4 Types of Off-Road Gear You Will Want for Your Rig
- Michele Delcoure
- Feb 1
- 11 min read
If you know anything about my husband, Chris, he is someone who over prepares … for everything. It’s a blessing and curse. I’m more the - give me my basics and get out of my way - kind of gal. But really, as you start out off-roading, there is a balance between being ready for an apocalypse and just the basics.
Ultimately, having the right gear when setting out on an off-roading adventure can be the difference between enjoyment and stress.
As much as I love and crave being off-road, it can be dangerous, and if you are not prepared, you can get into a situation that can be expensive or worse.
In this article, we will cover essential and non-essential gear to enhance your off-road experience:
Essential Recovery Gear
Unexpected things happen. Whether you’re off-roading or driving to work, it is impossible to know if something unexpected will happen. That is why it’s … unexpected. But you can be prepared to take care of whatever situation comes your way.
The first thing you must have is at least a basic first aid kit. Even bandaids can come in handy when you get pricked by a thorn, which will happen if you ride in the Midwest like we do.
But having a well-stocked basic first aid kit with gauze, tape, pain reliever, antibiotic ointment, burn cream, antiseptic wipes, and antihistamines is essential in your rig.
Be sure to keep them in a water resistant container. As someone who off-roads, I can tell you the risk of getting water in it is pretty great if it’s not water resistant.
I’ll get off my mom soapbox now and move on to recovery gear.
A well-stocked recovery kit is the second most important thing to have in your rig.
At the minimum, the essential recovery gear you should have:
Winch
A winch can get you out of a sticky situation, even if you are alone. So be sure it has enough power to recover the weight of your vehicle, and a synthetic rope winch is safer than other types. We have the Warn VR EVO 10s winch on our Jeep Gladiator, Kyuzo. It is more than enough power for our rig since it is suitable for a truck up to 1/2 ton.
Tow Straps
Tow straps can be used for many things, including pulling out a stuck vehicle, a winch extension, pulling yourself or others over obstacles, creating traction, or using it to create a snatch block. But with any gear, be sure to follow safety precautions and do not exceed the recommended weight load of your tow strap.
Soft Shackles or D-rings
Either of these will work, and honestly, it doesn’t hurt to have both. If you can only choose one, a soft shackle is best for connecting your tow strap to a recovery vehicle. JK Gear and Gadgets has a pretty good video on Soft Shackles and how to use them.
Kinetic Rope
These are made for pulling. Their ability to stretch without breaking lets them absorb kinetic energy, allowing you to put a mighty tug on a stuck vehicle.
Tire Chock
I’m sure this goes without saying, but if you are working on your rig, you want to chock the tires. Never risk the vehicle rolling while you are working on it. We prefer a rubber chock. Some plastic ones can still be crushed by the weight of a vehicle and not give you enough protection from rolling
Tire Repair Kit
I hope you never have to repair a tire on the trail, but it is sometimes easier to repair a puncture in a tire than it is to change a tire in the woods. We have a GlueTread kit. It’s a bit pricy but can repair just about anything. We didn’t always have this in our rig, though. We started with tire plugs, and you can, too.
Recovery Boards or Blocks
These boards and blocks can get you out of mud, snow, or sand but can also be used when you need to lessen an obstacle. For instance, maybe you need your rear tire to be 6 inches higher to clear your differential on an obstacle. You can put down the recovery block and use it as the added height.
Shovel
Digging sucks. There, I said it. But having a shovel you never use is better than needing a shovel and not having it. There are small recovery shovels and even foldable ones that take up less space, so you have more room to bring fun items on your trip - in my case, it would be photo equipment and snacks.
Hatchet
Downed trees happen. If you don’t have a chainsaw, a hatchet is the next best thing for small trees. Just remember, do not cut down live trees. This is only for trees that are already down.
Choosing the Right Off-Road Tires
The right tire for the job can make or break your success.
I won’t tell you to go out and buy the most expensive tire out there, but I will tell you to buy the best tire you can afford for the job. You can always upgrade next time to an even better tire. Baby steps, right?
Your tire's performance can keep you from being stranded in the middle of nowhere. Tires are susceptible to rips, tears, and punctures, not to mention they need to be able to grip the multiple surfaces you will encounter off-road. Therefore, having the right tire for the job is essential.
