10 Things I Won't Go Off-Road Without (Offroad Tools & Recovery Gear)
As the title implies today we are going to be talking about 10 important items (or categories) that I make sure I check off my list before I go off-road. Clearly you need WAY more than 10 things to safely/comfortably go off-road but these are the things I find most important. Whether you are an overlander or hard core rock crawler, this list can easily imply to you! Look at this list as a guide to a well thought out offroad tool bag. I've put together an Amazon shopping list with a bunch of things I find handly off-road, so if that is something you are interested in, click the link below!
I filmed a WHOLE segment on making sure to bring a first aid kit but lost all the footage! A first aid kit is extremely important so make sure you include that in you offroad vehicle. (believe it or not making videos is really hard🤦♂️)
Also, if you are interested in one of these kinetic energy ropes, click the Yankum Ropes link below to check out all their products! These straps really aid in safe offroad recovery!
AMAZON ITEMS!!! www.amazon.com/shop/dirtlifes...
(Amazon Affiliate Links)
BARNES 4WD COUPON CODE: "dirtlifestyle" 10% off
NORTH RIDGE 4X4 CODE: "dirtlifestyle" up to 20% off www.northridge4x4.com
EMPIRE ABRASIVE CODE: "dirtlifestyle" 10% off lddy.no/qf79
YANKUM ROPES CODE: "dirtlifestyle" bit.ly/yankumDL
ONX MAPS: webmap.onxmaps.com/account-pu...
MIDLAND RADIOS: bit.ly/2IjmlZD
STEP 22:
EVOLUTION POWER TOOLS CODE: "dirtlifestyle" store.evolutionpowertools.com/
JOOLCA HOT WATER HEATER: bit.ly/37qLgEp
Shirts & Hats on our website!!
www.thedirtlifestyle.com
Support us on Patreon!
/ dirtlifestyle
Follow me on social media!!
Instagram: / dirtlifestylenate
Facebook: / dirtlifestylenate
DISCLAIMER:
Due to factors out of the control of Dirt Lifestyle, we cannot guarantee against improper use or unauthorized modifications of this information. Dirt Lifestyle assumes no liability or responsibility for property damages or injury incurred as a result of any information contained in this video. Use this information at your own risk. Dirt Lifestyle recommends safe practices when working on vehicles and/or with tools seen in this video. Any injury, damage, or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or from the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not Dirt Lifestyle. Be safe!
This video and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I'll receive a small commission.
#offroadtools #offroadrecoverygear #towstraps
My nephew carries a cell phone so he can call his uncle to pull him out of a hole 3 hours away.
😂
Laughing so hard at this.
Lol jeep life
Joey Bowers 😂
Is your nephew Kane brown? Lol
A 52inch light bar will get you out of most sticky situations. 😆
light bars before lockers right?
Lol
😂 awesome
That, and an angry eyes front grille
Lol. I've got a 36" light bar on my roof. It is handy when it is low visibility or hidden dangers.
I have been "4-wheeling" throughout Northern Michigan for the past 35+ years to get to my hunting and fishing spots (which I have been getting to otherwise for the past 50 years). Your video is excellent. It cannot be over-emphasized to "BE PREPARED". 95% of my own off road excursions are in a solo vehicle, and probably 95% of those are all by myself. The one, possibly MOST IMPORTANT, thing you did not include in your "Top 10" items is a SHOVEL. Virtually every time I have been stuck (which is much more often than I care to admit) my bacon has been saved by a simple garage-sale purchased short-handle shovel. Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall, I have used my $5 garage sale purchase shovel to help me get unstuck in the past 4 different 4x4s that I have used to enjoy the great outdoors in Northern Michigan.
People would rather spend hundreds on those dumb plastic boards and store them on their vehicles lol... Always tickles me.
