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Anytime you drive you run the risk of problems such as break downs, accidents or possibly getting stuck, but once you leave the road, you chances increase.  You should stock your off-road rig with certain items to assist you in a variety of different possible situation.  The requirements vary based on the type of off-roading you plan on doing but some things are basic to all requirements.  The following lists are what we feel should fit in each of the following areas and are not necessarily the only items you may need, you also may not need some of the items we carry.  This is just a list to help get the basic rig set up for survival off the pavement.

 The Basics!
What we feel are the absolute basic requirements for basic off-road safety

Fire Extinguisher - This should be small and easy to carry but should be multi-rated for A,B and C fires.  It should be hard mounted so it does not "fly around" in an accident or roll-over.

Recovery Points - Front and rear of the vehicle.  You need points at both ends where a recovery strap can be attached to pull you out or so you can pull others out.  Do NOT consider leaf spring or any other suspension or steering parts to be valid recovery or tow points.  They need to be attached to the frame or to something that is (i.e. bumper) and be a hook at the bare minimum.  Remember though that a hook that curves up (stock front recovery hook on a Jeep) will be of no use if you are a fair bit lower that the vehicle that will tow you out.  Trailer hitch balls are NOT a recovery point.  Shackles loops are the best.  More on this soon.

Recovery Strap - With loops, NOT hooks.  Straps with hooks are tow straps for towing and are dangerous to use for recovery.  A good recovery strap should be 20,000lbs or better and at least 20' long and 2" wide, I prefer the 30' x 3" version. More on this soon.

First Aid Kit - This kit should be able to handle most scrapes, cuts, burns and bug bites.  You don't have to save a life with it normally, just doctor up after the stupid mistakes, trips, falls and the like!

Jack - Laugh all you want, but some people with lifted rigs are still running around with the factory jack that would come close to the vehicle at full extension, let alone lift it enough to change a tire.  Best suggestion for this is a Hi-Lift style jack, for smaller vehicles or shorter lifts, a 48" jack is fine, for large vehicles or tall lifts, a 60" may be required.

Spare Tire of Comparable Size - Yes, some people are running out there playing on 35" tires but still have their stock spare that is only around 28"!!  If you destroy a 35" tire and you are way back in the middle of rocky nowhere AND you only have a 28" spare, you Will destroy the differential before you get out if you try to run it on the rear or on the front if you are in 4WD.  Minimal differences, such as different tire wear or tread types are acceptable but large differences with reek havoc on your rig.  If you can not afford a new 5th tire, hit up some of the tire shops and find a used one that has any tread at all on it, semi-bald is better the 7" smaller!

Tire Plug Kit - Now that we have discussed spares, we will discuss not using them!!  Most flats on the trail are due to punctures, small cuts or bead lose, all of which can be fixed with out the spare if you have the right materials and a source of air.  We have plugged sidewall cuts with up to 4 plugs and have heard of people using wire to stitch a fist size hole together and plugs to seal the leaks.  I do not change out to my spare unless there is no hope for the tire.

Emergency Munchies - If you get into trouble and need to be out there longer than expected, it can really help.  It can also save a life.  We came across an individual out running the trail that had been there a lot longer than expected and is diabetic and was have problems. At this point, a small snack and some directions out can save that person a lot of grief. Find granola bars and things that can be stared long term and leave them in your emergency kit

Water - Like the munchies can be a life saver if you have problems and are there longer than expected.  Always carry water for consumption during trail rides but put an extra bottle in the emergency kit for emergency drinking or for cleaning wounds.

Not Required But Should Be There!
Common sense stuff that is not really common sense until you think of it!

Garbage Bags - Pack out what you packed in!!  Always make sure you take all your trash with you and if you see some on the trail, pick it up and keep the wild beautiful for everyone, especially our kids. .

Cleaning Wipes - Like baby wipes, great for cleaning off the trail dirt from your face or cleaning up a bit from a repair.

