safety tips and basic safety equipment

[Tank]

on a very good sugjestion, here is a page for everyone ( especially first timers ) to get tips on how to stay safe, and find out what every wheeler should have in his truck for any off road fun.

 

[Tank]

ok i guess ill get this thread started....

some very basic things you should have no matter where you go wheeling, all of these things are readily available and affordable, and worth their weight in gold when you need them:

a basic first aid kit
a tow strap
a spare, lug wrench and jack

thats the most basic basic basic list of things you should have before you ever even think of going off road.... lets add to the list. also we can add any weather or terrain appropriate items .

 

[Tank]

i personally also bring
a more extensive tool list
2 tow straps
1 tow rope
tow hooks
tow rings
at least one change of clothes
a fire extinguisher
oil
extra gas can (with gas)
i also very rarely wheel alone and coodinate with whoever im going with to be sure we have everything covered.

 

[GJarrett]

1) This is not a sport for hermits. Never wheel alone unless you are very familiar with the trail and know for sure your vehicle can handle it.
2) You haven't mention water yet. At least a gallon per person.
3) You must also find a way to contain and strap everything down (a loose fire extinguisher can be pretty painful when you have to hit the brakes pointing down a severe incline, or tip or roll your vehicle).

www.jeepn.com has a "Trail Equipment" page with a fairly complete suggestion and wish list. It's directed towards Jeepers but most suggestions apply to any vehicle.

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Gerald
"Nerves of Steel; Brain of Chipmunk"
'99 Eddie Bauer 4x4 4.0L SOHC aka "The Jeepeater"
Dead Link Removed
"What the heck is he doing out here in that thing???"

[This message has been edited by GJarrett (edited 04-21-2000).]

 

[mattadams]

Tank - don't forget the most important part of all, another person to go with. A tow strap will do you no good if you have no one to tow you out. So far I have never used a first aid kit off-road but I bring one anyway (hey you never know!). Some other things I just keep in my vehicle at all times for safety's sake:
a fire extinguisher (not that I think my exploder will catch fire, but someone elses might)
tire repair (a can of fix a flat, it'll work great if you poke a nail through it but won't help at all if you've just gashed your tire)
as many spare parts as you can bring. Usually I only have room for a few things - set of brakes, u-joints, etc.
spare fluids - brake fluid, motor oil, power steering fluid (just because my new AGR unit is leaky and until I find a replacement that's what I'm doing), maybe even some ATF (can double as power steering fluid if necessary).
Since I have a winch I always bring my winch accessory kit, which includes a snatch block, another tow strap, gloves, and that part I can't think of the name for... it also has a tow chain with it. I usually bring a 20' tow strap with me just in case though, you never know, you might have to be winched backwards.
I usually bring as many tools as possible, this means all my wrenches, sockets, plyers, hammer, etc. I also bring my battery-powered drill and drill bits (hey, you never know right)
a crow bar (will come in handy more often then one might think)
Plenty of towels/paper towels/tp
Of course I usually bring my air bed with me just because it fits in my box. How do I hold it all? Well its not quite as intricate as Rick's custom box but it seems to do the trick so far. Check it out:

and

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Matt Adams
94 Explorer 4-door nick-named "Tippy"
http://bart.is-s.com/~explorers/explorer/explorer.html

 

[Tank]

very nice box....do you keep it in or do you slip it in for wheeling ?

i found a 12v impact wrench ( also very usefull )

yes ANY loose stuff is dangerous, so tie, strap, or box everything you can.

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if you never get stuck, you just arent playing hard enough

Fortunately God looks out for fools and 4-wheelers, or am I being redundant.

 

[Tank]

a few other extremely usefull things to bring (also things you may never need but i bring them for the one time i might)

a portable 12v air compressor or pump
a can of steel paste ( hardens like steel for emergency repairs )
and dont laugh DUCT TAPE ( i have the flame resistant type )



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if you never get stuck, you just arent playing hard enough

Fortunately God looks out for fools and 4-wheelers, or am I being redundant.

 

[Tank]

and dont forget a cb ! for help if your alone or to keep in touch with the other trucks in your group... VERY important

 

[mattadams]

yes that box is in there all the time, when I go wheeling I usually put the other components in there so I have a sleeping platform if I need one. Your right about the CB, they can be handy but they don't have very good range... only line of sight,s o you might be better off bringing a cell phone or, if your licensed, a ham radio.

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Matt Adams
94 Explorer 4-door nick-named "Tippy"
http://bart.is-s.com/~explorers/explorer/explorer.html

 

[Char]

If you're going to a desert area you better make that 2 gallons of water per person and extra for the truck. Plus Sunscreen 15 or better! We also carry a small propane stove and dehydrated food. Like you said just in case! We won't discuss taste.

------------------
Char
93 Modified Exploder, Co-owner &
The Better Half

I may be CRAZY,.... BUT I'm not insane!

 

[Ray Lobato]

Don't forget flashlight and extra batteries, garbage bags, also something to keep you warm. I always have a couple of cans of sterno, and trioxine tablets and stove. 50 feet of 550 paracord. A good knife and can't forget my gun. Dead Link Removed Oh and don't forget some type of device to air up your tires with. No one should be without a bic lighter or two. You should always have a sleeping bag for each person riding with you. Shovel
HD gloves, Food and any medicine that you would nomally take for the day, take 3days worth.

