Better safe than sorry!
The following safety and recovery equipment will get you out of most predicaments you might encouter while off-road.
Must read: Jeep Checklists Before Going Off Road
Jeep Offroad Supplies To Pack
Keep in mind, if you’re riding with a group, then these items could come from any one of the vehicles in the group.
So, it’s not necessary for each and every vehicle to carry every item listed here:
- Air pump or air compressor
- Axe
- Blanket
- Bow saw
- Bucket
- Bungee cords
- Can opener
- Candles
- Cell phone and/or CB (Note: steel whip CB antennas can be dangerous out on the trail)
- Cigarette lighter
- Coat hanger – don’t underestimate the number of uses for the common household coat hanger!
Duct tape- Extra gas – enough for a round trip; make sure it’s in an appropriate container
- Extra motor oil (1 to 2 quarts)
- Fire extinguisher
- First aid kit – packed in a tight weatherproof container
- Flares
- Flashlight/lantern/spotlight – with extra batteries
- Food – dehydrated foods take little space and last a long time; canned foods are convenient
- GPS unit or compass
- Hydraulic or hi-lift jack
- ID card – with emergency phone number contact info, medication, and allergy information
- Jumper cables
- Leather gloves
- Maps
- Mirror – as a safety device for signaling help
- Multi-fit hose and a roll of rubber-weld tape – to repair a blown radiator hose
- Paper towels
- Pen & paper – a china marker writes on anything!
- Radiator stop leak or tank sealant putty
- Rags
- Repair manual for your vehicle
- Rope
- Rubber gloves
- Shovel
- Spare clothes
- Spare key kept on your person
T-style lug wrench- Tarp (6’x6′) – to keep yourself out of the mud and to catch small parts during repairs
- Tire pressure gauge, tire pump, and fix-a-flat
- Trash bags (heavy duty)
- Water – enough for you (to drink, clean up) and your vehicle (battery, radiator, washer fluid)
- Waterless hand cleaner
- Waterproof matches
- WD-40 or other lubricant
- Whistle
- Winch kit – including straps, snatch block (pulley), shackle
- Zip ties or cable ties
Must read: 7 Off Road Accessories You Should Always Have In Your Jeep
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 event that a particular part on your vehicle fails.
Some of the most popular for offroaders are:
- radiator stop-leak
- silicone gasket maker
- plastic steel epoxy
- radiator tank repair sealant
- tire plugs or tire patch kit
- carburetor cleaner
Since we’ve been married, my husband and I have owned 5 Jeeps (3 Wranglers and 2 Grand Cherokees). And when we’re not driving our own Jeep, we’re usually renting one (a 4×4 Wrangler on vacation). We keep a Jeep Bucket List of places that we’d like to go next, and we're always crossing more states off our list of 'Places That We’ve Jeeped in the USA'. As our daily driver, we keep the soft top on our Jeep Wrangler year round (and the back window permanently rolled up) so the dogs can enjoy the ride. Yep… even in the winter! I've been sharing my best Jeep ideas with others by blogging full-time since 1998. When I’m not Jeeping or writing about Jeeps, you'll find me at the corner of Good News & Fun Times as publisher of The Fun Times Guide (32 fun & helpful websites).
