I'll be starting beginner fire trails this spring in the Rocky Mountains and wondered what the bare essentials would be for it. I'll be looking for scenic, not isolated, and easy simple trails first and maybe trails with a High-End Rating of 3-4 max on TrailDamage.com later in the year. Because I'm not really "wheeling" I'm not sure what I actually need, but will most likely be alone. I've read through this "Whats is in your packing list for your Jeep?" topic and this "Required equipment on your jeep before you hit the trail?" topic. Here is what I'm thinking so far:

Definite:

• 5 gallon gas can
• Fire extinguisher
• First aid/survival gear (blankets, food, water, etc.)
• Flare
• Garmin GPS
• Maglite and headlamp
• Socket/wrench set

Maybe Yes:

• Hi-Jack - could be helpful if I get a flat on a trail
• Jumper cables
• Shovel - help if stuck

Probably not:

• Ax - not sure I'd need on a fire trail a shovel seems more practical
• CB Radio - not sure I'll need on main trails
• Portable air compressor - not crawling so doubt I'll need to adjust my psi
• Winch - doubt I'll need recovery on fire trail

I have a JKUS with 33" Duratracs, 16" rims (with 8" backspacing), rubi rock rails, and no lift.

 

Add in something for an oil spill or other chemical trail clean up. You never know when you'll need to pop a diff cover or pull off a brake line. They are small and last forever so a cleanup kit won't take too much space anyways. Be that guy, not that guy.

 

Hi Lift should be definite, also a load spreader for it.

Have used winch and tow ropes to clear many trees from fire roads.

8" of backspacing??

 

Airing down will not only help with traction but also make the ride so much smoother. I'd think about an air compressor if I were you. Or a CO2 tank, you can build your own setup for a little more than $100

 

I'd add paper maps of the area you plan to travel inside of. GPS is great, until it's not.

Regarding an axe or a saw -- I always take something to help me clear any fallen brush or trees, but that will depend on the terrain. Not a bad idea anyhow.

Throw in a camera for pictures of any good views or adventures.

...And good shoes in case you have to leave the Jeep for whatever reason.

I'm not sure about flares, depending on fire danger. That's more of a roadside enhancement-- when there isn't extreme fire danger. This is why radios are good--if you break down or have an emergency, there's a chance of reaching someone else who can help.

Bring another person, if possible, a second rig. To have one of something is great, two is a blessing-- especially if the other rig still runs and has gear and things you might not have.

 

You need a good way to raise your vehicle to change a tire, but a Hi-lift can be dangerous, and is pretty useless if you have OEM bumpers and rock rails. Recommend at least a good bottle jack.

And carry gear for emergencies. A well-equipped first-aid kit and the knowledge to use it. A small backpack, hat, aforementioned footwear, water bottle in case you need to hike out. Stay on busier trails to minimize risk if you don't have a trail buddy.

 

Call me paranoid but I always keep a backpack aka get home bag in my jeep with basic survival gear to get me off the trail in the event I have to walk out. Although I believe it's recommended to stay with your rig. Along with that, I typically carry a tub with all my recovery gear, tent, backpacker food, stove, a few gallons a water, etc.

Better to be prepared and not need it then need it and not be prepared. You may think you're just going out on a simple trail ride but in the event it did turn nasty it's nice to have the stuff to get you out of there safely.

 

Agree with all of that stuff I deleted. If you're lost or you might get lost, definitely stay with your rig--hopefully someone will come looking for you because there are folks back home who are worried about you and know where you were headed. However, if you're not lost and are confident of the route you need to take (which probably means backtracking on the road you took in), but you're not expecting help soon enough, by all means be prepared to hike out for the help that you need.

 

Also, a pet peeve about first aid kits. If you carry a small one (most kinds that have a few bandaids, tiny roll of tape, one clown-sized pair of nitrile gloves, and some alcohol pads, and a pair of plastic tweezers)--which most people do, think about going out and buying some stuff to add to it--a large roll of gauze or two, maybe a box of large gauze pads, or cut up an old (clean) sheet or two into some longer 4" strips, a large roll of 2" first aid tape.

You need not be medically trained to use any of that stuff, but for the typical light wound that needs to be closed and covered, these things are extremely helpful, especially if you have a wound where you might want to change the dressing, or where a dressing saturates and you need more to cover it.

Those little kits make for a frustrating scene trying to cover a larger wound with many small bandaids or tiny pieces of gauze--most of which are exhausted just trying to get bleeding to stop. It saves t-shirts and other clothing from being sacrificed as dressings.

It's a big help when there's a stupid "oops" resulting in a minor injury with lots of blood--typical of wheeling/camping trips. Someone gashes themselves on a rock. A hand or finger gets filleted with a pocket knife or other unlikely implement when opening stubborn packaging. Trailside wrenching gashes soft tissue or completely debrides a knuckle. Someone shows off some talent walking in the dark. You know. The kind of stuff that tries to ruin a trip.

It also gives you something to add to the scene of a potentially larger incident...there are still lots of people that do stupid things far from help and are ill-prepared.

Yes, I'm bored waiting for something to finish up this morning. *the more you know*

 

Yes. A group of us here in the OKC area took the two day Wilderness First Aid class last December. Well worth it. But you need something better than one of those cheap drug store first-aid kits. "Overland Journal" just did a review on kits. Highly recommend reading it before buying a kit.