Off-Road Checklist: Be Smart, Go Prepared

As our friends at WARN say, “Wherever you go, go prepared.” Gearing up for a trail adventure requires a little time, careful consideration, and the ability to think practically. And not unlike an important business trip or family vacation, creating a checklist before heading off-road is a great way to ensure you have what’s needed. Over-pack, and you’re sure to weigh down your vehicle and the entire experience. Under-pack and, well, get comfy with your surroundings. Striking a balance will help you avoid unnecessary stressful moments with excessive profanity.

But before making that list of gear and gadgets, there’s another off-road checklist—or at least a separate column that needs to be added. You’d be surprised at the number of wheelers who dot their I’s and cross their T’s when it comes to accessories, but neglect the most important tool of the adventure: the vehicle itself.

THE OFF-ROAD VEHICLE CHECKLIST

Basic maintenance and inspection are quick and easy ways to catch any curveballs before they rudely introduce themselves on the trail. So, before loading up the trunk or roof with gear, take a step back and check a few things on your rig first.

♦ 4×4 System
Quick story: I have a fairly well-equipped off-roader that often gives me false over-confidence when daily driving. One summer evening, I pull up to a local business and they’re resealing the parking lot. No problem, I pull off to a low spot in the nearby grass. I do my thing and come back out to my vehicle.

Did I mention it had rained for several days straight before my visit? (You know where this is going.)

Off-road-ready truck blasts through deep mud

My 4×4 system was not engaging, I didn’t have my recovery boards, and the business owner kept angrily peeking out while my spinning rear wheels flung grass and mud across the property. Luckily, a friendly Ford owner let me attach my winch to his truck and I was able to pull myself to better traction.

Don’t be like me. Check your 4WD system is working properly.

♦ Fluids
Ensure everything is topped off—power steering, brake, coolant, wiper, differential, and fuel. While doing so, be sure to inspect for any leakage. Carrying extra fluid for the trip is a good practice as well.

♦ Anything Electrical
Lighting is important, especially at dusk and early morning. Check your high/low beams, fog lights, and any auxiliary lighting—and check the connections for security. Confirm that any winches, air lockers, compressors, and any other powered accessory functions properly, including anything on the interior. Checking the health of your battery with a load test isn’t a bad idea either.

♦ Belts/Hoses
Check, replace, and carry spare serpentine belts, radiator hoses, and any associated with your alternator and water pump system. These are frequently damaged on the trail, and therefore a worthy addition to any off-road checklist.

♦ Suspension
Lots of components to check here, but a secure and capable suspension can make or break a trip. Inspect shocks for damage, leakage, and overall performance as well as springs, mounts, tie rods, and control arms.

♦ Tires
The only point of contact you have with the earth, so yeah, tires are important. Check for adequate tread, cracking/peeling, or any air seepage. Do the same for your spare as well.

THE PERSONAL NECESSITIES

Now, we move on from your vehicle itself to what you put in it. These off-road checklist items are the non-recovery specific tools and supplies that you should have on hand for any type of excursion—no matter how basic the trail ahead proves to be.

♦ First Aid Kit
You can pick up a basic ULINE, Red Cross or AAA kit for less than $50. Or get a suitable bag, like the Smittybilt, and fill it with the essentials. Consider snake bite and burn gels, as well as hot/cold packs if the kit doesn’t already include it.

♦ Food and Personal Essentials
Extra food and water. At least one gallon per person, per day and pack double the amount of food in case you should get stuck on the trail. We prefer non-perishable or freeze-dried favorites. Remember items like toilet paper, trash bags, anti-microbial hand cleaner, sun block and water purification tablets, as well.

Dog takes drink out of a 2-1 water bottle and bowl
If you head off-road with a four-legged co-pilot, don’t forget to pack extra food, water, and snacks for them as well. Since space is at a premium, consider a 2-in-1 product like this water jug with detachable bowl from Kurgo.

