Outskirts Overland Podcast

Overlanding's Future: Trends, Challenges, and Public Land Access

• Charlie Racinowski

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The overlanding community stands at a crossroads. After experiencing explosive growth during 2020, we're now witnessing what appears to be a plateau rather than continued expansion. Though the passionate core remains committed, the influx of newcomers seems to be balancing with those exiting the hobby.

Perhaps most concerning is the uncertainty surrounding public land access. For many of us, myself included, overlanding isn't just recreation—it's essential mental health maintenance. The ability to disconnect from technology, escape crowded environments, and immerse ourselves in nature provides therapeutic benefits that can't be replicated elsewhere. If public lands become less accessible, where will we find that crucial solace?

Economic pressures add another layer of complexity. Impending tariffs threaten to increase parts pricing, while the already expensive nature of the hobby creates barriers for newcomers. I've been stockpiling maintenance essentials like filters and fluids ahead of potential price hikes. Even American-made products aren't immune, as their components often come from international sources. The marketplace reflects these pressures—I've noticed significantly fewer used components circulating compared to previous years.

Vehicle modification regulations present additional concerns. With discussions about bumper height restrictions and other limitations, we may face new hurdles to creating our ideal adventure vehicles. These factors combine to create an atmosphere of uncertainty that could be deterring new participants from committing to the lifestyle.

Despite these challenges, the community remains vibrant. The connections formed at events like More Expo demonstrate the enduring appeal of adventure travel. While the explosive growth phase may be behind us, the core values of exploration, self-reliance, and connection with nature continue to resonate deeply with outdoor enthusiasts.

What changes are you noticing in the overlanding community? Join the conversation by texting the podcast—link in the description. And if you're heading to More Expo, come find me starting Friday morning. I'll have stickers and would love to connect with fellow adventurers who understand why these wild places matter so much.

Speaker 1:

Welcome to the World of Warcraft, episode 1 Warcraft 1 Warcraft, 2 Warcraft, 3 Warcraft, 4 Warcraft, 5 Warcraft, 6 Warcraft, 7 Warcraft, 8 Warcraft, 9 Warcraft, 10 Warcraft, 11 Warcraft, 12 Warcraft, 13 Warcraft, 14 Warcraft, 15 Warcraft, 16 Warcraft, 17 Warcraft, 18 Warcraft, 19 Warcraft, 20 Warcraft, 21 Warcraft, 22 Warcraft. Good morning guys. This is charlie with outskirts overland. Appreciate you guys being here. Um, today is 4, 16 wednesday and tomorrow's my dad's birthday. So happy birthday to my dad. I'll say happy birthday tomorrow to you, of course, but uh, so that's awesome.

Speaker 1:

Today's National Banana Day. I even made it the title. I like the stream National Banana Day. That's like a weird. Does like every fruit have a national day. That's like a weird thing. I feel like it's a weird thing.

Speaker 1:

Anyways, national banana day like what's that even mean? Are we supposed to eat banana bread? It's like a funny thing on social media. Like banana bread, what like? The key to every man's heart is banana bread. It's a funny thing. But anyways, tangent that's. Uh, so I guess I mean maybe, if you, maybe it's. I'd be more inclined to understand it if it was national banana bread day. But just banana. Does that mean like banana popsicle? Does that mean like I don't know what's that mean banana flavored stuff. Or like banana popsicle. Does that mean like I don't know what's that mean, banana flavored stuff, or like banana banana? It's like banana flavor day, or is it fruit banana day? I don't know. Anyways, I'm done with that for a minute.

Speaker 1:

I think my truck got started yesterday. Maybe it's going today. My parts order got my parts order. The shop's parts order got delayed, shocker. I mean anybody that gets any mail or packages right now outside of Amazon. You guys know the struggle Like dude dude. The mail's terrible. So he maybe got it in yesterday and got it apart, but that stuff's not coming until tomorrow. Even so, I don't know what he's got going on, but I'm not picking it up for a week, I'm picking it up next Wednesday. That is going to be the mad dash to repack. Clean it up, because it may actually be inside. My truck may actually be inside. Clean it up because it may actually be inside. My truck may actually be inside.

