If you鈥檙e curious about how to start off-road touring, seasoned guidance matters. It鈥檚 easy to find at Overland Expos, ideal gathering places to dream big and discover the ideas and equipment to fuel your next journey. At four stops of this cross-country event series, Hankook Tire shares in the spirit of exploration, offering hands-on driving experiences and connecting with adventurers.
But if you can鈥檛 make it to an Overland Expo stop, we鈥檝e captured the best moments from the series, plus outlined why to start (and how). Aaron Mulkey is one of our three expert overland adventurers who provide all the inspiration and insight needed to plan your trip, rig your ride, enjoy your camp, find your way, and upgrade your tires.
is a seasoned overlander and renowned ice climber who brings his deep expertise in expedition planning and vehicle preparedness from his home base of Cody, Wyoming, to the Overland Expo series鈥 marquee event in Flagstaff, Arizona. Before diving into further tips and tricks from the road, here are five of Mulkey鈥檚 overlanding essentials. When it comes to rigging your ride, and preparing for an off-road adventure, consider his following top advice before going deeper with 100 Ways to .
Ease in: Don鈥檛 be overwhelmed by all the gear; start with the essentials and slowly add items that enhance comfort and safety.
Map out a trail: Find nearby trails with an app like Gaia GPS. But don鈥檛 spend too much time behind the screen or the wheel. Go explore: Sometimes that dirt road will lead to an incredible overlook or camping spot!
Think tires: Getting the right tires is the easiest way to boost your rig鈥檚 off-road performance and safety, especially when covering all seasons and terrain鈥攎ud, rocks, sand, and snow. A durable all-terrain tire ensures better traction, stability, and puncture resistance鈥攏ot to mention fuel economy and ride comfort on long hauls. Start your search with Hankook鈥檚 Dynapro lineup of versatile tires that perform across all types of terrain, balancing off-road traction with durability and highway ride.
Goods to go: Everyone forgets something without a packing list. Use this one to make sure you have all the basics.
- Shelter: Tent or sleep in vehicle
- Sleep system: Sleeping bag, sleeping pad, and pillow
- Clothing: Weather-appropriate layers, rain gear, and extra socks
- Food and water: Nonperishable meals, snacks, water bottles, and a purification method
- Fire and cooking gear: Lighter, waterproof matches, stove (if you plan to cook), and cookware
- Navigation and safety: Map downloaded on phone, flashlight/headlamp, and first-aid kit
- Miscellaneous: Multitool, sunscreen, bug spray, and a trash bag for Leave No Trace practices
Off-Road Basics for 4WD Beginners: Understand the different 4WD modes on your vehicle and when to use them. Use a spotter outside of your vehicle to overcome difficult obstacles. If I want to crawl over something or up a steep incline, I typically choose 4WD low to increase torque at low speed.
of Mulkey鈥檚 overlanding advice and from this year鈥檚 slate of Overland Expo events.
Dynapro is a tire brand designed for SUV/Light Trucks with strong driving and braking performances on all terrains and through every type of weather, including on- and off-road conditions.