Be Trail Ready
From NNYOffroad
Contents |
Equipment Classes
Equipment is divided into classes, based upon the requirements of a trail.
Each higher class of equipment includes all of the lower classes.
To avoid confusion, we're using letters instead of numbers (ie. for trail difficulty classes.)
Remember: It's never a bad idea to be over-equipped.
- Class A: Relatively easy trail. Minimal equipment required.
- Class B: Somewhat challenging, needs a bit more.
- Class C: Mildly challenging, some spare parts and tools are encouraged.
- Class D: Challenging trail, you'll want fluids, tools, parts, and gas.
- Class E: Only your favorite god can save you now. Bring it all.
Before you do any off-roading, consider bringing along the following:
Class A
General/Safety
- A friend and their vehicle, similarly equipped, with at least 2+ people.. it WILL be helpful at some point or another.
- A camera. Digital works best.
- 40-channel CB radio, tuned and ready.
- A healthy toolbox just in case.
- First aid kit.
- Tape (ALL KINDS: Duct-tape, electrical, hockey (cloth), masking, etc.)
Recovery
- Tow straps or chains of at least 8000+ pound capacity.
- A good spare, a jack, and a suitable tire-iron.
- A can of "Fix-A-Flat" or a plug kit and stuff to take your tires off the rim (yuck)
Class B
General/Safety
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- Regular road flares
Recovery
- A good shovel, folding works well if you lack storage space.
Spare Parts/Pieces
- Extra wire, heavy and light gauges. (I always carry 4 100ft spools, 2 red, 2 black, 12 and 14ga.)
- Hose-clamps and zip-ties
- Rubber tubing (if Fuel Injected, high pressure rubber fuel line..) for random repairs (vacuum lines, fuel, brakes, seriously.)
- Wire caps/nuts and a healthy stock of crimp-on ends (all types)
Tools
- Hammer (rubber mallet, metal ball-peen, AND a BFH or "BIG FUCKING HAMMER" if you can)
- Crowbar (or any pry-bar will be sufficient)
- Socket set and ratchets (1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" are all good to have on-hand)
- Regular screwdriver set (multiple sizes, also an impact driver if you've got it)
- Wire cutters/crimpers/strippers
Fluids
- Extra can of gas... Jerry cans work well; they're mostly indestructible
Class C
General
- A change of clothes in a dry-bag (warm ones if your climate calls for it.. ours does.)
- A good spare set of boots or walking shoes/sneakers (yeah, walking is part of this too).
- A full liter of drinking water and some small supply of sugar/other carbohydrates.
Recovery
- Chains with hooks on either end, and come-a-longs if possible.
- Extra hooks, for everything.
- Hi-Lift Jack (trust me..)
- Keepers
Spare Parts
- Extra lug-nuts/lug-bolts (depending on your application and your friends)
- A good tube of RTV (high-temp or otherwise)
Tools
- Torx sockets.
- T-handle screwdriver
Fluids
- Also gear oil (80w90 works well)... just in case
- Lots of ATF, for tranny, powersteering, etc...
- Few bottles of brake fluid, in case brake or clutch issues
- Windshield wiper fluid, trust me, sticky mud
- Full case of oil (ie. 10w-30)
Class D
Tools
- Drill (hand-powered or, preferably: 12V Trail Drill)
- Impact driver (not necessary, but very handy)
- Aviation Snips (otherwise known as tin snips; good to clear heavy body damage and not rip up tires, people, barbed wire wrapped tires, etc)
- Hydraulic hand-pump (for filling differentials, transmissions, transfer case...), alternately, a rubber-tube type bottle adapter works well.
Fluids
- Few bottles of anti-freeze
- Grease and grease gun... (You can stuff A LOT of sand in a u-joint)
Class E
Everything. Just bring everything. Anything you can fit. Get creative.
Others
- Depending on your application, it may be helpful to have a winch and extra cable on hand.
- The safety-in-numbers cliche' does apply.
All said, pretend you're camping.. You may end up doing so, might as well do it comfortably.