Speaker 1:

For those of you that follow my good friend benji he. Um, he broke the window out of his third gen 4runner and he has to replace, like the whole quarter, the rear quarter panel. So we haven't hashed anything out, but my truck will be there pending something terrible going wrong with this, put the gears in and stuff, which that's all like. I hope not, but anybody with anxiety is probably like me and they're like. But I've been babying the truck for the last few months knowing that this was coming, so I didn't break something else that needed fixed. That was the hope, anyways. So we'll see once he gets into it. I mean, I've been driving it, I've been wheeling it and I'm doing some preventative maintenance. So we'll see. But next wednesday I'm supposed to go pick it up. Hopefully that all goes well. You guys will hear from me like five times between now and then, so I'll keep you guys updated.

Speaker 1:

But then I got to clean it up a little bit. I literally went on a trip the direction of the shop. So the truck's dirty not always the truck dirty. It's been at his shop for almost a month. Again, like I said, he was working it in, it in. I said, hey, it's pretty much my. You know, at this point it's not, it's not a vehicle I rely on, just like life. So I just I was like he's like, well, I could work it in if you don't mind dropping it off. So he's doing that. There's a lot of parts that needed ordered. Um, it's expensive. He's busy like lots of stuff going on, but he's doing a great job kind of keeping me updated on what's going on and uh, so that's what we got going on, so the truck will be done.

Speaker 1:

I don't know next few days. I would assume you know a few business days. Anyways, I don't think he works on the weekends. I don't even know. Like I try to not be, even though I may seem like it to somebody. I try not like be up, as you know, like I don't want to be an ask hole, you know like I reach out to him every three, five days. You know nothing crazy. Not every day. Like like, oh my god, is it going? You know, even though that's in my head, that's what's going on, that's not what I don't do, that he's doing me a solid, working it in. So that's all that. Like I'm super thrilled with that. I really, really appreciate him and I appreciate the work.

Speaker 1:

As somebody that does all my own work, it's like you got to appreciate these mechanics that do the specialty stuff Like gears is not slash, are not an easy thing to do, not because of taking the old ring and pinion out and putting a new ring and pinion on, but it's the lashing and that takes us. That's a, that's a skill, finding someone that's good at doing that. I mean, a lot of people do it and yeah, it's just hard, so, yeah, it's a weird thing, so so, yeah, it's a weird thing, so, yeah, anyway. So I got to get that back, get it cleaned up, do that whole shenanigans, and then I'll be at more expo next week. I'm getting there Friday. Just I got to take my kids to school Friday morning. It's just the arrangement I currently have.

Speaker 1:

I'll be there Friday at 10. Some of you guys are going to be there before. I'm there at More Expo. You'll see me come in, most likely. That's just the best I could do. Honestly, I would love to be there. I mean, I'd love to be there wednesday night, honest, honestly, but that's just not feasible for me, unfortunately. I don't want to take. I also don't want to take that much and it's no offense to more expo and it's no offense to any expo. I just don't want to take. I just don't want to take any that much pto to go to an expo, kind of like. You know, I don't have pto, infinite PTO, you know, and if I'm gonna be gone on Wednesday, thursday, friday, from work, essentially three-quarters of the week, I want to make sure that I, I want to make sure that I you know I'm doing it for an adventure, more so so to get there for you guys.

Speaker 1:

Benji and I are doing a show Q&A, something along those lines stream on Friday night. I believe starts at 5, believe it starts at 5 pm Friday. I think we're gonna do another one on Saturday, same thing as we close out. I'm sure I will be up and around till later than that, a a lot later than that. I've got some friends driving in from quite a ways away and I'm really excited to see them, really excited to hang out with them. So I'll be up and around. Make sure you guys come up and say hi, I will have stickers on stickers, on stickers Still didn't get patches. I just don't think the juice worth the squeeze there, but I got stickers, um, so there you go with that and that's about it. That's what's going on with me.

Speaker 1:

As far as what I see going on in overlanding right now, is it slow, like it seems slow right now. Even this winter seems slow, guys, like from what I was watching, like again, and not that, you know, not that youtube is the litmus on how overlanding is doing, but I'd say the majority of people that have gotten into it at this point got into it based off of watching an influencer on youtube. So I do kind of use youtube as a as as a gauge, and I do even see people that started doing, you know, went from one type of content to overlaying content, kind of getting back to a different type of content at this point. So I do see it slowing down. So, those of you that are with me and those of you that are still doing it, it's awesome, like it's stuck. So I'm happy for that, because it's been five years since the huge boom. I mean, it was a pretty consistent, it was a pretty consistent increase, but it was still a niche. You know it still is a niche.

