Brett Levin
Words by Peter Boyer
The human spirit for adventure is alive in all off-roaders. Not only do we take the road less travelled, we prefer no road at all. However, that spirit is only limited by the amount of preparedness and self-reliance that we all possess.
One advantage of wheeling in groups is having the support of skills and resources of others at your disposal for assistance. For these expeditions, basic emergency and recovery gear can be delegated among the members, avoiding unnecessary redundancy and ensuring that a group has all the correct gear in the event of any dire issues.
But what is the essential emergency gear you need and what just adds extra weight and takes up space in your rig? As soon as you leave the highway, anticipate the possibility that your vehicle could need recovery or that you could experience an isolated incident in which you will need the proper gear to solve the problem(s).
Nick Taylor
It’s safer when wheeling in groups, but vital to have all the essentials when traveling solo.
Everyone has their own perception of risk, formed mostly through personal experience. If you ask a group of off roaders what they carry for emergency equipment, their answers will be as revealing as they are varied.
I’m a firm believer in travelling light and keeping emergency gear in one extra-large tool nylon bag. It also contains a few small recovery items such as soft shackles, batteries for my winch remote, gloves and a tow strap. The only emergency gear this bag doesn’t carry is a first aid kit, fire extinguisher and tire compressor. These are mounted separately in a visible, accessible and secure position in my truck while the air compressor is in its own stow bag on an as-needed basis.
Peter Boyer
Always keep gear secure and easily accessible.
So, in order of importance, here’s the rundown on what I carry for emergencies:
1. First Aid Kit – My first aid kit is compact and stowed in a cubby in the rear cargo area of my 4 Runner. It contains the basics for disinfecting or dressing small wounds, and immobilizing fractures. However, the most important factor is to have up-to-date training in basic first aid and CPR. This is offered locally across Canada by St. John Ambulance and well worth learning if you are venturing to remote places.
2. Fire Suppression – My fire extinguisher is mounted in a secure location on the back of the center console and easily accessible by the driver. It’s a compact Halguard H34, clean agent unit, which means it won’t damage electronic components or leave a mess of dry chemicals after it’s been discharged. I supplement it with a fire blanket. Fire emergencies aren’t an everyday occurrence but are more common than you think, especially with modified rigs containing various DIY point-to-point wiring installations. Again, training or at least some backyard practice helps. My setup is a minimal, but suitable for small fires if they are caught early.
3. Hydraulic Jack and Base – My rig and daily driver is a fairly new 4 Runner that comes with a screw jack and tool kit, which might work in a pinch but I would never normally change a tire with it. There are many options of good off road jacks, but if you only want to carry one, my choice is a four-ton hydraulic bottle jack. It’s relatively small, powerful, safe and easy to use and I know it can get the job done without failing. However, if your vehicle has a lift, make sure you have an adequate base to use with your jack, which will enable you to get your wheel off the ground.
Peter Boyer
Just some of the pertinent gear and tools we bring along.
4. Breaker Bar – In automotive shops, wheel nuts are always torqued to specifications anywhere from 85 – 125 ft/lbs. This is tight and necessarily so. I’ve assisted others with less strength than I have to remove their wheel nuts using their manufacturer supplied wrench, and sometimes it has been challenging to get them off. Make it easy for yourself and carry a proper breaker bar or a long enough wheel wrench. Mine is 24” with a deep 21 mm socket, which easily fits into the bottom of the tool bag.
5. Basic Tool Kit – I’ve seen guys with a full set of air tools, complete socket sets, multi meters, you name it. Of course, someone driving a vintage rig might need the peace mind by having more tools than someone driving a newer model. If you can keep your tool selection to the basics, you’ll save yourself a ton of weight and space. I like an old fashioned tool roll-style that prevents the tools from rattling. It also limits my selection to the most versatile and useful ones in my collection.
6. Compressor and Deflator – When you air down on the trails, you’ll always need to air back up. The strength of a compressor you’ll need depends on tire size, pressure and run time, especially if your compressor ends up pulling double duty on other rigs. Small compressors generate a lot of heat so make sure it’s a good one that can do the job adequately and dependably.
Peter Boyer
Items such as fire extinguishers should be ready to access at a moment’s notice.
7. 12V Power Supply – If you’re running a winch and other high demand electrical appliances such as a fridge, backup power supply is essential. A winch, in particular, uses a lot of power and can easily flatten a standard equipment battery even with the engine running after a small amount of time. That’s why it’s best to use deep-cycle batteries and sometimes dual battery set ups. Even with an adequate battery set up, an independent 12 V power source is great to have along, and the compact lithium ion types aren’t heavy or bulky. Mine is more than enough and rated for 2,000 amps. So far I’ve only used it once to boost a beater truck that wouldn’t start after gassing up.
8. Winch Dampers – These help control the tremendous energy that is suddenly dissipated should a shackle, snatch block, or winch cable/rope catastrophically fail during recovery. Mine are made by Warn, but in a pinch a jacket draped over the line at an attachment point is better than nothing. Like all safety equipment, you need to have a standard procedure in order to do its job in an emergency.
Peter Boyer
Having all the important first-aid supplies should never be overlooked.
9. Tire Kit and Second Spare – You can buy inexpensive tire repair kits but I would recommend one that contains well-made tools that won’t fail and are strong enough for heavy tires. Being able to quickly fix a simple puncture or small rock slice on the trail is definitely a self-reliant skill. Let’s face it, without a repair kit or second spare, once you’ve mounted your one spare, there’s no backup plan if another tire problem arises.
10. Flashlight and Tape Measure – These seem like inconsequential items but a good LED flashlight can be extremely useful for inspections under a dark underbody anytime. But a tape measure? Every vehicle has a wading limit, and you should know yours. Being able to measure the depth of water you are about to cross enables you to make an informed decision about how to best negotiate the hazard if you decide to take the risk. Drowning a vehicle has a lot of bad consequences worth avoiding, especially if you are running solo.
With this list, you can increase your safety, confidence level, and even assist others on the trail without overloading your vehicle. You will also have the proper emergency gear that (hopefully) you will never need to use. Good luck!