- Always travel in groups of 2 or more vehicles
- Always alert someone back home where you are going & when you expect to return
- Take at least a basic supply of tools and gear (see The Basic, Minimal Offroad Checklist)
- Air up to recommended tire pressure for highway driving, air down at trail head, air up prior to trip home
- Straighten winch cable if necessary
- Fire Extinguisher - Should be mounted in the vehicle in an easily accessible location.
Pre-departure Maintenance Checklist
Check engine oil
Check transmission oil
Check brake fluid
Check radiator coolant
Check windshield wiper fluid
Check fan belts
Check hoses
Check air cleaner
Check seat belts
Check tire air pressure
Check for tire wear or damage
Tighten drive shaft u-bolts
Check and tighten lug bolts
Check for frame cracks
Check brake pads/shoes adequate pad material, in good condition w/out contamination
Check for loose bolts or nuts throughout vehicle
Grease all fittings - u-joints, steering, driveshaft
Check gear oils: transfer case/differentials
Check Winch for proper operation,
Check winch cable for kinks, frays/damage straighten
Check shocks
The Basic, Minimal Offroad Checklist
The minimal list is the basics that you should always carry in your vehicle when offroad. These items are good to have in the vehicle at all times.
First Aid Kit (See Safety and Survival below)
Basic Personal Essentials (water, food)
Spare Tire, Full Size
Jack and tire iron to change your tire
Tow strap
Recpvery Strap
Tree saver
D-ring or Soft Shackles
Come-alongs
Basic Tool Kit
Leather/Work Gloves
Spare Key for vehicle
__________________________________________
My 5 Must Have's: As a new Jeeper or off-roader it can be very overwhelming trying to figure out what to buy and where to start. These 5 items are a great start to building your Off-Road recovery kit.
Recovery Strap
You need a good quality recovery strap. Make sure it’s a recovery strap, not a tow strap. The recovery straps are designed for the rigors of pulling out a stuck vehicle, a tow strap is designed for flat road towing.
Tree Saver
Soft Shackle / or Shackle A.K.A D-Ring
**Make sure these items are rated for the proper load.
Click Here - Jeep Momma Blog Post - OffRoad Recovery Gear
Gloves
Shovel
Click Here Road Safety & Weather Emergency Kit
Click Here 5 Must Have Kits for your Jeep
_____________________________________________
Safety and Survival
First aid kits come in many shapes and sizes. You can buy them, or you can make your own kit. Whether you buy a first aid kit or put one together, make sure it has all the items you may need. Include any personal items, such as medications.
Activated Charcoal (only if instructed by Poison Control)
Adhesive Tape
Antiseptic Ointment
Alcohol swabs, individually wrapped
Band-Aids (assorted sizes)
Blanket
Cold Pack
Disposable Gloves
Gauze Pads and Roller Gauze (assorted sizes)
Hand Cleaner
Plastic Bags
Scissors and Tweezers
Small Flashlight and Extra Batteries
Syrup of Ipecac (only if instructed by Poison Control)
Triangular Bandage
Burnaid gel
Snake Bite kit
Disposable emergency blanket
Instant Cold pack
Instant Hot pack
Tourniquet
Israeli bandage
Medications: Anti-diarrhea medication, Tylenol ( fever reducer), Ibuprofen (Nuprin, Motrin, Advil) inflammation reduction, sprains bruises, etc, Benadryl for mild allergic reactions, Epinephrine in the form of an Epi Pen to treat more serious allergic reactions that might otherwise be fatal.
Road Safety
My top 5 picks
(Tow Strap/Gloves in Off-Road Recovery Kit)
- Jumper Cable
- Fire Extinguisher/Mount
- Road Safety reflectors/Flare
- First Aid Kit - Items to put in your kit
- Weather Emergency Kit
The mounts I use are mounted on the rear roll bars. Super easy access by unzipping your windows.
Jeep Momma Mounts
- Made of black Nylon, durable and reliable. It is very easy to install
- 3 adjustable straps to any size what you want. Suitable for different fire extinguisher
- All accessories attach to roll bars using hook-and-loop fasteners.
- Bundle includes pair of ultimate grab handles and fire extinguisher holder.