Speaker 1:

And 2020, man, it just got. It's like a vertical. It's a vertical. So, anyways, anyhow, I see some of you guys hanging around. We'll see what more Expo looks like. There's definitely more brands getting involved, like big brands, but I do see a decline.

Speaker 1:

I do see a decline and that's not. We'll see how that turns out. You know, like. What's it going to turn into? Is it? Is the decline going to show in gear, equipment, companies, brands, prices? What's it going to turn into? Is it going to become more of a rarity and now stuff's more expensive? Is it going to become more of a rarity and now it's? You know, who knows what? Who knows what that looks like? I mean, I know what it looked like before. All this stuff, whenever it was essentially there just wasn't a lot of stuff. I mean, it was just camping and then building trucks, so you were like building a truck and camping gear, but they were completely separate entities and now it's all one. But the stuff's here now. So I don't know what that looks like now that it exists in the United States, for you know, when this thing slows down, that it is slowing down.

Speaker 1:

I don't think it's becoming. I don't think it's becoming less popular. I think the same amount of people, for the last two years at least, that got into it are still. Same amount of people are getting into it. But I don't think we're we're gaining any ground in popularity. I think we're picking up as many people as we're losing due to a number of things you know.

Speaker 1:

Other outdoor activities, uh, I mean, who knows, there's just so much stuff people can do now that they couldn't do when it peaked. That's all there is to that. So I do see that happening. It's such a great hobby. But I mean it's a weird time right now where everybody's worried about public lands and park rangers and what that looks like, and how are we going to access these lands? Are they going to continue to be public? You know, there's certain legislation or laws coming out about bumper heights and stuff like that which is going to affect the modifying of the vehicles on a way broader spectrum. But it will include, you know, those of us, uh, with quote-unquote adventure vehicles, and it's just a weird time too. So that might be. Those things might even be a deterrent to. You know, those of us with quote unquote adventure vehicles, and it's just a weird time too. So that might be, those things might even be a deterrent to people being like even people that just got into it. They might be like, well, better, not. You know, like, I don't know that it's going to continue to be an option, so why would I start in it now? I don't know.

Speaker 1:

I'll be quite honest with you guys. This is a huge part of my mental health going overlanding and camping and exploring and the adventure and the road trip, like all of the, all of it, the problem solving, you know, outside it's all a really big part of my mental health Kind of it's kind of my I hate saying it's my therapy. I don't know that it's therapeutic-ish to me, but it's something that I actually enjoy doing in a time where most things in life are things you're just doing because you have to or you don't mind them, but you may not like them like responsibilities. So, to be completely honest, I don't mind them but you may not like them, you know, like responsibilities. So, to be completely honest, I don't know what I'm going to do if we start losing public lands and it gets hard. Specifically, arkansas is close to me.

Speaker 1:

If Arkansas stops allowing that type of stuff to happen, which I know it boosts, boosts you know the pastor there, the travelers there, especially because they have so much public land and they have expos and they have a great overland community there in natural state overland. But yeah, I don't know what I'm going to do, but it is definitely something that I you know, if you're not thinking about it, you're going to get caught, you know off guard and you can be like, oh so you got it. I mean, you need to at least keep a pulse on it. I mean, nothing's happened yet. But there's a lot of stuff projected to happen and actually projected Like.

Speaker 1:

It's not fake, it's not real, it's not hearsay. They're trying to sell public land. They, the government, they want you know they're trying to sell public land. They're downsizing employment at these places, do I think maybe it was potentially over-employed? It potentially was, I don't know. So I'm not making a huge stink about that. You know they haven't gotten rid of, like all you know, game wardens and stuff Like I mean there's still hunting, still exists in all these lands too. Like all the public land we off-road in is public land to hunt in too. It would be completely and totally ignorant to like deregulate it that much, especially because there's firearms involved and weapons you know, like bows, arrows, pistols, like hunting equipment, like there's a lot at stake there. So it's going to be um ohv available, uh, to the extent that it is now, and that would be super rough for me and probably a lot of us.

Speaker 1:

I'd assume how many of you guys even like, how many people are doing this for that type of like, relaxation, solace, mental health, disconnect, like you can call it, whatever you want to call it. You know what is it? Tech, like getting away from tech, whatever it might be, like that's the draw for a lot of us, and I don't know what I mean. I'm not going to get into pickleball guys, like that's not going to happen, that's just not. That's people-y. I say that a lot peopley. I don't like. I like you guys, I'm gonna. You know I'm peopley enough.