There are many types of tires, but I’m going to give you two categories: those suitable for off-roading and those not suitable.
Suitable Tires for Off-Roading
All Terrian Tires
These tires are designed for both on- and off-road use and offer good traction on a variety of surfaces, including dirt, gravel, and mud. These tires are fine for most beginners.
Mud Terrain Tires
Designed for off-road conditions, particularly in muddy or rocky terrain, MT tires feature large, aggressive tread blocks with deep voids that effectively expel mud and debris. This provides superior traction in challenging off-road environments. You can also run these tires on your rig while driving down the road.
Off-Road Tires
These tires are designed for extreme off-road conditions and have aggressive tread patterns and durable sidewalls. They are not suitable for highway driving, so you must tow your rig on a trailer to your destination if you run these tires.
Tires Not Suitable for Off-Roading
If you choose to off-road with any of these tires, go back and read about recovery gear. You will need it, and maybe a phone number to a good tow truck company.
All-Season Tires
These tires are designed for year-round use in moderate climates. They offer a balance of performance in wet, dry, and light snow conditions and are a common choice for everyday driving. However, even on the easiest trails, they can also leave you stranded in a ditch.
Winter Tires
These are specifically designed for driving in snow and ice. They have deeper tread grooves and softer rubber than a normal tire, which might make you think they can be used in the same manner as a mud-terrain tire, but these are only made for cold weather. Due to the softer rubber, the manufacturers do not recommend using them in warm weather.
Performance Tires
These are designed for high-performance vehicles and offer superior handling, grip, and responsiveness on the street only.
Run Flat Tires
Ah…the one tire I have a love-hate relationship with. You see, when I'm not in the jeep with the hubs, I'm driving my sweet little Infiniti Q-60, whom I lovingly call Freya. She has run-flat tires. It's great that I don't have to worry about getting stranded on the highway, but dang, they are expensive to replace and do not last as long. Not to mention off-roading... Ha! That is not happening.
Trail Considerations
When choosing a tire, you should consider the following:
What terrain are you usually wheeling on? Is it mud, rocks, snow, or even sand?
How do you plan on using your rig? Do you use it to go overland to obscure places, rock crawl, or maybe you like dessert running or Beaches?
What size can your rig handle? Just because it fits doesn’t mean your rig can handle it. Tires that are too large can damage your rig. Check with a mechanic before putting larger tires on your rig.
A deeper tread can give you better traction on loose surfaces.
Sidewall Strength will depend on how you plan to off-road.
As a newbie doing casual off-roading, look for a tire with reinforced sidewalls and at least a 6-ply.
Moderate off-roading you'll want to upgrade to 8 to 10 ply.
Extreme off-roading, you'll want to have at least 10-ply tires.
Essential Tools for Off-Road Maintenance
Going off-road is a lot of fun and can be extremely rewarding when you find that perfect view, but it is also rough on your vehicle. Even the most experienced off-roader has the time they need to do maintenance on their rig on a ride.
Twice this year, we have turned back from rides because we didn’t have the right equipment to fix our problem or because it was bigger than we could fix on the trail.
The day we didn’t have the right tool was a good lesson for us. You see, we had a new suspension put on Kyuzo and upgraded to 40” tires weeks before. Just like any new modification, you have to check bolts to ensure they don’t loosen after several miles. On this trip, we were using our iCamper for the first time. In all the excitement, we skipped this step before heading out. It wasn’t until the next morning, right before the ride began that we realized the bolts on the driver-side tie rod were loose. When we turned, the suspension would pop. We were unwilling to risk going off-road with it loose, so we missed the whole group ride, which was disappointing. It could have been a situation that was avoided if we had a wrench big enough for the bolt.
As soon as we got back to town, we bought the right-size wrench for those bolts, and we will never have to turn around again because of that issue … other issues, but it won’t be because we didn't have the right tool for the job.
As disappointing as it was, there’s no shame in turning around and conquering another day. The hardest part is not letting it ruin your experience.
Essential Tools
Here is a list of tools we recommend to keep in your rig when off-roading.
Screwdrivers
Both flat and Phillips in a couple of different sizes.
