Minimalist UTV Overlanding - Less is MORE!

The brand ads, the videos, and the dealerships want you to believe that the NORM is a side-by-side vehicle that costs over $40,000.

These "recreational vehicles" provide heat and air conditioning so you can face the Great Outdoors in comfort. OR - they offer twin turbochargers and over 100 horsepower so you can reach top speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour, or spin your tires rolling out of every turn.

My Mahindra Roxor is governed to 55 miles per hour. There is no heat or AC and the dust blows through. I don't have satellite radio or boom box speakers. I also don't have an aftermarket "muffler" that announces my arrival 10 minutes early.

Instead, what I have is an economical UTV that goes almost anywhere. It is only two-thirds the length of the mega side-by-sides so it turns better and can actually navigate woods trails. It's light enough that it seldom gets stuck - and if it does, the winch will pull it out.

The width and wide off-road truck tires provides better stability than the 50-inch "trail" model UTVs, but much greater versatility in the woods and trails than the 64-inch wide desert racing side-by-side models.

Best of all, even after the accessories that I have added, I bought this "utility" UTV for under $20,000. That's still a lot of money - but HALF some of the loaded UTVs and only 25% (or less) than the show boat Jeeps.

In addition, the Roxor has a standard transmission and transfer case - which means that it is FLAT towable! This saved me over $4,000 not needing a second, longer and heavier trailer! The loaded rig pulls easily with my mid-size Nissan Frontier Pro4X.

Where I ride, I seldom exceed 45 miles per hour. In fact, many of the popular OHV trails and forest roads have speed limits of 35 MPH or less! Cruising down rural roads, the little diesel engine loafs along at 2500 RPMs and gets double the mileage of gas UTVs. With a 16-gallon fuel tank, I have a range of 350 miles!

Since I am not racing across the desert in the Baja 1000, I don't need racing seats and a 4-point harness. The upright seating position is comfortable for long rides over 200 miles per day. I did, however, add a ventilated seat and back rest, the same kind preferred by long-haul truckers.

Finally, the simplicity of the diesel engine and manual transmission mean lower maintenance costs and greater durability. While most UTV owners rarely log 1,000 miles per year, I am planning single overland adventures of more than 1,000 miles. A side-by-side typically requires a new drive belt within 1,000 miles, and a new clutch every 4,000 to 5,000 miles.

The Roxor has a simple, durable engine that will easily last over 100,000 miles!

This is EXACTLY what I need for overland routes in the remote backcountry!

The large rear cargo box provides more than enough room for overlanding - that is, multi-day camping or trips with motel stays. I have added a Rubbermaid Action Packer tote to contain my gear and protect it from dirt and rain.

The storage box is tied down to the stock anchor points in the bed, so it is removable if the bed is need for other hauling. There is still plenty of room for bulky camping gear or some firewood. This also places the passenger weight and camping gear almost perfectly centered between the front and rear wheels making hill climbs stable with great traction.

If I am trail riding - day trips or extended adventures - with rigs that cost more than FOUR times as much, we cover the exact same route and miles at the same speed. We share the same experience.

My minimalist UTV is capable of overlanding, in comfort, economically, and doesn't break the bank! When I get home, I check the oil, hose out the dust, and put the fully PAID FOR side-by-side in my garage. My fellow riders take their big rigs and trailers to a rented storage unit. Then they go home and write checks for storage, insurance, and the loans on their expensive toys.

I'll accept the high speed limitations of the Roxor for ALL the advantages of the minimalist UTV for riding and overlanding!

What are YOUR requirements for a side-by-side or UTV? Are you interested in more content related to trail riding and extended overland adventures? Exploring the Great Out There by UTV to maximize the experience, logging miles instead of setting speed records? Then please Like and Share this article!

See also the related articles about customizing the overlanding UTV and my adventure videos on YouTube - including this article and video on the upgraded tires for UTV Overlanding!