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Top 10 Things To Carry When 4x4ing
Top 10 Things To Carry When 4x4ing
- 4x4 Accessories, Recovery Gear
There are just some essential things to carry when 4x4ing or overlanding.
We all wondered when starting out, what are some of the things to carry when 4x4ing? These are things that are going to significantly improve your experience. They are really the bare essentials and obviously if you are going to be out for an extended period of time, this is not a comprehensive list. However, if you’re heading out for the day to go 4x4ing you will no doubt want these as part of your kit.
Now the best thing about this list is that none of it is actually attached to your vehicle. You might be surprised that the majority of stock standard 4x4s are a lot more capable than you think. This means that you don’t need a rugged 79 Series with upgraded tyres and suspension kitted to the brim to get started in 4x4ing. However, whether you own the most trick Land Cruiser or you’re starting out with almost anything else, you will want to make sure that you are carrying these 10 things when 4x4ing. They will get you through 80% of it.
1: A Spade
You should most definitely be carrying a spade when going 4x4ing. Why is this number one? Because of it’s multipurpose use. If you get stuck a spade is the first port of call. It is always the first port of call with any sand recovery, or any recovery for that matter.
Also, when nature calls, and you need to make a trip into the bush, the spade will always go with you.
If you’re going to make a campfire, the spade comes out. Now we’re not really talking about camping here, we’re talking about four wheel driving.
But it’s not unheard of to throw some boerie on a braai on a day out. And that same spade may just be used in some track clearing or building out the trail. So a spade comes in handy for a number of reasons, and that is why it makes it to our number one slot of things to carry when 4x4ing.
2: Two-Way Radios
We’re not talking about the latest and greatest innovations in two-way radio tech where you can radio the wife back home to put some beers in the fridge. You can very easily get away with something so basic you will find them in a Toys R Us. If you find yourself in a bit of a tricky situation, your passenger can jump outside the vehicle and guide you. With how far apart you are going to be, you don’t need anything fancy. So you don’t need a mounted radio inside the car, just some cheapie two-way handhelds.
3: Recovery Kit
A good recovery kit is really something you want to carry when 4x4ing. It may sound obvious, but you can thank us later. This kit is the first thing that’s probably going to cost you something. So what you’re going to need is the following:
- Recovery Points. The most important item in this kit is the recovery points. These will fit on every vehicle that has a tow assembly. So that is the number one thing to get.
- Second, snatch straps. You definitely want this as part of your kit. Snatch straps come with metal or soft shackles. While the soft shackle is more expensive, they are much safer. So it’s up to you to weigh up cost versus safety.
- A winch damper or dampener is the next item you want in your recovery kit. If you don’t have a winch, we still highly recommend having two of these to put on the snatch strap. Again, it just comes down to safety.
- Tree trunk protector. This item is actually less going to be used as a tree trunk protector and more as a tool to center the pulling force on your vehicle. Many modern vehicles don’t have recovery points on the front of the car. They have tight endpoints. So you can equalise that stress by using a strap on the front.
That is our recommendation for a basic recovery kit. While you may be spending some of your hard earned rands here, trust us, it’s worth it. You obviously don’t need to go for expensive name brand items, but do your research so that you don’t end up with something that will do you more harm than good.
4: First Aid Kit
A first aid kit is crucial to carry with you when 4x4ing. It’s also an item you should not skimp on the price. There’s a huge variety of first aid kits out there, and what you should be carrying in them. So we are not going to go through those items here. But we will say that the more comprehensive the better. And typically whatever kits you’re buying from a reputable source is going to have everything you need. We would suggest something like this kit supplied by Safari Outdoor or this one by Outdoor Warehouse.
If you want to add to it, that’s also not a bad idea. You always want to be more prepared. And getting something for it to go into like a waterproof case is also not a bad idea. However, as long as you’ve got the basics and you’ve put some thought to it, our job here is done.
5: A Compressor
Before you say it, yes, you do need a compressor if you’re going 4x4ing. You don’t need a tyre deflator, but you do need a compressor. You can let your tyres down with a stick, that is easy. But getting pressure back into your tyres, less so.
