulous concept of "overlanding" (which is really just "car camping", at least in the US)

Exactly.

That big 'ol girl will fit down those tight trails- tree branches will yield the right away to you. It will make some funny noises and the paint will never shine the same- here in Colorado, we call it "Colorado pin striping". That's going to be one of the hardest things to come to terms with. Do you take that new, and expensive truck out and risk coming back with the paint looking like this:



If you're the type of person that will care about such things, then I suggest you get something else (cheaper).

And remember, checking all the gear boxes does not make you an overlander.

I still think this guy has done more "overlanding" than any of us:
http://www.escape-city.com/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=30661
$1800 2wd Escape
homemade sleeping platform
rooftop cargo box
18,900 miles
29 states
33 national parks
17 national monuments
94 days

Tell me that just because he stuck to "easy" roads that his "overlanding" trip was not an incredible journey.

 

[Ducky's Dad]

I just got my quote today for an ARE for my 3500 Ram CCSB. It was $3365.

That seems like a ridiculously high price. Look around and you can do better, especially if you can find a used one or a customer return. My first SnugTop was a customer return, dealer wanted it gone, price was about 60% of brand new. I needed a shell for a second gen Tundra a couple of years ago and found a mint used one on Craigslist for $600, plus $300 to get the paint matched. New price would have been well over $2K plus tax.

 

[Martinjmpr]

I've bought 4 toppers off of CL and the most I ever paid was $300. $3k for a topper is ridiculous.

 

[js9234]

I've been on Craigslist daily for the last few weeks and been coming up short with my bed length. I'm definitely not gonna buy new now. Had no idea they were that expensive. Gonna keep looking on Craigslist though.