1. I'm Australian so there's no such thing as excess water 2. Again, Australian 3. Limb risers protect your windscreen and snorkel (but we barely run them) 4. A real cold air intake has a shroud to keep engine air out like my GTI 5. High lifts are excellent for different terrains when you don't get the choice on the ground you're jacking on
When it comes to overlanding I feel like one must look to the Australians and South Africans to determine what's useful and what's frivolous.. places of varied terrain where breaking down could be life or death. That said, I haven't had a need for limb risers but calling them useless seems incorrect.
I live In San Diego and it's similar to Australia , overlanders out here use pretty much the same gear as you guys. I couldn't imagine going out in the desert with minimal water.
This video is actually the first time I've ever heard anyone say anything about them being used to prevent pinstriping. Only ever heard of them being used to protect the windshield.
I grew up using a bumper jacket (high lift jack) and I love them. They are extremely versatile, if you know how to use it properly and safely. Other than my family, I don’t know anyone that knows how to actually use one. You are 100% right that they are useless if you don’t know what you’re doing, and also very dangerous.
You can do more with a hi-lift than most people know how to do anyway, but you're on the money that they can bite ya if you don't learn how to work them. Actually had to shove my truck away from my wife when she was in an angry huff changing our truck from summer to winter tires on her own by her own choice. She changed her tune after she realized how close to dead she just had been.
Limb risers aren’t to save your paint. They keep your windshield from being smacked by branches. At around $30, they’re cheap and if they prevent one broken windshield they’ve more than paid for themselves.
My limb risers saved my windshield from a falling object. The limb risers got ripped out of their mounting points, but they stopped it a few inches from my windshield and hood. I was able to easily bolt them back into place.
The purpose of Limb risers are not protecting paint job or windshield, they help to push the branches away so you can able to see through faster, Camel Trophy Defender use them over 40 years ago, oh I forgot you haven’t born yet,😅😅😅😅😅
I do solo trips all over in my truck. I use a lifesaver jug for my water jug as it ensures whatever water i get from gas stations or water sources on the road is clean to drink but only carry a 20L with 20 extra per person. Limb risers if done right with cable can save light pods and windshields from stray branches and tree branches. High lift jack as a backup winch or secondary winch for crosshill situations. Possibly also needing to lift a wheel or axle direct using a tire strap, and doing a tire repair popping the bead. But you did admit that most dont know how to use them and those people shouldnt carry them and that i agree with. In the end, everyones needs are different so you have to go somewhere and see what might fix your problems or difficulties.
Hard disagree on water, and water filtration. That may be enough for where you live, but in the Southwest, where water is generally not readily available in the mountains, having "excess" is a great idea. Running out of gas will be a PITA, running out of water will kill you. When it's hot, you're looking at more than a gallon per day per person, not to mention it being awful nice to be able to wash your hands, rinse your dishes, etc. I've had "plenty" of water twice, as in 10 gallons for 2 people for 3 days, and due to extenuating circumstances, ran out once and came pretty damn close the 2nd time. Now, do you need a 300$ water filtration system? No. I have a 70$ pump one, more designed for backpacking but it will do the job just fine given some time and elbow grease for a 5 or 10 gallon container.
@@brocklastname6682to many beautiful parts of the desert to only bring a couple gallons of water. Especially if you’re not planning on driving every day.
19:50 Pro-Eagle off-road jack. Designed to raise lifted vehicles in awkward terrain. It has the stability for use in off-road conditions. A bottle jack is a good idea, uses less space, and costs less, but has a small bottom surface, and depending on the terrain could be useless. Not hate or rebuttal. We're here to help each other, which this video touches on some constructive feedback that needs to be said. Definitely appreciate you putting this video out there.
Agree with everything you said, except the limb risers. I dont have limb risers on my vehicle but I have been in scenarios where having a limb riser would have been beneficial. Its not for saving paint. Its for tight trails and pushing the branches away from your windshield. No you dont need to go very fast to have an errant branch smack your windshield
We have enough time doing this and now know the real world requirements for basic overlanding. I too find my solar panels to be useless in most situations. Love the part about the hi lift jack. You just saved me a few bucks. Keep up the great work.
If you run a fridge and are in warm climates a solar panel is a must if you r are not driving everyday enough to recharge. That is even with a second battery. We have dual battery systems in 3 vehicles. All three have their own fridge and they also all have a hood solar panel. I deem them a necessity based on actual use in the desert SW.
You said it correctly, your personal experience. Overlanding is such a meshing of other outdoor activities you can't put it in it's own little bucket. It is camping, it is offroading, it is roadtripping, it is survival, and so much more. The advice you're giving is great for someone exactly like you. I wonder how many people are exactly like you... Also, Huron-Manistee National Forest has trails so tight they can become impassable during certain times of the year. I do actually agree that limb risers wouldn't help much. It just goes to show you have a certain scope of experience that you're speaking to, and thats fine, but it should not be taken as gospel by your viewers.
Love the cold air intake example and explanation. Double thumbs up! Being as those cold air intakes make more sound (14:18 woshy sound) some folks think their vehicle is more powerful. Heck, if sound produced more power my wife would be the CEO of the universe. As for the hi-lift jack, we thought it might be needed for recovery, well it came in handy a few times for pulling fence posts out of the ground; bada-boom. It now sits in the basement.
I think your comments on the Hi-lift are very valid, in that you need to know how to use it and maintain it. And the number of times you will use it is likely once a year at most, for very specific uses so it tends to be dead weight. For example, I have used mine with a tire lift kit to lift tires out of a collapsed wood culvert. But this is a case where a winch would not help as I had to go backward and get the frame off the ground. Yes, bottle jack would have worked, with a lot of digging to get it in place. And it was a long hard couple of hours as was. Excellent video and commentary
As someone who is just getting into this overland stuff I appreciate the info you share it makes A lot of sense that’s the main reason I subscribed to this channel plus y’all from the Ozarks as well so I’ll see close trails to me
My favorite thing is seeing the high-lift Jack's mounted on trucks with factory bumpers and no rock sliders. So it has no method of lifting it or pulling it as a winch.
