5 Rookie Overlanding Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

Every overlander starts somewhere. The trail is an incredible teacher, but sometimes it teaches the hard way. We’ve all been there: forgetting a critical piece of gear, buying something cheap that breaks on night one, or realizing too late that setup isn’t as easy as it looked on YouTube.

If you’re just getting started, don’t worry — every mistake is a lesson. But here are the five most common rookie mistakes we see and how to avoid them, so you can spend less time stressing and more time enjoying the wild.

1. Overpacking or Underpacking

It’s one of the first big hurdles. New overlanders either bring everything they own or forget half of what they actually need. Overpacking makes your rig heavy, messy, and stressful to manage. Underpacking leaves you without basics like recovery gear or a proper cooking setup.

Real-world tip: Pack your rig a week before your trip and live out of it at home for a day. You’ll quickly learn what you really use and what you don’t. Then refine. YakRacks racks and storage solutions make it easier to keep everything dialed and in its place.

2. Buying Cheap Gear

It’s tempting to cut corners, especially on big-ticket items like rooftop tents. But when you’re off-grid, gear failure isn’t just inconvenient — it can ruin your entire trip. Cheap RTTs with flimsy fabric can collapse in wind, bargain racks can bend under weight, and untested accessories often don’t last.

Real-world tip: Ask yourself, “Would I trust this in a storm?” That’s the test. At YakRacks, we only carry brands that are proven by real overlanders in real conditions. Because the trail doesn’t care what you paid — it only cares if your gear holds up.

3. Ignoring Weight Limits and Vehicle Fitment

Rooftop tents and racks look awesome, but every rig has its limits. Overloading your vehicle can damage suspension, ruin MPG, and in extreme cases, even put you in danger on rough roads.

Real-world tip: Check both your vehicle’s roof load rating (static and dynamic) and your rack’s specs before buying. Not sure what fits? That’s where YakRacks steps in — every product we offer is matched with real-world use so you’re not guessing.

4. Skipping Setup Practice

Your first night out isn’t the time to figure out how to deploy your rooftop tent in the dark, in the rain, while everyone’s hungry. We’ve seen it — and it’s a guaranteed morale killer.

Real-world tip: Set up your tent, awning, and key gear in your driveway before your trip. Time yourself, learn the quirks, and make it muscle memory. YakRacks RTTs are designed for quick, simple setup — but even the best gear is better when you know it inside out.

5. Not Planning for Weather and Terrain

Nature doesn’t follow forecasts. Rain shows up uninvited, winds pick up at 2 a.m., and that dirt road you thought was easy can turn to mud fast. Many new overlanders underestimate how tough conditions can get.

Real-world tip: Always plan for the worst. Hard-shell RTTs give better protection in storms, recovery gear can save your trip if you get stuck, and trail armor keeps your rig safe when the terrain gets rougher than expected. YakRacks exists to make sure you’re never caught off guard.

Bonus Mistake: Going It Alone

One of the biggest unspoken mistakes? Thinking you have to figure it all out solo. Overlanding is about community. Learning from others, swapping tips, and traveling together not only makes the trail more fun, it keeps you safer.

That’s why our motto is simple: Together, We Explore. YakRacks isn’t just a gear shop — it’s a tribe of people who believe freedom is found out there, beyond the pavement.