ZipLock Bags - Work for a lot of uses but can hold small parts from a repair, treasures found in the wilds, or unfinished lunch bits for later!

Hand Cleaner / Sanitizer - No, we are not going clean freak here but you really do need to clean up after working on things or playing with the wildlife, especially before you eat and there is the whole toilet paper thing that we won't go into!

Toilet Paper - And a disposal bag to put the used stuff in, don't bury your used toilet paper and don't just leave it there, put in in a small bag and seal it up then throw it in you garbage bag!

Suggested Items!
Think small and compact for space, but useable.

Tow Strap - With hooks to tow you out if your vehicle will not run.  Do not use recovery straps as they stretch.

Tarp - Something small and easy to carry that can be used under your vehicle if you have to do repair or over if you have to get out of the rain.  It can also be used to make an emergency stretcher to carry someone out if they get hurt.

Winch - Much easier way to get out of a bad stuck!  USE leather gloves when working with a winch cable....Just take my word for it!

CB - Trail talk is a lot easier and you don't have to chase someone down when you get stuck!

Air Compressor - Makes airing the tires back up a lot easier!!  At the very least, you should carry a can of tire inflator/sealer, this is not a preferred way to inflate a tire, but it is better than being stranded.

Fuses - Specific to your vehicle, also remember to have some for the accessories you have added to your rig.

Tools!
Common items you should have in your tool assortment.

Common tools - We will not go into great detail here but you should have the basic metric or SAE tools needed for you rig including wrenches, sockets, ratchets, screwdrivers, pliers, crescent wrenches and similar.

Zip Ties - Amazing what you can fix with an assortment of zip ties!

Bailing Wire - I actually carry concrete tie wire that is used to tie re-bar together before pouring concrete.  I purchase it in the concrete and re-bar section of my local Home Depot for a bit over $3.00 and it is heavy gage and about 300' long but is still only about 4.5" around and 1.5" thick and fits nicely in my tool bag!.

Tape - I carry a roll of duct tape, a roll of electrical tape and a roll of plumbers tape.

Hose Clamps -  A small variety of sizes for fixing various hoses but they can also be used to hold things together.

Gasket sealer -   I carry a tube of blue for emergency.

Saw, Shovel and Ax - Small ones that fold, my saw is a rough cut folding pruning saw and the shovel is a cheaper folding unit.  The Ax is actually a small hatchet WITH a cover on the head to prevent cuts!  I have all three bunge'ed to the down rail of the roll bar.

Jumper Cables - Not only are they good for starting a dead battery, they can be used in combination with the bailing wire as a make shift welder.  Hopefully more on this later!

Rags / Paper Towel - Obviously, to clean up the messes!

Lighter - In case man needs to make fire.....The old two sticks thing....I don't think so.

Flashlight - Always good to have for emergency but also for cave exploring!!

I have a large size tool bag from Home Depot that I carry the tire wire, jumper cables, duct tape, flashlight and other of that sort of tools in. Works good and I picked up the large and small tool bags for under $20.  I actually carry 2 tarps, one rolled and attached to the seat with Velcro along with a thin pair of coveralls and the other on the rear floor.  There is also an old rubber floor mat there that can come in handy for many things!!  The small tool bag carries the hand tools, sockets and misc.  In the small bag I also carry a glass ball siphon tube to transfer fuel from my spare cans to the tank or to another vehicle.  The Hi-Lift bags still contains the items that came in it (see Hi-Lift Tech Page), and I have added the extra items for the winch, extra leather gloves and odds and ends.

Nice to Have..
Definitely not required but nice to have and should be there if you wheel a lot.

Spare Belts - Engine belts for your rig, if one breaks you can be stuck.

Essential Fluids - Some of each of the fluids used in your rig.

Spare Parts - Common parts that can break on your rig  that will leave you stranded but can be trail replaced. (i.e. U-joints, shafts)