@benjaminjonholman Lots of fake overlanders in Colorado. They take a stock truck and burger it out with lights and lifts and it has small street tires. 🤣
Great content and no complaints here on anything you said or recommend. I admit I am one of those that have limb risers - but not for protection against pin stripes (that just seams stupid to me), but for windshield protection. I live in Idaho and spend a lot of time traveling the southern part which is mostly desert. The trees and bushes are low and very tight on a lot of the trails I frequent, where MANY branches (some 2"-3" thick) hit against your windshield (and Jeep windshields are notorious for damage). My limb risers help direct those branches over my windshield so I don't have to stop and cut the branches off the trees. Anything bigger and the saw(s) come out. I do have a High-lift (but I'm an old timer) that I've used several times, but never for changing a tire. I also carry 2 bottle jacks which are much more useful in 99% of needs.
We were camped at Alta Lakes in CO a couple summers ago and we did actually use the lifestraw bag and it worked great. We were running low on water and it was nice to have because a run to the store would have been a hassle. I also like it because it stores easily and you never know when you might need to treat water in an emergency. I think I paid $100 for the 3 gallon bag.
I agree with Brett on limb risers. I have them, they do work. Saved my windshield a few times on some trails. Thanks for your opinion. I agree with the water section.
I just subscribed because I found you with Revere Overland yesterday. You really pushed some buttons with this video. It looks like most people agree with you on the solar panels but that is about it. I have used my hi-lift jack but I had to use it in conjunction with a bottle jack. I got a lift a few months ago and my Wrangler jack would not go high enough and neither would my bottle jack. So, the combination worked. I have since now have a block of wood to set my jack on that will work. But I will keep my cool looking hi-lift jack since it is not mounted on the hood.
We have since started carrying less water, 2 gal Rotopax and few Nalgene, sometimes a gallon jug depending on cooking. Filter is for backpacking and hunting out west. Our solar is full time mounted to tent, it pays no rent. We run fridge full time and rig sits more than runs even as a daily. High lift Jack, most folks don’t know how to use properly. I grew up using them…on the farm. Super handy, I don’t carry one and don’t think I would full time. On our 4Runner I think the factory Jack will still work We snorkeled lol Good video
My only differing thoughts are on "cold air" intakes. They do work, but only marginally and at higher RPMs. At most +10HP in certain special conditions. Company and independent dynos show this too beyond just theoretical fluid mechanics. Stock intakes are designed to be at the best possible minimum standard at normal operating conditions (on roads at 1-3RPM) for as cheap as possible. At higher RPM (3-5) they are slightly restrictive, its the nature of fluid mechanics in tubes especially with filters. Larger intakes take up more space, cost more, are louder which some people dont like, and have little benefit to the average consumer driving normally. That's why they aren't stock. The "dream" performance combo would be a large tube snorkle (real cold air) feeding down into an enclosed cold air intake to maximize filtered flow even in high RPM.
I'd also point out that the temps for a "cold air intake" only become ambient when the vehicle is moving at a moderate to significant (highway) speed, and not so much when wheeling down a trail. I mean, if you're gunning down a trail fast enough to flow air through your grille to make the underhood temps like outside air, then that's a trail for Baja racing, rather than typical "offroading".
I like seeing videos like this because it shows you what you really don’t need. all of us that like to Overland see videos and pictures of all this really neat cool expensive gear that we think we need and it really ends up being a huge waste of money. The type of equipment you need really depends on the type of Overlanding you do..
I have the same 5-gallon blue jug that was on the far screen-right. I used that alone for a 2-week trip for two of us and still had some water left over. On a weekend family trip of four of us (dishes, brushing teeth, cooking) we used 2-3 gallons at the most. I have a small hiking water filter tucked away, but have yet to need it (except for actually hiking). On a couple of occasions I've used my solar panels when its a family trip and we are settling in one location (base camp) for multiple days. But like for my recent photography trip, we were always on the move and the Jackery continuously charged from the truck.
High lift jack can serve as a handy recovery tool when buried in the mud and you need to brake the suction and get some traction boards under the tires but not something i would remember for maintenance or to carry for every Overland adventure and can be vary dangerous if used improperly
Carrying water is for emergency purposes, not everyday use. What happens if you’re in Death Valley 100 miles down a trail and you break down. You’re going to need that water.
I’m not a big water drinker myself and never really realized how long I can actually go without drinking it until I started watching vids like this lol
99% of folks camping out of 4x4s don't need to replace to their stock bumpers, front or back. Also, Skottles are $300 frying pans, lol. "But looks, its up higher!"
Cold air intake is for street rods. For going on the trail, a K&N replacement filter is a better option. When you get home from the dusty roads, you can place the filter in a tub of warm water and swish it around, rinse with running water, and dry.
I agree, even on street cars most people aren't getting any benefit from them though. Unless you've done enough modifications that your air intake is a limiting factor they have little to no effect, yet every kid with a stock Honda thinks a cold air intake will make their car fast.
Great info. Some of the same things heard from other overlanders. Make it simple. Only thing as you said if base camping for a while is solar panels. I just need enough battery power for my CPAP and wife’s CPAP. Thanks for explaining your take.
@14:05 most if not all modern vehicles come with a cold air intake from factory. In modern vehicles the factory air box is pulling in air from the upper wheel well behind the tire shrouds.
Helpful and needed. This is like a Mt Everest sherpa ranting about all his clients with money and their excessive obsession with gears. Like sherpas, we don't need no deadweights to get the ultimate experience.
How do you feel about cold air intakes in high-altitude situations? I've always ran them to help increase the availability of air (not density) above timberline in Colorado where I wheel. Maybe I'm not thinking it through.
Useful tips that will save me some money. As far as limb risers saving your windshield, any branch big enough to break a windshield isn't going to be stopped by a little limb riser. But, by all means, use them if it gives you peace of mind.
Great Info. I'm buying a Rubicon within a year, and watching your videos have help me a lot. But I disagree a little about your opinion of about water. Love your videos.
Great video and great knowledge. While someone’s feelings were probably hurt I couldn’t agree more with your recommendations. You’ll definitely save some folks some money if they pay attention.
