How to Set Up Your Jeep for Overlanding in British Columbia

Northern BC is one of the best overlanding regions in North America, and most people who live here do not fully appreciate what is in their backyard. The Stewart-Cassiar Highway, the Telegraph Creek Road, the backroads between Burns Lake and Francois Lake, the forest service roads radiating out of Houston and Granisle, and the coastal access routes near Kitimat and Prince Rupert offer the kind of remote, scenic, multi-day driving that overlanders from California and Alberta fly in to experience. If you own a Jeep Wrangler, Gladiator, or Grand Cherokee and you want to build it for overlanding, here is where to start.

Start With the Right Platform

The Jeep Gladiator is the ideal overlanding base because it combines Wrangler capability with a five-foot truck bed that fits a rooftop tent, a bed rack system, or a slide-in camper. The four-door Wrangler Unlimited is the next best option, with a roof-mounted tent or a lightweight trailer setup. The Grand Cherokee works for lighter overlanding with better on-road comfort for the highway miles between destinations. Each platform has a different weight capacity and different modification paths, so start by deciding how you want to camp: rooftop tent, ground tent with gear in the truck, or a lightweight trailer.

Tires and Lift: The Foundation of Any Build

For Northern BC overlanding, a two-inch lift with 33-inch all-terrain tires is the sweet spot for most Wranglers and Gladiators. It gives you enough ground clearance for the rutted forest service roads around Smithers and Terrace without destroying your on-road handling or fuel economy for the long highway stretches on the Stewart-Cassiar or Highway 16. Mopar offers a factory two-inch lift kit that maintains your warranty, which matters when your vehicle is still under powertrain coverage. Pair it with a quality all-terrain tire that carries the three-peak mountain snowflake rating for year-round use in BC. Our parts department at Frontier stocks Mopar lift kits and can recommend tire packages that fit your budget and your driving style.

Rooftop Tent and Rack System

A rooftop tent gets you off the ground, away from moisture, and set up in under five minutes at a pullout along the Telegraph Creek Road or a forest service recreation site near Babine Lake. On the Gladiator, a bed rack system supports the tent and keeps your bed free for gear. On the Wrangler, a roof rack rated for the tent’s weight is essential. Factor in the tent’s packed weight plus your other roof cargo and stay within your vehicle’s dynamic roof load rating. A common mistake is overloading the roof and finding out the hard way when handling degrades on a washboard road between Vanderhoof and Fraser Lake.

Recovery, Navigation, and Communication

Overlanding in Northern BC means driving hours from cell service. A satellite communicator like an inReach or a SPOT device is not optional. Carry a full recovery kit: rated tow strap, shackles, traction boards, shovel, and a tire repair kit. If your Wrangler has a factory or aftermarket winch, inspect the rope and test the motor before the season starts. For navigation, download offline maps for the areas you plan to explore. The backcountry between Houston and Granisle, the routes north of Hazelton toward the Nass Valley, and the forest service roads around Terrace and Kitimat are poorly covered by standard GPS mapping. A good paper map of the forest service road network is cheap insurance against a dead phone or a wrong turn.

Build Your Overlanding Jeep at Frontier Chrysler Jeep Ram

We carry the Wrangler, Gladiator, and Grand Cherokee lineup and stock Mopar accessories including lift kits, rock rails, bumpers, roof racks, and LED lighting. Whether you are building a weekend camping rig or a fully equipped overland vehicle for multi-day backcountry trips, we can help you plan and install the right modifications without voiding your factory warranty. Frontier Chrysler Jeep Ram serves the overlanding community across Smithers, Terrace, Kitimat, Prince George, Burns Lake, Houston, Prince Rupert, and Northern BC. Come talk to us about your build.