It can be exhilarating to explore what the world has to offer. Fortunately, you can discover much more when you can take things off-road. Whether you plan on returning home later that day or want to live like a mountain person for a week, you should know what to pack in your vehicle for off-roading fun.

Bare Necessities

There is a laundry list of items you should bring along on your off-roading adventure, and we’ll get more in-depth about them as we move along. But there is a bare-bones list you must abide by before you hit the open road. Items that help with your safety, nourishment, truck problems, and other miscellany can get you out of a tough jam if you get yourself into one.

Staying Nourished

Before you load your truck full of gear, you should go through a checklist of personal items that help you stay comfortable and, more importantly, alive. The number one item that you must bring is water. If your off-roading trip is going to be an extended visit, you won’t be able to make it without some high-quality H2O.

Ideally, you should have a gallon of water each day for every person on your adventure. Dehydration can sneak up on you quickly, and the last place you want dehydration to strike is far from civilization.

You’ll need food to pair with your water for proper nourishment. If this is your first rodeo, you may be unsure how much food you should bring. You don’t want to skimp on your food supply, or else you’ll be rationing off a can of beans during day three’s dinner. Therefore, bring more food than you anticipated, especially if it’s nonperishable.

Once you cover those bases, you can sift through your closet and pack your clothes. The smart idea is to plan something for each day and add extra items in case of an emergency. Toilet paper is the last essential to keep in your truck. While you may want a realistic experience in the wild, you’ll regret not having some the second you must take care of yourself with leaves.

Other highly recommended items include rain jackets, sunblock, trash bags, and water purification tablets.

Finding Your Way

With everything in tow to keep you well nourished and hydrated, it’s time to consider additional survival tools in case your joyous trip turns into the plot of a horror movie. Since everything looks the same in the woods, it can be easy to lose your way quickly. Hence, a compass and map can come in handy if you travel down an unbeaten trail. Additional communication devices other than your cell phones, like a CB radio or GMRS radio, are exceptionally helpful if things go awry.

Even if your off-road excursion is a day trip, you’re better off preparing for the worst-case scenario. Because if that were to happen, and you weren’t fully prepared for it, it could be bad news for everyone involved.

Recovery Kit

Any off-roading trip is safer when you have a recovery strap kit. It’s not so much “if” you’ll get stuck in the mud but rather “when.” You may get trapped and need some help getting your vehicle out. Prepare for the inevitable by installing a 4x4 recovery kit on your vehicle. Give the pulling vehicle something strong and rounded to latch onto. These kits include D-ring shackles, hitch receivers, and other essential vehicle recovery components.

In general, recovery kits will assist you in dealing with unforeseen incidents on the road. When you’re on the road, you’re basically on your own. As a result, you should carry your recovery kit to prepare for unforeseen events.

Utilizing Maxtrax

In addition to the recovery kit, it wouldn’t hurt to include Maxtrax. These useful nylon boards are multipurpose. Their intended use is for giving your tires a way to gain traction, but you could also use them at your campsite to construct a fireplace or a latrine. Even if you aren’t an off-roadster, these come helpful in the winter when snow is wreaking havoc on your tires.

A winch or snatch strap requires a substantial force, and failure might be fatal. The easiest approach for driving out of a stalled situation could require no additional vehicle entirely because of Maxtrax.

Tire Considerations

An often-overlooked item is a spare tire. Assuming you’ve altered your truck by lifting it, the factory-issued spare tire isn’t going to cut the mustard. When a tire repair kit cannot fix it, going to a spare may be your only option. And if you dig it out and see the spare is old and useless, you could be in a world of hurt. So always ensure you have a decent tire that suits your current vehicle and the equipment required to replace it if appropriate.

Inflator/Deflator

A fast deflator is a tool you don’t realize you need till you need it. It may save you a significant amount of time and valve stems. Several backups for air are popular. One example is a tiny air compressor. This choice is acceptable. Even though it takes longer, it will complete the task.

Power tanks are the alternative option and the preferred method for inflating tires while off-roading. They are an excellent choice if you need to inflate quickly and easily. These CO2 systems are incredibly transportable and simple to use, can quickly inflate tires, and provide sufficient pressure to operate air tools.

Miscellaneous Tools

Along with your nifty recovery kit, it also doesn’t hurt to have some basic tools. You’ll need a wide range of wrenches, drivers, pliers, and other tools. Even if you don’t anticipate working on your vehicle while traveling, the vibrations and roughness may easily jar things loose. Having a toolset on hand will allow you to deal with issues as they occur.

Now that you know what to pack in your vehicle for off-roading fun, you can confidently hit the muddy terrain. Supreme Suspensions© is here to help you with a recovery kit you can count on. We want to improve your off-roading experience, so swing by or give us a call, and we’ll do whatever we can to improve your ride.