You are absolutely right, you don't need all that extra weight. A high lift Jack. It's no good if you don't oil. It in grease it down all the time. There's always maintenance. You have to do as far as water is concerned. You are also right you need more fuel To get to places when overlanding. I carry a 5 gallon jug water That is all I need for cooking and drinking water as well as washing dishes. I really enjoy watching your videos Keep posting them on TH-cam. They are very entertaining, especially when you are wearing your crazy hairdo And pushing limits on your jeep. Keep posting on TH-cam, be safe out there.Take care and good luck In all you do.
Great feedback for rookie overlanders like me who are going and buying everything and anything they think off 😢 What is the water spout you have shown for the water rotopax you showed and use? Looks very functional.
Some very good lessons here. I grew up in British Columbia, Canada where the conditions are very much different. Water was seldom a problem when offroading and the biggest issue was keeping warm and dry as I have been caught in a snow storm in August high up in the mountains. Now I live in Texas, don't worry so much about keeping warm and dry but have learned the importance of having lots of water on hand. One point: I completely disagree with your comment about cold air intakes, they do improve mileage and power and if you have a washable element they save money on replacing air filters in the long run. Their design helps insulate them from the heat coming off the motor and radiator as well as giving a less restrictive path for the airflow. I studied Chemistry in college and air when cooled by even as little as 10 degrees will give you noticeably more power and can support the combustion of more fuel allowing the engine to provide necessary power for any given load at a lower rpm which will also help reduce downshifts. Further, will you recover the $350 cost for the cold air intake? Eventually, yes.
I couldn't agree with you more on the cold air intake.... I have a Ford Ranger that I put one on.... I had no acceleration after the truck warmed up.... I tried figuring out the problem and realized my so-called cold air intake tube was at 285 degrees..... switched it back to factory truck runs fine.
Pretty good video. I grabbed a hilift jack to strap the tire and jack up there. Also, it is a "poor mans winch" electric winches are the bees knees but these work just fine too. I dont disgree with any of it though, i know mine is mostly decoration! 😊
I agree with you. We all tend to think of "worst case" and "we need this" sets in, so we buy things without thinking it through. I have several things in my garage that I just do not need nor have I used them. They do make great dust catchers though. LOL Thanks for the video and until next time... Travel safe.
Just wanted to weigh in on the "cold air intake" . I agree they have no place in off-roading or overlanding because of the dusty environment and poor filtration. A true "cold air intake" is sealed from the engine bay and draws colder denser air at a higher volume into the engine. The air is metered by a MAF sensor with an IAT sensor that's built into it nowadays. Your ECU uses a variety of different multipliers based off intake air temp, manifold pressure, and air volume to achieve the perfect A/F ratio at any given time. So if your cold air intake with a high flow filter is efficient enough to allow more air, which is colder, it will have to adjust the mixture as you mentioned in the video to achieve the commanded AF ratio parameters in the ECU. If all you're pulling in is hot air at a lower volume because of a restricted filter the ECU will require less fuel to achieve the desired AF ratio thus making less HP. Colder air at a higher volume will require more fuel for a complete burn which will give you more HP. I'm not willing to sacrifice my filtration system for 5-10HP so in a off-road application it's still useless unless you have a mall crawler or a sports car.
Aftermarket cold air intakes are illegal in California. The best legal thing you can do is install a 21:41 high-flow air filter media. A cat-back (or filter-back for diesel) exhaust system is also still legal. Even an oil catch can or a non-stock intercooler are technically illegal. Essentially, anything that modifies the induction or exhaust cycle is illegal.
@@JamesMcGillis That is an incorrect generalization. Aftermarket parts are LIMITED, but not completely legal. Certain manufacturers make aftermarket components for intakes and exhausts that are CARB legal [California Air Resources Board].
Great video! I agreed with everything. I do carry a Grayl filter just for hiking. That way I can carry one bottle of water and refill as needed along the trail. I carried a high lift on the brush guard of my 91 Explore back in the day. NEVER used it lol
Thank you for doing this video. Just bought my Jeep and yes everything you said makes sense. Especially about looking cool in the Jeep community. It has definitely made me think twice about future purchases.
Matt was talking about my ARB jack….yes it was a failure on changing his tire (not to mention it had broken levers :/) but it was useful to work on Ryans 4Runner when it blew up his drive shaft on the side of a steep incline. The have their purposes but a agree the high lift is very sketchy
Time 13:27. I guarantee you here in the east, our trails are narrower! They’re so overgrown most often it’s like going through tunnels! Also why my trucks always have MILLIONS of pinstripes! Lol. As for limb risers? IMO pointless. They’re supposed to keep branches off the windshield. They don’t do what they’re claimed to do. Any branches large enough to cause damage, usually break the limb risers anyway. Some guys have them, many have tried them. As for me? I don’t use them either. Knowing what size limb to push with your windshield comes with experience. As for the other? I just accept that pinstripes are par for the course after 30+ years of off roading. 🙂
The internet needs more of the these kinds of videos. The only item I disagree with is the hi-lift. One time I got stuck in a bog axle deep in remote trans Labrador highway. The only way out was to reverse winch using the hi-lift. I was alone and camping off the road, no cell phone and no other trucks to pull me out.
Every 6 months I pull everything out and if I never used it it gets thrown in the garage. You got me on the water. I had a huge 12 gallon tank and I went down to a little 4 gallon waterport for hand washing and cooking water. Enough for a quick Shower. Hotel every 3-4 days and body wash wipes is key. You got me on the hanging water filter thing. In the garage it went. 😂 Water is weight. McDonald’s is awesome for filling up water. Triple filtered. Very cold. I bring in a big bottle and fill up. Solar panel on the roof works good for the beach and and home to keep the fridge on 24/7. With redvision you don’t need it anyway. 😉 I had limb risers. Ok on a full size on my tundra here in the Appalachian mountains it is tight trails. Don’t have them in the jeep. Good for hanging wet clothes. 😂 100% agree on the cold air intake. Exsp on a jeep. Extra dumb points on a diesel that already has a intercooler 😂 Please do a review on the syclone pre filter!!! You will love it. I sold my high lift jack. Used one time. Saved my ass. But Bottle jacks 100% and soo heavy!!!
Good video. Sometimes I use my hi lift jack with a lift mate in order to place a traction board right under the tire. It's a lifesaver when my tires just won't bite onto the boards
Still new to your channel. But have you ever broke down your power management system? I'm looking to add more aux power, but I'm not sure where to start.