Speaker 1:

I'm not public like still even like more expo, that's a bunch of like-minded people. I'm not peopley to the extent to where I want to go to, like I don't know, some type of freaking meet and greet at the local, you know, small business owners convention or something you know. Like I don't want to just go meet a bunch of fake people. That just just not for me. Anyways, that's kind of a weird way to go with it. But yeah, I am concerned with it.

Speaker 1:

I do think it's declining. I think that these things, you know, I wouldn't say they're on the horizon, but they're definitely coming up the hill to the horizon. I think it's deterring people from getting involved because it is already expensive, vehicles are more expensive, the potential for all this supply. All this stuff is kind of coming together and it almost looks overwhelming. I mean, if you could Facebook marketplace build some stuff and you can Facebook marketplace afford to get some stuff.

Speaker 1:

But it is also very like I'm cognizant that a lot of people aren't paying for their stuff. You know what I mean, and what I mean by that is they're doing it on credit. So I'm very aware that, like, there's people that can have something new easier than something used on Facebook, because, like, if you buy it new, you can get it for $100 a month on your credit card or a firm or whatever you use, and whether or not, I think that's a good idea to use those things People do. So it's worth saying so. It might even be easier for a lot of people to buy new and break it down to a more digestible payment over time than to pay for it all at once on Facebook marketplace. Heck, half this stuff on Facebook marketplace that's for sale may also still be having payments being made on it, because I see some of it's just outrageously expensive Like, and they just probably need it's like that. It's like is it worth it and it's like no, if it's close enough to a new price, like it's not worth it at all, not even kinda.

Speaker 1:

So I mean I'm I'm looking at, like just you know, I have Overland tagged on my Facebook marketplace, so I'm always just looking. You know I'm not in the market for anything, but I have buddies that are, so I'm always just you know, I'm not in the market for anything, but I have buddies that are, so I'm always just you know, I just enjoy Facebook marketplace as any you know typical redneck. I think Facebook marketplace is like a way of life, so I'm always on Facebook marketplace sending stuff to my friends, you know trailers, cars, accessories, wheels, tires, whatever you know stuff, just stuff. I'm always looking and I don't see nearly as much stuff as I did. I used to go on Facebook marketplace and throw a rock and hit 16 sets of method wheels and 33s to 37 inch tires that have 2000 miles on them, like it was. But not now, not today. I don't know what's going on. I mean I'm not, I'm not in that. I'm I'm not in the consumer business of overlanding, I'm in the influence place here. I guess is what you'd call it. I'm in the education space.

Speaker 1:

So as far as products are concerned. I'm aware of them and I know about them, but I'm not in the business selling them. I did see some stuff yesterday and I don't think my podcast brought it to light Maybe it did but the companies that are all American made are definitely making you aware that they're all American made based on the situation that I brought to light yesterday. But I do want to still and I'm not taking this away from anybody but just be aware that just because it's American made doesn't mean it's not going to have a price spike. Because it's made in America it doesn't mean the parts it's made with are here. You know, even I mean Canada is not America, mexico is not America, like it's North America it's not the United States, and unfortunately those things are appear to be getting gonna get higher too. So just know that, like just cause the company's American made. I'm here to be the voice of reason, not not saying anything about anybody at all.

Speaker 1:

This isn't like low key, targeted as somebody, but just know, like your bumpers and stuff, they can be fully assembled in. You know, in the United States they can even get the metal from a local metal workshop in the United States that, but that metal shop might not be getting that metal that they're selling. You know what I mean. That's how it works, you know. So just be aware of it, keep paying attention, know what's going on, keep an eye on stuff. Just exactly. I'm going to probably say it every day until May 1st Keep an eye on stuff. If you've got the money that you're looking for, I would highly recommend that. Sooner than later, you probably get it.

Speaker 1:

If it's something you need like I just bought a bunch of oil filters I bought a bunch of oil. Like I don't know where the oil I use literally comes from, you know, I don't know. Or the plastic bottle it's in. And again, I'm a critical, like I think way deep into stuff and I do have anxiety. So I think far, far, far more more into it than I probably need to. But I bought a bunch of oil filters. I bought a bunch of oil, gear, oil, transmission fluid, stuff that I think I'm going to need and it's not going to cost me. I don't believe it's going to go down, so I don't think it's costing me any more to buy a bunch of it, but it'll at least buy me the time to maybe digest how far it's went up in a year from now.

