If you do a lot of off-roading, you need to be prepared for accidents and breakdowns. Even if you have all the right accessories installed on your vehicle—lights, roll-bars, heavy-duty tires—you might still not be as prepared as you think you are. Here are three crucial items you need to have in your vehicle whenever you head out for a day of off-roading.
Proper Tire Gear
When it comes to off-roading, you need to make sure you're equipped to tools you'll need for proper tire protection.
Inflator
If you don't have a portable tire inflator, it's time to invest in one. You never know when you're going to need a bit of extra air in your tires, especially after hitting rugged terrain. A portable inflator will help you keep going strong, even when your tire pressure takes a dip.
Deflator
You may think that you need full pressure on your tires at all times. However, that's simply not the case where off-roading is concerned. There are times when you need to deflate your tires, especially when your vehicle gets stuck in sand. A portable deflator makes removing air from your tires easy and quick.
Spare
You never know when you're going to have a blow-out while you're off-roading. If you don't have a healthy spare, you're going to be stuck until help arrives. Make it a habit to inspect your spare tire before you go off-roading.
Portable Recovery Kit
If you don't have a wince permanently affixed to the front of your off-road vehicle, you need to carry a portable recovery kit. A good recovery kit carries everything you'll need to get pulled out of tough spots. Your kit should contain heavy-duty shackles, a hi-lift jack, and several recovery straps. Even if you have a wince attached to your vehicle, it's a good idea to carry a spare recovery kit. You never know when you're going to run into a fellow off-roader who isn't prepared with their own wince.
Folding Traction Mats
If you think that some old cardboard is going to work to provide you with the traction you need to get yourself unstuck, you might want to think again. The cardboard might work when minor traction problems arise, but they're not going to get you out of any tough situations. That's where traction mats come in to the picture. Traction mats can be placed on the ground to give you the traction you need to get moving again.
For more information, reach out to companies like R & R Towing.