So when I was in college, I had a highlift on my hood. I used it fairly often. No winch, so I self recovered several times with it. I used it as a comealong several times, and I also used it to get things under the tires when I got stuck.
Hey Matt. I'm still fairly new. The only thing I have that you mentioned is water filtration. I have a 3 stage water filtration system. We bring a 7 gallon water jug and just get water from the river. But, I take my wife with me, and she and I love showers lol. I have a shower tent and hot water heater. Love your videos bro
Congrats on the channel’s success Matt. It’s great to see how many patrons’ names follow mine on the scroll in such a short time. All very sound advice on this video. My water situation is a bit different in my JLU since I trailer a duel sport motorcycle. I’ll base camp for a couple days and explore the area on the bike, then load up and head to another epic campsite like on the Mulberry River last weekend ;-). A real, although quick shower every evening is a must but my 6 gallon Igloo Jerry can and CampLux shower is perfect and will easily last 8 or 9 days or until the next fuel stop. A loaded 392 pulling a trailer equals MANY fuel and water stops. I use a Dometic water can for cooking and clean up and an empty LifeSaver Jerry can for emergencies but, like you, may be getting rid of it soon because it’s never had a drop of water in it. Love the videos and hope to see you in the Ozarks sometime!
I agree with a lot of that! Hi Lift jack especially!! Never got one and never seen a friend use one! I did limb risers on my old TJ, but have not gone with them for my JL. Snorkel I did before and I am on the fence.. but definitely not doing a "cold air" intake... honest and truth sir.. good job
My favourite thing to do for showers is swing by a town pool, have a swim and shower. Especially nice in the winter seasons. Also the only thing I’ve used my high lift jack for was to bend my ATV rack back when I rolled the bike lol
@@AlanTrades charging from the 12v or an inverter or DCDC charger, depending on the batteries, is much more effective than solar if you’re in the move.
I agree with everything but the high lift. I never used mine until recently when I got so stuck in mud that I had to use it to get the traction boards under the rear tires to get out (high lift sitting on top of a log that was in a trench we dug, so the log wouldn’t sink). Winch wouldn’t have worked, nothing to winch on to. But yeah they’re heavy as hell and I’ve had the base pin snap and kick it out at my shin once …. So you have to be careful.
IMO, the extra water is emergency reserve if you break down a long distance from any water source. Probably more important in the deserts of the south west and socal than the ozarks
No limb risers here and I have been on trails where I was pushing over 2 inch trees and limbs banging off all corners of the rig. Never a dent nor a cracked windshield.
Thanks for the advise👏👏agree with most of them based on my limited experience so far, maybe disagree with the limb raisers which I was planning to install basically to protect the windshield
When I watch Ozark overland and Trail Recon collaboration videos, i like to imagine I'm watching Don Knotts and John Ritter are out overlanding together 😅
Some of your points are very valid. Where I live, the deserts of Nevada, water is life. You can NEVER have too much.
Right. They live in Arkansas and pretend to be experts of overloading out West. Zero clue.
Truth!!! I don’t get the rotopack. 2Gal jug for over a hundred dollars? Yeah, a 5 gal jug for 20 makes all the sense in the world. My opinion anyway
@@westwall6808 you can definitely have too much water take as much as necessary
1. I'm Australian so there's no such thing as excess water
2. Again, Australian
3. Limb risers protect your windscreen and snorkel (but we barely run them)
4. A real cold air intake has a shroud to keep engine air out like my GTI
5. High lifts are excellent for different terrains when you don't get the choice on the ground you're jacking on
How DARE you question an obvious EXPERT from ARKANSAS. /sarcasm
What cold air intake model do you have and what vehicle do you have it installed on? Are there advantages that you notice with it? Thanks.
When it comes to overlanding I feel like one must look to the Australians and South Africans to determine what's useful and what's frivolous.. places of varied terrain where breaking down could be life or death. That said, I haven't had a need for limb risers but calling them useless seems incorrect.
I live In San Diego and it's similar to Australia , overlanders out here use pretty much the same gear as you guys. I couldn't imagine going out in the desert with minimal water.
Always thought “Limb Risers” were to protect the windshield?
Yeah I’ve never heard of using them to prevent pin-striping but they make sense for preventing windshield damage.
This video is actually the first time I've ever heard anyone say anything about them being used to prevent pinstriping. Only ever heard of them being used to protect the windshield.
If you're going fast enough for a limb to break the windshield then that's driver error and poor decision making. 😂😂
@@OzarkOverlandAdventures Well, it doesn’t take much! Let’s count the cracked ones at OE this year! I guess we’ll have to disagree on this one. 😉
I use the “limb risers” to clear the view in dense and bushy trails.
I grew up using a bumper jacket (high lift jack) and I love them. They are extremely versatile, if you know how to use it properly and safely. Other than my family, I don’t know anyone that knows how to actually use one. You are 100% right that they are useless if you don’t know what you’re doing, and also very dangerous.
i love mine also
You can do more with a hi-lift than most people know how to do anyway, but you're on the money that they can bite ya if you don't learn how to work them. Actually had to shove my truck away from my wife when she was in an angry huff changing our truck from summer to winter tires on her own by her own choice. She changed her tune after she realized how close to dead she just had been.
and there great for pulling power
Limb risers aren’t to save your paint. They keep your windshield from being smacked by branches. At around $30, they’re cheap and if they prevent one broken windshield they’ve more than paid for themselves.
My limb risers saved my windshield from a falling object. The limb risers got ripped out of their mounting points, but they stopped it a few inches from my windshield and hood. I was able to easily bolt them back into place.
If you're going fast enough for a limb to break the windshield then that's driver error and poor decision making. 😂😂
Right?.. Going fast and furious? 😮
@@OzarkOverlandAdventures i represent that statement
The purpose of Limb risers are not protecting paint job or windshield, they help to push the branches away so you can able to see through faster, Camel Trophy Defender use them over 40 years ago, oh I forgot you haven’t born yet,😅😅😅😅😅
I do solo trips all over in my truck. I use a lifesaver jug for my water jug as it ensures whatever water i get from gas stations or water sources on the road is clean to drink but only carry a 20L with 20 extra per person. Limb risers if done right with cable can save light pods and windshields from stray branches and tree branches. High lift jack as a backup winch or secondary winch for crosshill situations. Possibly also needing to lift a wheel or axle direct using a tire strap, and doing a tire repair popping the bead. But you did admit that most dont know how to use them and those people shouldnt carry them and that i agree with.
