brockeverly
New member
Toilet Paper.
Helps to start fires too.
How could I forget that! Definitely being added!
Putting together a "recovery" kit
- Thread starter brockeverly
- Start date
How could I forget that! Definitely being added!
Intruder
New member
Ditto. I would trust a HiLift far more than that other monstrosity.
So, on to the other stuff...
XJack - takes up less room than a HiLift but not as versatile
SPOT - never leave home without it or a PLB of some sort
UHF/VHF radio preprogrammed with nearby repeaters for those non-life-threatening emergencies
0W20 oil and other extra fluids
Kitty litter to soak up any fluids you may accidentally leak (Tread Lightly!)
Minimum 4 litres of water per person per day
20 litres of gas
Some freeze dried food plus a JetBoil
I see shackles and straps already listed, but if you're going alone what use are they? The only self-recovery options I can think of are a winch and a HiLift.
nevada
Senior Member
its not, if you're smart about using it.
ive used mine that way several times. it is NOT easy, sometimes it took 2 people to pull the handle, but it works.
i know the OP mentioned a winch really wasnt an option....but, i think i would reprioritize things to make it one. it could be the difference between sleeping in the rig, walking home, or sleeping in your bed. especially if you go out by yourself a lot.
mine more than paid for itself the first year i had it.
brockeverly
New member
I will check out the XJack and see if it is worth replacing the bottle jack I just bought. I have a SPOT already thrown in the glovebox. I was thinking oil, but I am not sure that in a new vehicle it would be necessary. If I am low on oil its because I smashed my oil pan, so I could not carry enough to make it out. If I am incorrect, please advise as you most likely have much more knowledge on this subject than myself.Ditto. I would trust a HiLift far more than that other monstrosity.
Clarified in post 20
So, on to the other stuff...
XJack - takes up less room than a HiLift but not as versatile
SPOT - never leave home without it or a PLB of some sort
UHF/VHF radio preprogrammed with nearby repeaters for those non-life-threatening emergencies
0W20 oil and other extra fluids
Kitty litter to soak up any fluids you may accidentally leak (Tread Lightly!)
Minimum 4 litres of water per person per day
20 litres of gas
Some freeze dried food plus a JetBoil
I see shackles and straps already listed, but if you're going alone what use are they? The only self-recovery options I can think of are a winch and a HiLift. -Carried for trips that we are not alone, which is when I would be much more likely to get into trouble. When it is me and my girls, I keep it quite civil.
As for the fuel, when I go out on long trips I currently strap 5gal cans to the roof. This list is more for what is carried all the time for those spur of the moment trips or a problem on the side of the road. It seems this thread is getting some interest so I will add another section for things just on the trail.
brockeverly
New member
It is not that it isn't an option, it is more of if it is needed. What I currently do with the truck the need is not matched with the want. As I continue to get more and more into it, I see a bumper and winch in the future, but that will be more than likely next year.
limamike
New member
They're definitely tricky. I have actually been trained on them, but I still got hung up on switching it between up and down when I had my shock issue in Ouray. It's definitely one of those things you need to use pretty often to feel comfortable with it all of the time.
Your bottle jack looks like it goes up a bit more than Joneseyyy's, but we tried to use his bottle jack first and in the end needed the Hi-Lift to get the truck off the ground.
brockeverly
New member
I jacked mine all the way up and it was too high to fit under my BB's on the bump out section. On an axle I have faith that no matter what the situation was it could lift the truck, on the slider, on flat ground I can probably easily get 5-6" out of it. In a situation like yours, a Hi Lift is surely better though.
rebelbowtie
New member
I have a harbor freight hi lift and it has a simple lever for up or down. I feel very comfortable using it, probably the only sturdy piece of equipment I have seen from harbor freight.
limamike
New member
That was the situation - we needed to have the jack on the frame, not the axle, in order to flex the rear wheel to manipulate the shock.
brockeverly
New member
I just realized I typed that in a way that is unclear. From flat ground to the slider I could get about 5-6" of lift. A Hi Lift probably would be better, but for the short term I will probably stick with this. My father in law has a Hi Lift and I have watched him about knock his head off with it, so I am a bit gun shy :sadwave:
Keemonrunnin
Member
A good fire starter is a small bottle of hand sanitizer. Works very well.
