Off-Roading

[corndog-44]

What are the minimum tools and spare parts you recommend bringing with you when off-roading?

I have :
a nice 175 peice tool kit in a 3 drawer box
2 light sleeping bags
3 days food and water supply
1 change of clothes each (under the back seat)
1 front unit bearing complete with lug/nuts (under back seat)
2 ds ujoints
1 front axle u-joint
air and water hose repair kit
variety of bolts
spare fan belt
spare tire
tire repair kit
electrical tape
fuses

CB radio
frs/grms radios
winch
winch kit
hi lift
hi lift winch kit
dual batteries



And used almost all of it at one time or another (break something out in the wilderness and survival can become an issue).

[FVR]

Let's see, I've owned 6 Jeeps, a monster Blazer, and a Chevy pickumup. Sure do miss that Chevy pickumup.

I have :
a nice 175 peice tool kit in a 3 drawer box
2 light sleeping bags
3 days food and water supply
1 change of clothes each (under the back seat)
1 front unit bearing complete with lug/nuts (under back seat)
2 ds ujoints
1 front axle u-joint
air and water hose repair kit
variety of bolts
spare fan belt
spare tire
tire repair kit
electrical tape
fuses

CB radio
frs/grms radios
winch
winch kit
hi lift
hi lift winch kit
dual batteries

I see you four wheel. Most of the above was in my box, but add; come along, snatch strap and block, two axs, two spares, mini air compressor, large tarp, 5 gal. of water, 5 gal of gas (yeh to go that extra mile), high lift jack, shotgun and rounds, poncho liner and wool blanky, that about sums it up.

Funny, took my toolbox out of the back of my Blazer, darn thing went up 4 inches. It was a beast, 4" lift, 33" tires, front and rear lockers, daul gas tanks, heavy duty tow package, and 6 miles to the gallon.

[Beo]

I don't do off roading, don't like it. The trucks, jeeps, atv, or whatever you drive tear up the land, destroy property, do as they like, and generally just kill the environent with winch's on trees when they get stuck-spills when fixing the vehicle they broke down-cause un-natural ruts in the ground, leave trash, polute the natural enviroment with exhaust thus killing the pant life and in turn hurting the wildlife. More people misuse the land when off roading then when hiking or camping, trekking or hunting.

[Rick]

Beowulf - See my PM to you.

[trax]

I'm in agreement with Beowulf on this one. Too much machinery tearing up the earth already. I'll use a vehicle to get to or from a specified location but from that location forward it's by foot or by canoe.

[FVR]

Down here in Gawgia, off roading is a big rec. activity, so big that the National forests have set sections of the forest just for that. Which is awsome because the 4x4 veh. stay to their trails and the rest can go to their hunting, hiking, horseback riding, and bicycling.

Also, the state of Ga. has divided the trails up, some are just for 4 wheel drive vehicles, some for motorcycles, some for atv's and yet others are set aside for off road bicycles only.

Just a hint, don't get caught where you are not suppose to be, you will rec. large fines. I think Georgia has done a good job, it can and I've seen it get way out of control.

I sold my last Jeep 3 years ago since I refuse to drive my kids in a Jeep. I've owned 6 of them, I know a little bit.

The worse are the horseback riders. They can go almost anywhere and have spoiled many hunts for many hunters.

I could never understand why someone would hot rod a 4x4 with loud headers and use the truck for hunting. Use to keep my vehicles nice and quiet.

[U.S.Marine2111]

What are the minimum tools and spare parts you recommend bringing with you when off-roading?

I have :
a nice 175 peice tool kit in a 3 drawer box
2 light sleeping bags
3 days food and water supply
1 change of clothes each (under the back seat)
1 front unit bearing complete with lug/nuts (under back seat)
2 ds ujoints
1 front axle u-joint
air and water hose repair kit
variety of bolts
spare fan belt
spare tire
tire repair kit
electrical tape
fuses

CB radio
frs/grms radios
winch
winch kit
hi lift
hi lift winch kit
dual batteries



And used almost all of it at one time or another (break something out in the wilderness and survival can become an issue).