In the end, everyones needs are different so you have to go somewhere and see what might fix your problems or difficulties.
Hard disagree on water, and water filtration. That may be enough for where you live, but in the Southwest, where water is generally not readily available in the mountains, having "excess" is a great idea. Running out of gas will be a PITA, running out of water will kill you. When it's hot, you're looking at more than a gallon per day per person, not to mention it being awful nice to be able to wash your hands, rinse your dishes, etc.
I've had "plenty" of water twice, as in 10 gallons for 2 people for 3 days, and due to extenuating circumstances, ran out once and came pretty damn close the 2nd time.
Now, do you need a 300$ water filtration system? No. I have a 70$ pump one, more designed for backpacking but it will do the job just fine given some time and elbow grease for a 5 or 10 gallon container.
Agreed.
@@brocklastname6682to many beautiful parts of the desert to only bring a couple gallons of water. Especially if you’re not planning on driving every day.
One point about water I would add is that it depends on where you are going. The Ozarks seem to have water everywhere.
Yes except for July and August. lol.
This type of brutal honesty is very welcome.
19:50 Pro-Eagle off-road jack. Designed to raise lifted vehicles in awkward terrain. It has the stability for use in off-road conditions. A bottle jack is a good idea, uses less space, and costs less, but has a small bottom surface, and depending on the terrain could be useless. Not hate or rebuttal. We're here to help each other, which this video touches on some constructive feedback that needs to be said. Definitely appreciate you putting this video out there.
Hey Matt I believe the limb riser is designed to save your windshield. lol I live in western Canada and we have tight trails too
Agree with everything you said, except the limb risers. I dont have limb risers on my vehicle but I have been in scenarios where having a limb riser would have been beneficial. Its not for saving paint. Its for tight trails and pushing the branches away from your windshield. No you dont need to go very fast to have an errant branch smack your windshield
My limb risers are only for supporting tarps when hail is expected - saves the hood and windshield.
I speak for many when I say that I really appreciate your honesty and your ability to eat some humble pie. Good on ya.
Thanks.
We have enough time doing this and now know the real world requirements for basic overlanding. I too find my solar panels to be useless in most situations. Love the part about the hi lift jack. You just saved me a few bucks. Keep up the great work.
If you run a fridge and are in warm climates a solar panel is a must if you r are not driving everyday enough to recharge. That is even with a second battery. We have dual battery systems in 3 vehicles. All three have their own fridge and they also all have a hood solar panel. I deem them a necessity based on actual use in the desert SW.
You said it correctly, your personal experience. Overlanding is such a meshing of other outdoor activities you can't put it in it's own little bucket. It is camping, it is offroading, it is roadtripping, it is survival, and so much more. The advice you're giving is great for someone exactly like you. I wonder how many people are exactly like you...
Also, Huron-Manistee National Forest has trails so tight they can become impassable during certain times of the year. I do actually agree that limb risers wouldn't help much. It just goes to show you have a certain scope of experience that you're speaking to, and thats fine, but it should not be taken as gospel by your viewers.
Love the cold air intake example and explanation. Double thumbs up! Being as those cold air intakes make more sound (14:18 woshy sound) some folks think their vehicle is more powerful. Heck, if sound produced more power my wife would be the CEO of the universe. As for the hi-lift jack, we thought it might be needed for recovery, well it came in handy a few times for pulling fence posts out of the ground; bada-boom. It now sits in the basement.
Us old guys that grew up with bumper jacks know how dangerous lifting from the bumper can be. It best to lift it from under the frame or the axel.
I couldn’t agree with you more on the cold air intake and Hi Lift. Heavy and never got used, I took mine off years ago.
I think your comments on the Hi-lift are very valid, in that you need to know how to use it and maintain it. And the number of times you will use it is likely once a year at most, for very specific uses so it tends to be dead weight.
For example, I have used mine with a tire lift kit to lift tires out of a collapsed wood culvert. But this is a case where a winch would not help as I had to go backward and get the frame off the ground. Yes, bottle jack would have worked, with a lot of digging to get it in place. And it was a long hard couple of hours as was.
Excellent video and commentary
As someone who is just getting into this overland stuff I appreciate the info you share it makes A lot of sense that’s the main reason I subscribed to this channel plus y’all from the Ozarks as well so I’ll see close trails to me
My favorite thing is seeing the high-lift Jack's mounted on trucks with factory bumpers and no rock sliders. So it has no method of lifting it or pulling it as a winch.
@benjaminjonholman Lots of fake overlanders in Colorado. They take a stock truck and burger it out with lights and lifts and it has small street tires. 🤣
Great content and no complaints here on anything you said or recommend. I admit I am one of those that have limb risers - but not for protection against pin stripes (that just seams stupid to me), but for windshield protection. I live in Idaho and spend a lot of time traveling the southern part which is mostly desert. The trees and bushes are low and very tight on a lot of the trails I frequent, where MANY branches (some 2"-3" thick) hit against your windshield (and Jeep windshields are notorious for damage). My limb risers help direct those branches over my windshield so I don't have to stop and cut the branches off the trees. Anything bigger and the saw(s) come out. I do have a High-lift (but I'm an old timer) that I've used several times, but never for changing a tire. I also carry 2 bottle jacks which are much more useful in 99% of needs.
A few extra gallons of water to ensure your campfires are completely out is wise and responsible.
Great tips. I don't usually buy anything from Harbor Fright but I like my bottle jack.
We were camped at Alta Lakes in CO a couple summers ago and we did actually use the lifestraw bag and it worked great. We were running low on water and it was nice to have because a run to the store would have been a hassle. I also like it because it stores easily and you never know when you might need to treat water in an emergency. I think I paid $100 for the 3 gallon bag.
@WTFover714
you don't get it..... Obviously.
