Solo but Safe: The Complete Guide to Solo Overlanding

Why travel solo—and what it truly demands

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The 12 Golden Rules (mindset you can act on)

1. Plan like backup won’t arrive. Route A/B/C, fuel & water windows, weather, last-light times, bailouts.
2. Tell someone your plan. Share GPX, check-in cadence, and the “call SAR if I miss X by Y hours” clause.
3. Define turn-around triggers in advance. Fuel %, time to dark, rising water, wind/fire risk, unstable snowpack.
4. Air down before you struggle. Traction is cheaper than recovery. Re-inflate before highway speeds.
5. Stage recoveries from gentle to forceful. Boards → reposition → static pull/anchor → winch → kinetic (trained only).
6. Carry your own anchor. Treeless basins demand a Pull-PAL or buried “deadman” anchor.
7. Redundant comms. Phone + GMRS + two-way satellite messenger; know how to send coordinates and a concise SOS.
8. Protect against time. Extra water, calories, insulation, and a realistic weather holdover plan.
9. Walk unknown obstacles. Feet beat fenders—ruts, crests, water crossings, cornices, bogs.
10. Park to recover. Stop cleanly; align; pre-place boards; route strap; fit dampener; breathe.
11. Log decisions. After-action notes: what you saw, what you chose, and why. Update limits.
12. Operate at 70–80% of capacity. Save a buffer for the thing you didn’t plan on.

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Before you go: risk & route planning that actually works

1) Route stack (A/B/C) & bailouts

• Primary (A): What you want to drive. Note choke points (gates, private inholdings, seasonal closures).
• Secondary (B): Lower risk or better weather aspect (ridge vs valley, south-facing vs north-facing).
• Tertiary (C): Guaranteed egress even if conditions deteriorate—often longer but plowed, graded, or paved.

2) Time math & last-light windows

Plan trail segments at an honest speed (≈10–20 mph). Add 30% for scouting/photos. Set a hard turn-around that returns you with ≥1 hour of light.

3) Fuel & water windows

• Fuel: Know range at trail speeds and aired-down tyres. Solo rule: refuel/turn at ½ your predicted range or 50% tank—whichever comes first.
• Water: 4–6 L/day minimum; double in heat. Carry a filter even if you “won’t need it.”

4) Weather & terrain flags

Watch wind (dunes, fire spread), freeze/thaw (mud & ruts), snowpack layers (cornices/slides), monsoon cells (flash floods), and beach tide/swell windows. If a flag crosses your threshold, downgrade or shift aspects.

5) Share a proper trip brief

Send a one-pager to a trusted contact: dates, route A/B/C (links + GPX), check-in times, vehicle description/plate, and the escalation rule (e.g., “If no check-in by 21:00 + 12h, contact SAR with this GPX and last known.”).

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Vehicle prep & reliability (what actually prevents recoveries)

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Navigation & communications (redundant by design)

Offline maps & GPX

• Download base/topo, satellite, and land-use layers for the whole region (A/B/C routes).
• Mark water, fuel, bailout junctions, and known camps; note gates/closures.
• Enable off-route alerts; carry a paper map as tertiary nav.

Comms stack

• Phone: Weather, maps, calls in range (cache data).
• GMRS: Local traffic, trail crews, nearby help (program repeaters).
• Two-way satellite: Check-ins, two-way texts, SOS with coordinates and medical notes.

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Solo recovery playbooks (deep dive)

A) Sand bog — float, don’t fight

1. Stop immediately. Spinning builds berms.
2. Air down 2–4 PSI more; keep speeds low later.
3. Dig a ramp. Clear in front of each tyre the length of a board.
4. Seat boards. Lugs engaged; idle onto boards in a taller gear.
5. Reset. Stop on firm ground; re-assess; reinflate before highway.

B) Mud rut — reduce suction, keep tyres on top

1. Shovel the leading edge to break suction; lay boards.
2. Choose the straighter, higher line and avoid scrubby steering.
3. Static strap reposition 1–2 m if needed (tree saver; rated points).

C) Snow drift — footprint + finesse

1. Air down (≈15–20 PSI). Disable traction control if it cuts power.
2. Shovel to tyre face; bridge layers with boards.
3. Roll with zero wheelspin; reset if digging starts.

D) Winching solo with a ground anchor

1. Site: Dense soil/firm sand/gravel; avoid saturated silt.
2. Deploy: Plant Pull-PAL at ≈30–45° in line with your path.
3. Rig: Tree saver/bridle at anchor head; fairlead aligned; line dampener.
4. Double-line with snatch block if needed; watch capacity.
5. Tension & test: Light power to set; boards under drive wheels reduce load.
6. Recover slowly: Short pulls; re-chock; re-set anchor as needed.

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Solo camp routine that keeps you safe

• Arrive with light. Aim for ≥1 hour before dark; avoid drainages and wind funnels.
• Vehicle first. Park nose-out on firm ground; chock; stage headlamp and jacket by the door.
• Weather hedge. Plan: lower awning, move cook, adjust guys if wind rises.
• Check-in. Send sat location and morning plan; radio on local channel.
• Zero-dark-thirty drill. Boots, coat, keys, headlamp—know their spot; rehearse 60-second mobilization.

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Human factors: the soloist’s edge

• Fatigue kills judgment. Hard stop one hour before last light; hydrate and eat real calories.
• Micro-decisions add up. At obstacles ask: “Clean exit? Plan B? What if traction drops 20%?”
• Manage heat/cold. Shade breaks, dry socks, vapor barrier in cold; carry a puffy even in summer.

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Emergency protocols (print this)

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Packing & load plan (solo edition)

• Reachable from the seat: Radio, sat messenger, headlamp, water, glass-breaker/knife, map.
• Rear door first-out: Boards, shovel, strap & soft shackles, gloves, dampener, winch remote, tree saver.
• Upper bins (light only): Clothing, sleep kit, first aid, cook kit.
• Heavy & low: Tools, spares, fluids, anchor, rope, bulk water/food.

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Solo practice: 10-minute drills that pay off

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Solo-safe gear we trust (field-tested)

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