First trip off road: essential kit?

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vaguelyfamilar

New Member
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4
Location
Hertfordshire
So after picking up my new defender last weekend, I'm heading up to wildtrax in Newmarket tomorrow for a little pay and play fun. This will be my first trip off road and just wondered what would be considered essential kit to have with me?

I currently have:
Jack
Wheel brace
Spare wheel
Assorted spanners and screw drivers
RAC cover

Cheers
 
Mine has diff and steering guards too

Oh and those jate rings in case it needs pulling out of something
 
recovery gear is essential, its down right impolite to expect somebody to pull you out and expect them to provide all the strops, ropes and shackles.

simple etiquette is if you are in the **** then you do the donkey work and wading about in the mud fastening things up and attaching lines and ropes.

i personally have no objection to pulling people out when they need it but when its wet and muddy and they just expect you to use your own lines and shackles and attach them, then it makes me feel like telling em to pi55 off. remember its not just the recovery there and then, things need cleaning down afterwards and kinetics especially need a good wash if they have been in sandy mud, shackles need cleaning and prepping for next time strops need re-coiling etc etc etc.

best to have at least the basics ready for your first play out. ;)
 
Thanks all, will head out in a minute and get some rope (I have big hammer and a few rolls of gaffa tape :D ). May be a bit late for recovery points though so if I get stuck I may have to be pulled out backwards with the tow bar!
 
vaguelyfamilar said:
Thanks all, will head out in a minute and get some rope (I have big hammer and a few rolls of gaffa tape :D ). May be a bit late for recovery points though so if I get stuck I may have to be pulled out backwards with the tow bar!
Click to expand...

biggest you can get is best, if you are being pulled out of mud you have a hell of a lot of extra resistance therefore dead weight added, so dont be buying something rated at 2 or 3 tons which is ok for towing your landy on tarmac, look for something rated at 2 or 3 times that at least. My kinetic is nearly 2" in diameter and rated at 12 tonnes i think
 
vaguelyfamilar said:
So after picking up my new defender last weekend, I'm heading up to wildtrax in Newmarket tomorrow for a little pay and play fun. This will be my first trip off road and just wondered what would be considered essential kit to have with me?

I currently have:
Jack
Wheel brace
Spare wheel
Assorted spanners and screw drivers
RAC cover

Cheers
Click to expand...

What type of jack? Regardless, I'd also carry a couple squares of wood, something like 15"x15"X2" to go under the jack to stop it sinking in soft ground..

I would also recommend at least one shovel, and a pick. I use ex army entrenching tools which are about 1/2 size of normal, so are easier to stow. I also carry a 30" bow saw and spare blade, and thats been invaluable over the years. A billhook would not go a miss either, but might get you in trouble with the Plods if kept permanently stored in a daily drive vehicle..

I would also recommend a number of torches; a couple of head torches and a decent work torch/lamp for bigger tasks.

Finally, some decent work gloves, and a 6'x4' cheap plastic tarp which is handy for a number of things..
 
Well just back from a great day; quite a gentle introduction to off roading.

DSC_7086.jpg

We were quite disappointed not to get stuck anywhere :D we were quite timid on the track for the first half an hour then started to get slightly braver. The only casualty in the whole day was the front number plate
 
Forget strops unless you or someone has a winch. A GOOD 24mm rope non kenetic will serve you well mine has lasted 10 years and has done many an event a recovery and been abused alot. Best £45 i ever spent. Strops on the other hand are worthless unless your not really that stuck or you have a winch.
 
DiscoPol said:
recovery gear is essential, its down right impolite to expect somebody to pull you out and expect them to provide all the strops, ropes and shackles.

simple etiquette is if you are in the **** then you do the donkey work and wading about in the mud fastening things up and attaching lines and ropes.

i personally have no objection to pulling people out when they need it but when its wet and muddy and they just expect you to use your own lines and shackles and attach them, then it makes me feel like telling em to pi55 off. remember its not just the recovery there and then, things need cleaning down afterwards and kinetics especially need a good wash if they have been in sandy mud, shackles need cleaning and prepping for next time strops need re-coiling etc etc etc.

best to have at least the basics ready for your first play out. ;)
Click to expand...
you talk about impolite to use other peoples ropes shckles etc you used my disco ropes strops etc but remember expect to spend twice as long cleaning and sorting out gear as playing offroad sad but true
 
CJ2a said:
you talk about impolite to use other peoples ropes shckles etc you used my disco ropes strops etc but remember expect to spend twice as long cleaning and sorting out gear as playing offroad sad but true
Click to expand...

yeah but i was in your disco and the wife wasn't for me bringing all my tackle down in the shiny car:p

i will insist you get my gear muddy when im down there in a month andwont even wince ;)

anyway did we even use anything apart from the shovel and a single sling to shift that big pebble:confused::confused:
 
DiscoPol said:
yeah but i was in your disco and the wife wasn't for me bringing all my tackle down in the shiny car:p

i will insist you get my gear muddy when im down there in a month andwont even wince ;)

anyway did we even use anything apart from the shovel and a single sling to shift that big pebble:confused::confused:
Click to expand...
you know im only joking and by the time you come down in a months time things should be more fun as we can go places where there is more water and mud lots more and it should be more challegeing in September as its wetter no dry sun baked ground and I have been learning a new place or 2 haha
 
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