Be prepared going off-road. Whether or not you are going to be out all night, you should be prepared to do so. From my standpoint, it happens more often than planned. Even if you have an RV with you at base camp, you still may not always make it back. We’ve taken short roads that wound up taking hours to get through and eventually had to camp for safety.

This is obvious but I’ll say it anyway. Have a dependable vehicle in good working order.

Protection

Rocks may be the biggest enemy to even the most experienced off road driver. Any time you leave the pavement, an unexpected rock could rip a hole in your oil pan.

• Sliders
• Rock Guards
• Bumpers (Bull bars, ARB, etc)
• Skid plates
• Cross members
• Frame re-enforcement

Vehicle Recovery and Repair

If you are going solo into a remote area, it is essential to carry tools and spare parts. With most problems or breakdowns there will be something you wished you had. Unfortunately, we can’t carry a semi trailer with us to be prepared for every possible situation. We can prepare for the most common ones however.

Tools should include:

• Pliers (needle nose and channel locks)
• Hammer (ball-peen, both large and small)
• Wrench set (Metric & standard)
• Socket Set (Metric & standard)
• Adjustable wrench
• Volt Meter
• Spark Plug Socket
• Tire repair kit
• WD-40
• Electrical & duct tape
• Allen Wrenches
• Hacksaw
• Bolt cutters
• Jumper cables and battery booster
• Vehicle service manual
• Extra hose clamps
• Ratchet straps
• Zip ties
• Bailing wire
• Extra bolts & nuts
• Electrical wire splice
• JB Weld
• Safety Glasses
• fluid clean up kit (Oil absorbing pads)

Spare Parts

• Tie Rod (Ends)
• Engine belt(s)
• Axle shafts
• Axle & Driveshaft U-Joints
• Full size spare tire
• Tire plug/repair kit
• Spare Hub
• Fuses
• Radiator hose
• Tire valve core
• Hose clamps
• Spare ignition & door key

Safety Equipment

• First aid kit (first aid, CPR, getting additional medical training is ideal)
• Fire extinguisher with gauge
• Flashlight (carry 2)
• LED headlamp
• Food and water
• Flares
• Reflective triangles
• First aid items for pet
• Camp gear (you may plan on getting back but it’s to stay out after dark)
• Tent
• Camp stove and fuel
• waterproof matches
• sleeping bag or blankets
• snacks, couple cans of food, protein bars, nuts, etc

Recovery Equipment

• Recovery points
• Front mount winch and control (rear or multi-mount)
• D-Shackles
• Snatch block pulley
• Chain 10-20 feet, grade 70, 5/16 minimum
• Recovery straps (30K rating, don’t used stitched on hooks)
• Shovel
• Axe
• Tree straps
• Welding Gloves (for winch cable handling)
• Winch cable weight

Communication and navigational equipment

Don’t depend on cell phones. They usually don’t work in remote locations. GPS is nice but don’t rely on it. Batteries and electronics fail, maps and compasses don’t.

• Cell Phone (car charger)
• CB (car charger if portable)
• Amateur radio …. include repeater directory
• Global Positioning System
• Area maps
• Compass

Spare fluids

Spare fluids are must. From water to gas. We need our fluids as much as our vehicles do.

• Extra Fuel
• Octane boost (bad gas in remote places)
• As much water as you can carry (drinking and potable)
• Oil
• Air/CO2 systems

Power modifications

These are nice to have if you can swing it.

• Dual battery systems
• Solar Panels and inverters
• Higher out put alternators

Luxury items

Personal choice items can include many things. They may be unnecessary to some and critical to others.

• Camera
• DVD/CD players
• pet crate
• weather radio
• computer

These kind of lists are always changing and you may have other items that you needed or wished you had. Please contribute additions.