Better safe than sorry!
The following safety and recovery equipment will get you out of most predicaments you might encouter while off-road.
Keep in mind, if you’re riding with a group, then these items could come from any one of the vehicles in the group.
It’s not necessary for each and every vehicle to carry every item listed here:
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Air pump or air compressor
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Axe
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Blanket
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Bow saw
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Bucket
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Bungee cords
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Can opener
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Candles
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Cell phone and/or CB (Note: steel whip CB antennas can be dangerous out on the trail)
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Cigarette lighter
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Coat hanger – don’t underestimate the number of uses for the common household coat hanger!
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Duct tape -
Extra gas – enough for a round trip; make sure it’s in an appropriate container
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Extra motor oil (1-2 quarts)
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Fire extinguisher
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First aid kit (packed in a tight weatherproof container)
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Flares
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Flashlight/lantern/spotlight – with extra batteries
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Food (dehydrated foods take little space and last a long time; canned foods are convenient)
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GPS unit or compass
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Hydraulic or hi-lift jack
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ID card, with emergency phone number contact info, medication, and allergy information
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Jumper cables
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Leather gloves
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Maps
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Mirror (as a safety device for signaling help)
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Multi-fit hose and a roll of rubber-weld tape (to repair a blown radiator hose)
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Paper towels
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Pen & paper (a china marker writes on anything!)
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Radiator stop leak or tank sealant putty
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Rags
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Repair manual for your vehicle
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Rope
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Rubber gloves
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Shovel
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Spare clothes
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Spare key kept on your person
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T-style lug wrench
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Tarp (6′x6′) – to keep yourself out of the mud and to catch small parts during repairs
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Tire pressure gauge, tire pump, and fix-a-flat
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Trash bags (heavy duty)
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Water – enough for you (to drink, clean up) and your vehicle (battery, radiator, washer fluid) -
Waterless hand cleaner
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Waterproof matches
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WD-40 or other lubricant
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Whistle
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Winch kit – including straps, snatch block (pulley), shackle
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Zip ties or cable ties
Most Useful Products For Offroaders
There are also a number of kits and products on the market today to simplify the repair process, in the even that a particular part on your vehicle fails. Some of the most popular are:
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Lynnette Walczak
I like to help people find unique ways to do things in order to save time & money -- so I frequently write about "outside the box" ideas that most wouldn't think of. As a lifelong dog owner, I often share my best tips for living with and training dogs. I worked in Higher Ed several years until switching gears to pursue things I was more passionate about. I've worked at a vet, in a photo lab, and at a zoo -- to name a few. I enjoy the outdoors via bicycle, motorcycle, Jeep, or RV. You can always find me at the corner of Good News & Fun Times as publisher of The Fun Times Guide (32 fun websites).
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