BigDaveZJ
Adventurer
This is one of those posts that will probably get me in trouble again...
I find it interesting that so many people see an upside to major manufactures and increasing numbers of businesses focusing attention on this 'overland' segment of the market place. Sure, the upside is a larger spectrum of products for consumers and competitive innovation. But there is a huge downside with growth in this activity...increased pressure on shrinking resources. Look at the damage caused by the massive surge in ATV and dirtbike ownership in the past decade and public land agencies response to that phenomena. What do you suppose the effects of a similar growth in 4wd recreation will be?
Personally, I think things are great the way they are. I hope overlanding gets largely ignored by the mainstream. I hope the specialty retailers around it remain as boutique specialists with good customer service. I mean, how much more innovation do we really need in this market segment? Seriously, there are people here with AC in thier tents and frosted mugs in freezer.
All of the overland enthusiasts I meet and read on the forum covet the backroad campsite, far from the bustle of campgrounds and national parks. If more and more people start enjoying this activity, there will be fewer and fewer places you can go. I can even see a future where increased usage of the technical backroads many here enjoy becoming maintained, graded, or even paved <gasp> Sure, it sounds far fetched, but this is already happening all over Arizona. Don't get me wrong, I wish the best for all of our forum sponsors, Overland Journal, and the working folks behind it all...just realize there is always an unintended consequence to growth in this market.
I was thinking the same thing, but was having troubles conveying it as "politely" as you did. I do this stuff to get AWAY from the majority of society.