Trail Ready Checklist: What’s on your non-negotiable list??

[Kilo]

Before hitting the trail, everyone’s got that checklist whether it’s written down or all in your head.


Curious what you all consider non-negotiable before rolling out. Gear, settings, habits, snacks (important), recovery tools… all of it.

This isn’t about “right vs wrong,” just seeing how different rigs and experience levels prep for a day on the trail.

Drop your checklist below


Bonus points if you’ve learned something the hard way

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[Ninjak]

@Kilo : So when heading out in good ol Florida trails:

1. Check all fluids.
2. Run a check on my compressor.
3. Check the tool bag.
4. Check the recovery bag and load it up.
5. Check the drone loadout and make sure I have everything for it.
7. Check the Midland Radio, mount it up.
8. Toss on the 'driving shoes'.

Head out to the next adventure.

 

[CrystalRedTintCoat]

(1) Custom Splice 2" Hitch 6100 billet aluminum Receiver Shackle Adapter × 1 (9,500 lbs) x 2

(2) Factor 55 - Load Distribution Plate- LDP

(3) Custom Splice 3/4" D Ring - Bow Shackle × 2 (working load limit 9,500 lbs) + 1/2" D Ring - Bow Shackle × 1 (working load limit 4,000 lbs)

(4) Bubba Gator Jaw Pro 7/16” Soft Shackle (45,000 lbs) x 3

(5) WARN - Epic Snatch Block × 1 (24,000 lbs max load; 3/8” max rope; 12,000 lbs max winch capacity).

(6) Rhino USA recovery shovel

(7) Diamond Line 100’ x 3/8” winch extension line with soft eyes. (18,000 lbs)

(8) WARN - 2" x 8' Tree Trunk Protector × 1 (Rated to 14,400lbs/6531kgs)

(9) Pro Taper 1.5" Tie Downs x 3

(10) Leather gloves

(11) Colby Valve Emergency Valve Stem Replacement (Black)

(12) Bubba Kinetic Recovery Rope 30’ x 3/4”. (19,000 lbs)

(13) Mean Mother Tire Deflators x 4

(14) AIR CHAMP PRO 5.65CFM - 12V HEAVY DUTY PORTABLE AIR COMPRESSOR + Air Champ pressure line with gauge

(15) Comily Plus+ Off Road Recovery Winch Weight Bag,Safety Strong Durable PVC Winch Rope Dampener Blanket with Pocket-Light Orange Color

(16) Fri Concepts AirPlugger, Compact Tire Repair Kit, Silver

(17) AIR CHAMP SMART DEFLATOR WITH GAUGE

(18) Dirt Renegade Big Brute Recovery Tow Strap (24,200 lbs)

(19) Factor 55 - Shorty Strap II - 3.0' x 2.0" x 1

(20) Factor 55 - Basic Guide to Kinetic Energy Recovery & Towing a Disabled Vehicle Off Road

(21) Factor 55 - Extreme Duty Kinetic Energy Bridle 7/8” x 10’ (WLL 5,660 lbs)

(22) Factor 55 - Standard Duty Soft Shackle - 7/16"x10" (WLL 7,800 lbs )

(22) RHINO RESCUE IFAK Trauma First Aid Kit Molle Medical Pouch

 

[CrystalRedTintCoat]

Also, I get a map of where I’m going or use On x Off road

Buddies and I will tune into the appropriate GMRS radio frequencies. I have two Baofeng handhelds just in case. Everything is preprogrammed.

cooler with drinks and food.

Air down based on type of trail. At trail head.

Boots in case having to walk parts of the trail and have support. I rescued a guy and gal who were wearing tennis shoes in the snow.

Hats. Removable Layers.

Jerry can. Had a trip where suddenly my fuel went under a 1/4 tank which scared me and ended the day early.

 

[DALOLA]

Good to go....

 

[TLO]

1) PBR's ( Pabst Blue Ribbon)
2) Everything else

 

[broadicustomworks]

As the frequency and sum of trail riding increases I think this list (for me) gets shorter and shorter (for things that I have to remember to include).
Things I used to have to make sure I carried with me and included are now always with me through trial and error, adding storage solutions, and most of all-investment of $.
Nothing is free.
To add convenience or capability it will require investment of time and money.
Some improvements may prove to be a detriment to something else.
A lot of times you DO get what you pay for. Which is one of the harder lessons I've relatively recently (within the last 4 years) come to realize. I can pay once for something with substance that I really want or pay 2-3X over and over again for a cheaper knock-off.
But I digress, as normal.

All of the below is now hard-mounted in the case of comms and air, or stored in a way that it takes up no real estate that makes my remaining "normal" storage capacity any different from any other 4 dr. not carrying anything.
Some of this will again evolve with the addition of an Armadillo top and the deletion of my M2M attic tray.
-Recovery gear (straps, soft shackles, snatch blocks, extra winch line)
-Air compressor, hoses, deflation and inflation tools
-Fire Extinguisher
-set of tools (I carry duplicates of some)
-My primary and a few spare GMRS radios
-Supplies (ZIp ties, duct tape, penetrant oil, rags)
-Spare set of tie rods
-Beverages and snacks

This is with every trip, and all of it stays on board and out of sight. Always with me, always handy(ish), non-intrusive on a daily driver that makes grocery and Costco runs.

 

[Bikeric]

1: A flask of Whiskey in case of a snake bite.
2: A small snake with an attitude.