GrantK
New member
Rule of thumb for what tools to keep in in the truck...
Any tool you ever use on the truck needs to always be in the truck. Buy a new one for the truck so it's in pristine condition. You don't want warn out tools when your fixing things on some lonely trail.
*) One tool many people forget is a good long breaker bar and a piece of black pipe you can slide (and store) over the breaker bar to act as an extension.
*)Some cloth shop towels come in handy for clean up and can be used to wrap tools so they don't clank around.
*)A small tube of hand cleaner like GoJo or Goop.
The planning of what to carry needs to be thought of in three groups. In no particular order, (1) Tools for break downs. This should include some spare parts as well. (2) Tools for extraction and (3) Tools for survival in case you get stuck/stranded and have to wait for help to arrive for several days (aka 72hr kit). Some items cover all three groups (like the hand cleaner).
I'm a firm believer that each person's kit(s) need to be custom to their needs and abilities, especially the 72hr kit. If you buy a pre-done 72hr kit PLEASE review each item in it and make sure it fits your needs and that the kit has everything you need (most are lacking). In fact, every 72hr kit I've every seen have been a joke. FEMA, the RedCross and the Latter Day Saints (Mormons) have very good info on creating 72hr kits. Review what they have already figured out, it saves re-inventing the wheel
Any tool you ever use on the truck needs to always be in the truck. Buy a new one for the truck so it's in pristine condition. You don't want warn out tools when your fixing things on some lonely trail.
*) One tool many people forget is a good long breaker bar and a piece of black pipe you can slide (and store) over the breaker bar to act as an extension.
*)Some cloth shop towels come in handy for clean up and can be used to wrap tools so they don't clank around.
*)A small tube of hand cleaner like GoJo or Goop.
The planning of what to carry needs to be thought of in three groups. In no particular order, (1) Tools for break downs. This should include some spare parts as well. (2) Tools for extraction and (3) Tools for survival in case you get stuck/stranded and have to wait for help to arrive for several days (aka 72hr kit). Some items cover all three groups (like the hand cleaner).
I'm a firm believer that each person's kit(s) need to be custom to their needs and abilities, especially the 72hr kit. If you buy a pre-done 72hr kit PLEASE review each item in it and make sure it fits your needs and that the kit has everything you need (most are lacking). In fact, every 72hr kit I've every seen have been a joke. FEMA, the RedCross and the Latter Day Saints (Mormons) have very good info on creating 72hr kits. Review what they have already figured out, it saves re-inventing the wheel
brockeverly
New member
Just checked out the ARB X-Jack. That thing is wicked. I think I will order that when I get back from this trip to Ohio and take back that bottle jack.
Bografan
New member
I don't know what's usually being used as a tree protector strap these days or how much they cost, but one of the ways we did it awhile back:
Obtain a 18 wheeler mud flap. I think we bought one from Hi/Lo for about 30 bucks when we couldn't get one from a junk yard. Cut it into approx. 8"-10" wide strips (if I remember correctly we used tin snips but I can think of several better ways to do it these days). Then cut a couple of slots near the ends for your cable or chain. Threaded thru the slots and with the mud flap against the tree, it works and holds up to some pretty serious abuse. Might save someone a couple of bucks...
Obtain a 18 wheeler mud flap. I think we bought one from Hi/Lo for about 30 bucks when we couldn't get one from a junk yard. Cut it into approx. 8"-10" wide strips (if I remember correctly we used tin snips but I can think of several better ways to do it these days). Then cut a couple of slots near the ends for your cable or chain. Threaded thru the slots and with the mud flap against the tree, it works and holds up to some pretty serious abuse. Might save someone a couple of bucks...
Intruder
New member
You can buy an actual tree saver strap for around $20-30.
Bografan
New member
...or you could make several of my ghetto tree pads with the same mud flap, and outfit more than one person with them (for the same money)
Intruder
New member
...or you could make several of my ghetto tree pads with the same mud flap, and outfit more than one person with them (for the same money)
True enough. What's the break strength on those tree savers you made out of mudflaps? I know the ARB one I have is 26,500 lbs. For some reason I'm not willing to risk my vehicle or my life to save a few bucks...