♦ Extra Clothing
If you find yourself waist deep in a mud hole, you’re going to wish you added spare garments to your checklist. Extra socks, a rain jacket, hat, gloves, and warm outerwear are great things to have handy if the weather turns sour when off-road.

♦ Basic Tool Kit
General hand tools should always be readily available. A basic wrench and socket set, ratchet, hammer or mallet can really come in handy if you need to beat and grind. Something like the Performance Tool W1193 will be invaluable on the trail.

♦ Spare Key/Small Valuable Storage
Grab a magnetic key case for a few bucks or go “high-tech” with a HitchSafe™ Vault Combination Lock Car Safe. It’ll run you between $90-$100, but it’s a great way to stash an ID, couple credit cards, some cash and keys. For larger valuables, consider Tuffy Security Products. The brand just added a compact Underseat Lockbox for Jeep Gladiators to its long list of out-of-sight lockable storage solutions.

♦ Compass/GPS
Your phone will work just fine in most situations. For those who travel to cell signal wastelands, though—a standalone unit ain’t a bad option.

♦ Power/Charging Accessories
Ensure you’ve got all the cables to charge phones, GPS units, cameras, and other essential trail gear. USB hubs are great, but a power inverter like the Scosche InVert Series feature AC oulet(s) in addition to USB.

Three images displaying features of Weego portable power pack, a worth addition to any off-road checklist.
These Weego portable power packs are great for more than just a jump.

♦ Portable Jump Pack
Jumper cables work well, but if you’re all alone or in a spot they won’t reach—something like a NoCo Boost or Weego 70 battery pack is ideal. Plus, many jump packs feature versatile goodies like USB charge ports and a flashlight.

THE RECOVERY NECESSITIES

So, we’ve gone through what you need to survive on the trail, but what about your vehicle’s survival? Below you’ll find an off-road checklist of items needed to easily and efficiently get your rig over, around, or through nature’s hurdles.

We’ve just done an entire article on our favorite pieces of recovery kit—so be sure to jump on over to it for a bit more explanation.

♦ Winch
The king of recovery options. Though usually mounted to a vehicle, portable options like the WARN Drill Winch and Superwinch Winch2Go are also viable options.

Check out our latest piece on winch buying for more information.

Off-road recovery gear like traction boards and rope lay in pack of truck bed.

♦ Kinetic Straps/Rope
While traditional tow straps are great for pulling disabled vehicles, the extra stretch of kinetic straps make them great for load distributions when using for recovery pulls. Choose from a variety of trusted names like ARB, Rugged Ridge or Bubba Rope.

♦ Tree Saver
When used to anchor to a sturdy object, like a tree or boulder, Tree Savers prevent damage to the anchor point and well as your winch line. Check out offerings from Factor 55, Keeper, and VooDoo Off-Road.

♦ Recovery Boards
Simple and useful as all heck, just stick these boards in front or behind spinning wheels and BOOM, instant traction. Maxtrax and ARB both make a great board.

♦ Tire Repair Kit
Punctures are all too common when wheeling. Having a spare is a fairly universal practice, but sometimes it makes more sense to do a repair than a replace. Rhino, ARB, VooDoo, and many others have great kits for under $50.

♦ High-Lift Jack
This is a badass tool that will give you more clearance to work under your vehicle if something needs attention on the trail. Plus, the extra height it provides can be used to get your vehicle unstuck from a rock or stump. Hi-Lift is the best in the biz when it comes to jacks, and their All-Cast is a classic.

♦ Air Compressor
By far, the best way to get better traction on the trail is dropping the PSI in your tires. It’s fairly easy to let out air, but not quite as easy to put more in when getting ready to drive back home. Air compressors eliminate trying to find that nearby service station. Viair and ARB dominate this category.

A Note on Recovery Gear

While building your own recovery arsenal is fun and a bit more of a tailored approach, all-in-one kits are a great way to cover most of your bases without hunting each individual item down. They may not have absolutely everything that you’ll want. However, the convenience and organization these kits provide free up time and space for other planning.

Here are a few of our favorites:

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