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Gear, tools and accessories needed for the trails...

2K views 27 replies 12 participants last post by  EasyEd 
#1 ·
Over the past few weeks I have been trying to put together all the necessary gear and accessories I would need for my off-roading adventures. Some background info. I have a lifted 2017 Hard Rock (2 door) with a Warn Zeon 10 S winch. I don’t have any armor yet, but will be getting a full set of Rock Hard skids shortly. I will also be having an ARB twin compressor installed in the next couple of weeks. Also getting 35 inch tires installed soon. I never go out alone, and most guys I go out with have similar gear set ups to me (so there is a lot of redundancy).

I am in no way an expert, on the contrary – I am a novice, this is just what I have come up with through research and common sense. I am sure I am missing a lot. To make it easier to wrap my head around all of this, I have broken down my needs into the following 4 areas:

- Tools
- Recovery/Repair Gear
- Emergency gear
- Spare/Repair parts


So far I have put together what I believe to be a good tool kit for the trails (all common hand tools, metric and SAE ratcheting wrenches and hex wrenches, torx wrenches, full socket set, vice grips, 3lb hammer, heavy duty zip ties, a big roll of duct tape, bacon, etc.).

I pretty much have the recovery/repair gear covered as well (winch, straps, tree saver, snatch block, D rings, traction mats, gloves, ARB tire repair kit, bacon, Colby emergency tire valve replacements, Hi Lift Jack, bottle jack, scissor jack, shovel, axe, saw, Leatherman, knife, etc.).

I think I have emergency gear covered too as I had a lot of this stuff already for camping - Mambe extreme blanket, food/water, flares, 2 CBs, flashlights, Jetboil, small cook set, fire starting stuff, bacon, change of clothes, first aid kit, etc.

I am now trying to get my spare parts together, this is where I am having some trouble. I need some help coming up with a list of some common items that I should be taking with me. I’m talking about stuff I would need in order to repair the things that are most common to fail on the trail. I am really just getting started here, but this is what I have so far:

- 3 replacement transfer case shifter cable bushings
- Spare fuses (mini and regular)

And that’s really it. I know I should carry some spare fluids with me, but not sure which ones. I may also want to have some spare hoses and/or belts, but again, not sure which ones. And I know I am missing stuff. I am mostly concerned about items that if broke, would leave me stranded.


Can anyone help me out here? And if you have a suggestion, please be specific. For example, instead of just saying take 2 spare quarts of oil with you, please also suggest a recommended product. Again, I am very new here.

Also, if you can think of any items I may have missed in my other lists, let me know.


Thanks in advance for any help, feedback and advice. It is truly appreciated.
 
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#2 ·
There's no way to carry EVERYTHING you might possibly need.
I think your list is good. I'd add a first aid kit and 36mm socket, so in the case a front axle shaft breaks you can remove the hub nut.
I pack a DeWalt cordless impact that will do up to 1200lbs off and 700lbs on.
Only fluid that would have come in handy so far is coolant. IMO pack what's right for yours but realize it probably won't be right for anyone else. This whole regular, HOAT, OAT thing really screwed that up :)

Good job on your list.

Good luck! :thumb:

EDIT: for the non-rubi folks a rear axle shaft would be a good spare part to carry.
 
#3 ·
You're bound to get a whole array of answers here. You'll see jeeps on the trails that look like a service truck for massive construction zone with a zillion excavators, backhoes, dump trucks, road graders and a whole lot more. Then, you'll see the total opposite, the ones with a lunch cooler and a chair or two. The seasoned vets of trail running can and will have and take as much along with them as they deem a possible need for, within reason.
I used to carry a lot more than I do now. But, we don't do the extreme stuff like we used to so, the potential for breakage is, well, down quite a bit. Can stuff break, sure. Will I have what's needed for the repair, most likely not. Our Jeeping desires are still there, just toned down quite a bit.

So, to advise you on what to carry or, what you'll need, for any given situation, I know what I used to carry and have but, it would not be wise for me to advise you now. You'll get lots of help on this one. Good luck and have a great time.
Scott
 
#6 ·
You're bound to get a whole array of answers here. You'll see jeeps on the trails that look like a service truck for massive construction zone with a zillion excavators, backhoes, dump trucks, road graders and a whole lot more. Then, you'll see the total opposite, the ones with a lunch cooler and a chair or two. The seasoned vets of trail running can and will have and take as much along with them as they deem a possible need for, within reason.
I used to carry a lot more than I do now. But, we don't do the extreme stuff like we used to so, the potential for breakage is, well, down quite a bit. Can stuff break, sure. Will I have what's needed for the repair, most likely not. Our Jeeping desires are still there, just toned down quite a bit.

