Off road tips

[ab_slack]

Maybe there are suggestions someplace else already but understanding my "newbie" status to such I thought I would ask.

The reason for the question is I got asked to come along with someone else who is just as new as I am for off road. His Jeep and my BII. I figured we wouldn't venture into anything more serious than a non-maintained road I used to go down when I was a teen in a VW beetle to see a waterfall.

So we go find some poorly maintained dirt roads and some off road spots others had gone near the Deleware River.

Neither of us have experience in such, and both are configured with road tires with mud + snow tread at best.

I really felt a bit out of my element but since I wasn't planning anything significant it be okay. Still we prepped and brought along some wood should we have to jack up to change a tire, also brought some cargo straps in case one of us got stuck. Well that was good cause the jeep got stuck and we used the BII to pull it out.

Despite the Jeep getting stuck I thought the jeep was doing quite good and had positions been reversed I would have been concerned about the BII being on its side.

Anyways, for those of you who are experienced off road, what do you suggest being prepared for?

Not looking for ideas for modifying vehicles in major ways, but rather what kind of problems to expect.

having been thru the one vehicle stuck scenario I could see we weren't in separate vehicles, had I been riding with him, it would have been a pretty miserable day trying to get the Jeep out.

 

[Phantom]

In my opinion you already covered the most important precaution.
Never venture alone... A quality tow strap is a great thing thing to keep in truck, a small selection of tools, even if it is the basics you can get a lot done.. The more you go the more you will become confident in what your vehicle can do..

 

[feellnfroggy]

Key thing to remmeber is...dont stop. (especially applies to mudding) Just be smart, safe and trust your vehicle to be more capable than you think, If it doesnt break, and you get towed, then you have no idea if you would have made it on your own. IMO

 

[ab_slack]

Thanks Phantom. I have lots of snow experience on the road, but, while getting stuck is certainly possible, at worst on the road a tow truck is a bit easier to get compared to something off the road.

Key thing to remmeber is...dont stop. (especially applies to mudding) Just be smart, safe and trust your vehicle to be more capable than you think, If it doesnt break, and you get towed, then you have no idea if you would have made it on your own. IMO

In this case I think it was smart of him not to push too much till he was fully dug in. He was trying to slip past what looked like some deep ruts with ice over the top. The rear slipped in pulling the front. His initial instinct was to try and push thru while he had momentum to get out, but it got him in deeper.

I do credit him for not trying to continue to push it when all forward momentum was lost so he wasn't flat on the belly and had some potential left to help. The angle the jeep was at a serious angle and the oil sump was in a bad position and the engine wasn't sounding so good. We felt a bit of urgency. I didn't know if the BII could pull it out completely if it couldn't at least help.

He is thinking of maybe adding a winch. That is probably about the extent of mods being considered right now.

 

[96Indyram]

To me off-roading is almost similar to camping. Always take extra water, food, and clothing with you. Just have a backpack handy... You never know when/if you will have something go wrong ( stuck, blown motor, transmission..etc...) and have to hike it back out.
Better safe than sorry!

 

[wildbill23c]

There was a similar issue with a family I believe in Nevada here a few weeks ago where they got stranded overnight or maybe even longer can't remember for sure the details. Anyhow they all survived with absolutely no injuries even though there were some pretty cold nights. They survived because they were prepared. They had ventured out for some reason, and at some point ended up rolling their Jeep Wrangler. That was the only vehicle they had with them, so no way to go out and get help or be able to flip the Wrangler back on its wheels and at least get back home. They were prepared, extra food, water, blankets, sleeping bags, etc. They were found and rescued pretty quickly though.

1. Take extra food and water of course. Perhaps a small camp type collapsible stove would also double as a little heat source.

2. Take blankets, sleeping bags, warm clothes (bring extra clothes) you go offroading, one of you gets stuck and has to get out in the mud, water, snow, etc. to run recovery straps, you are going to get cold and that's the last thing you want is to be wet when it is cold outside.

3. Bring gear to help you self-recover. Shovels, axe, pick, come-a-long, hi-lift (handyman) jack. Not necessarily even need a winch, both the come-a-long, or the hi-lift jack will work as a winch, and it will work if the vehicle loses battery power (don't rely 100% on a winch) if something goes wrong, that winch may not have power to get you out.

4. Always....ALWAYS have more than 1 vehicle. You need multiple vehicles in case 1 breaks down, or otherwise becomes stuck, you still have 1 vehicle to get you back home if needed if you can't recover the other vehicle. I've seen things happen where someone ventured out with their buddy and slid a vehicle off the road and into a ravine. Well of course they couldn't get that vehicle out of the ravine, but they were able to climb back out of the ravine on foot and hop in the other vehicle and get back home at least. Remember a vehicle can be replaced, human lives cannot.

5. When you venture out somewhere always tell other's where you are going. If you change your mind and go to a different location update those other people. If something happens you want them to know where to look. Tell them I'm going to be at this location at this time, and will be leaving at xxxx time. Then figure ok it will take me so long to get home or back to wherever you started from. If those people haven't heard from or seen you within a certain period of time after you should have been back they shall call a search party.

6. A vehicle has its limitations, know your vehicle's abilities don't just figure because its 4WD that its going to go through everything. If you get into a situation that you are uncomfortable with back up and take a different approach. Oftentimes in incidents I've seen people of course out with their buddies don't want to back down, and 99% of the time they got themselves into trouble trying to show off. If it feels, looks, or otherwise to be unsafe don't do it.

