Monday 4 December 2017

Week 5 [04.12-10.12.17] Off-road adventures

Off-road adventures – not so extreme survival


When people think about off-road adventures,  probably they see a hard life in the wilderness without any comfort or even a bathroom. The truth is that every year there are so many innovations which make off-road more pleasant. 

The most inventive place is Australia. Actually, because they love outdoor life. For the last twenty years they have turned the culture of off-road around 180 degrees.

Originally a shower was a complete luxury and it never had hot water. These days many brands … produce systems which are hard-mounted in a car and give us 40 degree water.
Things like camping gas kitchen have started to be standard - a campfire is now just for pleasure. 
Many people have installed sophisticated cooking equipment also with a compressed power fridge. It means it can freeze food just like at home even if you are in a desert.



  
https://pl.pinterest.com/pin/164662930099022602/
https://www.treehugger.com/travel/diy-jeep-camping-kitchen-overland-life.html

In the old days it was a tent, a thin mattress and sleeping bag. Nowadays, there’s a wide variety of sleeping options, for example; a tent mounted on the roof of a vehicle. It gives more safety from wild animals, and also it’s warmer with comfortable mattresses and even  heat.  

http://www.fourwheeler.com/product-reviews/1605-overland-buyers-guide-best-products-for-your-next-expedition/photo-32.html


Maps are now digital and connected with global satellites. This makes navigation 100% accurate, safer and faster. You can plan your route more spontaneously and travel to more unexpected places.

For all electronic equipment there needs to be a lot of energy. In the past it was almost impossible to store so many amp-hours for a long time. 
Nowadays cars have got solar panels which collect and store energy. Another benefit is that the primary battery has also power to start the engine.



http://www.avis.com.na/VanRental/avis-safari-rental/latest-safari-hire-news/solar-panels.aspx



For light off-roaders some companies offer 4x4 trailers. And in this trailer you can take with you many things from home for maximum comfort; TV, consoles, bicycles and even a washing machine, which  is a standard.

For example:

https://www.elitecaravans.com.au

So after all, the question is, is off-road still off-road?
GPS has shrunk the world and now even in a deep jungle or forest or desert we feel at home, even the satellite internet can give us an opportunity to watch the newest episode of our favorite NetFilx program. 

Modern off-road or old-school off-road, which do you prefer?
Have you ever participated in any 4x4 adventure? 

35 comments:

  1. Of all my travels, the closest to off-road was the hitchhiking trip from Austria to Spain 5 years ago. It took us two weeks to reach our destination and crash on a beach not far from Malaga, where we lived like bums for another two weeks. We didn't have any GPS, even in our phones, so we stuck to the traditional map and asked people about anything. We slept in tents and I still can't believe that my eyes didn't drop out after the hard time I gave them putting on and removing contact lenses in these doubtfully hygienic conditions:))
    But nowadays, I use GPS pretty much everywhere. Last summer I navigated a boat in Mazury using GPS in my phone:) If you say I got lazy, you'll probably be right, I lost my Bear Grylls ambitions some time ago and given a choice - modern or not, I would probably go for modern. Maybe not crazy futuristic modern, but I guess a solar battery never harmed anyone:)

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    1. I think, because You enjoyed your hitchhiking trip, you should try off road expeditions. It gives you more freedom of access to the world, because you can keep your food and supplies in the vehicle and cover more distance than hitchhiking.

      And if you are driving offload expedition and you see a hitchhiker, you can pick the person up and they can join the trip share the adventure.

