Jeeps are no doubt among the most popular overlanding and off-roading vehicles, and it’s not hard to see why. There’s nothing quite like hitting the trails and exploring the great outdoors in a rugged and versatile Jeep.
However, before setting off on your next adventure, having the right Jeep overlanding gear is essential to ensure a safe and enjoyable trip. With 2023 in full swing and spring on the way, it’s the perfect time to look at some must-have Jeep overlanding gear to make your next journey unforgettable.
From rugged, portable solar panels to high-quality off-road lights to gadgets and goodies that make overlanding easier and more convenient, there are plenty of essential items that you’ll want to have on hand to make the most of your Jeep overlanding experience.
So, with that said, let’s take a closer look at some of the top gear options available for 2023! Bear in mind that this is a partial list of gear I recommend. As you’ll see in the photos, my Jeep has tons of other upgrades, which you can learn about in other articles on this site.
Table of Contents
- Jeep Overlanding Gear: Solar Power is a Must-Have
- Upgrade Your Jeep Overlanding Experience With Bright, Reliable Lighting
- Jeep Overlanding Gear: Maximize Storage Space
- Jeep Overlanding Gear: Give Yourself Some Prep Space
- How I’ve Outfitted My Turtleback Expedition Trailer
Jeep Overlanding Gear: Solar Power is a Must-Have
At the top of my list of Jeep overlanding gear is a reliable solar power setup. I do a lot of work in the field, so I need to have power for my laptop, cameras, Starlink, and so forth.
When I was searching for the best solar power setup for my needs, Sunflare XPLOR grabbed my attention. Their flexible solar panels are built to withstand the rigors of off-roading and overlanding, and the lightweight construction meant that I wouldn’t add a ton of weight to my rig. As a bonus, these panels are incredibly easy to install, too. It’s a trifecta!
In fact, these panels install with double-sided tape. All I had to do was get on the roof of my trailer, outline where the panel would go, add the tape, and press the panels into place. And if you have doubts about the stickiness of this tape and how it holds up over time, I’ve gone a year in sun, rain, cold, heat, and snow, and have had no issues at all.
Another feature that drew me to Sunflare XPLOR is the fact that these panels have bypass diodes on every cell. In some solar panels, the entire series stops working if one cell is shaded or malfunctions. As you can see above, bypass diodes prevent this from happening.
Not only is this system much more reliable, but it also means I don’t have to spend as much time trying to find a campsite that gives my solar panel optimum sunlight – if part of it is shaded, it’s no big deal.
Of course, having a clean, quiet, environmentally-friendly way to produce electricity is nice, too. While I always have a generator with me just in case, it’s nice not having to fire that thing up when I’m out camping. I’d much rather sit in the quiet of the wilderness and enjoy the scenery than listen to a generator rumble away. You can learn more about my solar setup in the video above.
So, when you’re ready to upgrade your Jeep overlanding gear, I highly suggest putting a solar power system at the top of the list. Not only is solar power a convenient way to generate electricity, but in the case of Sunflare XPLOR, it’s also highly reliable and super easy to install. What’s not to like?!
Where to Buy Sunflare XPLOR Solar Panels:
Upgrade Your Jeep Overlanding Experience With Bright, Reliable Lighting
I have a variety of KC HiLites on my Jeep, but for our purposes here, I’d like to discuss the big boy amongst them – the Gravity Pro6 light bar that sits above my windshield.
As you can see above, the Gravity Pro6 has eight lights. Each light is a Cree XPL HD LED with a 5000K color temperature. While some might not like whiter light, I find it to be super crisp, clean, and it makes it easier to see what’s going on when I’m navigating tough trails at night (or in blizzards!).
The bar is just over 50 inches wide, about six inches tall, and a little more than three inches deep. It’s not small by any means, but that’s the point – I wanted an abundance of light, and that’s exactly what I got!
With an output of 16,100lm and 6,100 lux at 10 meters, this sucker is very bright. The beam distance is over 1,560 meters, and with a candela rating of 610,000, I assume that astronauts on the space station can see me when I have all eight lights on. Okay, maybe not, but still…there’s a ton of light output.