I agree with Brett on limb risers. I have them, they do work. Saved my windshield a few times on some trails. Thanks for your opinion. I agree with the water section.
Gorilla Glass windshield works too
I just subscribed because I found you with Revere Overland yesterday. You really pushed some buttons with this video. It looks like most people agree with you on the solar panels but that is about it. I have used my hi-lift jack but I had to use it in conjunction with a bottle jack. I got a lift a few months ago and my Wrangler jack would not go high enough and neither would my bottle jack. So, the combination worked. I have since now have a block of wood to set my jack on that will work. But I will keep my cool looking hi-lift jack since it is not mounted on the hood.
We have since started carrying less water, 2 gal Rotopax and few Nalgene, sometimes a gallon jug depending on cooking.
Filter is for backpacking and hunting out west.
Our solar is full time mounted to tent, it pays no rent. We run fridge full time and rig sits more than runs even as a daily.
High lift Jack, most folks don’t know how to use properly. I grew up using them…on the farm. Super handy, I don’t carry one and don’t think I would full time. On our 4Runner I think the factory Jack will still work
We snorkeled lol
Good video
My only differing thoughts are on "cold air" intakes. They do work, but only marginally and at higher RPMs. At most +10HP in certain special conditions. Company and independent dynos show this too beyond just theoretical fluid mechanics. Stock intakes are designed to be at the best possible minimum standard at normal operating conditions (on roads at 1-3RPM) for as cheap as possible. At higher RPM (3-5) they are slightly restrictive, its the nature of fluid mechanics in tubes especially with filters. Larger intakes take up more space, cost more, are louder which some people dont like, and have little benefit to the average consumer driving normally. That's why they aren't stock. The "dream" performance combo would be a large tube snorkle (real cold air) feeding down into an enclosed cold air intake to maximize filtered flow even in high RPM.
I'd also point out that the temps for a "cold air intake" only become ambient when the vehicle is moving at a moderate to significant (highway) speed, and not so much when wheeling down a trail. I mean, if you're gunning down a trail fast enough to flow air through your grille to make the underhood temps like outside air, then that's a trail for Baja racing, rather than typical "offroading".
I like seeing videos like this because it shows you what you really don’t need. all of us that like to Overland see videos and pictures of all this really neat cool expensive gear that we think we need and it really ends up being a huge waste of money. The type of equipment you need really depends on the type of Overlanding you do..
I have the same 5-gallon blue jug that was on the far screen-right. I used that alone for a 2-week trip for two of us and still had some water left over. On a weekend family trip of four of us (dishes, brushing teeth, cooking) we used 2-3 gallons at the most. I have a small hiking water filter tucked away, but have yet to need it (except for actually hiking). On a couple of occasions I've used my solar panels when its a family trip and we are settling in one location (base camp) for multiple days. But like for my recent photography trip, we were always on the move and the Jackery continuously charged from the truck.
High lift jack can serve as a handy recovery tool when buried in the mud and you need to brake the suction and get some traction boards under the tires but not something i would remember for maintenance or to carry for every Overland adventure and can be vary dangerous if used improperly
Where did you purchase the spigot for your rotopax? Thanks for the great videos!
You got me on the solar panels, air intake, and hilift lol. 😅 I do bring a bottle jack tho. Basically just keep the hilift for looks now.
So let me get this straight , a guy with blue hair is going to say something looks ridiculous on a jeep ? 😂
We love the channel bud! Great topic. Where the heck do you get those rotopax nozzles?? Had no luck finding a decent one!
They are generic ones off Amazon.
Carrying water is for emergency purposes, not everyday use. What happens if you’re in Death Valley 100 miles down a trail and you break down. You’re going to need that water.
I’m not a big water drinker myself and never really realized how long I can actually go without drinking it until I started watching vids like this lol
99% of folks camping out of 4x4s don't need to replace to their stock bumpers, front or back. Also, Skottles are $300 frying pans, lol. "But looks, its up higher!"
Great video Matt. What about recovery straps? Whats a good one and how many would you carry? Any Brand specific
Cold air intake is for street rods. For going on the trail, a K&N replacement filter is a better option. When you get home from the dusty roads, you can place the filter in a tub of warm water and swish it around, rinse with running water, and dry.
I agree, even on street cars most people aren't getting any benefit from them though. Unless you've done enough modifications that your air intake is a limiting factor they have little to no effect, yet every kid with a stock Honda thinks a cold air intake will make their car fast.
K&N have been proven to let more dirt into the engine. Sure they flow more air. How do you think they do this?
Great info. Some of the same things heard from other overlanders. Make it simple.
Only thing as you said if base camping for a while is solar panels. I just need enough battery power for my CPAP and wife’s CPAP.
Thanks for explaining your take.
@14:05 most if not all modern vehicles come with a cold air intake from factory. In modern vehicles the factory air box is pulling in air from the upper wheel well behind the tire shrouds.
Thanks for this. As someone fairly new to overlanding you brought up great points that I hadn't even thought of. I appreciate what you do!
Just don't get stuck in the desert
Helpful and needed. This is like a Mt Everest sherpa ranting about all his clients with money and their excessive obsession with gears. Like sherpas, we don't need no deadweights to get the ultimate experience.
How do you feel about cold air intakes in high-altitude situations? I've always ran them to help increase the availability of air (not density) above timberline in Colorado where I wheel. Maybe I'm not thinking it through.
It's irrelevant on a modern engine. The computer controls all that.
@@OzarkOverlandAdventures cool. Thanks for the reply
Thanks for pointing out these blind spots Matt! Great work!
Useful tips that will save me some money. As far as limb risers saving your windshield, any branch big enough to break a windshield isn't going to be stopped by a little limb riser. But, by all means, use them if it gives you peace of mind.
Facts!!!
The badge of honor trial in Ocala FL would like you to hold its beer and watch this in regard to tight trails and pinstripes.
I was ganna say, Florida has some very tight trails, a lot of people just don’t know about them.
Great Info. I'm buying a Rubicon within a year, and watching your videos have help me a lot. But I disagree a little about your opinion of about water. Love your videos.
Great video and great knowledge. While someone’s feelings were probably hurt I couldn’t agree more with your recommendations. You’ll definitely save some folks some money if they pay attention.