- Works with 3-inch roll bars. Can be held one 3 pound fire extinguisher
- High quality,
- Made in the U.S.A.
- Color Choice to match your Jeep
- Fits both padded and non-padded roll bars
- Fits PALS webbing as a MOLLE accessory
Basic Personal Essentials
Water - At least one Gallon per person, per day if not more. Drier, hotter climates may require more. Remember: Alcohol doesn't hydrate. In fact alcoholic beverages dehydrate since it take more water to metabolize alcohol than the beverage contains.
Food - Bring food for twice the amount of time you are planning on being gone. Should you be delayed and have to spend a night out on the trail, you wont have to worry about going hungry. Good ideas for trail food: trail mix, beef jerky, fruits, dry/canned food, etc.
Extra Cloths - Nobody likes to sit in wet cloths or an extended period of time.
Personal items - This includes toilet paper, anti- microbial hand cleaner, etc
Sun block
Rain Jacket
Communication devices - Cell Phone, CB Radio
Power inverter if necessary (e.g. Cell phone recharger, battery recharger for communication devices and camera)
Trash bags - Keep your trails clean
Maps, information about the area
Compass or GPS
Water purification tablets
____________________________________________
Having some important supplies and keeping your vehicle in top condition is valuable for having a safe journey. During the winter months in colder climates it's extremely important to be prepared. I have started my own list of items for your cold-weather kit. There are Winter Survival Kits that can be purchased online, but they tend to be pricey. The quality of these kits is often poor. Most of the stuff in my kit can be found around your house.
Winter Survival Kit
First aid kit – don’t skimp on this
Blanket – wool or survival
Signal mirror
Candles
Blanket – wool or survival
Signal mirror
Candles
Flashlight / headlamp
Nylon cord
Glow sticks – Flares – Warning Triangle
Hand Warmers
Emergency Candles
Quick Spark Fire Starter / Tinder
Matches - waterproof
Folding Shovel
Basic Tools for Repairs
Vehicle Fire Extinguisher
A good Knife / multi tool
Duct Tape
Tarp 9×12 feet (to construct a makeshift shelter)Change of clothes
Sunblock
Lip balm
Whistle
Food - protein bars or MRE's
Water
Jumper Cables –
Nylon cord
Glow sticks – Flares – Warning Triangle
Hand Warmers
Emergency Candles
Quick Spark Fire Starter / Tinder
Matches - waterproof
Folding Shovel
Basic Tools for Repairs
Vehicle Fire Extinguisher
A good Knife / multi tool
Duct Tape
Tarp 9×12 feet (to construct a makeshift shelter)Change of clothes
Sunblock
Lip balm
Whistle
Food - protein bars or MRE's
Water
Jumper Cables –
There’s plenty of cheap “made in china” cables out there, so be cautious. You’ll want your jumper cables to be at least 12 feet in length, but longer is always better. 16 feet is ideal for most situations and should allow you to get a jump from someone behind you if need be. Go with 20 feet if you have a truck.
Optional
Portable CompressorHi-lift jackBeacon – A device which transmits your location.
GPS
Ham Radio (need license)
Keep Your Vehicle Serviced
Most emergencies can be prevented by keeping your vehicle in top condition. Cold weather makes a few of these items below even more important, such as ensuring your antifreeze level and type of mixture is good to go, putting a winter-specific “no-freeze” windshield wiper fluid mix into your fluid reservoir and keeping the gas tank as close to full as possible at all times.
Vehicle Checklist
Antifreeze and Radiator
Windshield wiper operation and fluid check (no-freeze mixture)
Heater and Defroster
Brakes and Brake Fluid Level
Emergency Flashers
Tire Pressure and Tread Depth
Fuel Level
Oil Level
Battery Charge and Terminal Cleanliness
Jack and lug wrench - Hopefully the items that came with your vehicle are still in it.
If you upgraded to a larger sized tires on your vehicle, I’d hope you don’t need me telling you this, but your factory jack might not reach high enough anymore to enable you to change a flat. A fellow jeeper suggested to carry 2 x 4's, stating...
"it's actually not the aftermarket lift, it's the bigger tires that cause the factory jack to not reach, as the factory jack lifts from the bottom of the axle, not the bottom of the frame like most vehicles do. Therefore only larger tires would cause problems with the factory jack being too short.""