Listen, lets say you’re off-roading near the beach and it’s a local beach and you know there is a petrol station that can pump your tyres up. Sure, maybe you can get away without a compressor. But just get a cheap compressor. You can order one online like this one here for a couple hundred bucks, and it will do the job. We’ve had cheapie compressors that worked for years, no problem.
We should probably just clarify. If you’ve got some bigger 33” BFG All Terrains or KM3 tyres, a cheapie compressor may not cut it. But for the average stock standard SUV road tyre, it will work. We would also include a tyre cheap tyre gauge. As long as you have a rough idea how much pressure is in your tyres, that will do.
6: Paper Maps
We highly recommend taking paper maps. If you’re anything like us, you can spend hours and hours just looking at a map, seeing where this road goes, or that route will take you. Ok maybe we’re just weird. We still highly recommend paper maps.
Why? Well for one, they don’t run out of battery or give satellite linking issues so you can always figure out where you are and where you’re going. Two, these paper maps usually have a wealth of information in them. You can find phone numbers, hospitals, police stations, petrol stations, all that kind of stuff you need to know. So maps are essential. A GPS is great, and if you already have one, take the paper maps as well.
7: Water
Next on the list is water. Why would you need water if you’re going 4x4ing for the day? Because if you get stuck, then you have it. You can go without food for 30 days. However, you need water within 2-3 days, otherwise you are dead. So water makes it onto our essential list. And don’t just take one container, take two, just to be safe.
8: Tools
Tools are essential to carry when 4x4ing. In case something happens or you have to change a tyre, make sure you have some basic tools. You may not even have to buy any because you probably have some in your garage at home.
If you don’t have any tools at home, just buy a cheap and simple set. You’re not trying to be a mechanic, you just need to be able to sort out a problem if there is one. If you’d like to know more about I recommend a tool kit. Included in the tool kit, you probably want to have a bottle jack.
You should have one that comes with your car, but if you don’t have one, get yourself a cheapie. As well as a jacking plate (or a piece of solid wood). This will help you when you’re on the sand or on any uneven terrain.
9: Miscellaneous Box
Next up is the miscellaneous kit. This is also something you might not even have to buy as you may already have all these items lying around. Make sure you are including things like:
- Duct tape
- Ratchet straps or tie downs straps (ratchet straps are better)
- Cable Ties
- Wire (any wire will do as long as it is malleable)
These items are super easy to get hold of, and will solve most of your troubles. It’s amazing how much you can fix with a combination of these items. Which is why it makes it onto our top 10 list of things to carry when 4x4ing.
10: A Good Spare Tyre
Last on our list is a spare tyre. This seems fairly obvious, but it’s important that it’s the right spare tyre. Everyone’s got one, but they are just not always fit for 4x4ing. Maybe when you bought the vehicle second hand, it came with a different tyre. You need to check this. What you’re looking for is tyre size. Your spare tyre needs to be the same size as the rest of your tyres when you are 4x4ing. You also want to make sure it’s not terrible quality or in terrible condition. It doesn’t need to be the same brand, but the same size is important.
Read this article to find out what the best tyres are for your vehicle.
Useful But Not Critical (Bonus Items)
These items make it into our list as honourable mentions, mostly just because they are useful. You will survive without them, but they may certainly make your life easier if you have them.
- A simple GPS (Garmin or TomTom)
- Jerry cans to extend your fuel range
- Tyre plugging kit
- Basic spare parts
Conclusion
So just to give you a quick recap, the things you want to carry when you go 4x4ing are:
- Spade
- Two handhelds Radios
- Recovery Kit
- First Aid Kit
- Compressor
- Maps
- Two Water Containers
- Tool Kit
- Miscellaneous Kit
- Good Spare Tyre
With the above list of items in your vehicle when you head out to hit the tracks, you will be able to tackle 80% of the challenges that come your way. That is pretty much all you need.
So those are the things that we recommend that you should carry on your vehicle when 4x4ing or overlanding for the day. Did we miss an item? Tell us in the comments below.
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