Glad you enjoyed it!
do you get an after-market alternator in place of solar panels?
Good stuff. Its so easy to overthink overlanding gear or do what looks cool. Great video
Glad you liked it!
You are absolutely right, you don't need all that extra weight. A high lift Jack. It's no good if you don't oil. It in grease it down all the time. There's always maintenance. You have to do as far as water is concerned. You are also right you need more fuel To get to places when overlanding. I carry a 5 gallon jug water That is all I need for cooking and drinking water as well as washing dishes. I really enjoy watching your videos Keep posting them on TH-cam. They are very entertaining, especially when you are wearing your crazy hairdo And pushing limits on your jeep. Keep posting on TH-cam, be safe out there.Take care and good luck In all you do.
Great feedback for rookie overlanders like me who are going and buying everything and anything they think off 😢 What is the water spout you have shown for the water rotopax you showed and use? Looks very functional.
Some very good lessons here. I grew up in British Columbia, Canada where the conditions are very much different. Water was seldom a problem when offroading and the biggest issue was keeping warm and dry as I have been caught in a snow storm in August high up in the mountains. Now I live in Texas, don't worry so much about keeping warm and dry but have learned the importance of having lots of water on hand. One point: I completely disagree with your comment about cold air intakes, they do improve mileage and power and if you have a washable element they save money on replacing air filters in the long run. Their design helps insulate them from the heat coming off the motor and radiator as well as giving a less restrictive path for the airflow. I studied Chemistry in college and air when cooled by even as little as 10 degrees will give you noticeably more power and can support the combustion of more fuel allowing the engine to provide necessary power for any given load at a lower rpm which will also help reduce downshifts. Further, will you recover the $350 cost for the cold air intake? Eventually, yes.
Wow I learned a lot of what not to buy but as well as what to buy thanks Matt great video keep up the good hard work!
Maybe the limb risers are for saving your windshield?? idk, just thought of that right now. lol
If you're going fast enough for a limb to break the windshield then that's driver error and poor decision making. 😂😂
@@OzarkOverlandAdventures lol!
I couldn't agree with you more on the cold air intake.... I have a Ford Ranger that I put one on.... I had no acceleration after the truck warmed up.... I tried figuring out the problem and realized my so-called cold air intake tube was at 285 degrees..... switched it back to factory truck runs fine.
Highlift jacks are great for stretching fence or pulling fence posts, and that's it. Definitely a newbie piece of equipment.
Awesome video! I wanted to ask what locks/latches are you using for your roof top tent?
thanks. Just the ones that came with the iKamper.
Whats the little stubby antenna on top of the LED bar?
Midland Ghost GMRS antenna
Pretty good video. I grabbed a hilift jack to strap the tire and jack up there. Also, it is a "poor mans winch" electric winches are the bees knees but these work just fine too. I dont disgree with any of it though, i know mine is mostly decoration! 😊
I have a jk when attaching a roof tent do you need a roof rack? I can't find anything on that lol
I agree with you. We all tend to think of "worst case" and "we need this" sets in, so we buy things without thinking it through. I have several things in my garage that I just do not need nor have I used them. They do make great dust catchers though. LOL Thanks for the video and until next time... Travel safe.
Just wanted to weigh in on the "cold air intake" . I agree they have no place in off-roading or overlanding because of the dusty environment and poor filtration. A true "cold air intake" is sealed from the engine bay and draws colder denser air at a higher volume into the engine. The air is metered by a MAF sensor with an IAT sensor that's built into it nowadays. Your ECU uses a variety of different multipliers based off intake air temp, manifold pressure, and air volume to achieve the perfect A/F ratio at any given time. So if your cold air intake with a high flow filter is efficient enough to allow more air, which is colder, it will have to adjust the mixture as you mentioned in the video to achieve the commanded AF ratio parameters in the ECU. If all you're pulling in is hot air at a lower volume because of a restricted filter the ECU will require less fuel to achieve the desired AF ratio thus making less HP. Colder air at a higher volume will require more fuel for a complete burn which will give you more HP. I'm not willing to sacrifice my filtration system for 5-10HP so in a off-road application it's still useless unless you have a mall crawler or a sports car.
Aftermarket cold air intakes are illegal in California. The best legal thing you can do is install a 21:41 high-flow air filter media. A cat-back (or filter-back for diesel) exhaust system is also still legal. Even an oil catch can or a non-stock intercooler are technically illegal. Essentially, anything that modifies the induction or exhaust cycle is illegal.
@@JamesMcGillis
That is an incorrect generalization.
Aftermarket parts are LIMITED, but not completely legal.
Certain manufacturers make aftermarket components for intakes and exhausts that are CARB legal [California Air Resources Board].
That’s interesting because there is enough evidence that aftermarket cold air intakes do just fine in off-road applications.
Great video! I agreed with everything. I do carry a Grayl filter just for hiking. That way I can carry one bottle of water and refill as needed along the trail. I carried a high lift on the brush guard of my 91 Explore back in the day. NEVER used it lol
yup
Thank you for doing this video. Just bought my Jeep and yes everything you said makes sense. Especially about looking cool in the Jeep community. It has definitely made me think twice about future purchases.
So do you think I bottle jack can be janky in bad terrain or to a good support point?
All jacks are janky in bad terrain. lol.
@@OzarkOverlandAdventures well said have you actually used one or the other?
Matt was talking about my ARB jack….yes it was a failure on changing his tire (not to mention it had broken levers :/) but it was useful to work on Ryans 4Runner when it blew up his drive shaft on the side of a steep incline. The have their purposes but a agree the high lift is very sketchy
Time 13:27. I guarantee you here in the east, our trails are narrower! They’re so overgrown most often it’s like going through tunnels! Also why my trucks always have MILLIONS of pinstripes! Lol.
As for limb risers? IMO pointless. They’re supposed to keep branches off the windshield. They don’t do what they’re claimed to do. Any branches large enough to cause damage, usually break the limb risers anyway. Some guys have them, many have tried them. As for me? I don’t use them either. Knowing what size limb to push with your windshield comes with experience. As for the other? I just accept that pinstripes are par for the course after 30+ years of off roading. 🙂
Most overlanders are about fashion accessories on their rig and social media likes.
