Are you ready to take your adventures further than the local campground? Overlanding opens up a world of off-road trip adventures. You won’t believe the things you will see in Beautiful BC.
Here are Modula Racks’ top 10 pieces of kit we’ve used in our own adventures!
- The top spot has to go to a Rooftop Tent AKA a RTT. Your tent is the basis for adventure. It keeps you warm and dry. It provides comfortable refuge in a rough landscape. It gives you an escape from the mosquitoes. Pick a great tent like a Treeline for years of service and features that keep you and your gear warm, dry, and comfortable.
- An upgraded roof rack. If you are coming from the world of off-roading you may already have a tough aftermarket rack. If not; it’s time to upgrade! Your new RTT needs a solid foundation, and many of the accessories on this list will need stronger equipment than the manufacturer ever provides. Generally, we recommend talking to one of our experts to determine the best system for your needs. If you want to get started at home, try these brands: Front Runner’s Slimline 2, Rhino-Rack’s Backbone, or Prinsu’s vehicle specific racks. For pickup owners: Leitner's Active Cargo System, Adarack’s Aluminum pro series, THULE’s Xsporter or TracRack, or Yakima’s Overhaul or Outpost.
- An awning to keep you out of either the pouring rain or scorching sun. Lightweight vehicle awnings deploy quickly and give you cover for cooking and relaxing despite the weather. Awnings come in two main styles: a straight pull-out that deploys off one side of the vehicle, or a 270 degree deployment that pivots around a vehicle corner. Make sure you choose the correct side for your intended deployment on 270 degree units.
- A cooking and eating surface. Whether you choose a folding kitchen, a drop down table, or a collapsible picnic table, having a surface on which to eat and prepare food is essential. Overlanding often takes you far from public picnic tables and crouching over your gas stove for half an hour boiling a lobster is less than a good time ;-). Check out KUMA’s Big Bear Table or Camp Kitchen, or Front Runner’s Drop Down Tailgate Table.
- A portable power source. Gas generators were once the power source of choice, but they did have major drawbacks. They stink of gas and oil, are generally dirty, and spend all night shouting at you… and that’s if you can even get it started. Plus, the power a generator produces is often too “dirty” for delicate electronics like computers, and too “noisy” for applications like speakers. Recently we have been taking advantage of the capacity and efficiency of lithium power-packs or solar generators. These high capacity batteries can store enough power to last a weekend, run silent and recharge in only a couple of hours. No stink, no mess, no pull-start, no noise; just silent clean power. Check out EcoFlow and Goal Zero for a selection of options.
- Recovery gear and mounting hardware. You have chosen a life of adventure. This will likely take you beyond the reaches of BCAA. Basic self-recovery gear is highly recommended. Let’s go over the essentials right now: Flashlight/headlight? Jumper Cables? Full size spare tire? Tire plug kit? Portable air compressor? These are the basics. You should also have an assortment of the following: portable traction boards like Maxtrax, tow straps, shovel, chainsaw, and an axe
- Extra fuel. You can end up a long way from a gas station. Carrying spare go-juice adds huge peace of mind. There are a few popular ways to pack your petroleum. We like Rotopax or NATO style steel cans because they are compatible with proper exterior mounting hardware. Again, these are smelly items that you don't really want in the vehicle with you.
- A hitch gives you a solid recovery point if one of your buddies needs to yank you out of a poor route decision. The hitch tends to take the brunt of any knocks and scrapes which protects your bumper. Hitches are also pretty handy for towing, so you can take even more toys to your favorite secluded spots.
- Off-road lights. Yes they look cool, but until you are comfortable back-roading in the day don’t plan on adding these to your rig. When you have a grasp of the basics, a good set of off-road lights will illuminate far more than your headlights. Excellent for finding that shoulder season campsite when the sun sets at 5pm. Just remember that they need to be covered when you are back on the road. We like dual-beam or flood style lights as they reveal more of the roadside and create less of a light-tunnel effect.
- Armored running boards/steps. Often called rock-sliders, these bars are a lot tougher than the average step. A little armor under your truck will let you test the limits of your vehicle without risking damage to the bodywork.
The adventures you plan on getting into are going to determine your needs, but these are certainly great places to start. So come on down to see us, we’ll get you started and make sure you #leavenothingbehind!