7. Communication between vehicles when you are out on the trail is an absolute must. You get a person in front of you that's hauling ass because they know the trail they may lose the following vehicle(s) and have absolutely no clue there has been trouble with a vehicle or vehicles behind them. You need to be able to communicate with the vehicle(s) in your group at all times.

8. Plan a head read the trail well a head of where you are. Don't have tunnel vision and be looking right out directly in front of your rig. You need to know what's up the road or trail a ways so you can plan a head. I.E. Driving along and end up axle deep in a mud hole and your hubs are in the free position type of thing because you were only looking right in front of your truck's hood. Also watch the sides of you as well, you certainly don't want to have another vehicle come flying down a hill or something right in front of you, or any wildlife for that matter.

9. Make sure your vehicle is properly maintained before heading out. Check your fluid levels, carry extra fluids with you at all times, and also carry spare fuel with you as well. Along with a generic tool kit, tire plugs, a small tire pump or portable 12v air compressor. Don't forget to bring a jack, lug wrench, and also bring a few good blocks of wood to give that jack a firm place to sit if you need to use it.

10. Don't drink or use any other drugs while venturing out into the wilderness. It can easily impede your judgement and you can actually get lost easier.

Hope those ideas help you.

 

[97RangerXLT]

For your BII I would try to have an extra set of locking hubs, especially if you have the auto locking hubs.

In addition to a good tow/ recovery strap, a come along might be nice to have.

Jb weld, brake cleaner and 5 quarts extra of oil and transmission fluid and a quart extra differential fluid.

A good well stocked first aid kit. and be sure you know how to administer first aid properly *before* you go out. after you or your buddy break an arm is not the time to be figuring out what to do with it

And most importantly, an airtight excuse to the wife/ gf of why you were out on the trail so late/ need these expensive parts etc

AJ

 

[MastuhWaffles]

One thing my friend learned is just because you have 4x4 doesn't mean you can't get stuck, especially in mud, and on the side note it's always good to take a look at obstacles on foot because sometimes mud is deeper than it seems. And make sure to tell your truck it did a good job.

 

[97RangerXLT]

Yep, Mastuh you have it correct. this applies to snow and ice too. 4x4 won't keep you out of the ditch. it *might* help you get back on the road without calling a tow truck, but it will not keep you out of the ditch.

AJ

 

[70roadrunner]

come along is the most bang for the buck item ever! a winch pulls you forward(in most applications), stuck worse! people with a winch on the front use them more for pulling other people out than themselves. limited slip in the rear is a great upgrade, but will also get you stuck worse. start with the "alone basics". as mentioned, food, water, blankets/sleeping bags, first aid kit(and the knowledge to use it), and a come along.
I have loaded backpacks in ALL of my rigs at ALL times, just in case I decide to go "to see where this road goes", or if there is some other kind of emergency.
sorry for being long-winded, but better safe than sorry! (or cold and hungry)

 

[ab_slack]

Great info there Bill and everyone.

We weren't going too far Bill and could have walked out within a couple hours if we really needed to. I would have been much more...uncertain if it was more serious.

And make sure to tell your truck it did a good job.

I love it, yes that is a great idea!!! Got to keep them happy and feelin appreciated.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Yep, be prepared for anything. I have a SAW ammo can (aka Fat Fifty) that I have a couple tow straps, shackles, hooks and a short length of heavy chain (IIRC it's a 7/16 link transport chain - I know a lot of people say NO CHAIN, but it has be very useful when used properly and since it is heavy enough, I'm comfortable using it if I need to and it's only 3' long).

CB radios are handy too, easier to keep communication than a cell because if you venture far, you may not have cell service. And the mic is always right there, just give 'er a squeeze and yell.

A BII has the same wheelbase as a Jeep Wrangler if both are in stock form.

After smashing my fingers in a come-along, I say to get a high-lift jack.

 

[straycat]

Maybe there are suggestions someplace else already but understanding my "newbie" status to such I thought I would ask.

The reason for the question is I got asked to come along with someone else who is just as new as I am for off road. His Jeep and my BII. I figured we wouldn't venture into anything more serious than a non-maintained road I used to go down when I was a teen in a VW beetle to see a waterfall.

So we go find some poorly maintained dirt roads and some off road spots others had gone near the Deleware River.

Neither of us have experience in such, and both are configured with road tires with mud + snow tread at best.

I really felt a bit out of my element but since I wasn't planning anything significant it be okay. Still we prepped and brought along some wood should we have to jack up to change a tire, also brought some cargo straps in case one of us got stuck. Well that was good cause the jeep got stuck and we used the BII to pull it out.

Despite the Jeep getting stuck I thought the jeep was doing quite good and had positions been reversed I would have been concerned about the BII being on its side.

Anyways, for those of you who are experienced off road, what do you suggest being prepared for?

Not looking for ideas for modifying vehicles in major ways, but rather what kind of problems to expect.

having been thru the one vehicle stuck scenario I could see we weren't in separate vehicles, had I been riding with him, it would have been a pretty miserable day trying to get the Jeep out.

Best thing to do is join a local 4x4 club and learn along with them. You will build up your confidence and lean how to handle a jack and winch safely and learn a lot from the experience as well. Soon enough you can go out on your own and really enjoy the outdoors as I have done for so many years. Hauling a flats boat out to a remote site and fishing somewhere where not too many people can get to is so cool. Camping out in a far away area is so much fun as well. You just got to use common sense and always be prepared for the best or the worse.