Remember the days when you dreamt of owning a vehicle that would allow you to escape the rat race of city life. Your hardest choice would be trying to decide which two track trails to explore next and how to tackle the obstacles on the trail that lie before you. Well, now you’ve made this dream a reality with your purchase of a new or new to you off-road rig and you think you’re ready to take on the great outdoors, or so you think.

Whether you’re planning a day trip on some simple trails or plan to live off the grid for a few days, there are several items that you should consider stocking your rig with. That’s where our staff of off-road experts come in to help. We’ve been exactly where you are in this process and over the years have been able to narrow down our lists of off-road necessities to share with you. This will help you avoid spending endless amounts of money on items that might never make it into your rig and end up collecting dust in your garage.

So, before you jump the gun planning your first big off-road excursion, sit back and take some notes to equip yourself with some great supplies that can help make your trips more enjoyable.

Lead photo by Pan_photo/Shutterstock.com

Table of contents

Recovery Essentials

jeep warn winch

Winches & Winch Accessories

One of the most valuable items you can have in or on your off-road rig is a winch. Whether you’re hung up in rocks or bogged down in the mud, a winch is a great way to get yourself unstuck when there’s nobody around to lend a hand. There are a variety of styles that range from portable ratchet style units that require manpower to get the job done or the preferred vehicle mounted units that only require the flip of a switch to put the pulling power to work.

There are also a wide variety of accessories that we highly suggest having in addition to a winch. Things like tree savers so you don’t damage the environment when getting unstuck, winch snatch blocks to amplify your pulling power and even the overlooked set of gloves so you protect your hands when handling winch cables are essential items you’ll want to use. Here are some of the best items our staff experts highly recommend.

Winches

 

Winch Accessories

Traction Boards/Mats

Back in the olden days when people got stuck, the first thing they looked for was lumber. Whether it was a 4’ long 2”x4” or deadfall from a nearby tree, shoving wood under the tires to get a glimpse of traction was the go-to method of trying to get unstuck. Nowadays, traction mats or traction boards are all the rage, and for good reason. Traction mats or boards are typically manufactured from some from lightweight, durable materials that feature teeth-like structures that your rig’s tires can bite onto, providing the traction you need to get your rig rolling. They work great in any environment, are usually compact and light for easy and convenient storage, and because of their design can be used as a shovel when you need to do some digging before putting them in place. Check out our list to see which you think will work best for you.

Tow Straps and Accessories

Tow straps are probably one of the oldest and most common recovery items that EVERYONE should have in their off-road bug out bag. Over the years, the technology of recovery straps has improved to make getting unstuck easier on the vehicle and the driver. You know what I’m talking about if you’ve ever been in a vehicle that has been popped out of a bind by another vehicle. You have traditional straps that are usually 2-3” wide in various lengths and weight capacities, that either have looped or hooked ends to secure on either the pull or pulled vehicle. Gaining in popularity are recovery ropes that take advantage of kinetic energy to minimize strain and violent jerking while getting vehicles unstuck. There are also multiple accessories like clevises and soft shackles to make life easier when attaching either strap or ropes to the vehicles. Here are some of the best options we recommend to get the job done.

Navigation Necessities

Best Fathers Day Gifts

Some of most important items you can have in your rig are the tools you’ll need to show you where you’re going. Whether it be a map that you unfold, open a book to use, or is a GPS with a digital screen, these items can be critical tools to figure out where you’re at or to let others know where you are. When it comes to these systems, there are so many options to choose from, it can get overwhelming to figure out which best works for you. There are some great dash mounted nav systems that are loaded with maps for your daily navigation needs, but also feature thousands of off-highway trails to explore. Furthermore, some even have a rear facing camera so you can record your adventures. If you want to explore beyond where your rig can go, some of these GPS systems are handheld so you can stuff in your pocket to keep your bearings on hiking trails. We’ve been fortunate enough to test many of these ourselves and have hand-picked some of the best items in the off-road industry to share with you, so enjoy.

Maps and Books

With 50 states full off off-road trails, there are numerous maps and guides to choose from when you’re looking for a new adventure. Our best suggestion is to use Google or visit some off-road forums to get suggestions on trails that match your experience level, then look for a few good maps as resources to your destinations. Having a map to navigate the streets is always good, but you’ll also want to find a good map as a reference for the trails.