This just scratches the surface of how good the Gravity Pro6 light bar is. But rather than repeat everything I’ve written before, I suggest you take a peek at my complete Gravity Pro6 light bar review for all the details. You can also check out my guide to the ultimate lighting setup for details about the other lights I have on my Jeep.
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Jeep Overlanding Gear: Maximize Storage Space
Though Jeeps have a lot of features to love, one area they’re lacking is in storage space. Sure, you can throw a roof rack on top, or if you have a Gladiator, you can use the bed (and a bed rack) for transporting gear, but those aren’t great options if you have expensive or delicate gear you need to bring along, like cameras or firearms.
For that, it’s smart to turn to Cargo Dog as the ultimate Jeep storage solution…
As you can see in the photos above and below, Cargo Dog replaces all or part of the backseat in a Wrangler Unlimited or Gladiator. And though it might sound complicated, nothing could be further from the truth! In fact, it takes just a few minutes to remove the seats and install Cargo Dog.
On the flip side, it’s just a few minutes to remove Cargo Dog and reinstall the backseats, so you get loads of functionality and the ability to tailor your storage and seating situation. See how easy it is to install this bad boy in the video below by Cargo Dog Jeep Storage:
Cargo Dog is well-built, designed to fit into the floor of Jeeps like a glove, and offers locking, LED-illuminated storage spaces for your gear. All the while, you get the benefit of a flat floor in the back of your Jeep for even more storage space!
As far as Jeep storage innovations go, this is one of the best items you’ll find. And with our 4WD10 coupon code, you can pick one up today and save 10 percent!
Jeep Overlanding Gear: Give Yourself Some Prep Space
If you’ve read many of my articles on 4WDTalk, you know that I love to cook. I love everything about it. Well, maybe not the cleaning up part…
Anyway, one of the best features of my Turtleback Expedition trailer is the huge galley. I’ve got loads of storage, a place to cook, and decent prep space. But if you enjoy cooking, you know you can never have enough prep space. That’s where the Tailgater Tire Table comes in.
What I love about the Tire Table is that I don’t have to spend all my time trying to find a flat area to set up a traditional table – which is impossible to do when you’re in the wilderness, by the way! Instead, I hook my Tire Table onto one of the tires on my trailer or Jeep, and I have an instant platform for prepping food.
The table is made from high-quality steel that won’t rust. The durable build gives me peace of mind that it can withstand rain and snow, and that I don’t have to remove it at the slightest hint of inclement weather. Instead, I set this baby up when I’m setting up camp and leave it there until I’m ready to hit the road.
But the Tailgater Tire Table isn’t just ideal for having more prep space. It’s about the size of a bistro table, so it’s a perfect spot for my son and I to eat the food we just prepared. After dinner, we can clear off our plates and play games.
I also use my Tire Table as a workstation. Running multiple companies necessitates that I do some work, even when I’m off-grid. This table is the perfect size for me to sit down with my laptop and answer emails, write blog posts, edit photos and videos, and so forth. Who knew that something as simple as a table could be a game-changing piece of Jeep overlanding gear?!
How I’ve Outfitted My Turtleback Expedition Trailer
It would be a very long article if I enumerated every single upgrade I’ve made to my Turtleback Expedition trailer over the years. Thankfully, I have a YouTube video that does that for me!
As you can see above, I’ve got goodies in my trailer that include upgraded batteries, a diesel heater to keep me warm, Starlink internet to keep me connected, and so forth. It’s quite the setup, if you ask me!
Have a look at the video to see if the Jeep overlanding gear I’ve implemented in my truck and trailer is for you. Then, once you’re outfitted, hit the road and have yourself an awesome adventure!
Final Thoughts
Remember, overlanding and camping is about the journey and the experience, not the gear you have. But…being equipped with items like those discussed above sure doesn’t hurt!
When I hit the road for an overlanding trip, I want to be comfortable. I want a few conveniences of home to enhance my comfort level. I want to unplug, but I don’t want to rough it. The gear outlined above helps me do that.
If you’re like me and you’ve got a Jeep (or even if you don’t!), think long and hard about the upgrades I’ve mentioned here. Adding one or two of these items could mean the difference between you having a good trip and you having a great trip.