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Happy Wheelin'
Ray L.
97 XLT 4X4 4.0L SOHC
Dead Link Removed

 

[GJarrett]

I believe this thread is actually a very good idea and the topic of trail equipment should be one of the topic links on the front page. This site is originally devoted to offroad, after all.

If you will allow me, I have an idea. Instead of a couple dozen of us making this a 50 post thread with all kinds of haphazard suggestions (and the thread eventually disappearing away with time), I would like to spend a little time to post a comprehensive list on this thread in a (hopefully) well written paper. After I finish, then we can take a few suggestions to fine tune and edit it and then we'll see if Rick would be interested in me producing it in Word format and emailing it to him to permanently put on the site.

I just got back from wheeling all day and am beat and have a lot of cleanup to do. If I don't get to it tonight I'll do it tomorrow night.



------------------
Gerald
"Nerves of Steel; Brain of Chipmunk"
'99 Eddie Bauer 4x4 4.0L SOHC aka "The Jeepeater"
Dead Link Removed
"What the heck is he doing out here in that thing???"

 

[Rick]

Sounds like a great idea Gerald. Here is a link to the stuff I carry in my truck, it may give you some ideas. www.explorer4x4.com/specs.htm

About the water, you are supposed to carry at least 1 gal of water, per person, per day. A person can live without food much longer than they can survive without water.

Another good thng to carry is a spare key. I lost one while skiing once and had to have the ignition lock replaced so I could drive home Dead Link Removed

------------------
Rick Horwitz
Editor
explorer@4x4central.com
www.4x4central.com
Ricks Explorer

[This message has been edited by Rick (edited 04-22-2000).]

 

[GJarrett]

Thanks Rick. I knew I saw your list somewhere but couldn't remember where. Obviously you have a lot more than a first time stocker would. The idea I have for the paper will roughly follow this basic outline:

Presumptions before the lists ( such as you are starting out with a healthy vehicle/good brakes, are not going alone, etc)

Convenience items - such as coveralls, golashes, and toilet paper Dead Link Removed

Required items - don't even bother showing up unless you have all of these (towstrap, water, fullsize spare, etc) and you know others in the group still have necessary items on the next list.

Necessary items - beyond required but still necessary. Someone in the group needs to have one: HiLift, fire extinguisher, etc.

Wish list: winch, blah blah blah.

That's my basic idea. I'll get to work on it shortly.

Gerald

 

[mattadams]

Rick - that spare key is an EXCELLENT idea. I keep one in my wallet, I can't tell you how much money its saved me, especially when I lock my keys in my car on the top of a mountain somewhere... my explorers alarm has the "feature" of locking the vehicle whenever the car is turned on. This is an OK feature except when I get in, leave the door open, turn the car on or something, get out without unlocking the doors, and shut the door. That baby cost me $40 the second day after I bought my Explorer, but since then I have about 4 spare keys, 1 in my wallet, 1 in my desk at home, 1 in my desk at work, 1 in a location ON the vehicle that won't be disclosed Dead Link Removed, and 1 that I gave to my parents.

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Matt Adams
94 Explorer 4-door nick-named "Tippy"
http://bart.is-s.com/~explorers/explorer/explorer.html

 

[GJarrett]

Matt, I have a three word suggestion for you:

Keyless Pad Entry Dead Link Removed

I Love mine.

 

[Paul Gagnon]

Gerald if I were you I'd move toilet paper to the required list. Believe me, the first time you are without it you will realize how important it is. Dead Link Removed

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Paul Gagnon
Calgary, Alberta
"No Brain, No Pain"
Dead Link Removed

Technically Velveeta isn't REALLY cheese... it's a cheese food...
The stuff that other cheeses eat... I guess.

 

[rpenner54]

Well once you start going out often and leaving the world behind you will want to bring along tools also. The few that I can list out are socket set, wrench set, both metric and standard, a 1-1/4" wrench (if you got a 94 and older Explorer), wire, and bungie cords. Just to list a few things. Thats all stuff I have in my truck at all times. I also have a lot of other stuff that other people have listed on here. Since I live in Colorado and half the year is cold I also carry a full amount of cold weather gear. An extra pair of shoes can also come in real handy too.



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Ryan Penner
1992 Explorer Sport Modified

 

[GJarrett]

Geez Paul,

I didn't think of it that way. I heard you Canadian outdoorsmen are real tough cookies. In a pinch you could always use floor mats or your air filter to wipe with... Dead Link Removed

OK, enough funnin' around. I'm gonna get started on this. I'll get back to you guys later.

[This message has been edited by GJarrett (edited 04-22-2000).]

 

[Paul]

Gerald -

Don't forget to add a camera to the list... it certainly won't get you home, but the story after the event will be better with pictures.

Also consider geographic items: chains in the mountains during winter, traction boards in the desert/dunes, ax/saw in heavily forested areas (dead fall - - only!), etc.

Also recommend a decent set of hiking boots (if not worn). Can you imagine a 20 mile trek back to civilization over rough terrain at night wearing Teva's ???

Paul

P.S. For those of us without keyless entry, consider a bolt, lock washer, and wingnut through the spare key and one of the many holes in the frame. The magnetic boxes fly off on the first obstacle - - just a thought.