Preparing for hitting the trail should be the first priority for anyone getting ready to go out and have some fun. Preparation may feel like an unneeded step before hitting the trail, but it is something that will save you in the long run.

It is almost inevitable that someone will get stuck at one point or another on the trail. We take a look at the Top 5 recovery gear items that should be in everyone’s off-road kit.

Farm Jack/Floor Jack

One item that should not be left at home when hitting the trail is a jack. There are many different options when selecting a jack for your vehicle. One of the most popular farm jacks is the Hi-Lift.

The Hi-Lift jack can be used for a variety of uses from winching stuck vehicles, splitting logs, clamping things together, lifting engines and it even works as you guessed it – a jack. We did want to include a regular floor jack in this section as for some vehicles it is easier to change a flat tire with a floor jack than with a farm jack.

Strap

One way to recover a stuck vehicle, is with a recovery strap. Straps can be a tow strap, which are meant for towing a free wheeling vehicle behind, and recovery straps, which are used for the name suggests recovering. Most recovery straps are made of nylon.

There is also the option of bringing a recover rope which is also made out of nylon. With selecting either a recovery rope or strap, it needs to be rated for a breaking strength high enough to be used to recover your vehicle. Miss use of the straps can cause serious bodily harm, and need to be used with extreme caution.

Shovel

When things get tough or stuck on the trail, shovel it out. This garden tool may seem like something that should be left home, but it can come in handy to help dig out a stuck vehicle in mud, snow, and sand.

There are a couple other uses for a shovel depending on which one is selected. Some military collapsible shovels can be used for digging, but also have a serrated edge that can be used for cutting. Some shovels also have a hatchet or pick on a side which can help in sticky situations. If the shovel does not have a cutting edge, a hatchet may be something to add as well.

Jumper Cables

Something as basic as this can be a life saver on the trail. Someone may leave their accessories on, which ends up killing the battery and without the jumper cables their may be no other way to get the vehicle back up and running.

A side note, jumper cables can be used with two batteries to create a DC electrode negative welder. This can be used to weld something that may have broken on the trail. A couple other items need to be packed to be able to accomplish this such as a welding mask, welding rod, gloves, and a fire extinguisher.

Tools

This almost speaks for itself, having what you need for the unexpected on the trail. Whether the recovery issue is fixable or not on the trail is another story, but it is better to be prepared before the situation happens.

Sockets, screwdrivers, and any specialty tools for your vehicle should be placed in your off-road kit before hand. This includes special sockets to remove lug nuts, if you want to change your tire on the trial.