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Required

  • Yank/recovery Strap with looped ends (no hooks)(at least 20, 30' preferred, without hooks, recommend rated at least 2 times the vehicle weight [ 6 cyl TJ 3,229 lbs.]. JeepJambore recommends a 20,000 pound min.) [20' 7K lbs. $26 Home Depot.; 30' 2 in. 14K lbs $25 at Central 4 Wheel, $40 at RecoveryGear.com]
    "Tow" straps with mental hooks are dangerous if the strap breaks the metal hooks have been known to kill people. "Recovery" straps are nylon so they stretch and have just loops at the end. (See recovery straps at jeep-tech-tips and Rope-Cable-Strap Strength.)
    You should never use a recovery strap in a winching operation.
  • Towhooks (front/rear)(hook for trailer hitch receiver OK for rear)
  • Fire Extinguisher with gauge, appropriately stored.
  • First Aid Kit
  • Jack with base plate for soft ground and Lug Wrench
  • Spare tire equal to or within 3 inches of existing tires on the vehicle. (no temporary spares).
  • For Nevada Desert: A fluorescent orange "whip flag," extending at least 8 feet above ground-level when the vehicle is stopped.
  • Antennas must not exceed 4'6"
  • Battery hold down
  • Functional Parking brake
  • Factory Rollbar or Metal hardtop-full roll cage prefered
  • Good Tire Gage (my cheap one failed at Sierra Trek). (Pressure will increase at high altitude, so even if you don't normally air-down you may need to let some air out.)
  • Rain Gear
Safety Requirements and Regulations at:

Required by some groups:

Optional/Recommended:

  • Maps (See Trail List)
  • Winch (A Hi-lift Jack which can be adapted for winching and tow strap is a poor mans alternitive. Some people use a come-along [Maasdam 2-ton $40 @ Home Depot]. See Tips. )
  • Rack (assuming you want to leave back seat in for relatives, dogs, or relatives who are dogs)
  • Hi-lift Jack & 4-way Lug Wrench
  • Tool Box w/ common spares (U-joints, clamps, bolts, duct tape, coolant, etc)
  • Air compressor/tank for re-inflating tires after reducing pressure for rock crawling Options:
    (You can also attach an air blow gun to blow out dust.)
    • (10 lb. CO2 tank - $330, e.g. Power Tank)
      Equivalent to most powerful compressors. Takes about 35 sec. to fill a tire from 15 psi to 32 psi.
    • Electric - (ARB unit works for lockers as well as tires) (air tank optional).
      ARB compressor takes 9-10 minutes to inflate a single tire.
      A 2 CFM compressor with elect motor tank and hoses will run about $600. Takes about 1.5 min. to fill a 33" tire from 12 to 32 PSI.
    • Belt driven - Mounts in place of AC. 4-8 CFM. $220-275 + tank. (see onboardair.com)
    • A $15 compressor powered by your lighter jack will take 15-20 min./tire.
  • Tire deflator (screws onto valve) $20
  • Leather gloves
  • Cooler w/ at least one gallon of water per person per day (2 gal. is best)
  • GPS
  • Emergency kit (Flashlight, space blanket, matches, mirror, whistle)
  • Shovel, folding saw
  • Tire chains for winter trips? (Rangers required chains even with 4WD to go into the park during the Sacramento Jeepers Apr. 2004 Yosemite Trip)

Spare Parts
The following equipment can be shared within a group.

  • Air filter
  • Extra Axles
  • Oil
  • Oil filter
  • Brake fluid
  • Transmission FLuid
  • Gear oil and Bearing grease
  • Come-a-long
  • Snatch Block
  • Belts
  • Hoses and several sizes of hose clamps
  • Fuel filter
  • Fuses
  • Some brake line
  • Spark plugs
  • Jumper cables
  • Tire valve stems with cores
  • Tires (don't forget a good full-size spare!)
  • Drive Shaft & U-joints
  • Vacuum line (a small piece)
  • Wiper blades
Source: What Spare Parts to take along at 4wheeldrive.about.com
"4 Wheelers Guide to the Rubicon Trail" by William C. Teie.
What breaks most at rubicon-trail.com
  CJ, YJ: "the only thing that does not break is the radiator cap"
  TJ: Rear axle shafts (35C), Control arm brackets front

See Also:
Mail Order supplies/parts
Getting your Jeep Ready for that big trip. at off-road.com and Prepare your 4X4.
Lists at: Expedition Outfitters, Jeep Tech Tips, Eco4WD, Colorado Springs Christian Four Wheelers, SidekickOffRoad.com, Jeep Jamboree USA,
Krawlers Gear Page
Equipping your rig
Safety items at "how to react if you become lost" at REI

last updated 2 Oct 2005