Wrench set
Most standard sets will due, but if you have any specialty mods that added larger bolts to your rig, you will also want to get one of those.
Socket set
A standard set for these will usually suffice, too, but just like wrenches, if you add mods requiring a special size, you will want that one in your kit. I also suggest you have a socket extension to reach those out-of-reach places.
Pliers
These come in handy for a number of things. We were at the gas station just last month, and a gentleman had a radiator hose come loose in his car. Chris got him back on the road because we had pliers. It was such a simple thing, but without the right tool, you can be stranded.
Hammer
Yep. You never know when it’ll be needed.
Tire Pressure Gauge
A digital gauge is best for off-roading, but you need at least a Hyper Touch gauge.
Zip ties and Duct Tape
Never underestimate the power of tying something out of the way or taping it back together. It may not be a permanent fix, but it might get you back off the trail to fix it properly.
Fuses
These little boogers can blow at the worst time. Most blown fuses won’t keep you from getting off the trail, but having a set of fuses will make life more convenient in these situations.
Mechanics Gloves
Getting hurt on the trail can be dangerous. Always protect your hands when working on your rig.
Non-Essential Gear That Makes Off-Roading Easier
We reviewed what you must have, but let’s talk about the nice-to-haves. I fully acknowledge that some gear enhances comfort and enjoyment without being necessary.
Some of these items make it easier to go further off-road for longer, and some are almost solely for comfort purposes.
Here is a list of extras we take with us, but your list might look different than ours since these are more about personal preference.
Portable Toilet Seat
Let's get this one out of the way first. I’m a girl. Guys have it easy. They can pee anywhere. It’s not so simple for women. Therefore, I bring my own personal thrown. And be honest … even on the trail, that coffee can kick in, and #2 can strike without warning. Who really wants to dig a hole in the woods? Not me. So I have the InstaPrivy, which has been a game changer on the trail. I love that it is foldable, you can use bags to hold #2, and it even has a little tent for those private moments. All of this is wrapped up in a neat little “backpack.”
Before we get on to less gross things, I will give you two more pieces of advice. The first is to bring TP in a Ziplock bag and a sack to take your leftovers with you! You pack it in, you pack it out. Please never leave your paper remnants in the woods. Ew…just don’t. Second, ladies bring Clorox wipes. I don’t use the bag for the #1 time; it would be a waste. But you will splash and will want to wipe down the legs before putting it back in the bag. Ok, I’ll get off the gross stuff now.
Cooler or Portable Fridge
Cold drinks on a hot day and maybe even a snack or two can reenergize your day. We use a few small coolers when we are only out an hour or two, but we also have 2 Iceco portable fridges for those longer trips. Honestly, I resisted spending the money on a portable fridge. I thought a cooler and ice was good enough. Now that we have a portable fridge, I can say it is actually worth buying when you have the expendable cash. It definitely is an easier and less messy way to keep your food fresh on the trail.
Head Lamp
This is one of those items you don’t think you will need until you need one. They are perfect when you get off the trail later than expected and need to see to air up.
Chairs
I promise you, there will be some trips where you come across the perfect spot to sit, relax, and enjoy a sandwich. We found these awesome folding chairs for those occasions. They fit easily tucked away and are super comfortable.
Shade Awning
I’m all about the amazing views! But, usually, an amazing view means you're in a clearing with no shade to sit and enjoy it. I’ve had skin cancer three times. I don’t mess around when it comes to sun protection. You can most definitely spring for a mounted awning. They are very easy to open and make quick work of getting shade. We opted for the Moon Shade awning because it was cheaper and set up in just a few minutes.
Rain Gear
Here’s another item that is good to have but you may never use. We keep rain gear in our truck all the time. We chose Frogg Togg Rain gear because it is super compact. It’s perfect for those times we get caught in a pop-up shower and still need to get out of the jeep to air up the tires or work on something not working right.
Water pack
We always have water bottles with us, but if we go for a full day or more, we use these mountable water containers to bring water. This water is perfect for washing our dinner dishes or even just washing our hands. It is potable, too, so you can always refill from your water pack if you run out of water to drink.
Now, it’s your turn. Get your gear ready and head out on an adventure!
See you on the trail.
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