If you have any interest in off-roading, you need to have an interest in what can help you get out if you get stuck too. That daily commute to work can change in an instance as well. Off road recovery gear is essential when you are venturing off the beaten path. Without it you could literally be up a creek if you know what I mean.
One of the biggest things to consider is yes you may have all this stuff, but do you know how to use it? Can you be proficient with it in a stressful situation if you needed to? In this post I will go over some basics that I think everyone should have in there vehicle at all times along with off road recovery gear and also specifics for winch equipped vehicles.
Table of Contents
Basic Vehicle Kit
Every vehicle on the road should have a few things just in case of emergency. After all you carry an extra tire just in case, right? Why not have a few other simple things in your arsenal to help you get out of those sticky situations.
Jumper Cables/Jumper Pack
As I touched on in my gift guide I think a jumper box is a great idea to have in every vehicle. You could just spring for jumper cables though if you are unsure about a tiny battery jumper. The benefit of one of the boxes is that you don’t need anyone else to help you get started in the event of a dead battery.
Where to Buy
These jumper boxes can be as small as a large cell phone, and many can jump start a car up to 20 times before needing to be recharged. At this point in time you can literally pick these up just about anywhere. Lowe’s, Home Depot, Auto Parts Stores, and Costco all have these available to buy. Just make sure you get one that can handle the size of motor you have. A big V-8 or a diesel will take more juice to start then a 4 cylinder Honda Civic.
Important Notes
I pull these out of the trunks every few months to make sure they have enough juice in them. If not I throw them on the charger for a little bit. They are remarkably good at holding a charge so I usually just put them back in their case and back in the trunk.
Make sure you know how to use it! I made my wife help me a few times just so she could learn. This way she is capable of starting a dead battery if I’m not around. Just remember that red goes to + and black goes to -. It’s that simple. Turn the pack on and you are good to go. There are plenty of brands out there to choose from. The one in my wife’s car is from Costco, and the one in the 4Runner is a little bit bigger one off amazon the DB Power 2000
Road Flares/Flashing Strobes
In the case that you get a flat tire, or break down on the side of the road, you will want to be seen by other drivers. Yes you have your hazards, but in this case, more is better. This could literally be your life. I like these Flashing strobe lights. This is a 6 pack, but you could probably be safe with a 3 pack. They have rechargeable ones available too. The great thing about these is they flash a read light in a circle to draw attention to the fact that you are there. They have hooks and a magnetic base for mounting in various spots.
Good old fashion road flares will do the trick here too, but they may be a little harder to find these days. Anything that can bring more attention to the fact that you are stopped.
Blankets
I always make sure each vehicle has at least one blanket in it. Who knows, you may get stuck in a random snow storm and need to keep warm (I’m looking at you TX)! A side benefit for my wife is she uses said blanket for her photoshoots all the time. I guess that’s good, because I doubt she would keep one in her car if she didn’t.
We tend to like something like a Pendleton Woolen Mills blanket for something like this. It is high quality and is sure to keep you warm if you need it. If these are out of your price range I understand, something is better than nothing. Throw an old comforter in your trunk.
Flashlight/Headlamp
Some sort of light source is a must! How will you be able to jumpstart your car in the dark if you can’t even see the battery? Having a flashlight is a simple thing and they can be very cheap. Having a headlamp is great so you can see while using both hands. This way you won’t need to do the flashlight in the mouth thing (you know what I’m talking about, we all do it).
I like this little flashlight from O-Light. They are rechargeable, and small. They have a magnet on the bottom so if you need to work under the hood of your car in the dark you can just stick it to the underside of the hood. Best part about the one I linked is that I store it like the rest of my patches in my truck!
Snacks and Water
It’s good to have a few snacks or something with some calories in your vehicle. Throw a bag of trail mix in the trunk and forget about it. Just don’t forget about it for too long! I cycle out my food every couple months.
Water!!! We all need water. Keep a water bottle in your car. Avoid just leaving a disposable water bottle in your car as they leach out toxic chemicals when they get hot. This has been know to lead to breast cancer. We use this HydroFlask water bottles. These are great because they are stainless steel and insulated.
Off Road Recovery Gear Kit
Now aside from the basic vehicle kit, an off-roader should carry a few more things. This can all vary depending on the length of trip, but these are a few items I would not go without.
Tools
If you plan to go out into the wilderness and explore in your vehicle, you should carry at least a few basic tools with you. At the minimum I would carry a pair of Vise Grip pliers, a few of the common size sockets and wrenches for your vehicle, zip ties, and duct tape. (I know the last 2 aren’t really tools, but they should be in there).
For me I carry my tools in this Carhartt Tool Roll. This is an easy and compact way to carry plenty of needed tools with you. Best part about it is they don’t rattle like they would if they were in your grand papi’s toolbox. I actually went to Harbor Freight and bought some cheap tools to just leave in the 4Runner. If they break I will just buy another one. No need to be losing high dollar tools out on the trail.
Tow Strap/Snatch Strap
I realize a tow strap only does so much good if you don’t have someone to help pull you out of a stuck situation. Even if I go alone (not recommended) I bring a tow strap. If you get stuck there may be others out on the trail that can help you. Just don’t count on anyone else to have the necessary gear to do the job. In fact I ALWAYS have a tow strap in the 4Runner.
