My currently stock '94 truck pulled out my brother in laws s-10 blazer from a hole that covered his headlights back to the door handles with water, even after I blew the stock auto hubs. get the right tires, the manual hubs, its a bruiser. check your fluids if you play with water/excessive mudding. especially in snow off-road, know where you are playing, snow has a funny way of filling in deep holes giving you some good holes to fall in if you aren't careful. identify your tow points (frame slots, what have you, get hooks) before you go out, so you know what your feeling for under water/mud/snow.
carry a small shovel (the folding one from the military surplus stores are nice and compact) if your alone you can dig out, may take a while, but its better than sleeping in the truck. carry a machete or small axe, good for getting small limbs to shove under wheels if needed (try and use whats laying around, but sometimes that doesn't exist). that being said, don't wheel alone if you can help it. if you like your interior, a change of clothes is a good idea, or at least towels to cover the seats!