That’s not true at all. 🤦🏼♂️
Along with the bottle Jack I carry +/- 12” lengths of 2x4’s to built platforms. Great list!
The internet needs more of the these kinds of videos. The only item I disagree with is the hi-lift. One time I got stuck in a bog axle deep in remote trans Labrador highway. The only way out was to reverse winch using the hi-lift. I was alone and camping off the road, no cell phone and no other trucks to pull me out.
Hello, I'm here to troll.
You’re not very good at it. 😂
@@OzarkOverlandAdventuresBUT YOU HAVE COLORFUL HAIR!!!1
@@RevereOverland very true. And you’re from Australia. 😂
@@OzarkOverlandAdventures😂
Hahaha
Every 6 months I pull everything out and if I never used it it gets thrown in the garage.
You got me on the water. I had a huge 12 gallon tank and I went down to a little 4 gallon waterport for hand washing and cooking water. Enough for a quick Shower.
Hotel every 3-4 days and body wash wipes is key.
You got me on the hanging water filter thing. In the garage it went. 😂
Water is weight. McDonald’s is awesome for filling up water. Triple filtered. Very cold. I bring in a big bottle and fill up.
Solar panel on the roof works good for the beach and and home to keep the fridge on 24/7. With redvision you don’t need it anyway. 😉
I had limb risers. Ok on a full size on my tundra here in the Appalachian mountains it is tight trails. Don’t have them in the jeep. Good for hanging wet clothes. 😂
100% agree on the cold air intake. Exsp on a jeep. Extra dumb points on a diesel that already has a intercooler 😂
Please do a review on the syclone pre filter!!! You will love it.
I sold my high lift jack. Used one time. Saved my ass. But Bottle jacks 100% and soo heavy!!!
Great and honest video! Thank you for sharing your experiences with these products.
You are absolutely correct on all counts . Good information 👌
Good video. Sometimes I use my hi lift jack with a lift mate in order to place a traction board right under the tire. It's a lifesaver when my tires just won't bite onto the boards
Where can I find mods for an FJ Cruiser? What would you recommend for mods/accessories? Love your videos! We are hooked!! :)
Still new to your channel. But have you ever broke down your power management system? I'm looking to add more aux power, but I'm not sure where to start.
I've got a detailed install video on my aux batteries.
Ive had limb risers on anything ive taken in the woods here in eastern canada, and definitely glad i had them on a few occasions
So when I was in college, I had a highlift on my hood. I used it fairly often. No winch, so I self recovered several times with it. I used it as a comealong several times, and I also used it to get things under the tires when I got stuck.
Well done. Especially the hilift, and the hot air intake. Skills and research a much.
Hey Matt. I'm still fairly new. The only thing I have that you mentioned is water filtration. I have a 3 stage water filtration system. We bring a 7 gallon water jug and just get water from the river. But, I take my wife with me, and she and I love showers lol. I have a shower tent and hot water heater. Love your videos bro
Congrats on the channel’s success Matt. It’s great to see how many patrons’ names follow mine on the scroll in such a short time. All very sound advice on this video. My water situation is a bit different in my JLU since I trailer a duel sport motorcycle. I’ll base camp for a couple days and explore the area on the bike, then load up and head to another epic campsite like on the Mulberry River last weekend ;-). A real, although quick shower every evening is a must but my 6 gallon Igloo Jerry can and CampLux shower is perfect and will easily last 8 or 9 days or until the next fuel stop. A loaded 392 pulling a trailer equals MANY fuel and water stops. I use a Dometic water can for cooking and clean up and an empty LifeSaver Jerry can for emergencies but, like you, may be getting rid of it soon because it’s never had a drop of water in it. Love the videos and hope to see you in the Ozarks sometime!
Thanks so much!!
I agree with a lot of that! Hi Lift jack especially!! Never got one and never seen a friend use one! I did limb risers on my old TJ, but have not gone with them for my JL. Snorkel I did before and I am on the fence.. but definitely not doing a "cold air" intake... honest and truth sir.. good job
The moment you said hi lift i instantly thought bottle jack! Before today I've never even heard of limb risers. Still learning..
My favourite thing to do for showers is swing by a town pool, have a swim and shower. Especially nice in the winter seasons.
Also the only thing I’ve used my high lift jack for was to bend my ATV rack back when I rolled the bike lol
I showered at a public shower just the other day. They are wonderful!
Can't you mount the solar panels on your roof, hood, or truck bed?
Of course.
@@OzarkOverlandAdventures ok so why can't you find use out of it or find it useless for overlanding
@@AlanTrades for the same reasons I said in the video.
@OzarkOverlandAdventures yes because your said you couldn't charge it on the go, you can roof mount it
@@AlanTrades charging from the 12v or an inverter or DCDC charger, depending on the batteries, is much more effective than solar if you’re in the move.
Great info Matt! Thanks! Have you ever done a review of your RTT? I’d be interested to learn more about it.
I agree with everything but the high lift. I never used mine until recently when I got so stuck in mud that I had to use it to get the traction boards under the rear tires to get out (high lift sitting on top of a log that was in a trench we dug, so the log wouldn’t sink). Winch wouldn’t have worked, nothing to winch on to. But yeah they’re heavy as hell and I’ve had the base pin snap and kick it out at my shin once …. So you have to be careful.
As someone who worked on cars, but new to offroading a bottle jack always made more sense to me than a hi lift jack
IMO, the extra water is emergency reserve if you break down a long distance from any water source. Probably more important in the deserts of the south west and socal than the ozarks
Thanks Matt! After $20k of gear and mods I can proudly say I haven’t purchased one of these things.
Same! Haha
It had to be said, you got a new sub cuz of this video...appreciate the real life update on products like this, keep it coming
Awesome! Thank you!!
No limb risers here and I have been on trails where I was pushing over 2 inch trees and limbs banging off all corners of the rig. Never a dent nor a cracked windshield.
Thanks for the advise👏👏agree with most of them based on my limited experience so far, maybe disagree with the limb raisers which I was planning to install basically to protect the windshield
When I watch Ozark overland and Trail Recon collaboration videos, i like to imagine I'm watching Don Knotts and John Ritter are out overlanding together 😅
New TR/OOA videos coming soon. Lol.