Learn real-world overlanding skills — with Rusty as your guide.
Start with Overlanding 101 to build foundations in mindset, vehicles, routes, campcraft and risk — then deepen your skills with Recovery 101, air management and trip-planning modules, all built around the tools we use at Overland Gear Guide.
Why the OGG Overland Skills Center exists
There’s no shortage of random YouTube clips. What most people don’t have is a structured path: start here, practice this, then add complexity. That’s what this Skills Center is for.
Real-world, not theory
Lessons are built around actual trail scenarios, recoveries and trip examples — not just spec sheets and brochure talk.
Built around OGG tools
Every course hooks into the calculators and planners we already provide, so you’re learning on the same tools you’ll use on your next trip.
Short, focused & printable
Micro-lessons, glovebox checklists and simple diagrams you can screenshot, print or save offline before you leave signal.
Skills paths & courses
Start with the path that matches where you are now. Overlanding 101 is your foundation; Recovery 101 and future modules deepen specific skills.
Trail Basics & Vehicle Control
Get comfortable with the fundamentals before you add gnarly obstacles or remote routes.
- Overlanding 101 – Foundations of Safe Travel – 5 lessons covering mindset, vehicles, routes, campcraft & risk (now live)
- Trail Confidence 101 – Off-road driving basics (planned)
Recovery Skills & Safety
Learn to plan, rig and execute safe recoveries without turning your gear into shrapnel.
- Recovery 101 – Safe Overland Recovery Fundamentals – Gear, risk & fundamentals (now live)
- Kinetic Recovery Deep Dive – Based on the OGG eBook (planned)
- Boards, Jacks & Traction – Practical self-recovery (planned)
Trip Planning & Expedition Prep
Turn vague dream routes into realistic, well-planned trips with fuel, water and risk thought through.
- Trip Planning Fundamentals – Distance, pace & route
- Fuel & Range Planning – Using the Expedition Planner
- Pre-Departure Checklist – Gear, paperwork & contingencies
Featured course: Overlanding 101 – Foundations of Safe Travel
A five-lesson, quiz-backed course that walks you through overlanding mindset, choosing and loading your vehicle, route planning, campcraft and risk management — all tied into your OGG tools.
- 5 focused lessons with diagrams, examples and knowledge checks.
- Inline Rusty coaching on every lesson page for questions and scenarios.
- Designed as the starting point for new overlanders and new builds.
How the Skills Center works
Start simple, add depth over time. You can learn entirely free with Overlanding 101 and core lessons, then unlock deeper recovery and expedition modules later.
Start with Overlanding 101
Work through the five foundation lessons: mindset, vehicle, routes, campcraft and risk.
Add focused skills
Use Recovery 101 and future modules to deepen specific areas like recoveries and air management.
Use the OGG tools
Apply what you learn using the tyre calculator, expedition planner and gear list builder.
Ask Rusty for help
Got questions? Rusty is trained on overlanding skills and OGG content to support you as you go.
Meet your instructor: Rusty, the OGG Overland Coach
Rusty is an AI overlanding assistant trained on recovery techniques, off-road driving fundamentals, modern gear and Overland Gear Guide resources. Inside the Skills Center, Rusty switches into “instructor mode” — helping you clarify concepts, sanity-check plans and choose appropriate gear.
- Ask follow-up questions after each Overlanding 101 or Recovery 101 lesson.
- Get suggestions tailored to your vehicle, terrain and experience level.
- Role-play recovery or planning scenarios before you try them for real.
What Rusty can help with
- Explaining concepts in plain language.
- Comparing recovery techniques and gear options.
- Checking your tyre pressure choices for a given terrain.
- Walking you through pre-trip and pre-pull checklists.
- Highlighting common mistakes to avoid.
Rusty is a coach and planning companion — not a replacement for real-world judgment. Always follow local laws, manufacturer guidance and on-scene safety decisions.
Ask Rusty about your overland skills
Type a question about off-road driving, recovery, tyre pressures or trip planning. Tell Rusty which course or lesson you’re on (for example, “Overlanding 101, Lesson 2”) and he’ll explain things in plain language.
Tools that power your learning
The Skills Center is tightly linked with Overland Gear Guide’s interactive tools. You’ll see them referenced throughout Overlanding 101, Recovery 101 and future courses.
Tyre Pressure Calculator
Learn how pressure, load and terrain work together, then plug your own numbers into the calculator.
Overland Expedition Planner
Turn rough ideas into mapped routes with realistic daily distances, fuel stops and border crossings.
Gear List Builder & PDF
Build a trip-specific packing list, then export a PDF you can print or save offline.
Overland Skills Center FAQ
Do I need prior off-road experience?
No. Overlanding 101 and the Trail Basics path are designed for newcomers. We start with fundamentals like vehicle choice, loading, tyre pressures and simple terrain before moving into more advanced scenarios.
Is Rusty safe to rely on for real recoveries?
Rusty is a training and planning coach. He can explain concepts, walk through checklists and highlight risks, but you should always apply real-world judgment, follow local laws and manufacturer guidance.
Are the courses free or paid?
Overlanding 101 and core mini-lessons will be free so you can build a strong foundation. Deeper recovery and expedition-planning modules, with downloads and diagrams, will be offered as optional paid courses.
Will the training work for any 4×4 or overland rig?
Yes. The principles apply to a wide range of vehicles, from stock 4x4s to fully built tourers. In many lessons Rusty can tailor suggestions to your specific vehicle, tyre size and load.
How do I know when new courses are added?
You can bookmark this page and join the Overland Gear Guide email list below. We’ll send updates when new modules, checklists and tools go live.