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Best Color for an over-landing vehicle? Best Color for an over-landing vehicle?
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Light Overland Vehicle Tech Tech issues, tips and hints, prepping for travel
Under 3500kg vehicles, e.g. Land Cruiser, Land Rover, Subaru etc.
Photo by Ellen Delis, Lagunas Ojos del Campo, Antofalla, Catamarca

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Ellen Delis,
Lagunas Ojos del Campo,
Antofalla, Catamarca



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  • 1 Post By Threewheelbonnie

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  #1  
Old 30 Sep 2011
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Best Color for an over-landing vehicle?
I know that vehicle color choice is about as personal as it gets. I'm sure there are various reasons to why people paint their vehicles the way they do.I would like the opinion from everyone on which color they would pick and why. Everything from 'it came like that' to 'it absorbs radar signals' (really?!) I would like to hear them all.

I am about to embark on a project to build an 4WD overland camper and I am leaning towards basic (off) white, just b/c I think it will help keep the internal temperature down in the warmer climates.

Thanks in advance for your input.
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  #2  
Old 30 Sep 2011
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Tough one:

As a bike rider/sidecar driver I want to be seen in bad weather or when broken down on some autobahn; Dayglo Orange

When rough camping I want to be invsible; no Dayglo, Khaki.

When going through borders where there might be stupid people with guns I don't want to look like the dictator next doors stupid people with guns; no khaki, white.

When it's a hundred and ten in shade I'd like to avoid having my lunch melt: white

I don't want the poor chaps who live under said dictator to think I'm giving too much away: White with any light blue is out, go red.

When the outfit is under a foot of snow it's nice to be able to find it: dayglo red

Any choice is a compromise. I wouldn't spend too much time on it. Avoid the military look and pick something that'll blend in when filthy but can be made to stand out with a clean. Off white sounds OK.

Andy
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  #3  
Old 1 Oct 2011
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Colours
I agree with most of the above; it comes down to personal choice

White/off white
or
Khaki
or
Sand/buff
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  #4  
Old 2 Oct 2011
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Epsom Green...


...it came like that

Can be seen in the desert, seen under snow, hidden in the bush for wildcamping.

then its dirty and looks black for the border posts.

G
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  #5  
Old 2 Oct 2011
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mine is Zebra stripes , has been over various models and years , it not seen as a threat by anybody, conveys that you dont take things too seriously and acts as a conversation starter. Its mostly white so good for heat , put it in amongst trees esp when dusk and it disappears. Stands out in a car park! JMHO
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  #6  
Old 2 Oct 2011
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Keep it non military, Tiggurr was orange with stripes, got a laugh wherever i took him

But the roof was painted white to reflect the heat

Doing the same on the iveco roof (the white not the stripes thing !)
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Old 3 Oct 2011
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My medium blue is invisible in the dark when lights are turned off. Not as cool as white in daylight.

Charlie
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  #8  
Old 5 Oct 2011
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Have good experiences with light Grey color while on the road for 5 years in Asia and the Middle-East.

Besides the color - what also counts very heavily is the gear mounted on the rear, roof, front & sides. I'd never take white, black or signal colors like yellow, orange, red on overland journeys.

My grey Mercedes Benz 1017A has stealth quality to such extend it got mistakingly entered as commercial vehicle on the Greek/Turkish border. Got problems with that when exiting Turkey after 1.5 month. Foreign commercial vehicles are only allowed in Turkey for 1 month. Turkish customs is THOUGH i can tell..

Cheers

Arno
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Old 28 Dec 2011
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Landrover - Matt Pink - yes we painted it that colour. Seemed a good idea. Is great for starting conversations (of all types, some less desirable than others). Would do it again
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  #10  
Old 5 Apr 2023
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vehicle color
Does orange or yellow attract insects?
we want to paint ours orange!
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Old 5 Apr 2023
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Quote:
Originally Posted by emlclcy View Post
Does orange or yellow attract insects?
we want to paint ours orange!
I have a custard yellow motorbiking fleece, it attracts many interesting insects who would like to pollinate me ... not sure about vehicles though, the ADF trucks are all yellow and we don't have insect problems with them.
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Old 5 Apr 2023
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Originally Posted by Turbofurball View Post
I have a custard yellow motorbiking fleece, it attracts many interesting insects who would like to pollinate me ... not sure about vehicles though, the ADF trucks are all yellow and we don't have insect problems with them.
ha ha ! cheers!

carl
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  #13  
Old 5 Apr 2023
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Best for temperature in hot climates - white

Best for visibility - yellow, although white is OK except in snow, however if you drive with your lights on, as you should, this is less of a concern than it used to be.

Thinking about our vehicles, in reverse order:

Current - Montero is pearl white, Wrangler is "Tank Green" (not good for some countries because it can be seen as military, however we use this one only in Canada/USA).

Previous - X Trails both white, Land Cruiser was dark blue, Cherokees were Silver, Blue, and White, Patrol was Bronze/Green, Gelandewagen was grey, 4-runner was white, Pajero was grey, 404 S/W was green.

So 5 of 13 were/are white.
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  #14  
Old 6 Apr 2023
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Originally Posted by Alanymarce View Post
So 5 of 13 were/are white.
that's a lot of trucks! this is my first and we wanted it orange so is it going to look like a giant marigold to every flying insect for 10miles?
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  #15  
Old 24 Apr 2023
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I did change recently from the white Landcruiser to the grey VW Transporter because of marriage and kids.

I can confirm for white, that it attracts way more insects compared to the grey vehicle.

White = is the big love of fly`s. It could be worse

Personally I would never pay cash for changing the color for my travel rig. But if I`m able to choose, then the stealth aspect is also to consider.

Not just the color tones for staying wild, also to stay unobtrusive at urban areas. Any special labeling, and website, insta or social media link - will catch more attention..

Surfy
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