So, to advise you on what to carry or, what you'll need, for any given situation, I know what I used to carry and have but, it would not be wise for me to advise you now. You'll get lots of help on this one. Good luck and have a great time.
Scott
Thanks, appreciate the comments and advice.
 
#7 ·
I usually carry one or two regular oil quarts, a bottle of steering fluid (I have hydroassist, so a bigger issue than stock - aka the ram mounts on the tie rod so could take a hit, stock steering is just the stabilizer shock which basically you can run without even if needed and will not dump the contents of your steering system since it stands alone), and one or two bottles gear oil.

In a worst case scenario, depending how bad the break, how dangerous the terrain, or how far in the middle of nowhere you are - oil is oil, and you take-up a group collection and run whatever spares/combination your trailmate have. Ideal, no. But it may save your engine or diff from imploding, and will get you to pavement with them still intact.

On harder trails or far from home I start carrying spare pieces (aka axle shafts, driveshaft ujoints etc).

And for worst worst case, I carry a Spot satellite device so help can find me. This should be in every Offroad vehicle. (There are other variations but basically satellite communication.) I was on a run once where someone needed to use the "serious 911 button" (there are other buttons you can program who to contact, 911 button goes direct to an emergency dispatch). There was a helicopter on the ground within less than 30 minutes of pushing the button to get the ill person to the hospital - saved her life.
 
#10 ·
As suggested, I am looking for a 36mm socket to have with me for a front axle repair. All the ones I see on Amazon, are labeled “deep impact” and indicate that they are designed/intended for use with impact wrenches. Well I don’t have an impact wrench; is there a suitable manual tool that I could use with this socket? ½ inch drive breaker bar or torque wrench perhaps? Pardon my ignorance, again, I am pretty new to this stuff (but learning).
 
#12 ·
The sockets I keep in the Jeep are all 1/2", I have a 1/2" breaker and a 1/2" torque in addition to the impact driver. I keep a set of 6 point impact sockets and a set of 12 point sockets. The unit bearing bolts are 12 point, maybe one of the brake caliper bolts too, been a while...
But you can use the ones labels "impact" with any 1/2" wrench.
FWIW the impact driver was hands down the best add I ever made to my tool collection.
http://www.wranglerforum.com/f274/my-new-best-tool-1690210.html
 
#11 ·
Stove for the bacon?
You can use the deep impact sockets with a standard ratchet. They're just designed so they won't break apart with an impact wrench. Something I hadn't really thought of before and I didn't notice it on your list as I was skimming it, is a saw. On our last trip out we got into some brush and needed to break branches to get out without scraping the hell out of the Jeeps. I'll have my little Ryobi chain saw with me from now on.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
#13 ·
Ahh, good to know about the sockets, thanks.

And yes, I have a stove for the bacon. Keep a JetBoil Flash in my Jeep with a couple fuel canisters along with a small cook kit. Also have a saw (Silky Gomboy), axe, a Leatherman and a couple knives. Forgot to add them on my list, but they are with me.
 
#24 ·
Surprisingly, all of this fits in my trunk except for my Hi Lift jack and Rotopax cans which are mounted on the tailgate hinge and the traction mats which I toss in the backseat (if I bring them). Granted, the trunk is packed, but it's all in there.
 
#21 ·
Hammer, Duct tape, and WD-40.

If it moves and it isn't supposed to, then duct tape it.

If it doesn't move and it's supposed to, then WD40 it.

If it's out of place, then hammer it back into place.
 
#28 ·
Hey All,

Wow! The only thing I see missing is the appropriate armament for the coming zombie apocalypse that I assume you are gearing up for. :) I recommend the Rat Patrol 30 cal.

Man I can't imagine actually having all this - I guess I just live dangerous. Oil cause I have a 3.8, first aid, basic tools to like fix a misbehavin battery connection, jumper cables, basic survival gear depending on weather, tow strap couple other things oh an a friend who has other stuff in his jeep/pickup - just off the top of my head. Oh and a camera to take pics of how stuck I get...

-Ed-
 
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