Basic Kit Question

[mdhallman]

New member and new to offroading. Looking for advice on what the first things you'd buy to start preparing for getting out in the woods. Based on reading through the forums here and other research, my understanding would be the following as a starter kit: 1. Portable air compressor 2. Recovery strap 3. Traction boards. 4. Winch - that'll have to wait due to cost. I'm sure there's more than that, I'm just not sure how to prioritize.

Please provide input for anything you feel should be on this list. Also, recommendations for brands/models for anything would also be appreciated. I'm looking forward to getting out with the group and learning as much as I can, but I also want to be able to go out solo (on mild/moderate trails).

Thanks in advance for the guidance.

Mark

[xaza]

I would prioritize based on personal plans. Protection and recovery are at the top of the list. Skids and sliders are most important because you want to prevent damage first. Next is recovery because you want to be able to get yourself out of bad situations or help others. There are many recovery kits that make a great starting point with shackles, recovery strap, tree strap and snatch block. I started with this one.
https://ruggedridge.com/p/rugged-rid...mo8WdUeE&gQT=1
I personally feel traction boards are a waste of money unless you will be venturing out alone with no trees around to be able to use the winch. Air compressor is nice to have, I really like the smittybilt one.
https://www.amazon.com/SmittyBilt-AI.../dp/B004K25GMG

[Tom]

I would add a shovel as a priority.

And a handsaw (edit add)

[Jim]

1. Portable air compressor 2. Recovery strap 3. Traction boards. 4. Winch

I'd put 1, 3, 4 lower in the priority list.

For a starting kit I'd go with one 30' tow strap (not a more costly elastic RECOVERY strap), two soft shackles, one hard shackle (because sometimes the mount location would be damaging to a soft shackle but a hard shackle / D-ring won't be damaged), one set of jumper cables.

If you're into camping (and IMO even if your truck will never leave pavement) a fire extinguisher (a basic $25 unit). Fire extinguisher in the camper does not count

If you're into camping (natural camp fire), running solo through mud or snow - a shovel.

A nice-to-have item is a radio. FRS/GMRS handhelds or mounted radios are common. Handhelds are fairly low cost as well. If you have HAM thoughts, Tom is the guy to answer questions.

That's my starting kit.

What Cliff said - prioritize based upon plans. If you're going out TRAIL riding, with at least one other vehicle, they might have a full recovery setup (but don't plan on it). Though, if you're going out with another vehicle, a shovel does not get used if you're stuck - they typically will toss a tow strap and PULL you out. No winch needed. No recovery boards needed. If you look to head out SOLO, then a shovel would be higher on the list. A winch would be much higher on the list. The HIGHEST item on the list is your BRAIN. When you come across a questionable section of trail (water/mud, snow) - do you NEED to cross that section or do you turn around.

Mostly, we're doing day trips. In such a situation, we're typically heading UP into the mountains from automobile accessible roads. We're typically heading TO an obstacle / INTO a trail where we cloud turn around (typically heading downhill) and away from some questionable traction obstacle (mud/snow). Here a reasonable brain rules - not macho - skinny pedal floor it and cross fingers to make it across the reduced traction obstacle.

One area that can be a difficult one - heading into a trail where there's a spot you can't back out of. Either a multi-day camping event where it snows and you now have an icy / snowy (reduced traction) UPHILL section to get OUT of the trail you're in.

I was on a Bill Moore trail run where we were heading up to the lake but nearing the lake there is a decent downslope - in the shade. Much of the trail that day was clear but this section was not. I didn't recall sliding down, out of control, but it was one of those - I don't think this is a good idea - this could be difficult to get up and out of here. There were ample trees. We had at least once winch - but I brought both sets of tire chains - and both sets were nicely put to use to drive up the slope with one jeep at a time strapped behind me.

Back to your list...

Air compressor - I air down almost every trail run. Mostly for a smoother ride. My jeep is leaf sprung on each corner. Newer coil sprung (on all four corners) vehicles offer a smoother ride where airing down might not be needed. Airing down for traction is helpful - but not always needed. So, if you chose to not air down, you'd not need a compressor. If you needed to air down, due to insufficient traction at an obstacle, you could drive off of the trail and get to the nearest air pump / gas station - traveling more slowly until they get aired up. So, _needed_, no, but I'd recommend looking for a compressor as you might enjoy the smoother ride (even if you have coil springs).

Traction boards - if heading out with a second vehicle (I leave my boards at home) as the second vehicle with a tow strap is the answer. If heading out solo, I often don't bring them. They are in the line of - if there's reduced traction going into a trail - turn around. They only get used if I intend to play on a snow bashing run or if I head out solo and might wish to push through some muddy section (that also has trees nearby to use the winch if I get stuck where traction boards don't cut it).

Winch - Not _needed_ but it's fairly high on the useful equipment list. If heading out with other vehicles - it can be low on the list. If heading out solo - bump it up fairly high on the list. Though, heading out solo, you're first using your brain to decide how sketchy a trail could be. One area a winch can be helpful (over a tow strap - though a strap can be used too) - clearing deadfall from a trail - either on the way in (where you could turn around and head home) or on the way out if you camped through a storm. Pulling deadfall to the side of the trail can be quicker than cutting it up.

Perhaps a tad higher on the list than a Winch would be Recovery Points (front and back). One of my first trips with the group on my new-to-me Jeep was at Moody Hill. There was an in-the-shade step I needed to get up but didn't have traction (snow/ice). The ahead jeep was going to strap pull me up the step. Chris (not the founder, don't recall the screen name) came back to me with a tow strap and looked at my front bumper and said "you have nowhere for me to hook it to." He hooked onto the bumper and it was "good enough" but not proper. Recovery points were added shortly thereafter. If you have a receiver hitch, you can get a hitch recovery point insert for the back end. I don't know about your front end.

