by Matt Konkle
Torque Editor-in-Chief
A sense of adventure. A sense of being in control of your own destination. A sense of savoring the journey.
There are many ways to define what it means to be a true overlander, but those three break it down into the pure sense of that topic. Just a plain need to explore, and to do it on your own time so you can enjoy everything about the trip.
These days, more people than ever are packing up their vehicles and setting off to explore — whether that means far-away trail systems, deep into the woods for a wee or two at a time, or the nearest off-road (or National) park.
We definitely understand that urge to get away and unplug for a while. To see nature from up close rather than through a television set or smartphone.
So, if you’re planning to head off the grid anytime soon, then you want to make sure your Jeep is all set for a proper overlanding adventure.
Few vehicles are better for doing this than a Jeep CJ or Wrangler. Rugged, reliable and capable in all sorts of conditions, and on all types of terrain, it is hard to beat combination. And with these must-have mods, your Jeep will be even more ready to take you, as well as friends and family, pretty much wherever you are going.
LED Light Bar
When you are headed off-the-grid, not all your travels will be filled with beautiful sunlight. Sometimes you'll hit rain or severely overcast skies. Sometimes you'll need to travel by night. And while your headlights can give you passable vision in these circumstances, having a high-lumen, super-bright LED Light Bar works wonders to illuminate the road ahead.
Most lightbars are lightweight, durable, easy to install and affordable. Some can go above the windshield, which is probably the most preferred spot, but others can mount to your front aftermarket bumper, or on the hood. So there are plenty of options to help keep you moving forward in all conditions.
Roof Rack
We all understand that storage options inside a Jeep are limited. The four door versions do make it a bit easier, but when you have passengers then things can still get cramped inside.
So when you need to take a few more supplies along for your off-the-grid ride, then finding a quality roof rack is a smart, sensible modification. Some racks are baskets you can attach to the vehicle's hardtop, or over the spare tire, while others offer rails that either mount to the hardtop's drip rails, or extend down and mount to the back bumper and windshield hinge area. Just make sure you pay attention to each product's weight capacity rating to find the one that will work best for you. No matter if you have a hard top Jeep, or soft top, there is certainly a rack out there to fit your needs.
Tent/Camping Gear
When heading out on an off-the-grid trip, you’ll certainly need to spend a night (or several nights) on the trail. And while you can definitely sleep inside your Jeep, it isn’t really the best (or most comfortable) option. After all, you want to be well rested each morning, right?
So finding, and investing, in a ground or rooftop tent is really a must have for anyone planning on being away from home for a bit.
Ground tents are fine and can fit anywhere from one to six (or so) people depending on the style you choose. But for the ultimate in off-the-grid traveling, you'll want a rooftop tent. Like its name says, this one mounts above the roof of your Jeep and keeps you off the ground which means a flatter surface and a bit more comfort. These also come with a ladder to give you easy access. Just, er, remember you are sleeping above the Jeep when nature calls in the middle of the night.
CB/GMRS Radio
The very definition of off-the-grid adventuring means you’ll probably find yourself with no cell service for much of the time. So having another form of communication is paramount.
For some, this can mean a nice CB Radio set up that helps you talk with others in your group when trail riding, while also giving you access to weather/emergency channels. For others, it may suggest a GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) radio that offers a larger range which is nice if you are solo traveling. Either way, a solid radio is definitely a must in order to have alternate communications when you are off the pavement—even if merely to speak with others in your group.
Jerry Cans
If you are traveling long distances through backcountry, then bringing extra gas and water is essential. After all, when is the last time you came across a gas station deep in the woods? Sure, you can try and take a few of those gas containers like what you use for the lawn mower, but those are not really practical. Plus, they would take up way too much space.
For off-the-grid travels, traditional metal jerry cans or rugged plastic containers like RotopaX can be mounted to various places on the outside of your Jeep. This not only helps alleviate interior storage issues, but also allows for simple access when you need to use them.
Heavy Duty Front Bumper
Let’s face facts on your factory Jeep front bumper. It is ok for warding off the errant shopping cart or the like, but it is not really designed to take the kind of abuse that off-the-grid traveling can dish out. Plus, it really doesn't have much in the way of options besides the fog light openings. Many do not even have recovery points.
That’s why finding a solid, heavy duty off-road bumper is critical before you head out. Look for one with mounting points (like D right mounts or tow hooks) in case you are in a recovery situation, tabs for auxiliary lighting if you desire and something that offers space to mount a winch. From there it really is personal preference between full-width, mid-width or stubby bumpers.
Tow Strap
Show us someone headed off-the grid without a tow strap, and we’ll show you someone most likely bound for trouble. It really doesn’t matter how good a driver you think you are, or how well you’ve set up your Jeep, you just never know when something is going to go wrong on the trail, or in the wild.
So make sure a high quality tow strap finds its way into your gear. Not only that, but also make sure you include a pair of D-rings along with that strap in order to connect with another vehicle’s recovery point—just in case.
Winch
You can get away with not having a winch, usually, if you play on the trails with friends or your local Jeep group. That’s because someone in the group will probably have one on the front of their vehicle.
However, you can’t count on anyone but yourself, normally, when headed off-the-grid. So having a solid winch is a must—the same way that tow strap needs to be in your vehicle.
A winch means having that ability to pull yourself, or others, to safety should something happen. It also means having something to get yourself up a rocky hill, or some other steep incline, should you find yourself stuck.
Most winches these days come with a lightweight synthetic cable, but several do offer steel line as well. And while there is debate on which one is better, that lighter synthetic cable is usually the attractive option because of all the additional weight you'll be carrying in the Jeep.
Tool Kit
Having the right tool for the job is important in just about any situation, but it’s absolutely essential in the wilderness where you need to be entirely self-sufficient. From simple Torx socket sets, to full-blown tool kits, there are many different options to help make sure you have just the tools you need to install or fix pretty much anything on your Jeep.
Additionally, bringing along a reliable diagnostic tool is highly recommended to help you figure out engine or electrical issues, while tire repair kits can give you peace of mind should you encounter tire problems. Even items like flashlights, trail axes and multi-function shovels are perfect tools to complete your off-the-grid kit.
Lift Kit
Simply put, a suspension lift kit adds ground clearance and allows you to fit larger tires on your vehicle, while also improving your Jeep’s off-road capability. Sure, you can take your stock Jeep on a camping trip and be fine, but when you are headed off-the-grid, then having extra ground clearance is pretty important. You just never know what you'll need to overcome.
Lift kits can be mild, such as polyurethane spacers, or wild with entire new suspension components like control arms, coils or leaf springs, shocks, stabilizers, track bars and drag links—among other items—all to give you varying degrees of lift.
Keep in mind, the higher you lift the vehicle, the more things you may need to add in order to retain a factory-like ride. Additionally, the higher you go, the more weight you'll be lifting up. So plan that lift kit purchase around what you really think your off-the-grid travels will require.
All-Terrain Tires
When you are building your perfect off-the-grid Jeep, there are definitely a lot of things to bring along. But no matter how much stuff you add, there are still only going to be four contact points with the ground. And if you are still on those factory street tires that first came with your vehicle, you’ll really need to upgrade to a true all-terrain tire for the best wilderness performance.
All-terrain tires give you a perfect mix of rubber compounds designed for both pavement, and off-pavement use. They are more aggressive than street tires, but still quieter than most mud tires, while offering a tight tread design with plenty of grooves to maintain traction in nearly all situations.