Electronic Navigation Tools (GPS)

As technology has become less expensive and more user friendly, people have turned to GPS units to get them from point A to point B with the push of a few buttons. As mentioned before, GPS units come in a wide variety of sizes with varying options. Whether you want one that is a permanent fixture in your vehicle or one that you can take along when you want to  explore beyond where your rig can go, we’ve got some of the best options readily available for you to see.

Communication Options

midland 2-way radioWhen you’re wheeling with friends or going off the grid for a weekend of relaxation, you always want to have a means of good communication. You can’t always rely on your cell phone because many places you’ll go won’t have any service to make it useful. With options from CB radios to hand held walkie talkies, these days it’s easier to stay connected to your friends and family than it ever has been. For those that like to be off the grid, there are a wide variety of personal locators that allow your loved ones to track your whereabouts, and should something happen to you where you need assistance, you can alert them at the press of a button. Whichever of these options you think works best for you, we’ve got you covered with our list of best personal communication devices.

2-Way Radios

Hey there good buddy, you got a copy? In the past CB’s had been all the rage for people to communicate with one another before the old brick cell phones were the hot new technology. To this day, CB radios are still in use and are the preferred method of communication by many off-road enthusiasts. The thing about CB radios is that they become a permanent fixture in your off-road rig. Many people prefer the option of hand-held radios for their ability to use them in different vehicles or even to communicate with their friends and family while out exploring on foot. Whichever you prefer, we’ve got you covered with some of the best in the business.

Personal Communicator/Locators

If you’re planning on some solo exploration trips, you should absolutely have one of the following items on your list of gear essentials. Personal communicators and locators serve one main function. They’re a one-way line of communication to your friends and family to let them know you’re ok or in need of help when cell service is non-existent. Some models are simply designed to send out a beacon for help (think the bat signal) at the push of a button, while some styles allow you to be tracked and send or receive personal messages.

Off-Road Camping

camp chef stove

When you need more than a day in the wild to reset and get back to your normal daily grind, you’re going to need some camping essentials to eat, sleep, and well…. You know. From camping bags to cooking stoves, we’re going to help build your list of must-have items to enjoy your overnight adventures.

Shelters and Tents

Depending on the weather, your overnight accommodations can range from a simple pop-up shelter that provides a place to lay your head while gazing at the stars before you fall asleep, or a tent designed with the room and insulation that make the nearest motel look like a downgrade.

Sleeping Bags, Pads and Pillows

Just because the temperatures of your new favorite camping spot seem perfect during the day, doesn’t mean that you won’t be freezing come bedtime. It’s not uncommon for temperatures to swing from extreme hot to extreme cold at night, so you need to be prepared with a good sleeping bag. Available in a wide variety of temperature ratings from 0°-40° and above, you need to assess which temperature range will work for you as a general base. That is unless you want to buy multiple sleeping bags to suit every temperature range you expect to be in. In addition to a good sleeping bag, you’ll want a pad to help keep you insulated and comfortable from the cold uneven ground you sleep on. While you’re at it, why not pamper yourself with a good camping pillow that will help prevent a stiff neck in the morning. One of the best things about all these camping accessories is that they usually are designed to be compact for stowing away, which means less space taken up inside your rig.

Cooking Stoves and Supplies

If you’re a minimalist, there are some great self-contained backpacking stoves that take a small amount of space and are perfect for making a quick meal for one. If you prefer your meals to be a little more elegant, companies like Coleman, Camp Chef and others have some great options to help make some gourmet viddles when you’re out in the wilderness. Don’t forget to plan on getting some cooking pans, utensils, insulated mugs and tumblers, and of course a coffee maker for those chilly mornings.

Coolers to Keep Your Food Cool

Coolers have come a long way over the years. Remember that ozone destroying Styrofoam coolers that melted ice faster than your drinks were able to cool down? Modern ice chests are engineered to keep your food and drinks cold for days because of their insulation characteristics. If you don’t even want to deal with ice, there is a good selection of 12v ice chests that you can plug into the cigarette lighter of your rig to keep your cold ones cool for days. If you decide to go that route, you’ll be interested in our next list of camping essentials.

