Required &
Recommended Equipment for Trail Rides
by Derek Smith
Below are the requirements for all
vehicles on sanctioned trail rides. This list is by no means complete, but are
the MINIMUM requirements needed to ride with us.
1. Valid Driver's License and Proof of Insurance.
2. Fire Extinguisher (1A10BC Dry Chemical).
3. Roll Bar or Steel Unitized Factory Roll Protection Structure. If you
have a Jeep, you're set. Extra Roll Bar protection is suggested.
4. Basic First Aid Kit.
5. Tow rope, strap, or chain (Note: Straps and ropes with hooks are not
acceptable). As a minimum, straps must be 2" wide, rated for 10,000 pounds, and
at least 20' in length. NO HOOKS!
6. Safety belts (one for each occupant).
7. Spare tire, jack, and lug wrench. The stock bottle jack is acceptable
if it can raise your Jeep high enough to change out a tire. The spare tire must
be within 1" of the diameter of the vehicle tires.
8. Front and Rear tow points. These MUST BE PROPERLY FRAME MOUNTED in one
manner or another.
9. A FUNCTIONING 4x4 system. I don't want to get 5 miles down the trail
and find out you only have 1 tire that turns.
Below are recommended items for all
vehicles on sanctioned trail rides. Again, this list is by no means complete,
but are recommended items that will make your trail ride more enjoyable and
safer.
Radios
CB or Digital (i.e. Motorola Talkabouts or other FRS)
Trash bags
Everyone should be "packing it out" as well as picking up any garbage they see
on the trail.
Camera An ultra high speed $2000 camera
is discouraged. You will break it. Digital cameras and disposals are encouraged.
Bring extra film/disks/batteries with you.
Navigation & Communication
GPS
Maps - Road & TOPO
Compass
CB & Digital Radios - An external speaker is recommended also
Cell Phone - Spare battery and charger too.
Tools
Maglite & 2 sets of spare batteries
Various tools - full socket/wrench sets in standard and metric, screwdrivers,
bfh, etc.
Hydralic floor jack
Bottle Jack
Bailing Wire
Duct Tape
Zip ties
Hatchet or Axe
Shovel
PB Blaster
GOJO
Safety Glasses
Various Bungie cords
Saw
Rope - Small gauge (550 parachute cord) and Heavy (For massive Jeep repair)
Electrical
Power Inverter
Fuses & Relays
Wire -various gauges
Wire Stripper
Electrical Connectors
Electrical Tape
Recovery Gear
Snatch Block
Straps - tow & snatch
Extra Clevis style shackles
HD Work Gloves
Spotter Line
Pull-Pal
Rappelling Gear ONLY EXPERIENCED CLIMBERS. In the event
of an emergency this gear may be needed to save lives. 2 Harnesses, Biners,
Descender, Ascender, ATC, Gloves, Figure 8 etc.
Spare Parts
Belts, hoses, spark plugs, wires, etc.
Spare Tierod assembly
U-joints
Spare light bulbs
Fluids - Oil, Tranny, Diff, Coolant, Starting
Filters - Air, Oil, etc.
RTV
Emergency
First Aid kit
Spare Fire Extinguisher
Waterproof matches
Firestarter
Emergency Flares
SUNBLOCK
Clothing
Change of clothes, including spare boots and socks
Foul Weather Gear - Gore-Tex and Fleece with gloves. Pack for the worst weather
you can imagine.
Mechanix Gloves
Cooler
Bottled water, gatorade, food, etc.
Assorted
Tire Deflators
OBA - Compressor or CO2
