The thrill of exploring off the beaten path is what gets many overlanders out of bed in the morning. No other type of vehicle gives you as much flexibility to venture into remote areas or travel to foreign lands. However, with this flexibility comes an increased chance of drastic weather changes. It is always wise to weatherproof your vehicle to reduce damage to your vehicle.
You can find yourself off-road, miles from anywhere, for days on end without seeing another person. While it’s very satisfying, it also requires paying attention to protecting your vehicle from the weather.
Five reasons to weatherproof your vehicle and expensive equipment before embarking on any outdoor adventure.
- Heat and UV Light fades your vehicle’s paint, and stresses your air conditioning
- Condensation causes damage to your car’s electronics.
- Dust and dirt buildup damages your engine and affects your health.
- Water damages your truck’s electronics and rusts out your frame.
- Wind damages rooftop tents, antennas, and equipment packed outside the vehicle.
Let’s take a closer look at each reason in more depth.
5 Reasons to Weatherproof Your Overlanding Gear
Heat and UV Damage
Despite how well things are built, a vehicle’s worst enemy is heat and UV rays. On a long journey, particularly in more remote areas, you could bake in the hot sun for hours.
Combined with uneven heat distribution inside your vehicle without adequate ventilation, things get very uncomfortable. When you are parked at basecamp, you must keep metal containers away from direct sunlight.
Condensation
In humid climates, condensation inside vehicles is one of the most common problems overlanders face. The effects of condensation on electronic equipment such as laptops are well documented. It can cause all sorts of damage if left unchecked.
If you’re living out of your vehicle, then there is a high chance that the interior will condensate at some point. This has the potential to wreak havoc on anything electrical.
Dust and Dirt
No matter where you drive, dust covers everything eventually. Especially if you’ve traveled thousands of miles through vast stretches of an unpopulated desert. This can affect your electronics, and gas mileage and damage your vehicle’s engine.
The problem is worse if you’ve got somewhere to be and don’t have time to allow your rig to air out before traveling again, which leaves your stuff vulnerable entirely. Wiping off dust, dirt, and sand is an inevitability when living in remote areas. In fact, all moving parts get coated in the stuff.
Water Damage
Water is often an overlander’s arch-enemy, especially if it comes from above! Driving through dirty rivers or puddles can be unavoidable at times, but plenty of other hazards lurk beneath the surface. Around 160,000 people worldwide die every year due to flooding, and flash floods are increasing worldwide.
If you’re planning to drive up into mountainous regions, then snowmelt is another issue to consider. When water isn’t visible, it doesn’t mean it isn’t dangerous! Even a tiny amount of moisture inside your vehicle can cause all sorts of problems with electrical equipment.
A better way to tackle water issues is to prevent any problems from occurring in the first place.
Wind Damage
If you’ve ever driven with a broken window at speed, you’ll know how dangerous wind can be. Some overlanders carry spare windows or polythene sheeting just in case, but other things can get damaged.
Roof racks, mirrors, and antennas are often the biggest casualties of bad driving conditions due to high winds. It’s not worth driving when the debris is flying everywhere. Never mind what could happen if something was sucked into your engine through an open vent!
Damaging Weather Conditions In The U.S. By Region
When preparing for your Overlanding Trip, you should know the different weather conditions you expect to encounter. It is also a good idea to check the weather before you go.
We have prepared a list of the expected weather conditions for every major region in the United States. You will find out that some areas can provide lovely weather conditions, while others tend to have unstable weather.
Weatherproof: West Coast and Pacific Northwest
WASHINGTON, OREGON, AND CALIFORNIA
There is no distinct season in this area since temperatures hardly change throughout the year, and precipitation is spread out equally through all months of the year. When heading southbound towards Mexico, don’t expect good weather at most times of the year.
Weatherproof: Southwest United States
WESTERN TEXAS, NEW MEXICO & ARIZONA & SONORA, CHIHUAHUA, BAJA CALIFORNIA (SOUTH OF 25)
The high-pressure system influences this area in the subtropical Pacific Ocean and provides pleasant weather conditions almost throughout its entire territory during all months of the year.
With major mountains here, expect thunderstorms during summer and early fall. Monsoons come from excess moisture from the Gulf of Mexico.
The lightning danger is serious between June and September, especially around New Mexico and Arizona. This means it is important to keep your eyes open for approaching thunderstorms!
Weatherproof: The Rocky Mountains and Great Plains
COLORADO, IDAHO, WYOMING, MONTANA, UTAH, EASTERN OREGON, AND WASHINGTON
With its high elevation, the Rocky Mountains are possibly one of the most variable regions in the United States. Temperatures vary drastically depending on season and altitude, with average lows around -30 (-22) during winter at the highest summits!
When heading northbound during summer, always keep an eye out for rapidly changing weather conditions which can lead to rapidly rising temperatures, heavy precipitation (snowfall included), lightning, and strong winds within minutes!
Weatherproof: The Midwest and Central Plains
NEBRASKA, KANSAS, IOWA, MISSOURI, SOUTHERN MINNESOTA, WISCONSIN, AND ILLINOIS
Humid air masses highly influence the area coming from the Gulf of Mexico. It experiences very cold continental polar air masses coming down from Canada. Temperatures show an extreme range during the year with lows of -22F in winter and highs of 104F in summer.
Precipitation appears to be highest in August. And then shows a very distinct annual cycle as moist air masses mainly cause it from the Gulf of Mexico. This dramatically increases humidity levels when reaching this region! Water levels tend to rise rapidly during the spring thaw. So keep an eye out for flooded areas, especially between March and May!
Weatherproof: South Central States
NORTHEAST NEW MEXICO AND MUCH OF TEXAS SOUTH OF SAN ANTONIO
This region tends to experience a humid subtropical climate with hot summers and mild winters. At high elevations, temperatures can become quite chilly during winter, so always pack some warm layers!
Due to its massive mountain range, this region experiences a wide range of precipitation depending on the season and location. During summer, thunderstorms are likely due to moist air masses from the Gulf of Mexico. While the winter months tend to be dry with frequent cold fronts reaching this area.
Snowfall occurs mainly from December to March. Although, you should expect rain showers anytime between October and May, especially at high elevations!
Weatherproof: Florida Peninsula
FLORIDA (SOUTH OF 22)
Subtropical weather conditions dominate this region and show slight variations throughout the year. Temperatures usually vary within relatively small ranges, while precipitation offers distinct wet and dry seasons.
Final Words
Keeping your Overlanding gear in top condition is one of the essential aspects of any long-distance journey. If something breaks, it causes all sorts of inconveniences and costs lots of money to fix. Many overlanders will tell you that’s why their journey finished early!
Taking steps to protect your equipment before you leave isn’t just about protecting your bank balance. There are so many unforeseeable dangers out there. It makes sense to give yourself every chance to avoid problems while traveling too.
For more on traveling the U.S. check out this recent post.
