Must-Have Overlanding Gadgets

We can probably all agree that overlanding is all kinds of fun. There’s nothing better than hitting the road for an adventure to explore the world around us. But, we can probably also agree that overlanding involves a lot of gear. And all that gear requires a good deal of money, time to organize it and load it, and time to unpack it all when the destination is reached.

Some of you might take the “everything but the kitchen sink” approach to overlanding. Others might go as streamlined as possible. Most of us are probably somewhere in between. If there were a few must-have overlanding gadgets, though, what might they be?

Let’s have a look at some of our favorites!

Water Storage is a Must-Have Overlanding Gadget

Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway with the family, a multi-month solo adventure, or something in between, one of the most important overlanding gadgets you should have is water storage.

Now, there are all sorts of options here. On the one hand, you might go for something small and portable, like the 20-liter Front Runner Pro Water Tank shown above. With a tap built right in, this kind of water storage is ideal for quick access when you need a drink. Its small form factor means you can have plenty of water on tap (pun intended) but without taking up tons of space in your vehicle.

On the other hand, you might opt for something a little larger, like the Front Runner Footwell Water Tank. This ingenious overlanding gadget is shaped to sit on your vehicle’s floor right behind the front seats. This design maximizes how much water you can carry (40 liters, to be exact) while minimizing its footprint inside your vehicle.

This tank is made from food-grade polyethylene, so it’s extremely strong and durable but also lightweight. It’s BPA-free, too. Just add the optional hose kits and tapes, and you can have easy access to water from the driver’s or passenger’s side of your rig.

There are all sorts of other options, too - small hydration jugs with faucets, space-saving dromedary bags, big water tanks you can mount to any flat surface, and many other options in between. Whatever kind of adventure you go on, and wherever the road may lead you, you can find the perfect water storage solution!

Stay Warm with a Diesel Heater

Fall will be here before we know it, and that means some cooler weather for camping and overlanding adventures. There’s no need to shiver through those chilly nights, though…

One of the best overlanding gadgets you can add to your kit is a diesel heater. These heaters, like the one shown above from Planar Heaters, offer so many benefits for your travels. For example, diesel heaters produce instant, dry heat. So, you get the dual advantage of warming up immediately and not having to worry about condensation inside your tent, vehicle, camper, or whatever your overlanding rig might be.

But that’s just the start of the benefits of these heaters. These Planar Heaters models boast amenities like the following:

Super portable
Crush-proof, rain-resistant case
Ability to run on diesel or kerosene (and 12-volt power)
Wired remote for easy operation
Can operate at high altitudes (up to 8,200 feet above sea level)
Available in 2kw and 4kw models

On top of all that, heaters like this minimize the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. That’s because the heater sits outside, and the warm, dry air is ducted inside. The five-foot duct hose puts enough space between you and the heater that you can enjoy a warm tent or vehicle with far less worry of dangerous fumes building up inside. It’s a win-win!

Not convinced? Get a complete walk-through of this heater with Brody in the video above!

Need Power? Try a Heated Battery!

Most folks these days need supplemental power for overlanding gadgets (like the Planar Heater discussed above). Sure, you can try to run your gadgets off of your vehicle’s battery, but that increases the likelihood of running your battery down and being in a bit of a mess.

So, an auxiliary battery is a great gadget to add to your kit, and when it comes to batteries, it doesn’t get any better than Battle Born.

Battle Born is a battle-tested brand with decades of experience designing and building better batteries for overlanding applications. Aside from the rugged build quality and reliability these batteries offer, you can also get them with a heated battery kit for your trips during the colder months.

These kits are really simple, too…

The heated battery has integrated low-draw technology that keeps the battery warm and ready to charge. The heated battery kit has a switch that allows you to turn the battery heater on or off as needed, making it easy and convenient to keep the battery warm. However, Battle Born also includes a heat battery jumper wire, which can be used to start the heating element directly from your battery. This gives you two ways to keep the battery warm, no matter the weather.

All this is included in a 100ah battery that’s waterproof and sealed, has a built-in battery management system, and is rated for 3,000-5,000 cycles. In other words, this overlanding gadget will keep your electronics powered up for trips now and long into the future.

Must-Have Overlanding Gadget: Organized Storage

As mentioned earlier, you can take a whole lot of gear with you on your trips. Without organized storage, your gear can become a jumbled mess, making it impossible to find what you need. So, the solution is to implement smart storage strategies that help you keep all your stuff neat and tidy.

Again, you can go in any number of directions here. A dry storage box like the one shown above from Overland Vehicle Systems is a fantastic portable option for keeping smaller items, like your kitchen kit. This 53-quart box is made with a durable polyethylene material for long-lasting performance and also comes with a military-grade waterproof and dustproof gasket to keep whatever you have inside clean and dry. There’s even an integrated bottle opener!

If your storage needs are more robust, the Aluminess Deluxe Storage Box shown above is an overlanding gadget that is well worth your money. This box mounts on the rear of your campervan (with a rear door box rack or rear bumper that are sold separately )and provides you with dry, secure storage space so the inside of your van is less cluttered.

The box is made of aluminum to keep weight down and provide extraordinary strength at the same time. At 30 inches tall, 24 inches wide, and 16 inches deep, there is all sorts of room for organizing items that you need, but don’t need at your fingertips inside your van. You can keep your gear inside without worry, too - the box is watertight and double-locking!

Other Must-Have Overlanding Gadgets to Make Life on the Road Better

It would be impossible to list all the must-have gear you need to hit the road, but the overlanding gadgets described above are among some of the most useful and beneficial. Other items you might consider investing in for your travels include the following:

A quality ground tent (and related supplies, like stakes) or a roomy rooftop tent, like the Eezi-Awn Sword shown above. We can help you decide between a hard shell and a soft shell tent!
An awning for protection from the elements.
Recovery gear for when the journey gets dicey.
A comfortable camp chair for relaxing.
A durable camp table for prepping food, eating meals, and playing games at camp.
Fridges (including smart options), coolers (like the Viking Series 75 shown below), and slides to outfit your rig with a solid kitchen.
Stoves, grills, and fuel to have hot meals on your trips.

At the end of the day, what you need gear-wise for your overlanding trips really depends on how you travel, where you’re going, when you’re traveling, and how many people are with you. Personal preference plays into it as well.

Regardless of what your plans might be, we’re happy to help you make your overland trips better. That’s why BTR - pronounced better - is in our name! So, drop by our facility off I-20 in Abilene, give us a call at 325-274-8389, or send us a message, and our experts will be happy to help you get geared up for your adventure with the overlanding gadgets that suit your needs the best!