When outfitting your vehicle for an overland trip, the Boy Scouts have it right, it is important to "Be Prepared". Equipment varies based upon the conditions and terrain that you expect to encounter. Each trip brings unique gear requirements and preparations.

Sand mats, while invaluable in the desert, can safely be left at home in summer mountain conditions. Likewise, one is unlikely to have much need for a ground anchor in dense jungle or forest environments.

Regardless of what equipment you bring along, it is important to have an effective storage system in place. This can be as simple as labeled rubberized cases or as elaborate as a custom roller drawer system.

Part of an effective packing system is consistency and ease of access. In my vehicles, I prefer to keep items compartmentalized and color coded. For example, I always keep my cooking gear in a yellow case in the cargo area, first aid equipment is in an easily accessible bright blue bag directly behind the drivers seat.

This ease of identification also helps in emergency situations when directing others to retrieve equipment.

In overland or vehicle dependent expedition situations, vehicle weight is a primary concern. If you are traveling with other vehicles, consider splitting up equipment storage or making shared sets of spares if multiple parts aren't needed (ie alternators or Pull Pals).

1200 Eezi-Awn Roof top tent or North Face 3 season ground tent (depending on outing)

Sleeping Bag (-15 degree mummy bag for alpine use), 30 degree bag for tropical or temperate use.

Down pillow

Folding camp chair (2, someone else always forgets theirs)

Quick dry micro fiber towel

Thermarest sleeping pad (for ground tent only)

Storm 2720 case for spare clothes (stored on roof rack for easy access from tent)

TEVA sandals

Petzl LED headlamp

5 gallon Scepter water can - Desert Sand

2.5 gallon Scepter water can - blue

Adventure Medical Kit Expedition Bag

Solar powered shower system

Katadyn Water Filtration System

Shovel

Pickaxe

hand axe

Orikaso origami camp bowls

2 burner propane grill

7.5" Coleman Propane burner

2 - 16.4 oz Propane cylinders

Collapsible cooking table

Nesting cooking pot and plate set

1 box strike anywhere matches (waterproof)

Reusable plastic eating utensils

Firestarter - Maya Dust or Strike-A-Fire

2.5 pint Volcano (Kelly) kettle

Assorted teas (Twinnings English Breakfast, Numi Moroccan Mint tea)

Assorted seasonings incl. kosher salt, pepper, Montreal steak seasoning

Spatula

Large stirring spoon

Tongs

Steak knives

Can opener

double walled stainless steel mug

Environmentally friendly dish soap

Roll of Aluminum Foil

Roll of paper towels

Apple 15" PowerBook 1.67GHz

National Geographic Topo Software with local state topos preloaded

Garmin III+ GPS with USB tether cord

400w Inverter

Pelican 1490 Deluxe Computer Case

250GB LaCie redundant storage kept in Pelican 1400 padded divider case

Hella 7" 12V Map Light

Engel 42q Fridge/Freezer

iPhone 3G w/ FM transmitter/charger

Motorola FRS radios (4)

Cobra CB radio

Jotto Desk laptop mount

Canon 20D dSLR with extra battery grip

Spare camera batteries

Canon 17-40mm f/4.0L lens

Canon 70-200mm f/4.0L lens

Canon 50mm f/1.8 lens

Canon 15mm f/2.8 fisheye lens

B+W filters (circular polarizer, UV and gradient ND filters)

Canon 550EX flash

Canon 1.4x L lens extension

Canon remote control (TC-80N3)

Manfroto 3021 tripod

Manfroto 685B monopod

Pelican 1050 case filled with AA batteries

Gepe Card Safe Extreme: water and dustproof CF memory card holder

2 - 2GB Compact flash cards, 3-1 GB cards

Manfroto 484RC2 head

Lowe Pro Stealth Reporter bag

Storm iM2400 Waterproof case with padded dividers

Bug out bag

Portable set of multicolored dominos

Camelback personal water system

Rummikub set

Moleskine notebook

Fisherman Swiss Army Knife

Luminox Navy SEAL watch

Assorted DVDs

8' 6wt fly rod and reel

fly box with assorted locally-tied flies

Hip waders

fly fishing net

Guinness ball cap

Full-brimmed Australian leather hat

Hand Cleaner (Gojo)

1 piece Mechanics jumpsuit/coveralls

High-visiblity recovery bag

Leather Palmed Work Gloves

Rated D-Rings (4 minimum)

Winch remote control (not wireless)

10' Tree Strap (1)

30' 17.5k lb recovery or snatch strap (1)

48" Hi-Lift Jack

Winch (rated to 1.5 times GVW)

Pulley Block (Snatch block) (1)

Winchline Extension (1)

Winch damper

Tire Repair Kit (Safety Seal)

Traction Aids (sand mats)

Staun Tire Deflators (kept in center console for easy access)

Craftsman Professional metric ratcheting wrench set (8-19mm)

Snap-on ratcheting screwdriver

15lb Powertank with tire gauge

Pneumatic 3/8 impact gun

Snap-on assorted screwdriver bits

SAE wrench set

Metric wrench set (with extra 10mm, 13mm and 17mm wrenches)

1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" socket wrenches

Hand drill

Corresponding standard and deep well socket sets

Spare bulbs, fuses, belts and hoses

Spare fuel filter

2 quarts of oil

1 quart of 90wt gear oil

1 quart ATF

1 roll of Rescue Tape

Gaffers Tape

Pry Bar

Snap-on wobble socket extension

Latex Gloves