Vanlife

Before every Off-Road Adventure, the same big challenge awaits: Planning and Navigation! The perfect app for planning and navigating off-road adventures just doesn’t exist! Although there are plenty of usable apps, the learning curve is often only worth it for commercial tour operators. As a traveler and overlanding enthusiast, I’d rather spend my rare free time (especially as a new dad!) outdoors or behind the wheel instead of spending late nights diving into route planning or learning complex navigation apps. Of course, we could just opt for pre-made roadbooks from MDMOT, 4x4Roadbooks, or Pistenkuh, or book a guided off-road tour, such as one of the sociable events offered by Five-Mountains. Since we prefer solitude and remote nature, though, pre-planned tours or group trips aren’t ideal for us. They tend to lack that touch of adventure—like the uncertainty of whether our vehicle can handle the route—and shared spots can sometimes mean crowds, noise, or litter. So, if you’re like us—

flexible Watertank or bladder for vanlife and overlanding

To be able to easy carry enough water for drinking, washing and showering is important for us travellers who likes to be able to stay off grid some days. Easy to fill, easy to store, easy to use. This is less important if you stay at campgrounds with facilityes each night. A view days ago I did detect some great ideas for water storage in our van, 4x4 or rv vehicle. An australian company did sell them over ebay. Also when the shipping from australia will cost additional cash it it should be considered for us travellers. The water bladder! Those flexible watertanks or bladder are very good for a temporary installation, it need just a minute to install or remove them. I was able to interview some people who use them since severall years. As always there are some pro and cons about such a product compared to an watertank with solid walls like I showed below. A flexible bladder tank will makes less noise, there will not water noise during driving. He is also easyer to install and remove,

Ecoflow Delta2 vs DIY Battery

Today I would like to compare how well these battery boxes perform compared to a homemade project, at least on paper. And also look at the advantages and disadvantages, not ignoring the cost side. We will compare the high-quality components with a similarly equipped Ecoflow Delta2, which we have already presented here. For the comparison, I only choose really good components, those that I would currently use for a DIY project myself. Here's my selection of components, I'm already excited! The power supply in the touring vehicle. A DIY project vs an Ecoflow Delta2 - which battery or power supply is better? 12v charger Victron Orion-Tr 12/24-10 240W for charging from the alternator 125 USD, 1.5 kg weight EDECOA 2000w inverter 12v 230v voltage converter or inverter 300 USD, 4.0kg weight 2 x solar charge controller MPPT 75/15 Victron Energy 12V 15A 200 USD, 1 kg weight Shore power charger Victron Energy 230V , 12 V/30A-3 220 USD, 1.4 kg weight 100Ah LiFePO4 battery ECO-WORTHY 1

Offroad self recovery: Waffle board and recovery tracks comparison

The Overland Journal did test severall Waffleboards and Sandladders at 2009. On the Expeditionsportal the Article is offline today - but the Youtube Video is still there. 12 Years later are many new player on the market - and most Travelers did choose those waffle boards today. Maxtrax, Tred, Aldi - and a lot cheap clones are on the market. Here is the Video of some guys who try to abuse those recovery tracks and waffle boards. They Video gives a good idea about the quality of those recovery boards. We travellers usually dont abuse our material that strong. We just want some recovery help in deep sand or mud - where most of those devices would be helpful. The Video shows us, that the more expensive recovery boards are stronger and will serve us longer. Specially the Maxtrax, Maxtrax pro and Tred Pro did a fantastic job there. It is up to you what to choose! If you like some more offroad action during your travels, we would strongly suggest a set of Maxtrax or Tred Pro: You can fin

Paso Mayer - from O`Higgins to Argentina (routa 40) by 4x4

The most southern crossing between Argentina and Chile is one of these adventures by 4x4 who is not well known. You had to drive over the paso Mayer. Below you can see a Video of these border crossing! Too bad that I didnt know about, as I was there at 2015! For that purpose we did write this blog here, to collect and provide those informations for other travellers! We was even in o`Higgins and not even detect the track leg who is leading to argentina. But let us see, if this Track is worth to consider at the first place: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSwGsGXRj4o The Movie shows the beauty of the landscape and too the challange of the track, what should have be done with 2 cars for your own safety. The movie shows us too the limitations of a heavy vehicle in direct comparison. And the movie is another example to show us travellers, why carrying a drone is nice - if you use them. These guys was playing with the water too - you dont have to use all of these showed crossings... ;-