@@luigismushrooms5701 While a simple military trifold shovel has gotten me unstuck countless times, I cannot discount the security of extraction boards. I have not used them yet, but I have a set of my own for a Jeep I am building, due to an experience I had with mud so slimy that no amount of digging would get me out, and we had to add stable ground to gain traction. Never drive into Bentonite mud.
@@Mushamman that's great fam, I don't have stock so you do you
@@luigismushrooms5701 I don't have it yet, but after 30 years of hard work and frugal living, I will soon enough! 1982 CJ-7 with $80,000 poured into a custom restomod. It should be done by August. Never before have I enjoyed such luxury, and to this day I still rely on a shovel and a tow rope in my Chevy pickup. Which works just fine. I agree with you, but I still enjoy the luxury knowing there's unexpectable terrain out there.
Sounds crazy but trust me bar soap Dove seems to work best and I’m not talking to take a shower! If you crack a diff cover, oil pan, even put a small hole in transmission pan, and gas tank rub the bar soap over the hole or crack with force enough to fill hole or crack. It is resistant to heat fuels and solvents. It will retain the vital fluids and get you off the trail and probably home. I once put a half inch hole in my fuel tank and stopped the leak and then drove 600 miles home with the trail repair. Keeping and eye on it of course.
Good stuff! I'm absolutely stealing this!
A great suggestion that works almost like magic! Thanks Sean! I am glad to see that I am not the only one that promotes this temporary fix!
Never heard of this, what a great tip! Thanks Sean
Great frickin idea!!! What scent works best? 😂😂😂. I’m putting a bar of soap in my rig tomorrow. Can’t wait until my wife or kids find it and wonder what the hell
I had to do this back when I was 18 and got in a wreck. I completely forgot about it. Really glad you mentioned this
my thing was, Don't go alone! Always have a wheeling buddy.
After wrecking my quad alone, shoving the ball of my arm under my shoulder blade, I realized how lucky I was to have a very friendly group of riders nearby that helped me get my quad back to camp, load it up strap it down, and a girlfriend to drive me to the hospital. without them I would have been walking miles in pain!
James L great advise
That was my #1! Never go wheeling alone. Even if it's just a mild trail, you never know what is going to happen.
if i dont go wheeling alone, than i would never go wheeling... if you cant find a buddy to wheel with at least make sure you are responsible and well equipped
One thing that always seems to be overlooked is a clean change of clothes. If you're somewhere muddy, or if you break something and do a filthy repair, or get soaked, it's always nice to change quick and not ruin your seat. Staying warm and dry isn't just a comfort thing, it can also be a safety thing too. If the weather turns quick, you're not going to want to be soaked to the bone.
You should always have a roll of tp. I keep one in every vehicle I drive protected in a ziplock bag.
JustNobodyButME Often overlooked! But you’ll never forget it after being caught without it just once.
I second this!
You can save weight by ditching the T.P. and dragging your butt across the ground like a dog.
This is a damn good suggestion 👍
And that's why I have a stash of restaurant napkins 😅
Yankum ropes are awesome. Matt's off road recovery uses them and that dude pulls RV's buried to the axle in thick mud out. It's crazy what those ropes and the Banana can do
There nothing new I bought my first Bubba Rope 10 years ago now a bunch of other companies are copying them.
Let me show you what my banana can do 😂
Which yankum rope would you suggest?
How are they better than the others please?
A First Aid kit should be in every vehicle.
#2 on my list, but I'm a Navy Corpsman, so I go everywhere with one.
Along the lines of the other comments in this thread...I carry duct tape and super glue as they have many more uses as well
Agreed. Take a first aid course and/or refresher. It’s a perishable skill.
Only if you know what you’re doing.
Along with a Fire Extinguisher, why people don't carry them blows me away.
Snatch blocks are another super valuable piece of recovery gear
For emergency fire starter... road flairs. They work in the pouring rain, or starting a fire in the snow. They also are great for illuminating your position in an emergency.
