OpenOverland is guided by a set of beliefs about engineering, ownership, and long-term use. These beliefs shape how problems are framed before solutions are proposed.
Form follows structure, not fashion.
Curves exist to distribute loads and increase stiffness, not to appear futuristic.
If a design choice does not serve structural, manufacturing, or durability goals, it is optional.
We favor solutions that last decades over solutions that optimize a single metric.
A slightly heavier or less optimized design is acceptable if it improves repairability, fatigue resistance, or adaptability.
Clever designs fail quietly and expensively.
Simple designs fail visibly and predictably.
When faced with multiple viable solutions, the one with fewer dependencies, fewer special tools, and fewer assumptions is preferred.
A vehicle should not become unusable because a single supplier disappears.
OpenOverland designs aim to reduce reliance on proprietary parts, closed processes, or vendor lock-in.
A good design should survive translation across fabrication methods:
If a design only works under one specific process, it is fragile by definition.
Undocumented decisions are technical debt.
Design intent must be as explicit as geometry.
Documentation is not an afterthought — it is part of the engineering deliverable.