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  2. It is my dream to go on such an adventure in this kind of vehicle. But i must say it would not be enough to buy or rent one. My all time wish is to buy a derelict 4x4, fix it up, upgrade, install all the necessary equipment and go on a long trip. I was thinking on going across Russia and finish somewhere in china (take a plane back and ferry the vehicle) or go south to Africa and go as far as i can (or dare) going. But these are the plans for much later, when i'm retired and have too much time :) Great topic, thanks for that article :)

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  3. Great to here that someone appreciates my hobby. Funny thing is that if You want to buy an old 4x4 when you are retired (probably 40 years from now) actually it's coming out from the production line now. So I'm pretty sure it won't be so spartan.
    Don't wait until you've got free time, start living your dream now :)

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  4. I think that every man has dreams about off road adventure. However this type of hobby requires big knowledge about mechanics of cars. My friends bought 25 year old car - Land Rover Discovery - first edition. They were traveling through parts of Africa. Great adventure. Buying cars it is just the first step.
    They takes a lot of time to prepare a trip. Special car equipment, route planning etc. The Adventure preparation may be fascinating.
    My dream is offroad in USA, hovever I have only skills in driving by quad in Masuria district :)

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    1. Great to hear, quads are really good attach for offroad expedition. Keep going :)

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  5. You seem to be disappointed a little bit. Do you? For me it’s quite normal to prove everything to current times. We are so more digitalized than a few years ago. Even if we don’t agree wit everything, we must accept it because we as a rebels don’t have chance to change something. Off-road seems to be more about adventure, so now it also is. I don’t have any problem with hot water in the middle of desert. It’s awesome!

    If I were choose something, I’d like to be the part modern off-road. I like new technologies and gadgets. If it’s good to help me, I think I’ll take it.

    No, I haven’t. But I have one dream, to visit Australia. As you mentioned, Australia is very important to ‚off-road market’, I think when I’ll be there I’ll try it for sure!

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    1. I slowly accept this modern offroad. The problem with it begin when You need to repair something in the middle of nowhere ;)

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  6. I think it could be a lot of fun.. but I don't find off-road trip on my "to do" list. I think the main cause why Australia leads in this kind of activity is because they've got a lot of not habited land. And as I've heard once when you travel there and see another car on the road you are quite happy to encounter it so you smile, wave to them, etc.

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  7. Ah, I once had a dream of becoming digital nomad and read a lot on what vehicles people choose for their nomadic lives. Off-roaders were often the top choice next to hybrid cars.
    Solutions you've shown, made me still think of them as off-roaders but more technology augmented and... that's good. Since our lives are so much bound to technology, why shouldn't we use it for 4x4 adventures?
    However, I'm 100% into my home-lover lifestyle, ie. good coffee, books, good food, working on my passions till late night and maybe going out for good food too (go figure).
    Such off-road adventures are not meant for me. :)

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    1. off corse, differencs in our behaviours are very important and I'm pretty sure that Your passions give You the same level of fun like offroad for me.
      Thanks for answer.

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  8. Thank You for the article, it was very entertaining. Honestly I haven't heard about those new innovations like shower on the road etc. Unfortunately I haven't participated in any of the off-road adventures but I would really like to try one. Definitely I would prefer the old one. where there are actually some obstacles on the road. Whats the point off-road if You can have literally everything that You have at home. I like adventures but I don't have time for it right now. I hope that I will spend some vacation on one of those types of spending free time.

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    1. Thanks, I hope You find some time in this summer, maybe after all You can write some article and spread opinion about your 4x4 adventure.

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  9. 1. Modern off-road or old-school off-road, which do you prefer?
    I never tried either, but I would go with old-school off-road. It seems to be much more fun. I'm now courius to try it. I heard from friends that it's a lot of fun and pure hapiness, so why not?

    2. Have you ever participated in any 4x4 adventure?
    No, it's tottaly new for me. I was never into it. I have only heard about it few times.

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    1. I hope you find all this things in the first offroad trip :)

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  10. I already have few off-road adventures beyond, but the first thing which comes to my mind is our mutual friend who catch an "off-road virus". After few days of exploring mudy roads, he drown his car in a river... Back in the days I also stuck in a small lake but accidents of others are always more funny...

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    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    2. I remember this "adventure", a lot of fun. Really god times, and all this thing because of PJATK !

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  11. I was never into off-road trips and adventures, but i my childhood I used to spend every summer on a camping site or in a woods while we were on a wild canoeing for a week. I spent that time with my mother, her friedns and their kids, who became my friends too. I remember that time as joyful, happy and carefree. We (kids) didn't have to take a shower every night, it was our duty to wash all of the dirty dishes in a cold water taken from hydrant (it took us so long to wash everything, the group consisted of 20-30 people) and we ate what we had packed in our backpacks. For me that is something what I expect when I think about meeting the nature.
    But I think that those new innovations are good thing, because they are giving people choice. If you want, you can feel like at home, or if you prefer old-school then don't use those novelies.