In addition to generic essential list people should consider items specific to their needs. For me a spare pair of glasses is essential for someone else it might be an extra days worth of medication. I've seen some folks on the trail who clearly missed their meds. ;)
You should be able to use your Power Tank as a form of fire suppression as it contains C02. Flood the area with C02 and displace the oxygen to help snuff out a fire of any kind. This gives yor Power Tank an additional use.
Beer, if you got stuck really bad, and waiting for help :D
@phục êwê i have a 4x4 ?
Beer and fire wood
82 WERK Yep! Gotta have beer. I don't smoke pot to often, but that would help pass the time. I was out with a friend, and told him NOT to go through the rutty mud hole. Well the idiot got stuck, so I went fishing just in case we had to spend the night we could eat something. We got lucky, and some people pulled up. They gave us a ride to a tavern that was about 10 miles away, and waited for his dad to come get us. We got his truck out the next day!
@@82werk72 I don't know. Do you?
@@MaynardFreek what ?
I always bring my pack. It has a knife several ways to Make a fire. Mre's mylar blanket. Tool box. I always bring my gun. Plus the other items you covered. And water!
I call mine J.O.B jeep out bag. Basically a meal, warm clothes, basic survival
I saw the Yankum Rope in the thumbnail. Learned about them from Matt's Off Road Recovery. No one should go off road without one. I'm very impressed with them.
Bring some hiking boots. You'll need them, when you get stuck.
Been off-roading for nearly 40 years. This is one of the most concise and informative vids out there. Down to earth no BS. Love it. Also, if you're in Australia, don't go anywhere without a chain saw and the gear to go with it.
Curious as to the common reasons you need a chain saw!
@@DrXtoph fallen logs over tracks. Or if you're near wolf creek it might come in handy for disposal of incriminating evidence ;-)
@@MrSpitfireMustang are you a serial killer?
Tarp, invaluable when snow wheeling useful for a million things, and can be used for shelter.
That vacuum packed bearing and spare parts is a really good idea
First aid and extra work light is awesome as well. I got crap from friends about carrying so much. That is until they needed help! Haha
Shovel, shovel, shovel!
Don't keep the fire extinguisher under the hood, when you see smoke coming from the engine compartment always try to fight it without lifting the hood (through the grille, wheel arches etc.), if it doesn't work, only then lift it. You will immediately add a lot of oxygen and the fire will suddenly grow. With anything bigger than a compact passenger car 2kg of the extinguishing agent is a minimum to have.
Adrian LL thanks man, thats good advice, learn something every day from guys like you
Absolutely good advice. I've had a car fire when I was young and it was fine until I popped the hood haha. Lesson learned!
A basic electrical kit with wire, black tape, fuses and a toggle switch has saved my ass several times. Great video Nate!
Multi-meter too.
Needs a part 2 with all 25 items
The biggest thing to bring anywhere is common sense because these days it isn't that common. Great video with great advice. I carry all those with a few extras . RTV silicone, extra thermostat, crank sensor ,fuses ,jb weld ,zip ties , gorilla tape ,extra valve stems . Happy trails, see you out there in the beautiful PNW .
Full sized spare 100%, my buddy and I were wheeling in Moab, and he cut a side wall.... let’s just say he was happy to have a spare
Full sized spare depends on location/destination. My local park, you're never more than a couple miles from the parking lot, so the spare can sit on the trailer/in the truck. Same with a lot of the spare parts. Moab, Johnson Valley, etc? Hell yes, bring the spares with!
One thing that surprised me with those Jeep Trailhawks (the cherokee's at least) is that they come with fullsize spares. While every other trim has a compact spare.
No script. You actually know what you're talking about instead of reading to us. Very professional, and great information. --- thanks for uploading. ---
Great videos, gave me some new ideas. The extra u joints and bearings in that vacuum pack is a great idea.
Zip ties, bailing wire, duct tape, hammer.
S Graham all these items can be found in a hitman's toolbox. You forgot the bag of lye and shovel.
All of those are in a small tool bag under my driver's seat so they're readily available
Super excited for the compressor build!!
