An off-roading holiday is not just about getting your Jeep out there on the trail and having fun. It takes plenty of planning for a vehicle point of view. Things such as food and camping equipment will be of little consequence if your vehicle breaks down. For that reason, just having a tow strap is not sufficient. You will need to ensure that along with a few essential Jeep parts, you have all the extras to keep your vehicle off-roading for the duration of your holiday.
Hydration
Although you would have considered water when drawing up your food list, a few nifty pieces can help keep you hydrated during a day of off-roading, especially if you run into trouble and spend time in the hot sun digging your vehicle out when it becomes stuck. Camelbaks are perfect in this regards, holding enough water to help keep you hydrated. It can also be used effectively while out negotiating the trail.
Gear needed for a recovery
Now a tow strap is certainly part of your recovery gear, but often you will require more. If you are driving in convoy, split this gear and a few critical spare Jeep parts between the vehicles, so as not to weigh one down. So what equipment are we talking about here? Include the following:
- A static line
- A dynamic line
- A couple of soft shackles
- A snatch block
- A tree saver
- Sets of gloves
- A winch or two
Survival supplies
No matter where you are off-roading, survival supplies are critical, but none more so than when out on remote trails. Consider things such as warm clothing, extra shelter, fire making tools, extra water, energy bars, beef jerky, small camping stove and torches as an example. All of these items should be kept in the bag and only used when absolutely necessary in a survival situation.
First aid kits are also paramount. Make sure you have a complete set made up, not just a small store bought kit. You never know what can happen out on the trail, and you need to be able to deal with the worst case scenario. Make sure someone in your group has extended knowledge of first aid.
Backup communication
Although mobile phones can keep us in connection with the outside world at most times, on some remote trails, they may not work due to lack of signal. For this reason, many seasoned Jeepers include CB radios as one of their added Jeep parts in their vehicles. Of course, CB radios although still in use, are on the way out, so for a more expensive and reliable option, consider a satellite phone. If you do get into trouble, make sure you have a contingency plan to contact someone, and they know to expect your call or radio message.
Backup navigation
When traveling on remote trails, have backup navigation in place, especially if your mobile phone loses signal. You could consider either a map book or a GPS satellite system. Another option is to pre-load maps onto a tablet which is used for navigation only, thus saving battery life.
Tools and extra Jeep parts
Always have an extensive toolset packed, especially if you have to work on one of the Jeeps in your convoy should something go wrong. Don’t forget a fire extinguisher, a shovel, and a saw or ax.
Also, keep some Jeep parts on hand. This can include pipes, lights, oil filters and similar things that can be packed easily, not taking up too much space.