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    1. Yes, I agree with you. Childhood is something really nice for first camping trips

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  12. Definitely prefer modern offroad. The right route will still give us a bone despite the technology amenities ;) About the hot water system that you mention, I saw that it is simply connected to the engine cooling system that warms us water.
    I have never been on such a trip myself, but I heartily recommend you vlogs from the Ukrainian offroad - guy called 'Szafa' : https://www.youtube.com/watch? V = udaGCNczzCU & list = PLO5gKDKyhWzqCdQ_ckT3Cq94iUXGsrO9Q

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    1. link fix: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udaGCNczzCU&list=PLO5gKDKyhWzqCdQ_ckT3Cq94iUXGsrO9Q

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    2. Oh, thans for link. Now I need to start another vlog on YT !

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  13. I’d love to go on an off-road trek. I really enjoy driving, so this would be my type of adventure. I reckon this would be a great way to spend time. I’ve never been on such a trip before. Going on a trek like this, you need to put safety first. Having some experience definitely helps. I also think this may be a costly adventure. For starters, I’d buy some budget off-road car to practice in Bieszczady mountains. There’s lots of mud and steep slopes there. Australian deserts are a different animal, though. If the car breaks down, you need know how to proceed from there. A car that can handle such harsh conditions plus all the equipment probably cost quite a lot.

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    1. Actually offroad isn't so simple because of the regulation. You can't ride wherever You want. Especially in bieszczady ! only on public roads

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  14. For me offroad is a the best option on holidays. Because i love sit in the passenger seat and look out the window. Of course in this time i can talk, listen to music or something else, but this time is for only two person. It isn't boring.

    Among friends i have a lot of person who love cars and this is super provided it does not exclude people. in the future i'd like to go to trip for a long time, but for this moment is only in my head.

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  15. 1. Modern off-road or old-school off-road, which do you prefer?
    Unfortunately none ;) I prefer small fast cars. On the other hand I have Nissan QashQai. So I have something between what I would like to have and what you describe. Something cool is that you can sit higher in the car ;)
    Unfortunately I did not have the opportunity to drive a real off-road car.

    2. Have you ever participated in any 4x4 adventure?
    Nope, but I played Need For Speed. There was a car like a 4x4 Ford F-150. But unfortunately it probably does not matter :)

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    1. hmm, fast cars, that's the topic for another article ;)
      As you mention higher cars start to be so popular becouse they connect both worlds.
      I'm pretty sure you shuld take your nissan for sandy place and see how offroad it can be !
      Really, no joking ;)

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  16. I've never participated in any off-road rides, but if I ever happened to do it, I would prefer modern one. I am a little bit of scaredy cat :) I think, that I would feel more comfortable with electricity and solid tent. It's not that I don't want to experience exciting wilderness. Just I rather not get eaten by a meat-lover animals.

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    1. That's true, with modern technology we start to feel more safe. But even without it wild places are probably better than many citis at night:)

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  17. I love travelling especially to undiscovered places. I;m not quite sure if nowadays travelling is still what it used to be. Maybe this is in high standard. I don't know but if you can see that for some people do it by traditional way. I have a lot of friends, who do it in old way :)
    I have never done it in camper or something like that, but maybe it's high time for trying it ;)
    I participated in 2x2 adventure ;) I mean motorcycle. What can I say: it was awsome. Every two wheels fan should try it

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    1. It's great to hear that someone shares passion !
      Keep going

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  18. I don't have an occasion to participate in off-road ride and I don't think I will. It just don't sounds like fun to me. But If I'll have to choose my choice is on old school version of it. It suppose to be better adventure without television, consoles and other things like that. My friends went to off-road through Africa last summer and from their stories those memories will stay with you for all life. Maybe when I'll convince bunch of my friends and save some money I'll try just to check myself.

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