Always check your spare periodically to ensure it’s properly inflated and there’s no cracking in the rubber. Tires have a shelf life and a general rule is that a tire is only good for about five years before the rubber starts to deteriorate.
______________________________________________
Summer______________________________________________
Sun Block
Insect repellent
Sunglasses
Beyond the Basic Offroad Checklist
What goes beyond the basic checklist are items that depend on many factors. Factors like what form of offroading you will be doing, your driving style, the terrain you will encounter, how much room you have for packing gear, how remote you will be traveling, how long you will be gone as well as many other factors you should consider. However three primary things you should gear up for are Safety and Survival, Vehicle Recovery and Vehicle Breakage.
Vehicle Recovery Items
Hilift Jack
Recovery & Tow straps - 2 or more, 2" wider, 20' or longer
Tree saver
Come-along (one or more)
D-rings, Shackles
Shovel
Chainsaw and bar oil, 2 cycle engine oil, spare chain (can be handy in recover situations, as well as for trail clearing on wooded trails)
Winch Kit: tree strap, hi-lift jack, snatch block, pickle fork, shackle, gloves
Pullpal
Snow tire chains (if tires don't cut it)
Basic Tools
Basic tools are the versatile, essential tool sets that consist of a variety of sizes and combinations of commonly used tools such as socket sets, wrench sets, Allen wrenches, Torx sets and screw drivers. Your tool sets should cover the variety of sizes found in your vehicle. Regardless of whether your vehicle is American made or an import 4x4, when it comes to socket sets and wrenches, it's sometimes wise to carry standard and metric socket since sometimes there are a mix of both standard and metric on custom vehicles not to mention helping a fellow 4wheeler.
My Top 10 Must Have Tools for the Trails
#1 BFH - Hammer
#2 Adjustable Wrench
#3 Big Screwdriver or Pry Bar
#4 Socket Set and Ratchet
#5 Vice Grip Pliers
#6 Screwdriver and Bits
#7 Zip Ties
#8 Duct Tape
#9 Bottle Jack
#10 Flashlight
#1 BFH - Hammer
#2 Adjustable Wrench
#3 Big Screwdriver or Pry Bar
#4 Socket Set and Ratchet
#5 Vice Grip Pliers
#6 Screwdriver and Bits
#7 Zip Ties
#8 Duct Tape
#9 Bottle Jack
#10 Flashlight
________________________________
Complete Socket Set - Standard) & Metric w/ 3/8"& 1/2" drives. Deep and standard sockets.
Crescent, open end combination box wrenches Standard & Metric
Allen Wrenches
Torx sockets (especially if you own a Jeep)
Standard & Phillips screwdrivers, large, medium, small
Versatile Tools
Versatile tools are those that have many uses.
Large Hammer (a.k.a. the "BFH")
Pliers (various sizes)
Needle Nose Pliers
Vice Grips, various sizes
Large channel-lock Pliers
Pipe wrenches - having 2 medium of these can be useful for tie-rods.
Utility knife or razor blades
Crescent wrenches (medium & large)
A BIG pry bar or length of strong metal pipe, inside diameter of pipe large enough to slip over a wrench or socket drive for extra leverage.
Magnet
Specialty Tools
Snap ring pliers
Air Pressure Gauge
Portable air pump
Jumper cables
Additional Items
Duct Tape
Bailing wire
wood blocks - Useful as chock blocks, jacking platforms, ramps, suspension supports (for broken torsion bars)
Bungee cords, several in multiple sizes - good for securing gear, temporary repairs, etc.
Rope lengths
Super glue
Epoxy
Tie wraps
rags
Work Gloves, leather
Must Have Fluids
#1 Oil
#2 Coolant
#3 Water
#4 Brake
#5 Differential (gear oil)
#5 Transmission
#5 Gas
Brake Fluid - Power steering fluid - Bearing Grease
WD-40 - Starter Fluid - Funnel, siphon hose
And don't forget to take fluids for yourself and passengers. Water and Gatorade were big vote-getters. Save the adult beverages for back at the campfire. Never Ever wheel and drink so many horrible accidents have happened because of mixing alcohol and driving.
