Daily Driver Overland Rig

Most of us hold down regular jobs and have families that we have to take care of. So that means our overlanding rigs pull double duty as adventure vehicles and daily commuters. We may not have the means to have separate and dedicated vehicles. Having a dual-purpose vehicle comes with its own unique set of quirks and problems.

Depending on how you look at it, there are disadvantages and advantages to having a daily-driven overland rig. Driving in general can be a hassle simply because the added weight alters the way the vehicle responds.

Parking

The first of these might not seem so bad if you don’t live in a well-populated area. However, if you live in larger cities like I do, this means having to deal with crappy parking. Going into most downtown areas means parking in a structure, which may or may not work depending on the height of your vehicle.

It might be beneficial to look up parking before going somewhere to understand what is available at a cost and what’s available at no cost. Free parking usually comes with the understanding that you may have to walk to reach your venue.

People Suck, Lock Up Your Stuff

Granted, this could probably happen anywhere. I’ve only had one car broken into (knock on wood), and it was in a place I didn’t expect it to happen. I d,o however, worry about having it happen at my home.

While I don’t have any exterior items that could be stolen, I do keep most of my gear inside my truck. I am religious about locking the doors when I am home. If you have items stored externally on a bumper or rack, consider using durable, tamper-resistant cables and locks. Because as the section title implies, people suck.

Wear and Tear and Maintenance

This one should be pretty self-explanatory. As we continually modify our vehicles with upgrades and add weight, this puts additional wear and tear on stock components. Ultimately, this could result in more frequent maintenance on components such as brakes or driveline components. 

Keep up on maintenance, don’t let it lag. Having a routine preventive maintenance schedule you perform at home can bring to light things you might not be aware of.

Insurance

I’ve got a very basic understanding of this one, but I’ve read it a few times now. Your insurance company may provide extra coverage for all of the stuff you have on your rig or have added. If you have thousands of dollars invested in your rig, it might be worth it, but it’s going to come at a potential increase to your cost.

The Good Stuff

At this point, it almost seems like the disadvantages outweigh the advantages. They’re probably due, and that’s a risk we take using our daily driver as our overland rig. 

If you have your gear in your rig, the main advantage is that we are ready to leave town at a moment’s notice with minimal planning. If you keep an adventure-ready box or kit in your vehicle, all it takes is to hit the highway and find some woods. 

All that money you’ve spent on an off-road suspension and recovery gear also means you’re not likely to get stuck. Inclement weather becomes less of an issue in populated areas.

And while having to lock up your stuff and find outside parking is a hassle, having a well-built rig can be a conversation piece. More likely along the lines of “how much did you spend,” rather than “why did you spend it,” but it could draw someone in who was curious about overlanding.

What are some other advantages or disadvantages to having a daily-driven adventure rig? Leave some comments below and let us know.