I'm a pretty avid Jeeper/Offroader.

For me I always brought a large craftsman toolbag with a lot of tools. If you have a Jeep don't forget the damn Torx bits.

-Extra Oil
-JB Weld, quick setting
-Bar of soap, makes for a quick trail fix in an oil pan or anywhere else where fluid might be leaking, rub the soap into the crack cut to temporarily seal the leak, clean surrounding area and then apply a healthy dose of JB weld, let cure and then throw some duct tape or 100 MPH tape (preferred) just for good measure. I have seen a badly damaged oil pan repaired in this manner in the middle of Baja
-Extra belts of course.
-U-Joints
-An Extra Axle (Don't forget, you're going to need a large socket/breaker bar to remove the rotor)
-Tire repair kit
-Co2 tank, I made one, you can by a premade tank for about two to three times what you can make one. You need this to fill up your tires when they go flat, plus this allows you to air down at the trail head.
-Electrical tape of course.
-Good flashlight and extra batteries.

Good preventitve maintenance will go a long way to preventing alot of breaks while out, check your belts, hoses, fluids etc before you go out. Yeah, **** happens, but if a belt or something else is worn replace it at home in comfort, vs. spending hours on the trail wasting wheeling time.

I see you have a winch listed.

If you have winch you NEED a tree hugger at a minimum, or you will damage your winch line and if your using a tree to pull, you will severely damage the tree.

Also a snatch block is great, it will double your pulling power and can help you winch yourself out or someone else out in unusual situations (angles).

A couple of Shackles is also a must.

Even though you have a winch a tow strap to should be in your kit. I have been in situations where I have had to winch people out, while myself being strapped to a truck, who was in turn strapped to a tree because the distance was so great. Plus sometimes all that is needed is a little tug on the strap to free someone or yourself. A lot less time consuming then unspooling the winch and more importantly spooling it up. Winches aren't cheap if you buy a good one (Warn) and you don't want to use it if you don't have too.

On winches, don't go cheap, Warn is king, Ramsey the cheaper version of Warn is also good, as is the T-Max (Australian), avoid Harbor freight, mile marker is ok, I have heard good and bad, nobody ever says anything bad about Warn.

Winching continued, I'd ditch the steel rope, it kinks easily and splinters even easier. A synthetic rope is far more forgeving to unusual pulls, and also in the event of a line break the stored energy in a synth is released quickly with little danger to bystanders or the wincher. A synthetic rope will almost instantly fall to the ground if it breaks, whereas a steel is more then likely coming back at you.

A heavy blanket or something similar, place this in the middle of the rope during a pull in the event the line snaps the blanket etc will act like a brake or parachute and quickly dissipate the stored energy or reduce it to a much safer level. ARB actually makes special orange dampenener, but anything soft and heavy will do.

Hi-Lifts, are for the most part worthless and dangerous. Avoid using it if you don't have to, in most instances the stock bottle jack and some rocks will get you out. Prop yourself up and then throw some rocks under the tire that is high centered just enough to get yourself some grip and you can usually edge yourself off.

All of the other stuff you have listed is general safety so I won't delve into that, that is too dependent on where you're going wheeling i.e. the climate. NEVER go wheeling with one vehicle, if you do you're inviting trouble. I once came across a group of Marines and GF's that were stuck on a hill just outside of San Diego, they were stuck there for the entire night because like idiots they went by themselves.

[U.S.Marine2111]

I don't do off roading, don't like it. The trucks, jeeps, atv, or whatever you drive tear up the land, destroy property, do as they like, and generally just kill the environent with winch's on trees when they get stuck-spills when fixing the vehicle they broke down-cause un-natural ruts in the ground, leave trash, polute the natural enviroment with exhaust thus killing the pant life and in turn hurting the wildlife. More people misuse the land when off roading then when hiking or camping, trekking or hunting.