Speaker 1:

You know, if it has, if it hasn't, I'm just ahead. If it has, I'm happy. I'm doing what I'm doing and and that's no political side. I mean, my political side of finances is like me I'm doing and and that's no political side. I mean, my political side of finances is like me I don't have a, I don't have a skin in the political game, like I'm trying not to be broke myself and trying to set myself up the best for myself, given what I think is happening. It. I don't even have an opinion. Do I think it's good? Do I think it's bad? What's the bigger picture? I don't know. Quite frankly, my thoughts on the government are just what I mean. What am I going to do? That's my thoughts.

Speaker 1:

I worked, you know, I was in the Marine Corps. I worked for the government. Whether or not you think what you think about it, it's going to do what it does. Whether you agree with it on one side or the other, you're not making any decisions for the government. I just tell you that right now, and no matter how hard we all want to think we do, we don't. And they're going to do what they do and it's already done, most likely before we, long before we know about it. So I just, you know I'm I don't get wrapped around the axle about what's could be coming or is coming or isn't coming. I'm more like what is what, like what's happened, what's happening not projected, like just what's in front of me, literally, so I don't end up personally failing financially. You know, stability wise, like I work in, the more I told some of you guys know I've said it before but I work in the mortgage industry.

Speaker 1:

The housing market is a huge, has been in a huge difficulty for a few years now. Um, I don't ever talk about the market, I'm not going to give any projections. I'm not going to give any projections. I'm not going to even tell you guys what I'm seeing. It's not what I'm on here for but like some tough been some tough times in the mortgage industry, recent, recently, you know, last couple, two, three years previous, two, three years, 22 to now, ish, um, and prior to that it was crazy good, um, and and just you gotta go with what it is. You know rates and stuff are dictated by the market, are dictated by the stock market and the stock market, as you guys should know, most of you guys should know that changes daily and it can go really good in a day and it can go really bad in a day and three days, five days, and it's craziness.

Speaker 1:

This guy spoke and now the market's bad. I don't even understand it, I just know it. I just know that it is. I don't know why, how, who, but I just know that it is. So, yeah, it's, it's a wild time but, yeah, make sure you guys are thinking ahead as far as that stuff goes.

Speaker 1:

You know, just like I said yesterday, stuff's coming down. It's coming down to potentially limit our access to public lands, potentially limit our access to affordable maintenance stuff that you just need and that's going to lead to higher costs. You know, labor rates are always going up, which is not bad. Mechanics need to make their money. But like, just, I'm not here for mechanics, I'm here for you guys. Like, just be keeping an eye on stuff, making sure you know if you I'm not saying be a prep or anything or stockpile a bunch of stuff, but if you have some stuff that you know is coming up between now and October that you're going to need, it might be worth it to be shopping a little harder right now, before May, because, whether or not this stuff goes into place, companies are preparing just like I'm telling you to. So they're going to raise prices before the price is raised on them.

Speaker 1:

Because I had somebody yesterday. They're like, oh, that got pushed off and I'm like, yeah, but it didn't get gotten rid of. So it just gives companies a chance to help their margins, which is fair, at least I think. But I don't know if I think being fair even matters. I don't know if any, but I don't know if I think being fairs even matters. I don't know if any. Yeah, yeah, I don't need, I don't know.

Speaker 1:

Like I said earlier, I got I don't get wrapped around the axle with it too much and I don't care Like it's gonna. I care about what I could control and that's sure as heck. Isn't that so? But yeah, so, anyways, I'll catch you guys tomorrow. I'm gonna keep talking about it. I'll be with benji. Maybe my truck will be inside. My truck's gonna be there. Oh, I god, I hope, unless something happens, my truck will be there. You guys can look at it. You guys can see me. I'm gonna have a lot of stickers. I'll be at more expo. I'll be there friday morning. I don't want to set inappropriate expectations. I'd say probably by like 11 Friday morning. I should be there a little earlier than that, but probably not accessible prior to that. So, yeah, that's what's going on.

Speaker 1:

Be keeping an eye on your stuff. I do think overlanding is. I don't think we're, I don't think we're losing more people than we're gaining, but I don't think it's growing at this point. So I don't know. Leave me a comment. Let me know what you think. You can text the podcast Very first thing in the description text podcast. Let me know what you guys think. What are you seeing? What do you guys? Do you guys have any opinions on anything? I said yeah, I mean, I'd love to hear what anybody's got going on. So I'll catch you guys later. Have a great day. Have a great Wednesday. It's banana day. I would just let it be known. I'd rather it was banana bread day. All right, I'll catch you guys later. Bye.