 

[Kilo]

As the frequency and sum of trail riding increases I think this list (for me) gets shorter and shorter (for things that I have to remember to include).
Things I used to have to make sure I carried with me and included are now always with me through trial and error, adding storage solutions, and most of all-investment of $.
Nothing is free.
To add convenience or capability it will require investment of time and money.
Some improvements may prove to be a detriment to something else.
A lot of times you DO get what you pay for. Which is one of the harder lessons I've relatively recently (within the last 4 years) come to realize. I can pay once for something with substance that I really want or pay 2-3X over and over again for a cheaper knock-off.
But I digress, as normal.

All of the below is now hard-mounted in the case of comms and air, or stored in a way that it takes up no real estate that makes my remaining "normal" storage capacity any different from any other 4 dr. not carrying anything.
Some of this will again evolve with the addition of an Armadillo top and the deletion of my M2M attic tray.
-Recovery gear (straps, soft shackles, snatch blocks, extra winch line)
-Air compressor, hoses, deflation and inflation tools
-Fire Extinguisher
-set of tools (I carry duplicates of some)
-My primary and a few spare GMRS radios
-Supplies (ZIp ties, duct tape, penetrant oil, rags)
-Spare set of tie rods
-Beverages and snacks

This is with every trip, and all of it stays on board and out of sight. Always with me, always handy(ish), non-intrusive on a daily driver that makes grocery and Costco runs.

Same here. I have the essentials stored and they always stay in the Bronco. Thanks for sharing!

 

[broadicustomworks]

(1) Custom Splice 2" Hitch 6100 billet aluminum Receiver Shackle Adapter × 1 (9,500 lbs) x 2

(2) Factor 55 - Load Distribution Plate- LDP

(3) Custom Splice 3/4" D Ring - Bow Shackle × 2 (working load limit 9,500 lbs) + 1/2" D Ring - Bow Shackle × 1 (working load limit 4,000 lbs)

(4) Bubba Gator Jaw Pro 7/16” Soft Shackle (45,000 lbs) x 3

(5) WARN - Epic Snatch Block × 1 (24,000 lbs max load; 3/8” max rope; 12,000 lbs max winch capacity).

(6) Rhino USA recovery shovel

(7) Diamond Line 100’ x 3/8” winch extension line with soft eyes. (18,000 lbs)

(8) WARN - 2" x 8' Tree Trunk Protector × 1 (Rated to 14,400lbs/6531kgs)

(9) Pro Taper 1.5" Tie Downs x 3

(10) Leather gloves

(11) Colby Valve Emergency Valve Stem Replacement (Black)

(12) Bubba Kinetic Recovery Rope 30’ x 3/4”. (19,000 lbs)

(13) Mean Mother Tire Deflators x 4

(14) AIR CHAMP PRO 5.65CFM - 12V HEAVY DUTY PORTABLE AIR COMPRESSOR + Air Champ pressure line with gauge

(15) Comily Plus+ Off Road Recovery Winch Weight Bag,Safety Strong Durable PVC Winch Rope Dampener Blanket with Pocket-Light Orange Color

(16) Fri Concepts AirPlugger, Compact Tire Repair Kit, Silver

(17) AIR CHAMP SMART DEFLATOR WITH GAUGE

(18) Dirt Renegade Big Brute Recovery Tow Strap (24,200 lbs)

(19) Factor 55 - Shorty Strap II - 3.0' x 2.0" x 1

(20) Factor 55 - Basic Guide to Kinetic Energy Recovery & Towing a Disabled Vehicle Off Road

(21) Factor 55 - Extreme Duty Kinetic Energy Bridle 7/8” x 10’ (WLL 5,660 lbs)

(22) Factor 55 - Standard Duty Soft Shackle - 7/16"x10" (WLL 7,800 lbs )

(22) RHINO RESCUE IFAK Trauma First Aid Kit Molle Medical Pouch

This amount of detail took some effort.
I salute you, Bert!

 

[Kilo]

@Kilo : So when heading out in good ol Florida trails:

1. Check all fluids.
2. Run a check on my compressor.
3. Check the tool bag.
4. Check the recovery bag and load it up.
5. Check the drone loadout and make sure I have everything for it.
7. Check the Midland Radio, mount it up.
8. Toss on the 'driving shoes'.

Head out to the next adventure.

This is great! Thanks for sharing!!

 

[Fordified1]

Before hitting the trail,

Drop your checklist below

Bonus points if you’ve learned something the hard way

I learned that a high lift jack (or 2) and winch (or 2) are NOT just for looks. This happened shortly after I ribbed my friends for having high-lift hood ornaments. We ended up using 2 winches, 2 high-lifts, and a scissor jack on the side of a mountain. What you cannot see is the second Jeep behind the white Jeep attached to it so we wouldn’t all slide down the hill. Top ball joint nut came off (my fault) and broke the bottom ball joint and inner cv joint.

 

[Kilo]

I learned that a high lift jack (or 2) and winch (or 2) are NOT just for looks. This happened shortly after I ribbed my friends for having high-lift hood ornaments. We ended up using 2 winches, 2 high-lifts, and a scissor jack on the side of a mountain. What you cannot see is the second Jeep behind the white Jeep attached to it so we wouldn’t all slide down the hill. Top ball joint nut came off (my fault) and broke the bottom ball joint and inner cv joint.

Dude!!!! That’s insane!

 

[Desmolicious]

Riley

 

[Kilo]

Riley

Riley is a mistake have!!

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