Very informative, well organized delivery, and an eye opener for the novice, which is where my level is at.
I’d add a Mylar emergency blanket and some basic nutrition like granola bars. I also carry both a life straw water purifier as well as water purification tablets. That way you can get water out of a puddle in an emergency situation. Valve cores and stems would be other good and really cheap items to always keep in the vehicle.
All good suggestions
Loved this video and I'm super excited to see more of the Disco!
Really looking forward to the vid on onboard air using the AC compressor. I do a lot of winter wheeling, so I have a few items to add to your list: 1) Sleeping Bag/Bivy Sack - lifesaver when staying the night 2) Shovel - anything from getting unstuck to digging a snow cave 3) Headlamp 4) Trash Bags - Collect leaking fluids, keep parts and tools (and yourself )out of the mud, makeshift rain coat
I carry a blanket too it's great for when you need it
Great suggestions!
@@DirtLifestyle yeah man, i use it like a tarp if i gotta lay on the ground to fix something under my truck or if i just need to use it as a blanket. sometimes the heat goes out and it sucks driving somewhere freezing your ass off
My wife has said several times if somebody in our club is stuck and doesn't have a shovel they're on their own! It's her litmus test.
For winter... I can’t recommend a 12v water boiler enough!
A J hook! You wouldn't believe how often you come across people that don't have good recovery points and you need to attach to a frame or suspension part to pull them, and a J hook does amazing at that. Mostly for cross overs and cars.
Fire extinguisher is probably the most over looked and most important! Thanks for the video
Thanks for the great info Nate. Keep up the good work!
Thanks for taking the time, just bought are first 4x4.
I love how crisp the video quality is, and just fact after fact without embellishment. Plus, you enunciate your words well so someone like me can understand what you're saying. Keep it up, subbed
Video on belt driven compressor... yes please!
Can of starting fluid you can reseal tire bead and inflate the tire at the same time, I use a stick with some TP or paper on the end to ignite it,{ it has a good flash factor}, also a tub of wheel bearing grease ,Ya always need grease and like you said the list is endless it just depends on the room you have and how you organize things.
Belt! That thing will turn a very bad day into a 15 minute fix! I saved another random TJ on the trail a little while back just by having my old belt that I saved from my last belt change in the back of the LJ.
That dude is lucky to have ran Into you on the trail! 👊
Only thing missing is friends that can help wrench, or friends that always have cold beer.
Jake Smith precisely why I need other upgrades over a winch, my friends can pull me out haha
Best run-down I've seen. Thank you!
Thank you for always keeping your videos interesting I love your fabrication videos
Don't know how I missed lil gem. It is amazing how far your video's have come. Great video. Definitely agree with the power probe.
Brother i just came across your channel after watching hours of the ultimate adventure 😅 as a wa born and raised myself i grew up wheeling and its awsome to see a local and to be able to take things from you like this video and prepare my full size much better for when i go out
Thanks for the great videos - eager to see your content. 👍
I love the vacuum bags for spares.
Excellent video! Thanks for this, I'm building up my spares package and this video is right up my alley👍
I’ve recently picked up the Milwaukee electric chainsaw and that has helped a lot so far clearing trails, getting firewood and even track building. The capability to charge on board and not carry petrol and 2t oil in my diesel truck is nice too
That's a great suggestion for those of us that live in wooded areas
NO hassles with finicky starting either. Quieter than gas too.
I NEED to get one! I’ve heard good things about the DeWalt, Milwaukee and Stihl electrics..... now I need to FIND one in a store near me! (Coastal NC)
Great video and great advice; thanks man! Especially #9
Definitely great items on that list!! I always will carry a rain jacket, headlamp/ flashlight, fuses, and tweezers lol
Nice list, thanks for not doing only the obvious things. I’m looking forward to seeing how that ac pump to air pump conversion works out. I never trust 12 volt compressors, and I almost never use my ac cause it’s a soft top. Seems like a great solution especially if you want air lockers.
