Being Prepared: Its not just for the Boy Scouts

Every time you head into the backcountry, you are assuming some risk to yourself and your vehicle and this is just for you and your family/friends to enjoy nature and have some fun. Of course no one plans on having an accident or breaking parts, but you should still be prepared for those other incidents do happen. Ideally, you’ll want to take actions to prevent accidents and vehicle carnage and that will be address in the future. But to mitigate the impact on your adventures you must be prepared. I’ve compiled a list of ____ things that you should take with you to help make sure you make it home in one piece and under your own power.

First Aid Kit – You can outfit your kit will as much as you think you need and opinions vary widely regarding what a good first aid kit should include. Use some common sense on what you think should go in there and also refer to someone that has a lot of experience with first aid. Regardless of what you put in your kit, you might want to also include an inventory list so that when you go back and inspect your kit of expired items (you are inspecting your kit, right?!) you’ll also be able to refill the kit with the items you’ve already used. Here’s a short list of first aid kit contents pulled from the American Red Cross:
• 2 absorbent compress dressings (5 x 9 inches)
• 25 adhesive bandages (assorted sizes)
• 1 adhesive cloth tape (10 yards x 1 inch)
• 5 antibiotic ointment packets (approximately 1 gram)
• 5 antiseptic wipe packets
• 2 packets of aspirin (81 mg each)
• 1 blanket (space blanket)
• 1 breathing barrier (with one-way valve)
• 1 instant cold compress
• 2 pair of non-latex gloves (size: large)
• 2 hydrocortisone ointment packets (approximately 1 gram each)
• Scissors
• 1 roller bandage (3 inches wide)
• 1 roller bandage (4 inches wide)
• 5 sterile gauze pads (3 x 3 inches)
• 5 sterile gauze pads (4 x 4 inches)
• Oral thermometer (non-mercury/non-glass)
• 2 triangular bandages
• Tweezers
• First aid instruction booklet

Fire Extinguisher – I’ve already mentioned this in a previous blog post so for more info be sure to refer to Trail Safety Tip #1. (http://www.the4x4podcast.com/trail-safety-tip-1) But here’s the info you need. Make sure you have the correct type of fire extinguisher. Your vehicle is full of electrical stuff and fuel so you’ll want a Class A,B, C extinguisher. Have it mounted in an accessible spot and check it regularly for serviceability. Lastly, make sure you know how to use it. Just remember the pneumonic “PASS”. Point – Aim – Squeeze – Sweep.

Recovery Gear – Your recovery kit can have just as many things as your first aid kit because no situation is ever exactly the same. Many times you won’t be recovering yourself, but rather someone else on the trail. A good rule of thumb though, is have all the gear you need to recovery yourself and if everyone in your group does that, you’ll have just what you need to get you out of almost anything. Recovery is something that I will leave for a future blog post or podcast episode but if you want to really learn some techniques and best practices be sure to check out Tom Severin’s instructional DVD at http://www.4x4training.com/Products/WinchDVD.html. Here’s a short list of what you recovery kit should include:
• Tow Strap
• Tree Saver
• Leather Gloves
• Multiple D Shackles
• Snatch Block rated to match your winch and vehicle
Hi-Lift Jack – There are a 1,001 different uses for a hi-lift jack; everything from lifting, winching, clamping, extraction and more. However, many of these jacks are worn on vehicles as accessories and are neglected. If your jack isn’t lubricated then its usefulness is severely limited. Show your jack some love and keep it clean!

Communications – Staying in touch with the rest of your group is essential. Choices for communication is wide ranging. Everyone has a cell phone but I would leave that as your last ditch effort as cell signal in the backcountry is spotty at best. One easy option to keep in touch with your group is a FRS radio but your range is still going to be limited as these units have extremely low power output. A big step up is the BC radio. There hasn’t been much in the way of technological advances in CB radios since they first became popular back in the 70s. The power output is better than FRS but not by a whole lot. The best option is a HAM radio. You’ll need a license and the equipment is significantly more expensive but the reliability and range is worth the investment. For more about HAM radios, be sure to refer back to episode 15.

Tools – Even MacIver would love to have a basic set of tools at his disposal; so what makes you think you don’t need them? I like to keep my tools in a bag rather than a tool box because it helps cut down on the noise and can be compressed to keep from wasting precious storage space. Not counting any special tools that are specific to your vehicle, here’s a short list of recommended tools for your rig:
• Metric and Standard Socket Set
• Socket adapters, universal joints and extensions
• Ratchet (make sure it fits your socket set)
• Pliers (needle nose and snub nose)
• Vice Grips
• Screwdriver Set
• Allen or Hex Keys
• Flashlight
• Lug wrench with key for locking lug nuts, if you have them

Full Size Spare Tire – In a best case scenario, you’ll have a matching spare tire in the same size as the other 4 corners of your rig. Having a spare that has little tread left is a good way to save some money on a component that is there just as a band aid. Even a bald tire can help you get off the trail or down the road those last few miles but if there is a significant size difference you can cause other issues. A full size spare tire will help preserve your differential if you are running a locker. If you’re going to have a spare, make sure its aired up and ready to go. Here’a quick tip too. That tire is a giant air tank just waiting to be used. If you have a hose that can connect to two valve stems at the same time, you can use that spare tire’s air to put some air back in your other tires if you don’t have a compressor. You won’t get much air this way as once the pressure equalizes between the two tires, that’s all the air you’ll get out of it.

Battle Damage Repair Kit – In the military, we call it Battle Damage Assessment and Repair BDAR. Essentially, that means get out of the truck, look at how badly you’ve broken something, channel you’re inner-MacIver and fix it good enough to get off the trail. Even if your JK isn’t dealing with IED damage, it wouldn’t hurt to take some tips from the pros. You can prevent most breakage on the trail by some good preventative maintenance but there will always be something that you just didn’t expect. Knowing how to use all these goodies is also important but that’s part of the MacIver art. Here’s the list of goodies that will help solve many of the mechanical issues that may arise while on the trail:
• Bailing wire
• Electrical wire
• JB Weld or other two-part epoxy
• Alumaseal or other radiator repair compound
• Red and Blue RTV sealing compound
• Wire brush
• Zip ties
• Electrical tape
• Aluminum tape
• Duct Tape
• Anti-seize tape
• Various sizes of hose clamps
• Electrical wire connectors
• Adjustable Drive Belt (http://www.fennerdrives.com/high_performance_composite_vbelts/powertwist_home.aspx)
• Rags
• Battery clamps
• Disposable latex gloves (don’t steal the ones out of your first aid kit and don’t use your BDAR gloves for first aid)
• Mini hacksaw and spare blades
• Utility knife
• Sand paper
• Kitty litter or oil absorbent pads

Tire Plug Kit – If you don’t have a spare or maybe you’ve already gone through your spare a tire plug kit can be a life saver. The most common tire puncture that occurs on the trail is through the sidewall. Any respectable tire shop will not repair a sidewall slash but that doesn’t mean that it can’t be done. Small holes can sometimes be filled with a quick plug but even larger holes can be filled with a couple plugs. You can usually stuff a couple of them in a hole faster than you can lift the vehicle an throw on the spare. That being said, this may be your first option rather than your last. If the thought of driving on a sidewall plugged tire sounds sketchy, that’s because it is; do not drive a sidewall plugged tire on the highway as it could easily pop out and then you’ve got a flat tire at high speeds. Now once you get the patch completed you’ll need to put a bit of air back in so you’ll need a compressor of some kind. Something like the Warn Powerplant or the Power Tank CO2 tank is a great option but there are many different brands and varieties of air compressors