So I mentioned cutting deadfall - a foldable "Pull saw" (hand saw) could be on your list - depending upon how much solo more-than-a-day camping you might do on remote trails where another vehicle might not clear a deadfall for you. If you have an electric (battery) chain saw - consider bringing it on a trip where a storm / high winds is predicted.

I specifically head out deadfall clearing with an inverter and 110vAC chain saw - as long as the jeep has gas the chain saw can run. Of note - once the season is rolling, I don't bother bringing it unless there was a recent storm. It's not needed as someone else likely already tended a deadfall.

Tire Chains - if you're into runs where ice / snow can be present - consider getting at least one set (the Bill Moore link, above).

[mdhallman]

Thanks to all for the information and taking the time to respond. Very useful information. +1 on the BRAIN being the best tool...

[The StRanger]

Skid Plates, Skid Plates, Skid Plates… You’ll be amazed what you can pull yourself over
Ya I’m still Lurking ..

[a1gemmel]

Tire repair - carrying a spare is great, carrying bits to repair tires gives you even more peace of mind. Here's what I have in my kit:

Spare tire - duh
Jack - can't change a tire without it
air pump - once you fix your flat, gotta unflatten it
Torque wrench and socket - a tire iron will also do
Colby valves - replace a valve stem in an emergency.
Valve stem replacement tool kit - Another way to replace valve cores on the trail. I use this one more often, I consider it more of a permanent fix and if you need to use it on someone else's rig they don't take your $15 valve stem!
Extra rubber valve stems - for use with the tool kit
Spray bottle with soapy windshield washer fluid - find leaks in tires / valve stems. Why windshield washer fluid? It doesn't freeze.
Gluetread - Repair sidewall slashes on the trail. Not highway rated but it'll get you back to cell service / a tow
Tire plugs - They're cheap and they work, also the best solution for holes in the tread. You can buy packs of 50/100 on eBay which I would recommend because I once put 13 plugs in a tire and the usual kits only come with 5 or 6.
Extra valve stem cores and caps - The caps are easily lost airing down, the cores wear out from time to time especially when using air down tools that pull them out
Valve core tool - to remove and replace valve cores

Bonus:
big freaking hammer - When you lose your bead and drive over some rocks before noticing, sometimes your steel wheel gets all bent up. You need a big hammer to make the wheel round again so it'll hold air.

EDIT: The exact moment that led me to develop this list documented on film https://www.youtube.com/shorts/8tUYKEvGQxw

[Inkedrose]

Tire deflator, can get these cheap on amazon. Tow rope, shovel, first aid kit. I'm a big fan of soft shackles (less metal flying through the air if something snaps). Once you get a winch, tree saver, and snatch blocks are mandatory. Look for a real Thimble. Avoid Factor 55 and other gimmicks get one that actually threads back into line

[TjMike]

a1gemmel previously posted:

[Jim]

a1gemmel previously posted:

[mdhallman]

"For a starting kit I'd go with one 30' tow strap (not a more costly elastic RECOVERY strap)"

Is there a functional reason for using a tow strap vs. a recovery strap? Or is it just that the extra cost doesn't get any additional benefit? Thanks.

[Jim]

Damage to a costly tool.

Tow straps, where you could tow for some distance will often encounter damage. When the towed vehicle closes distance (rolling downhill and they don't stay on the brakes to keep the line taught) and the strap goes slack there are decent odds it will get caught under a tire. That pinched section of strap will get damage - not enough to retire the strap - but some damage.

A recovery strap is well more costly - plus what a recovery strap offers is only needed (typically) in a fairly short distance from where the stuck vehicle is located. Once the stuck vehicle is un-stuck, a typical tow strap can be substituted. If a low cost tow strap is damaged in the tow - no big deal.

Tow straps don't encounter severe loadings (towing). A recovery strap can encounter severe loading - I'd not wish to use a compromised recovery strap in a severe recovery.

If you were originally thinking of getting a recovery strap to cover both uses consider the amount of extra needed space to include a tow strap... The recovery strap will (my guess thinking of my 30' recovery and 30' tow) take about 3x the space - this means adding a tow strap does not consume much additional space.

If you wish to see / feel a recovery strap in use - the winter snow runs are good odds.

Edit / Addendum - Recovery straps are a great tool - but they don't get used too often (IME). I don't take my recovery strap with me in the summertime. It only goes with me on snow runs (often with two sets of tire chains). Summertime, we don't have much of any mud in Colorado so a towing vehicle often has good traction nearby to gently / slowly tow strap pull a stuck vehicle out of where it's stuck. On snow runs, there just is no traction available so momentum and mass are the energy source to pop a stuck vehicle out - and a recovery strap is the tool to lessen the severe jerk. Summertime use would be in the sand - Utah or here in Colorado (near Walden).

[mdhallman]

Thanks! This is the kind of practical information I'm looking for.

[TjMike]

Lots of great info here. I'd throw in an emergency satellite phone or messenger especially if you're going solo. Great to have if you're out of radio range.

[Tom]

TjMike previously posted:

[Inkedrose]

Recovery ropes you guys talking about kinetic ropes? The difference is they stretch out like a sling shot. Harder you pull they stretch and ad extra energy for a snatch pull. Again, big fan of soft shackles. For those that don't already know, never use your ball hitch for recoveries, it's extremely dangerous. Hook to a solid recovery point. If you have a slide for your hitch you can remove it and replace the pin through the rope. Might bend the pin but better than making a cannon ball from a ball hitch. Colorado 4x4 did a great job of breaking it down in this video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb3BkeeXlIo