Killer intro! Loved the slo-mo rear-end. Great video
This was fantastic. I don't off-road much at all (but eventually want to do more)...I already have a tow strap, but aside from a winch (because I never wheel without a buddy, nor do hard core enough off roading yet to justify one) and axle bearings, all of those are practical for the 1-2x a year crowd!
This may sound funny, I always carry a spare starter, Its heavy and hard to find a carry spot. I lost a starter on Rubicon one 4th of July. I was with another 62 Cj5 so towing from middle of Rubicon wasn't fun. I know you can't carry all spares you need, but if you wheel enough you'll figure it out. Listen to old timers and young timers, I am 71 started wheeling in my jeep at 16. In all my years I still learn something new every year about 4 wheeling.
Me too. Also alternator, motor mounts, belt, and hoses.
A manual transmission may be a good addition.
Thank you for mentioning fire suppression. It’s shocking how many times we create sparks near dry stuff.
Just discovered your channel and I love it!! Thanks for all this great info. I’m a new Jeeper and will be utilizing all of these tips!
Great suggestions, some people are dummies when it comes to breaking down on the trail. #1 to leave at home is your pride when preparing. You WILL breakdown. It's not a matter of if but WHEN.
power probe !! best trail tool!! jumped the starter last month with one!!
Use non chlorinated brake cleaner if you are starting fires with it, chlorine gas is no joke. Good gear list!
People... distilled water is great drinking water, i have drank it for over 35yrs and this myth about minerals is bogus, you get mineral from eating food and just breathing, so its okay to drink this great tasting water, and it keeps 10x longer if kept out of the sunlight just as all drinking water should be out of, so what did we learn about distilled water... its great for everything ! BTW Great video Joe Dirt lifestyle ! lol :] ]
I'm a 45 year Commercial Electrician and your power prob is one of the best troubleshooting tools I've come across for automotive testing, thanks.
We’ll be getting on board air soon! Great list Nate!! ❤️🐞
Thanks!!!
Love the vid so far, not a mechanic so test tools do me much good,,,, fuel, a good rope and come along are a mainstay for me. also a compressor is always in the back and a battery back up to help jump start the jeep. I'm not a rock crawler, hunting fishing and just fun back road sight seeing. Overnight camping gear is also a must for me. Good point should have an extinguisher. Thanks again for the vid.
I just want to say that I really enjoy your videos. You do a great job with camera work, editing, and I find you very easy to listen to. Keep making vids and know that people like me appreciate it!
Thank you very much man I really appreciate the kind words! 👊 you rock
Thank you for the very informative content sir!
nothing beats pulling someone out that are on their frame with a chain. its a great way to reorganize everything in the jeep
FIRST AID KIT and know how to use it. Baby Wipes...MANY uses. EDC. Great job!
Awesome vid. Iv'e quaded and dirt biked my whole life into very sketchy areas and helped out many a offroader. I've always wanted to start Jeeping as a hobby so i got 2016 jeep wrangler sport recently. Going to be awhile before I get to the big boy level, but I have to start somewhere. Thanks for advice.
Watching this just reminded me of my how much stuff I have with me at all times behind and underneath my rear seat. I even keep an extra fuel pump with me lol.
Important info here! I just recently discovered that Fix A Flat cans freezes at night and no use until warmed. Thankfully the compressor worked to get out without changing the flat.
Thank you for the good ideas!
Please more "How too's".... this really helps the sport grow and bring in more people which brings down costs of aftermarket parts as well as more innovation by companies. I know I'm trying myself to offer help to others more than I have in the past and when I do I usually end learning something from them. I would to know more from the vets in the sport!
Great video brother. Love what you brought up and makes solid sense. Now I’m going to have to buy one of those ropes that thing is pretty awesome!
Terrific video man!
