Off-Roading Guide For Beginners – Before You Leave The Driveway

We don’t go on frequent off-road adventures like a few of ours friends, but we’ve gotten a small taste of it in the past and Land Rover even invited the Unfinished Man crew for the Jaguar Land Rover Experience Tour about a year ago. It wasn’t extreme off-roading, but it was still great to see some luxury SUV’s get wet and dirty. It reminded me of the time when I was absolutely in love with 4×4 pickup trucks. When I was young, I really wanted a Nissan Frontier crew cab.

I don’t have an off-road vehicle myself, but my friend and I always go together and we use his modified Suzuki Grand Vitara for some mini off-roading trips. We’re still quite new to this and it’s a learning experience. Every trip we seem to mess up and forget something. So we have come up with a basic off-Roading Guide For Beginners which consists of a list of things to do prior to going out on your adventure.

The light trails we go to are at least four to five hours away so it’s kind of like a mini road trip followed by an off-road adventure. Before even starting on the list, make sure the vehicle has a working stereo. Last time I went, my friend’s stereo was busted. They say “silence is golden” but too much of it can be awkward because I can only talk so much (I’m a quiet person by nature).

The next thing on your list is to let people know where you are headed and exactly when you plan on being back. If you don’t return within a day, at least there will be somebody out there contacting the authorities about your lack of presence. Also, it is recommended that you travel in groups of two vehicles or more. Not only is it good to have more people around for an enjoyable time but the other vehicle may also come in handy when you are stuck in a ditch or mud pit of some sort. The list of things to bring on your trip can actually be quite long and chances are, everything wouldn’t even fit into one vehicle. So we’ll try to keep it to the basics and essentials.

Checking the Basics – Before heading out, make sure to check all of your fluids, oil, windshield washer fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid, differentials, ATF, etc. Make sure all liquids are at the proper level, and bring extras (if possible) just in case. If there are any mechanical or electrical issues, repair them ahead of time.

Tire Check – Check the tread on your tires as well as tire pressure including that of the spare tire. Depending on the type of off-roading you’re planning, you may have to deflate your tire a bit on some of the terrain. Do you have the means to inflate once back on pavement?

Kits – All types of kits should be brought if possible. A Tool Kit is a definite must when going on a trip such as this. Doesn’t have to be an amazing kit but a basic tool kit that will be able to fix some of the most common issues you can expect. First Aid Kit in case of a minor or serious emergency. Toiletries such as toilet paper and wet wipes a great idea when nature calls. Along with the tool kit, first aid kit, and toilet paper, make sure you have a good quality flashlight and some new batteries.

Food and Water – This is a pretty important one. If you’re stuck and can’t go anywhere, sooner or later you will need to find something to eat and drink. Along with the food you already have for your trip, bring extras for emergency purposes such as bottled water, energy bars, dried fruits, unsalted nuts, and sports drinks. Things that won’t need refrigeration are probably a good idea and avoid salty items such as chips and beef jerky.

Mobile Phone + Walkie-Talkies + Extra Battery – This is your communication with the outside world, so make sure you take good care of it and pack an extra battery if possible in case of an emergency. In some remote areas, you may not have service but you may get lucky if you go atop a ride or even climb up a tree. Also note, if there is no service signal, your phone will continue to search for a signal resulting in a drained battery. Just something to keep in mind. Along with a mobile phone, you and your party should also have handheld FRS (Family Radio Serivce) walkie-talkies which are always handy, and can be a fun way of communication. These days, they are relatively inexpensive as well.

Jumper Cables – Your vehicle should ALWAYS have jumper cables. Whether you’re off on an off-roading adventure or going to the local grocery store, you never know when you’ll need a jump or need to help a fellow motorist out.

Extra Petrol – Make sure your gas tank is topped off and if you’re going to a remote location with no gas stations close, make sure you transport some gasoline (outside the vehicle). Apply the One-Third/Two-Third Rule here. You use one-third of your tank to get to your location and save two-thirds for getting out. If your tank isn’t large enough for this rule to apply, then make sure hit the gas station close to your destination so that it will apply.

GPS Navigation – Have you seen the movie, “The Hills Have Eyes”? It was a terrible movie but you also wouldn’t want to be stuck in a situation like that. Make sure you have an extra GPS unit whether it’s a handheld device or car unit not including your phone. It could be a valuable tool to get you in and out of unfamiliar territory.

The list can honestly go on and on but it has to stop at some point. If going in a large group with five or six vehicles, all the necessities can easily be brought. But hopefully we covered some of the basics if going in a small group of two vehicles. What types of things do you always bring on your off-road trips?