True, there are a lot of idiots out there, usually the young kids and the dumb rednecks. However the more experienced offroaders are into the "tread lightly" mentality as they do not wish to draw the ire of people such as yourself, and would like to conserve the enviornment as well. I have been into offroading for the past 4 years and have offroaded extensively, I always go with a group of mature individuals who aren't out there drinking and driving, hooting and hollering and discarding rubbish everywhere. On the contrary, the people I go with take out everything they brought in and often times pick up after the ****sticks that hit the trail before and left a bunch of garbage.

[corndog-44]

Off-roading in the Hoosier National Forest isn't allowed. But there is a state run off-road park that I know of and that's the Redbird USA located between Green and Sullivan counties. Then there is the Badlands near Attica, in fact there are a lot of off-road parks here in Indiana but the big event is the Jeep Jamboree USA at French Lick, In.

There are some county roads around this state that you need a 4-wheeler like a Jeep. These roads look like a farm lane with grass growing in the center and you have to drive across creeks. When we get a lot of rain these roads get mighty muddy and during the winter the snow plows do not hit these roads.

[Rick]

Man, Corndog, you are right about that. I was in Southern Indiana, someplace along the Blue River. Came upon a bridge I wouldn't cross in your truck. I wouldn't have walked across that thing but it was sure open. Not much more than a couple of wood planks on each side for the wheels. Had to back down the road about a 1/4 mile before I could even turn around. Naaaasty.

[MtnRescue]

Check out this link:

http://www.oly4x4.com/whattocarry.htm

[Elkchsr]

Montana has some places for any one to travel, but by far and large, most areas are shut down to only natural traffic (foot, horse)

I don't think it would be a good idea to have me run across an unoccupied ATV in most all areas I travel

It may have a little damage to it before getting GPS'd and a quick call to TIP MONT...

The evidence needs to stay exactly where it is until the authorities arive

[MCBushbaby]

I keep it fairly simple although when I "offroad" I'm usually following a two-track and not mudbogging or some of those intense things guys do with a 14" lift kit and all.

5gal water jug
Small dirt shovel
two quarts of oil
fuses
spare tire (make sure it's actually inflated)
come along
jumper cables
10gal spare gas jug
Jack and tire iron

And of course a cell phone

[Ole WV Coot]

True, there are a lot of idiots out there, usually the young kids and the dumb rednecks. However the more experienced offroaders are into the "tread lightly" mentality as they do not wish to draw the ire of people


I resent that remark. I run off road with my 4X4 truck use my ATV on trails and roads. We aren't as dumb as you think. I am PROUD of where I live and the people I know. We here in the hills & hollows are more in harmony with nature and as a group will survive. Back in the '60s who do you think walked point in the jungle? Sure wasn't the city kids. Didn't have any draft dodgers heading North either. I know more young folks serve this country from these hills than most. Redneck is fine, don't mind being called one at all it's the word some people want to stick in front of it that makes me mad. I live here by choice and I wouldn't want to go back to places I have been. We have a few idiots I will admit but don't try and paint us with such a broad brush. We can darn sure "tread lightly", we have in every conflict this country has been in. And that's my opinion.

[Rick]

To set the record straight, the word redneck comes from Ole Coot's neck of the woods. Bluefield, W.V. area specifically. The miners were on strike and the strike got a bit violent with strike breakers and company men taking pot shots at the miners in the woods (vice versa I'm sure). To avoid shooting one of their own, the company men wrapped blue handkerchiefs around their necks so they could identify each other in the woods. The miners decided to do the same thing so they wrapped red handkerchiefs around their necks and the working man became known as a "red neck". If you aren't a company man then, by definition, you're a red neck. Not a thing in the world wrong with that title. No different than blue collar. And I've met some pretty sharp working men in my time, my father included.