The difference between a tow strap and a snatch strap is elasticity. A snatch strap will give a little when pulling and almost catapult you out of the stuck situation. A tow strap is a solid line that won’t stretch. Bothe have their own uses, I just happen to have them both in the 4Runner at all times.
Shovel/Axe
I’m fortunate enough to have a spot on my roof rack to hold a Krazy Beaver Tool shovel and a Fiskars axe. These have both come in handy more than once. I can think of a time in Denver that we had a Bomb Cyclone, and we had roughly 25 vehicles stuck on the road into work. There were plenty of people trying to dig out with snow shovels and car floor mats. Let me tell you they didn’t get very far. The Krazy Beaver Shovel got every single one of them out. Having a real shovel that can dig into and do some work on ice really made a difference.
An axe is key if you come across a downed tree on the trail, or you need to cut some firewood for camp at night. While the axe doesn’t get used nearly as much as the shovel, it is still a valuable tool to keep close.
MAxtrax/Traction Boards
I can’t say enough about maxtrax. These might be one of the single best inventions for off-roading. These can be used for digging, getting unstuck from loss of traction, creating a bridge across a small crack in the trail, and so on. While Maxtrax boards are not cheap, (about $298 a pair) they are worth it. These things can take a beating and hardly show it. I know there are off brands, but I highly doubt they are nearly as durable. You get what you pay for here. I carry 4 of them every time I go off-roading.
Hi-Lift Jack
Yes I know these are dangerous. I’m not here to debate that. One of these will be great to have in the event you get a flat, get stuck, lose 4LO, or any other random situation. A Hi-Lift jack can be used in both directions, making it like a come along or a very slow winch. Something is better than nothing. I actually store mine under the back seat of the 4Runner. You just need to take the base off of it and it will fit. Best part about storing it in the cab is it doesn’t get rusty. Under the seat it is 100% out of the way while still allowing the seats to function properly.
GPS with SOS
I have a Garmin inReach mini. This is really a last ditch effort in the event I’m in a life or death situation. This has an SOS button that will send help to your location. There is a monthly subscription to have this available, but if it saves your life I’d say it’s well worth it. You are also able to track your path, and send text messages to people to let them know you are ok.
Winch Equipped Vehicles
A winch is one of the best things you can have to recover yourself in the event you get stuck or slide off the road. I know a good winch is not cheap, but again, you get what you pay for. If you can’t swing the top of the line Warn, go with a middle of the road like Smitty Built. I wouldn’t suggest cheeping out here. Last thing you want is that fancy Harbor Freight winch to not work when you really need it.
Having a winch means you can fully recover yourself in a pinch. Paired with some of the items above you will be out of just about any jam in no time flat. There are all kinds of tricks for those times you don’t have anything to anchor too, like burying your spare tire. (See, the shovel comes in handy)!
In this section I will talk about a few more items that will make your winching experience easier.
Snatch Block
A snatch block is not the same as a snatch strap. A snatch block is essentially a pulley. When used it can double your winching power, or make you capable of pulling otherwise unrecoverable angles. Make your you get one that is rated for the proper amount of pulling. Having 10,000 lbs pulling on a snatch block that breaks could literally kill someone. The amount of kinetic energy stored in a winch line is crazy.
Winch Damper
A winch damper is like a weighted blanket for your line. Many can be filled with dirt or sand. I guess you could throw your unused recovery gear in each side. The winch damper is designed to weigh the winch cable down in the event of a failure. The synthetic winch line hols way less kinetic energy than a standard cable line, but it still holds some It will kill a lot of that kinetic energy that is built up while pulling. While this is not an end all be all to winching safety, it will help immensely. The number one rule to winching is always Stand clear.
Gloves
If you are running a winch, keep a good pair of leather gloves in your truck. This is 10 fold if you are running a cable line versus a synthetic line. The cable can become frayed and have strands sticking out. Just think of the worst sliver you have ever gotten, now think of it being metal. No thanks. A good pair of gloves will also prevent rope burn on the synthetic line. Just remember to stand clear when pulling.
Final Thoughts
Going off-road is always a great adventure, but that daily drive into work can turn into an adventure too. Just this last week Texas saw a huge snow storm! Be prepared for any scenario. Most of the things, especially the basic things on this list are fairly inexpensive. Next time you buy some sort of protein bar, just buy another one to throw in your car. If you get a fancy new blanket at home, put the old one in your car.
If you are going out into solitude, the best thing you can do is tell someone where you are going and when you plan on being back. This simple step is almost always forgotten, but could save your life. If you can travel off-road with another vehicle to be safe.
I don’t think everyone needs to run out and get all the gear on this list, but add a thing or two over time. Pick and choose what fits the circumstances that you plan to put yourself in and build a kit from there. If you aren’t sure about recovery and the proper and safe techniques, I suggest you find a class to take locally. You can watch all the YouTube videos you want (Yes there is a rabbit hole for that too), but nothing beats hands on experience and practice.
Be safe out there and stay the trail
NIck