First thing to know about going "Off Road" is keep recovery in mind.

Am I wrong?

 

Nope, you’re not

 

Second thing is don't go alone. Good recovery techniques can only get you so far in some cases. Plus, offroading is more fun with friends.

 

Important to know the limitations of your tires.

 

I'd argue knowing how to use the vehicle features first. Nothing like getting stuck as the first time to figure how to use MTS or the locker, or how to use 4LOW for that matter.

 

And the driver, and the recovery equipment, and like @mattleg said know what all these fancy buttons do!

 

If it’s a tough stretch get out and walk it first. Look at it from different angles. Then drive

 

Lately seems like every time I go out in the desert I run across folks stuck in the sand. They have no supplies and no gear. Getting out of the house and exploring the desert is fun but think ahead.

 

I like watching the you tube videos from Matts Off Road Recovery. You can learn a lot.

 

Answer:
https://youtu.be/NFYc3chFO_I

 

You're not wrong, but I like to study the area where I'm going to be off-roading well before I get there. For me that means looking at maps, Googling route numbers to see what pop's-up. I'll play around on Google Earth too which helps get an idea of what might be out there. Guide books help too. I generally spend a week every year off-roading and exploring around different parts of Utah and Arizona and have a lot of maps with notes written on them and guide books. I recently added GPS to my off-road car so I'm getting better at playing with Waypoints. Prior to that I always carried a hand-held unit with where I started set in it.

Recovery gear and knowing what your vehicle can do are important too of course. I'm a couple of weeks away from taking my Taco on it's first long road trip out of state which will involve a couple of days of four-wheeling, so I spent a couple of hours last weekend in my local mountains on some trails playing around with A-Trac and the rear locker since I've never used those off-road before.

 

All true ... but for people who also off road “fast” in the desert, it’s important to run through a section slowly before you smash out like a trophy truck and bottom out hard lol. Also roll over the jump a few times slow to check your speed and get it right before you send it.


As far as gear for going a bit faster than stock ... spend twice as much money on the rear suspension vs the front
. Much much safer. You’re welcome and drive safe !

 

I'd say slightly more important is survival gear. First aid kit. Way to make fire, keep warm, enough water for several days and a way to treat found water. Maybe some emergency rations (though most will do just fine for a couple weeks without food). Every vehicle should have that, but especially one that ventures off road. Even for just a "side trip". It's the unprepared yuppies in Range Rovers that venture out for a "side trip" or take a "short cut" that wind up eating snow, heating up rocks in tin cans to "stay warm" and then try to walk out only to have their carcasses be found in the spring.

A close second to that (and I would even say is part of "survival gear"), is recovery gear.

Recovery gear and techniques can fail. You can get hurt trying to employ them. Comms can fail. Vehicles can fail. Let someone know where you're going, and when they will hear back from you. And be prepared to stay healthy until help comes.

As for not going out alone....do it all the time. Weeks on end sometimes, many miles out. Love the solitude. But my loved ones know where I am, and when to expect check ins. And where to start the search should I stop checking in.

 

I wonder if he was driving a Tacoma later that week after selling his F150