EDIT: I wanted to cite my resources for this. I happed to be in Bluefield and a local PBS station ran a documentary on the term. That's where I originally learned the meaning. Here is another source:

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Where_did_...#39;_come_from

[Ole WV Coot]

You got your info correct Rick, I just don't like the adjective dumb, stupid, etc. that lots of people use and are ignorant of the true meaning of the word.

[FVR]

Actually, the origin is really unknown. It can be used as you see fit.


Possible Scots-Irish etymologies

The National Covenant and The Solemn League and Covenant (a.k.a. Covenanters) signed documents stating that Scotland desired a Presbyterian Church Government, and rejected the Church of England as their official church (no Anglican congregation was ever accepted as the official church in Scotland). What the Covenanters rejected was episcopacy — rule by bishops — the preferred form of church government in England. Many of the Covenanters signed these documents using their own blood, and many in the movement began wearing red pieces of cloth around their neck to signify their position to the public. They were referred to as rednecks[1]. Large numbers of these Scottish Presbyterians migrated from their lowland Scottish home to Ulster (the northern province of Ireland) during the late 17th and early 18th centuries and soon settled in considerable numbers in North America throughout the 18th century. Some emigrated directly from Scotland to the American colonies in the late 18th and early 19th-centuries as a result of the Lowland Clearances. This etymological theory holds that since many Scots-Irish Americans and Scottish Americans who settled in Appalachia and the South were Presbyterian, the term was bestowed upon them and their descendants.


Possible American etymologies

A popular etymology says that the term derives from such individuals having a red neck caused by working outdoors in the sunlight over the course of their lifetime. The effect of decades of direct sunlight on the exposed skin of the back of the neck not only reddens fair skin, but renders it leathery and tough, and typically very wrinkled and spotted by late middle age. Similarly, some historians claim that the term redneck originated in 17th century Virginia, because indentured servants were sunburnt while tending plantation crops.

Another popular etymology is that the term was originally used by African Americans as a pejorative for white people in general, in the same manner that peckerwood and ofay were coined by blacks.

It is clear that by the post-Reconstruction era (after the departure of Federal troops from the American South in 1874-1878), the term had worked its way into popular usage. Several blackface minstrel shows used the word in a derogatory manner, comparing slave life over that of the poor rural whites. This may have much to do with the social, political and economic struggle between Populists, the Redeemers and Republican Carpetbaggers of the post-Civil War South and Appalachia, where the new middle class of the South (professionals, bankers, industrialists) displaced the pre-war planter class as the leaders of the Southern states. The Populist movement, with its message of economic equality, represented a threat to the status quo. The use of a derogative term, such as redneck to belittle the working class, would have assisted in the gradual disenfranchisement of most of the Southern lower class, both black and white, which occurred by 1910.

Another popular theory stems from the use of red bandanas tied around the neck to signify union affiliation during the violent clashes between United Mine Workers and coal mine owners between 1910 and 1920 (this theory was stated as fact by the 2007 History Channel documentary "Hillbilly: the real story", in which claimed that a New York reporter had seen the bandanas and coined the term). But while this theory may explain a greater popularization of the term, it cannot be considered an explanation for the origin of the term because of the considerable evidence of the widespread previous use of the expression.


Source: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[wildWoman]

I'd go on foot and not have to take any toolbox along.

[Rick]

All true, FVR but only popularized by the media coverage from the WV strikes.

[scabbyota]

What are the minimum tools and spare parts you recommend bringing with you when off-roading?

I have :
a nice 175 peice tool kit in a 3 drawer box
2 light sleeping bags
3 days food and water supply
1 change of clothes each (under the back seat)
1 front unit bearing complete with lug/nuts (under back seat)
2 ds ujoints
1 front axle u-joint
air and water hose repair kit
variety of bolts
spare fan belt
spare tire
tire repair kit
electrical tape
fuses

CB radio
frs/grms radios
winch
winch kit
hi lift
hi lift winch kit
dual batteries



And used almost all of it at one time or another (break something out in the wilderness and survival can become an issue).

That pretty much covers what's in my truck except a cook pot and steel trap.