Thanks for the list! Something I noticed, that plastic hinged red Kidde fire extinguisher was probably recalled. The hinge snaps easily, making the plunger difficult to depress. The shiny new one (viewers left) is the update with robust metal hinges. Google Kidde fire extinguisher recall and check it out. If you're effected, they'll mail you a replacement along with a return label to send the bad one back in.
I thought oh here we go some generic clickbait list. But, no actually remarkably good list full of actually useful trail items.
Thanks!!! I'm very happy to hear that
Lol honestly almost didn't click on the video for that reason. Great video!
Yes, this channel is honestly great :)
Tool kit, first aid kit, everything else spot on
Great informative video for the new guys. Full size spare is the only way to go.
Very helpful video. I was surprised how many items I already had in my rig. I did buy the socket set after seeing the video. The Tekton tool kit is the mvp.
Me being one of those newer guys into the 4x4 world, this video is super helpful to keep me reminded of things I’ll be needing. I am not a noob as far as automotive stuff goes but more of my experience is on road or tracks. Would love to know more like when to use 4wd or my lockers at least to give me a good starting point. I drive a 2020 Colorado zr2 diesel offroad and only had it a few months. Have a bumper and so lighting upgrades coming as well as a winch. Excited to get into a great sport with what seems to be the most accepting form of automotive culture.
Excellent Video! I’m always looking at what my friends bring when going wheeling to see if I can improve my own list, and this definitely helped. I’ll be sharing this with the new Jeepers in our Club!
Thanks!
Fire Extinguisher would be my #1 - don't leave home without it. Especially in a modded vehicle.
Last summer I broke a tie rod 12,000 ft above Leadville Colorado. Had to hitch hike back to town for parts (twice because the parts store gave me the wrong parts). Luckily they had a tie rod remover tool because I couldn't get it off with my tools. Lesson, buy a couple spare parts to install on the trail if needed. And the proper tool to do it.
Great list. I grew up out in the southern California desert near Landers. You do not know how many people my Gramps, my Pops and I have rescued over the years. Most of the time if these guys that break down had prepared by following a recommendation like you list, they could have rescued themselves. These days, that area has a lot of people traveling through it, and people can sort of rely on a stranger stopping to help. And you are right, probably flat tires and U-joints the most common breakdown.
Thanks so much for this video. It really means a lot. I just got my Colorado in October and am slowly planning my outlanding gear. I’m hoping in the next 2 years to have enough upgrades and gear to go exploring. It’s a process.
Great job Nate, thanks
I am relatively new to off roading and this really has helped. I am also a technician. One other thing i take is my battery booster pack just incase i get a flat battery, or if ur alternator fails u could hook it up to keep u running to get to civilization. It also works to charge phones etc to 😄
Keep videos like this coming. My group has always struggled with comms. Both cb’s and standard 2ways. I’d love to see a video addressing how you communicate on the trail
Hook your ac/aripump up to a tank, run it off a pressure stat that shuts it off at something like 120 psi. That way you will have something close to the CO tank in regard to speed. You can also do as we do here in Iceland and have all four tires hooked up for on the go pressure adjustment.
Thanks so much. Distilled water was something I never thought about. I like carrying things that have multiple uses.
No problem! Happy to help!
Use caution with the power probe, (I love mine!) don’t put 12v current into a multiplex harness, ECM & TCM’s will fry! (The smoke gets out!! Lol)
Great video. I love how you share some of your mistakes to drive your points home. Humble man. I would add a shovel to the list. It’s been essential plenty of times for me. 👍
Thanks man. I'm new and this was great👊
Great video. If i may add one suggestion, i'd suggest a small survival kit. A few items like: Fixed blade knife, signal mirror, whistle, large orange garbage bag, space blanket, compass, lighter or magnesium bar with striker, and a small stainless steel pot or water container you can put it all in. It'll all take up less space than say a football, and could easily save your life.
Very informative. Thanks.
Love your videos man, very well put together, informational. Small youtuber going big no doubt, keep it up brother.
Thanks bro. Much appreciated 👊