Nice setup! Taking your time and slowly building your expedition vehicle is wise. So many times we purchase items we later realize was not what we wanted in the first place. I've learned to research and make sure before I pull the trigger. I'm considering an awning and yet not sure which one to buy.

 

great thread, I now have a goal! And I ordered a subscription to Overland Journal. TNX

 

I am wanting to haul two mountain bikes or a canoe. But it would never be at the same time. I am just looking for the most practical rack system to install on my jeep. I may eventually get a basket for the top. Give me some feed back on what you all think. I'm open to some ideas

 

Got the 411...thx Mark!

 

Question for the serious Overlanders.... One thing I'd like to in the next few years is go on one of these cross country treks out to God's country and see the sites that are so beautifully pictoralized in this thread. My only concern is fuel management. As an army pilot, we plan that into every mission. We know when and where our next fuel supply is going to be, how long we can fly and how far on a bag of gas. I'm all about proper planning and having reserve fuel (5-10 gal) on board but it seem like some of the places you guys wander off to might be so secluded that you might find yourself out there out of gas. Has anyone experienced this? Besides a good nav and gps system, and the poor gas mileage I'll get once I load up with my survival necessities, what's the major consideration or contingency when out there exploring no-man's land?

 

This can be a real concern for adventure motorcyclists as they have considerably less range. I can't see going 300 miles between opportunities to fill up in the US.

 

That's a topic that interests me quite much also.

You mean the maximum expected distance between gas stations is about 300 miles?

So, I installed an or-fab carrier that adds 10 gallons to my Jeep (two std fuel cans). Based on my Jeep's mileage (on highways) I expect around 500 miles (30 gallons x 17 mpg) max distance or a 250 miles range. That will likely be a lot less off-road, or around 400 (30 x 13) and 200.

So, should I find a way to stick another Jerry can on my Jeep? :-)

 

When I used to travel the AlCan Highway, I just always carried gas with me. Now THAT is a long haul, and between gas stations can literally put you in "no man's" land.....especially in the winter. But I never was that far out of range between a full tank and a few 5 gallon gas cans. Seeing that you are a planner, I'm sure you'll have no problems just carrying a few cans with you.

 

Since I'm hoping to drive that this year, how much should I plan for range?

Related: Don't trust a GPS with gas station information in remote areas. When I was driving out to Medano Pass in CO this last August we did just that. And the gas station wasn't there--had closed down about six months earlier. So, we ended up driving Medano Pass Trail in 2WD and coasting into Alamoosa on fumes. The entire time we were carrying two five-gallon jerry cans that we hadn't bothered to fill up (knowing there was gas in a small hick town in the middle of nowhere--our GPS said so!).

 

Well there was the error. You should always have gas in you cans if your going to have them in the jeep. What good are they with out gas. That being said I never fill mine till I leave the state of Texas. But I have my extra in the can when the tires hit dirt. Summer 2010 I filled them up in Carlsbad on the way to siting Bull Falls and then over to The Enchanted tower in New Mexico. From there up to Ouray. I never used any of that gas till I was on the highway headed home. Just poured it in to use it up... Same last summer in Wyoming.