Spare Parts / Repair Items
Lug Wrench
Extra Fan / serpentine belts
Hoses, fuel line, coolant hoses
Spare Tire
Tire repair kits, plugs
Extra Lug nuts, tire star wrench or lug key with key socket
Cotter pins / keys - various sizes
Valve stems, Valve stem remover
Nuts & bolts assorted standard and metric sizes
RTV or Hylomar HPF - form-a-gasket
Radiator stop leak - silver flakes in tube
Spare Hub (and hub fuses if applicable).
Electric fuel pump
Coil / electronic ignition
Spare Universal Joints (U-joints for drive shaft & axles)
Spare Drive Shaft (rear and front)
Extra spark plug wire (size of longest wire)
Spare points
Electronics Repair Kit
Volt ohms meter (multimeter)
Wire cutters / wire crips / wire strippers (multi-tool)
Spare fuses of all sizes and types used in your vehicle
Electrical tape
Spare wire - lengths of various gauges
Spare switches
Spare relay if you use relays
crip on ends (male and female, various gauges)
Small pocket sized needle point blow torch (handy for soldering wire)
Flux core solder for repairs
Wiring Diagram of your vehicle
Expanded List
The Expanded list includes items for the extreme wheeler with tools and gadgets that you may want to consider if you are serious about offroading.
Winch and Winch Accessories
Onboard Welder, welding supplies and welding gear
Onboard Air
Spare axles (rear left / right, front left / right)
Spare tie rod assemblies (tie rod, drag link, ball joints, ball joint nuts and cotter pins)
Spare Idler Arm
Parts that have broken twice before (if you can't carry it, you should have upgraded it)
Camping List for Extended Stay or Remote Excursions Maps, information about the area
Camera
Compass or GPS
Duct Tape
Flashlight
Propane Lanterns
Mosquito repellant
Lighter, matches
Firewood
A knife of some sort
Toilet paper
Towel
Water purification pills
Backpack/sacks
Cooler with beverages
Cooking Pans for breakfast
Paper plates
Paper towels
Folding camping chairs
Sleeping bag
Sleeping pad or air mattress
Stove or grill and fuel
Tarps, lots of tarps
Tent(s)
Bathing suit
Flip flops or swimming shoes
Funky fishing hat
Hiking boots
Rain jacket
Sunglasses
Sunblock
Binoculars
Bottle opener
Cooler cup
Jacket
Pocket knife
Snacks
Trash bag
Water
Extra keys
Compass
Sunscreen
Hat
Sunglasses and/or goggles
Ice and ice chest or cooler
Camera, case, film and batteries
Maps
Here are my Top 5 Modifications to make to your Jeep Wrangler for off-road readiness. These Top 5 aren't all the modifications you can make, but a great basic start.
#1 Tow Points

While I off-roading in my stock Sahara my plastic side step would get caught up on a rock. One time a rock pulled off my side step. However, I was able to knock it back into place. I would have been better off with out them. My suggestion is to remove the stock side steps if you plan on doing any sort of trail rides with medium sized rocks.
If you are getting into some more serious rocks you may want to consider rock sliders like my Barricade Rock Sliders. They help to protect the body of your Wrangler.
#3 Diff Cover
It seems I am always running into rocks. The first thing they hit are my diff covers. I replaced mine with the Riddler Diff Covers which are cast from high grade iron with a lip free transition. This helps prevent a rock from 'grabbing' the cover.

Your stock Jeep is outfitted with some skid plates and they hold up well in mild to medium rock crawling. Your transmission and oil pan are not protected. I added the M.O.R.E oil and tranny skid plate.
I also added skid plate to the rear control arm and shock mounts. That's another place I tend to get hung up on. I used the EVO Rear Lower Control Arm Skids.
#5 Air Dam Removal
What is an air dam? It is a piece of plastic under the front of your Jeep. Some say it's to help hood flutter, some say it's to prevent debris from flying up into your engine or possibly to keep your engine cooler. Whatever it does I ended up removing mine when I installed my new front bumper. This plastic piece also has a potential to being ripped off while rock crawling.

Should I remove my Jeep Wrangler Air Dam Jeep Momma Blog Post - April 2014
Awesome! No words. You always go one step beyond.
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