Trail readiness

P.s. Off-roading is a risk-reward hobby. You simply cannot prepare for every eventuality. I have been in prepper groups and seen what happens after someone spent well over $100,000 on supplies and they still didn’t have what they needed. For off-reading I take a minimalist-maximalist strategy. Be smart and really think it through because the more you carry the more it causes detriment to your vehicles performance.

I'm of the opinion that there isn't much my credit card can't fix if it's needed. I'd rather not get to that point but it's my last resort.

Safety is most important, make sure your rig is in good working order. Take water and food. Fuel. Communication equipment.

Next good recovery gear. I use this more than tools. Shackles, winch, straps, tire plug kit, working jack, some sort of air up system etc

Then you better have a decent tool kit. I'm not into carrying a bunch of electric tools. I can dismantle my jeep easily enough with ratchets if I have too.

Fluids, spare parts, electrical components.

I keep more stuff in my tow vehicle but I have to have what I need to get back to it.
 
I'm of the opinion that there isn't much my credit card can't fix if it's needed. I'd rather not get to that point but it's my last resort.

Safety is most important, make sure your rig is in good working order. Take water and food. Fuel. Communication equipment.

Next good recovery gear. I use this more than tools. Shackles, winch, straps, tire plug kit, working jack, some sort of air up system etc

Then you better have a decent tool kit. I'm not into carrying a bunch of electric tools. I can dismantle my jeep easily enough with ratchets if I have too.

Fluids, spare parts, electrical components.

I keep more stuff in my tow vehicle but I have to have what I need to get back to it.

💯
 
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This is my tool setup. The milwaukee bag has an M18 1/2" impact, a 2.5lb hammer and an assortment of impact sockets selected based on fastener sizes on my TJ, including 36mm for the front axle nut.

The roll is assorted smaller sockets, ratchets, wrenches, drivers, pliers, vise grips etc, again chosen individually according to what I might need or be able to deal with on the trail. If there are metric and standard sizes that are close enough to work interchangeably, I only carry one of them.

I don't carry spare parts but if I bust a u-joint in the front axle I can at least separate the inner shalf and put the outer back in to get me rolling. A lot of the rest just depends on my Jeep being overbuilt for the stuff I use it on so breakage is rare. Biggest weak link right now is probably my ZJ steering.
 
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P.s. Off-roading is a risk-reward hobby. You simply cannot prepare for every eventuality. I have been in prepper groups and seen what happens after someone spent well over $100,000 on supplies and they still didn’t have what they needed. For off-reading I take a minimalist-maximalist strategy. Be smart and really think it through because the more you carry the more it causes detriment to your vehicles performance.

one of the guys that went on the trip with me a week and a half ago had this happen the very next weekend. How many people are carrying a rig full of spare parts and don't have a power steering pump?

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You tellin me I gotta put a whole nother jeep on top of mine, just in case?

Well, if you're NOT doing that, then it makes more sense to just enjoy the trails knowing you can't prepare for every possibility so there's no point in stressing out trying to.

I used to wheel alone a lot but I was never more than a couple mile hike out if something went south. When I'm really remote I'm in a group.
 
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Tell someone where you’re going and when you’re expected to be back….I’ve been running and biking the same routes for 10+ years and still give my wife an eta just in case.