Green laning kit bag: what to put in it?

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rob_bell

rob_bell

Well-Known Member
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just been thinking about what stuff I should keep in the car when driving green lanes.

More serious folks have strops (what rating?) and shackles. A spade? One of those seat belt cutter/window hammer things? Tool kit... cuddly toy...?

What do you chaps think?
 
I'm often alone in the forest. I carry shackles, spade, 9 tonne straps, hand winch and a chain saw to cut any fallen tress blocking tracks. The item I have used the most is the chain saw. When I do get stuck normally manage to reverse out.
 
100% agree with common sense, even if that means skirting around puddles!!!

The stuff I don't have are shackles, strops and a winch... not thought of a hand winch?

A thermos of tea. A must have! :D
 
Foxyred said:
Walking boots , thermos flask and a mobile phone :)
Click to expand...
For me I carry: two strops 4m & 10m strop, 4 x shackles, mobile phone, joining stick, shovel, jumper leads are always onboard anyway, coarse handsaw and long handle loppers to sort any branches.

Forgot to add: first aid kit & fire extinguisher - you just never know what you'll find!
 
Last edited:
Most important thing to have is another vehicle - preferably with you or at least within an easy distance to assist. Strops and Shackles are great - although limited use if you are on your own! (that said, they can be used to stop the situation getting worse whilst you await help)

Always go overboard with the rating on straps, shackles, etc.

Other useful things:

- Some sack cloth or old mats for traction
- A folding pruning saw for branches
- A shovel/spade
- Wellies
- A depth checking stick

I have a small hand winch - not going to pull the car out but potentially enough to help the car out if its just a loss of traction. Would always carry sack cloth to put around the tree or rock first!

If you're off laning, as opposed to off roading, you shouldn't need much recovery gear - but its a wise precaution to have it.

Dont forget personal kit and safety equipment:

- A good torch (head torch if possible)
- Plenty of water and snacks
- A flask of hot drink
- Warm clothes (a full change in case you get soaked) and a waterproof coat
- Phone and charger
- Maps (ideally paper copies - technology can die!)

A lot of the kit above is worth having in case you come across a stranded car on the roads anyway. As 4x4 drivers we have vehicles which can "help out" and personally i beleive that we should, if we feel safe and equipped to do so, help where possible. I have pulled several "normal" cars out of the snow over the years, but have also pulled a van out of a muddy passing place on a road, people off festival car parks / car boot sale sites, and whilst on a camping holiday helped a couple who couldnt get their caravan off its muddy pitch with their ford focus. In short, i'd carry most of the above (excluding the hot flask) with me day to day.
 
I don't go on extreme off road trips. So I just keep a few basics in the FL at all times. I have a decent tow rope rated at 10 tons. It's about 25mm thick and has pulled a mates D2 out of goopy mud on 3 occasions now.
I have a fold up spade and my standard tool box of general tools. I also have a couple of 5000Kg ratchet straps that make a good emergency winch if needed. That's pretty much all I'll ever need. I have my Droid on hand if I get onto serious trouble. I also never go to a new lane alone, which is the safest thing to do.
 
My Freelander has this pocket in the dash that fits OS maps perfectly. Accident or design? ;)
IMG_4292.JPG
 
What I'm thinking of then- bearing in mind light green laning rather than trial off roading, is some simple recovery gear (just in case and hopefully never needed), navigation and safety/comfort items.

Something along the lines of:
- soft shackle
- recovery strop (what length/rating?)
- folding spade
- folding saw
- basic traveling tool kit
- maps
- compass

For each trip:
- hiking boots
- thermos of tea
- warm clothes
- walkie talkie (for group trips)

... hmm, what have I forgotten? :confused:
 
Hi Rob,

Something along the lines of:
- soft shackle, only carry steel shackles rated at 3.25 T and 4.75T
- recovery strop (what length/rating?) I carry a few , strop rated at 2T lfting,( Ratio of 7:1) 3 mtrs and 10 mtrs, plus an 8mtr rope rated at 12 tonnes
- folding spade, yep
- folding saw, No
- basic traveling tool kit, Yes plus more than just basics, including spare bearings UJ's
- maps, Have OS maps on the Hudl and the phone
- compass, No, except on the phone.

For each trip:
- hiking boots Yes
- thermos of tea
- warm clothes Yes
- walkie talkie (for group trips), CB in car as well as PMR.

Water proofs.
Water.
In winter sleeping bag.
Food , power bars etc.
Torch plus spare batteries.
Hi Lift jack.
Breaker bar
Prybar.

... hmm, what have I forgotten? :confused:



Cheers
 
rob_bell said:
100% agree with common sense, even if that means skirting around puddles!!!

The stuff I don't have are shackles, strops and a winch... not thought of a hand winch?

A thermos of tea. A must have! :D
Click to expand...
A winch mounted on the front of a Defender is great if you can attach it to something in front of you. But if you want to winch it backwards your a bit limited.
 
neilly said:
Hi Rob,

Something along the lines of:
- soft shackle, only carry steel shackles rated at 3.25 T and 4.75T
- recovery strop (what length/rating?) I carry a few , strop rated at 2T lfting,( Ratio of 7:1) 3 mtrs and 10 mtrs, plus an 8mtr rope rated at 12 tonnes
- folding spade, yep
- folding saw, No
- basic traveling tool kit, Yes plus more than just basics, including spare bearings UJ's
- maps, Have OS maps on the Hudl and the phone
- compass, No, except on the phone.

For each trip:
- hiking boots Yes
- thermos of tea
- warm clothes Yes
- walkie talkie (for group trips), CB in car as well as PMR.

Water proofs.
Water.
In winter sleeping bag.
Food , power bars etc.
Torch plus spare batteries.
Hi Lift jack.
Breaker bar
Prybar.

... hmm, what have I forgotten? :confused:



Cheers
Click to expand...

I'm not a fan of high lift jacks. Mine did more damage to my vehicle than crossing the Sahara and various other off roading trips. I lost count how many times its fallen off the high lift jack and the damage its done to the paint work. It weights a ton, always in the way. My high lift jack has remained in the back of the garage.
 
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