Question: Desert over Christmas/New Years, what recovery gear do you want?

[JHa6av8r]

Looking for suggestions on what you'd take along, (1) if you could get it all; (2) what would you take as a minimum?

We're heading south over Christmas and New Years most probably around the Chocolate Mountains. The Houser Geode Beds will be our first stop for few days. From there we might head to Joshua Tree and maybe Death Valley depending on time. We won't be doing any heavy 4-wheeling but will definitely be heading down some dirt roads. What recovery gear would you take as a minimum? If you had to get stuff one at a time, what's the priority?

Right now I can air up/down and plug a flat. What else, Hi-Lift, Off-Road kit, Lift-Mate, Maxtrax or similar, winch? Thanks for the help.

 

[Chris Cordes]

Winches are almost useless in the middle of the desert as there's nothing to winch to. Maxtrax however are invaluable in sand. And personally I'd only use a hi-lift if absolutely necessary. They're dangerous and not very stable.

 

[racemedic]

A winch is fine if you have something to anchor it to like a pull-pal. You may be better off getting a Maxtrax. If you are not doing any heavy wheeling I would pass on the Hi-lift and carry a good bottle jack with something to use as a base to give it a wider footprint so it doesn't sink in the sand. A recovery strap and shovel are also good to have.

 

[racemedic]

Also you may want to have this moved or post in the recovery equipment and tools section, you may receive more responses there.

 

[crawler#976]

I'd seriously consider a lifting bag like the XJack. They make short work of getting back on top of soft terrain.

Sent via gigawatt laser...

 

[JHa6av8r]

Have a recovery strap, shackles, and shovel. Thinking about upgrading my OEM bottle jack, adding a base, and ram extension. The review by Jonathon Hanson caught my eye.

 

[JHa6av8r]

Also you may want to have this moved or post in the recovery equipment and tools section, you may receive more responses there.

Good idea if I knew how!

 

[Chazz Layne]

Good idea if I knew how!

Done!

Have a recovery strap, shackles, and shovel. Thinking about upgrading my OEM bottle jack, adding a base, and ram extension. The review by Jonathon Hanson caught my eye.

I also use the stock bottle jack and a larger base, it works just fine and is much safer for a simple tire swap. As cool as the X-Jack variants are, they've always seemed a bit too unstable for comfort when I've used them... especially on sand where it's needed most.

Considering the roads you plan to travel, if you're a cautious driver then adding a set of Maxtrax, some basic tools (engine repair), and spare fluids should have you covered. The two most likely issues you'll encounter in that area are: 1. a flat tire, and 2. stuck in the sand. Bonus: add a 2-meter radio and a list of the local repeaters (with locations) and you'd be able to call for help regardless of cell reception. There's great info on this over in the comms forum.

You've most likely got it covered already with the FWC, but just in case I would also add one gallon of water, per person, per day of remoteness (day off tarmac). I know it's winter, but the desert can still be quite inhospitable if disaster strikes...

 

[JHa6av8r]

Done!


I also use the stock bottle jack and a larger base, it works just fine and is much safer for a simple tire swap. As cool as the X-Jack variants are, they've always seemed a bit too unstable for comfort when I've used them... especially on sand where it's needed most.

Considering the roads you plan to travel, if you're a cautious driver then adding a set of Maxtrax, some basic tools (engine repair), and spare fluids should have you covered. The two most likely issues you'll encounter in that area are: 1. a flat tire, and 2. stuck in the sand. Bonus: add a 2-meter radio and a list of the local repeaters (with locations) and you'd be able to call for help regardless of cell reception. There's great info on this over in the comms forum.

You've most likely got it covered already with the FWC, but just in case I would also add one gallon of water, per person, per day of remoteness (day off tarmac). I know it's winter, but the desert can still be quite inhospitable if disaster strikes...

It's like deciding how much insurance you want. Your reply made me realize I have a pretty solid base of gear. When I think through what might happen, a flat and getting stuck in soft sand are the most likely as you pointed out. I think for this trip making my bottle jack more stable/capable and adding a set of Maxtrax would be a good idea. Upgrading my communications capability has always been in the background. Thanks for suggesting it and the other comments.

 

[Byways]

Having spent weeks at a time exploring the desert roads of Southern California alone, or sometimes with my wife and two kids, in my '90 4Runner (22re, 5spd, 242k miles currently and running fine), I've learned that the single most important tool by far is also the simplest one: a shovel.

You will use nothing more often, or with greater positive effect, than a plain ol' shovel. I still have, carry and use the shovel I bought at a hardware store in Barstow in the summer of '94.

I also use my tank of CO2 often for airing tires back up. I used to use a small air compressor, but I grew weary of the noise and time it took. The suggestion of sand rails or mats is a good one; I carry two. (But I find speed a better strategy in soft sand.) I also carry strips of old carpet for traction. Bridging ladders can be useful if you encounter washouts. I just hate turning back from an exploration because a washout or rut is too deep and wide to continue.

It's like deciding how much insurance you want. Your reply made me realize I have a pretty solid base of gear. When I think through what might happen, a flat and getting stuck in soft sand are the most likely as you pointed out. I think for this trip making my bottle jack more stable/capable and adding a set of Maxtrax would be a good idea. Upgrading my communications capability has always been in the background. Thanks for suggesting it and the other comments.

 

[mrchips]

You can always bury your spare tire as a winch anchor point, it works very well. if you are in really soft sand air tires down to single digits for better flotation, be careful not to roll the tire off the rim.

 

[craig333]

Having just returned from Saline I can confirm the 2m can hit the repeater from there. Hi Lift is what you want when the bottle jack just looks at you and goes "not this time bub". I was happy to have the max trax along, never got stuck but when you feel the vehicle struggling in the sand its nice knowing its there.