Portable Power

So, the whole purpose of getting your new off-road rig was to disconnect and get out into the great outdoors. We get that some of you can’t break away from technology 100%, or maybe you just want to have some of the creature comforts of home while you’re out in the wild. From solar panels to portable generators, there are plenty of options to help keep your electronic doodads and gizmos fully charged so you can stay connected.

Tough Trail Armor

ARB Differential Cover

If you bought your new to you off-road rig used, there’s a good chance that it’s been outfitted with some trail armor already. If you just rolled of the showroom floor, you might have some trail protection but normally the dealer leaves the addition of aftermarket protection in the hands of the new owner. From bull bar front bumpers to rock sliders, you’ll want to protect your ride from the unexpected boulders and other trail obstacles that jump out of nowhere.

Bumpers

You might think that the bumper that came on your off-road rig is plenty good for what you want to do, which might be right. As your experience in off-roading advances, you might want to invest in a different bumper that can provide improved obstacle approach, provide better protection and most importantly give you an option of installing one of the winches we suggested earlier in this list. Bumpers can be very basic looking or you can give your rig an extreme look with a bumper that has a stinger that is very handy when taking on some extreme rock crawling terrain. Take a look at our list and see what fits your needs.

Rock Sliders

Rock sliders are a great way to protect your truck or Jeep when having to traverse the occasional rock garden. They usually run the length of the vehicle between the front and rear wheel well and not only provide additional protection, but can be used as a step to help get in and out of your rig. They’re available in a variety of styles with some providing more looks than protection, so be sure to do your homework so you get the product you need.

Differential Covers

As you find yourself getting into tougher trails, you’ll find that you might want to beef up the armor on your rig. One of the first upgrades we’d recommend would be the differential covers on your axles. There’s nothing worse than coming down on or running your differential cover into a boulder only to hear a crack and upon inspection see all of your gear oil pouring out onto the trail, leaving you stuck. These covers are often made of stronger material than stock and are thicker to provide additional protection for your driveline.

Tires and Tire Repair Tools

bf goodrich tires

Even though you might have picked up a Jeep or other off-road vehicle designed for maximum off-highway capability, it doesn’t mean that the tires it’s equipped with are the best for what you want to do. We’ve got a great selection of off-road specific tires that work as good off-road as they do on. In the event you might puncture one of these tires out on the trail, we also have some great product suggestions that can get you back to civilization safely to have the tire properly repaired or replaced.

Trail Worthy Tires

Before you head off into the great unknown, be sure to check the condition of your tires. There’s a saying that your off-road rig is only as capable as the tires that are on it, and we couldn’t agree more. You may have tires that are designed for maximum tire life and fuel mileage, or they may be getting worn down to the cords, but either way you’ll likely want to get some new meat installed before you head off into the wild. A good off-road tire will have an aggressive lug pattern that digs into every kind of terrain looking for maximum traction and is features anywhere from 6-8 ply construction for superb puncture resistance. With vast sea of brands and sizes to choose from, we’re giving you our list of best off-road tire options.

Tire Repair Tools and Accessories

If you carry a spare tire, these items aren’t as critical to keep in your rig, but honestly it never hurts. Sometimes a quick tire repair with a plug and air compressor can get you rolling faster than swapping it out. We’ve got some great options that don’t break the bank and are easy to use.

Tools, Jacks and More

HiLift Jack

Photo courtesy of Art Konovalov/Shutterstock.com

Now that you’ve plunged headfirst into the off-road world, you better be ready to become a DIY mechanic. We’re not saying that you’re going to break something when you’re in the middle of nowhere, but you’re probably going to break something in the middle of nowhere. Our staff speaks from experience. This is why our staff highly recommend making a well-stocked tool kit a permanent fixture in your rig. You’ll want screwdrivers, wrenches, pliers, and a good set of ratchets and wrenches at the ready just in case you need them. Having a good battery powered impact can make removal of lug nuts easy for tire changes and a good jack to get the wheel off the ground. You might be lucky and only need a tire plug and an air compressor to get rolling again. Either way, here is the list of our staff must-have tools that you should have in your off-road rig.

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