Going off-road is an adventure everyone needs to try out at least once in their lifetime. The fun is always exhilarating. However, to have successful off-roading, you need certain tools.

Therefore, in this article, we will reveal to you the important off-road tools you need to have when you go on your next adventure.

Let’s hit the road…

1. Recovery Kit

When off-roading, even if you know how to drive in the mud, there is always a possibility of getting stuck in the mud depending on the land’s topography. If such happens, then you will need the help of another truck to pull your vehicle out. To do this you will need a recovery kit. A good recovery kit must have a snatch strap as well as some shackles.

The snatch strap’s breaking strength should at least be 3 to 4 times the vehicle’s weight that you’ll be pulling. This breaking strength is the minimum you should look for; hence, you can look for a strap that has a higher breaking strength.

The straps are usually manufactured from nylon and can stretch to reduce the temporary loads that are placed in the recovery points of your vehicle. This, in turn, will provide the needed tug to pull out your vehicle.

As for the shackles, you need the ones that weigh about 3 ¼ tons. These are well suited to connect the strap end to the vehicle’s different recovery points. When you are doing the attachment of the strap to these recovery points, ensure that the pin is fully tightened, after that ensure that turn it is backed off at a quarter turn. With such a turn, the flex can be done smoothly that will prevent any damage to the threads.

When you load the recovery kit, you should ensure that it is close to your reach from the driver’s seat. This is because you don’t know in what manner you might get stuck. It is possible that you might not be able to access your windows, doors, or trunk. Therefore, with the kit nearby, your wading in the mud will be reduced.

2. Maxtrax

While a snatch strap requires that there is another vehicle nearby to pull you out of the mud you are stuck in, but what if there is no nearby vehicle? In such a case, you need a Maxtrax.

These recovery boards manufactured from nylon can be used as shovels in the event they can’t be directly placed under your vehicle’s tires. When used as a shovel, you can simply use the Maxtrax to dig out your wheels. Another use for this tool is digging a latrine or a fire pit in your camp.

Furthermore, if you won’t be going off-road, you can use this tool when you get stuck in soft sand or snow. 

3. Work Light

What if you get stuck or need to change your tires or you need to fix a problem in the engine at night? It will be difficult without lights, right? Hence, one of the tools you need to pack when going on your off-road journey is a great work light. With such a work light, you will be able to see what you’re working on.

Ensure that you take a work light that has a good battery life as you might not know how long you will have to work in the dark.

4. Tire Repair Kit

When you go off-road the most likely parts of your vehicle to get damaged are the tires. Since you are navigating rough roads, you will likely run on items such as sharp rocks, thorns, etc. that can puncture your tires.

Therefore, before you set out on your adventure, don’t forget to pack a tire repair kit. With this kit, you will be able to make repairs easily when your tire gets damaged.

5. Some Old Boards

While a repair kit will help you in fixing damage to your tires, an old but solid board will provide you with the surface where your jack can be placed. We know how difficult it can be when you have to place a jack on an uneven surface or worse; on a muddy surface.

Apart from using the board in that manner, these old boards can be used to chock your tire if you are in a sloppy area. The boards will prevent the vehicle from rolling down the slope.

6. Jump Starter

If your vehicle just dies in the middle of nowhere with no other vehicle around to help you jump yours, what do you do? Well, you simply bring out your jump starter tool; that is if you packed one before you started your trip.

A jump starter with a battery pack of high-capacity lithium-ion can jump your vehicle without any fuss. It can even be used as a charger for your phone as well as other small gadgets.

The thing about jump starters is that they must be charged. Keeping it somewhere for a while just to pick it up to use might just disappoint you.

7. Air Compressor

If you want to add traction as you embark on your off-road adventure, then you need to reduce your tires’ air pressure. Usually, a 20 PSI is enough to provide the needed traction for any kind of vehicle.

If you’ll be using standard equipment, then an 8 PSI is suitable for snow, mud, or soft sand. However, you need to be mindful of rocks as well as other obstacles when your pressure is that low. You need to remember that with low pressure, your wheels are more susceptible to damages.

To be able to alter the air pressure in your tires is important when needed. Hence, you need an air compressor by your side to enable you to reduce or increase the air pressure.

When choosing an air compressor, ensure that you get one that uses alligator clips to connect to the battery. The air hose should be long enough at least 30 feet to reach all your tires. Visit offroadwinchmaster.com to find out about other tools that you can take along on your next off-road adventure.

Conclusion

There you have it; the most off-road tools you need to have. We recommend that you don’t leave home without these.