Top 5 Offroading Mods for a Newbie?

Tires - you already have
Shovel
common sense
extra fuel
snacks, food, water

 

First Aid Kit, water, snacks. If you do go by yourself, which we should not, let someone know where and when you should return.

 

I go off pavement all the time by myself. I live in an area away from those I know and haven't met anyone to hang with yet. Throughout my life, 99% of my trips have been solo. Now, most of them are exploring logging roads or forest roads and such, but I'm not averse to taking on more challenging stuff. I've been doing this for about 20-25 years and have had good success so far. I'm more adventurous since I have a winch, but I've only had a truck with one for maybe 4 or 5 of those years. Here's my basic advice:

1) Always take a spare can of gas, at least 5 gallons. Use it on a regular rotation and replace it with new every couple months so you're not relying on old gas.

2) Have and know how to use a tire plugging kit.

3) Have a good spare tire. Know how to change it and make sure you have the jack and handles and such. I would recommend hauling the spare in the bed to increase ground clearance and prevent you from having to drop it down in mud/dirt/snow/sand/rocks.

4) Always take an air compressor, even if it's a cheap 12v one from Wal-Mart or harbor freight. Before you rely on it, let all the air out of your spare and make sure it will inflate it back to regular pressure.

5) Always take a jump starter pack, and make sure it's charged before you go. Jumper cables too, so if you find someone with a dead battery, you can jump them and not,run down your pack.

6) Always take a gallon of water per person. Carry 1-2 gallons of water for the truck. I like to use old windshield washer fluid jugs or RV antifreeze jugs.

7) If you're going to an area without cell coverage, it's a good idea to let someone know where you're going and when you'll be back. At least a rough idea, like "I'm going up such and such road, might check out this and that, and I'll be back by tonight at 8pm. If you don't hear from me by 10pm, start looking for me." The most important part is to stick to that plan. If shit happens, and you're not where you said, then a lot of effort is gonna be wasted looking for you where you aren't.

8) Take some food that you don't have to cook. Keep a sleeping bag or wool blanket and a spare set of clothes, socks, and boots or shoes. And some work gloves.

Most importantly, be smart and trust your gut. If you find a new trail you want to explore but think it's risky, or you haven't included it in your plan, don't do it. Plan another trip on another day for that trail.

 

lift, wheels/tires, sliders, skids, hilift jack or eagle pro(expensive), cb radio or ham(if your licensed), strips of carpet(cheap alternative for maxxtrax)

 

https://www.wyeth-scott.com/orders.asp.

 

At least on the off road ones, there is a tie down for tying down a car, but on the passenger side, there is a rated recovery hook that you can get pulled out with.

 

that's no problem with a good snatch strap. I have pulled plenty of full size trucks out
here is the latest. he broke something in the front axle so he was 2 wd

 

If your're going budget, forget the winch. It necessitates other mods the then it all start escalating in cost for something you might use once a year or two (for the trails you described). I got by just fine for 20 years of moderate wheeling with a shovel and a strap... as have many others. Airing down is something that will give you traction and comfort every time you wheel (if you choose)... another cheap and easy mod. But, the biggest mod of all is common sense.

 

All excellent advice! I also try to know the area I’m in so if all else fails I know where I need to walk and I have an idea of what kind of terrain I’m going into. I carry a katadyn hiker pro water filter also so I can pull water from just about anywhere if I run out and an Amazon rocket stove with a small mess kit and some mountain house meals. In a shit situation, a hot meal does a lot for morale

 

It's not rated for snatch. And it's only held in with two bolts doesn't tie into the frame.

 

I could be wrong, but I think that it is rated for a snatch. I am talking about this...


Not this

 

It's not. And it's held in with two bolts.

Mine cracked and bent from hitting a rock. After replacing it with the ARB and realizing just how weak it is no thanks. Definitely not a rated recovery point

 

I just put this on my rig. I also got a hok woth a hitch on it for the back. I love them. have a snatch strap, a shovel (it comes in handy more than you'd think), a change of clothes ( you might get muddy, rained on, have to lie in snow, etc). And it's always good to have snacks and water. In cold season I keep a blanket, too.

 

So your new one is still held in with the two bolts or is it a whole new mounting thing as well?

 

I saw the first page or so of this thread and it covered the basics for me. Bit, one thing that I thought of is tire plugs. Great to have, esp if you are remote. I've ridden thousands of miles on plugged motorcycle tires.

 

ARB is a whole different mount. It ties into the frame. Has 5 bolts and tested to 16 000lbs

 

Can you show me a picture of the ARB one that you have? And thanks for the info. I have always thought that it was a recovery point.

 

Is this it?

 

Ya that's the one. And there should be a thread either on the first page or second about it

 

It is a recover point. Everyone wants to be safe if your dangling off a vertical cliff from your recovery point and the 1000hp monster truck up top yanks you up and over... but the stock points are fine for harder surfaces and easier softer terrain where you can get at least some traction. If you're in thick sand or mud a lot, get a beefier one to be safe.