Expedition Accessories - The little things

[taylorf16]

I went from an 05 access cab to an 02 double cab and miss things like my compass and thermometer.
Do you guys have any little nick nack items that aren't necessary, but add excitement to the trip?

I've got the usual - Bed Rack, RTT, working on an cab over rack and was thinking about solar panels and a battery under the RTT, Action Packer with belts, parts, tools, bungees, fluids.
Also working on tire carrier.

Wondering if I need a CB radio. I'd like another thermometer and compass. What are you guys using for GPS? I saw some use an iPad mini with a GPS puck. Is satellite radio a necessity?
Camera?
What other suggestions do you guys have?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Chazz Layne]

Moved to the General Vehicle Modifications forum, you'll get a lot more traffic here.

 

[Martinjmpr]

Why are you asking us what is neccessary for YOU?

I have no idea what YOU need, only You know that.

I agree WRT the thermometer. Nice to know the outside temp. I'm kind of an "information junkie:" I always want to know what time it is, where I am, what the temp is, what the weather will be, etc.

If you want to see the outside temperature and don't mind doing a little work, I have a setup that I bought for my '99 4runner and never installed - should fit fine on a 1st gen Taco. It's an A-pillar mounted gauge pod and a digital outside thermometer with a remote sensor. I no longer have that vehicle so PM me if you're interested in buying the temp gauge and pillar pod.

As far as GPS, personally I like having a dedicated GPS unit as opposed to just using my phone. That way I can leave the GPS in the vehicle, whereas I always take my phone with me. I actually use 2 GPS's when I'm off road because my old, monochrome Magellan Meridian displays some things that my newer Garmin touch-screen does not, like altitude and really minor roads. OTOH the Garmin is much, much better on the highway, easier to use and shows things like the next turn or the nearest gas station - things my old Magellan does not.

CB? I presume if you had somebody to talk to you'd have a CB already. If you want serious, long-range communication with strangers and want to take the time to get a HAM license you could put a dual-band VHF/UHF 2 way radio in your vehicle. Much better than a CB, the downside is that if the other people you travel with don't have it, you'll be back to CB.

Satellite radio? Meh. I had it for a couple of years and then dropped it. Even on long trips I can carry enough music on a thumb drive to keep me entertained.

As for a camera, yeah, everybody should have one of those as well, if you like to document your travels. I guess you could use your phone for that, too, if you didn't want a separate camera. For me, like the GPS, I prefer to have a dedicated camera rather than trying to use my phone for all those functions - even the best smart phone IMO is a "jack of all trades and master of none."

 

[southpier]

can't go wrong with an axe.

 

[4x4junkie]

I kept it simple and clipped a cheapo kitchen thermometer (scale reads -20 - 200°F) to my outside mirror bracket to know what the outside temp is. No wiring since it needs no power, and if it gets lost, broken, or stolen, I'm only out $6. Though to read it at night often requires a flashlight lol.

I find there are areas where the CB band has lots of local regulars chatting away on it, and then there are other areas where the band is desolate. During the day when signals reflect off the ionosphere you may hear stations from hundreds to thousands of miles away (though unless you have a SSB rig or a 'helper unit', making contact with them could be hit-or-miss).
I have both a CB and a VHF/UHF in mine, seems between the two of them there's usually someone on the bands to communicate with if needed. I also keep a couple throwaway FRS handhelds in the truck to pass out if someone else in the group needs a radio.

No sat radio here either... 11,000+ songs w/several dozen playlists on my 60G MP3 player to keep me going.

170W solar panel w/MPPT controller... 12V Fridge... 12V LED lights (made with MR16 (GU5.3 Bi-Pin base) lamps, can be bought at Home Depot, etc.)... LED lantern... Couple flashlights (one rechargeable incandescent, one LED)... Q-Beam 100W xenon spotlight (for seeking campsites at night)... Canon camera... DeLorme Atlas (Gazetteer) map books... probably some other things I'm forgetting...

 

[peneumbra]

Beer. Carry lots of beer, and something huge - like one of those coolers the fishing boats use - to carry it in. Take enough beer, and you'll find that all those other things (like food and water) become unnecessary...

 

[Martinjmpr]

Beer. Carry lots of beer, and something huge - like one of those coolers the fishing boats use - to carry it in. Take enough beer, and you'll find that all those other things (like food and water) become unnecessary...

A fridge can carry just as much beer and make that big cooler unneccessary.

 

[Dan Grec]

Great idea for discussion,

On my Alaska->Argentina drive I really found the little things made life so much more enjoyable.

These are the ones I remember, and must-haves for next time

* A little thermometer hanging from the inside rear view mirror that I checked multiple times a day (often it was over 50C (122F)
* A folding camp chair that I used every single day in camp
* A headlamp - so nice to have hands-free lighting everywhere you want it.
* A folding table (I didn't have one, and really, really want one for next time)
* A couple of full water bottles in reach of the driver's seat.

-Dan

 

[Zeep]

A small axe as stated above. Also, Delorme atlas for whatever area your in. Most importantly a roll of T-P, is always stored in a ziplock baggy somewhere in the back!

 

[peneumbra]

@Martinjmpr: I've got an ice chest that can carry two full cases of beer, plus about 100 lbs of ice; do they make portable refrigerators that big? Plus, if someone in your party expires (say, from lack of food or water) you can stuff them in the ice chest and they'll keep until you return to civilization. Of course, in that case you'd have to let the beer get warm...

 

[eurosonic]

you mentioned little things? well here

An absolute must on my truck



Bear head bottle opener

 

[DaveNay]

Get rid of the clock, watch, phone, etc. The only time you should worry about is I'm hungry time, I'm sleepy time, I'm thirsty time, I'm horny time, and It's fishing time.

 

[Arclight]

The communications gear I carry consists of:

1. Cell phone and charger
2. Vehicle-mounted VHF/UHF radio
3. CB radio
4. A couple of 2w, UV3r handheld VHF/UHF radios

Your cell phone will get you help in 75% of the places you go in the US. The 2m (VHF) ham radio and a list of local repeaters for the area programmed in offers a lot of piece of mind when you're alone and the truck starts making a funny noise 30 miles from the highway.

Most people you might off-road with are going to be using CBs or FRS radios. The Chinese walkie-talkies like the UV3r or UV5r can listen to FRS/GRMS in addition to ham bands. Of course, you will go straight to hell if you transmit on FRS using a non-type accepted radio, but they will work on this band just fine.

I will also agree on the CB - you can go hours without hearing anyone, and then have all kinds of activity in a certain area. And a good amount of Jeep clubs/etc still use them. They are not expensive, but you will need to make room for the antenna.

Arclight

I have both a CB and a VHF/UHF in mine, seems between the two of them there's usually someone on the bands to communicate with if needed. I also keep a couple throwaway FRS handhelds in the truck to pass out if someone else in the group needs a radio.

 

[Riptide]

can't go wrong with an axe.

Seriously??

 

[PowerWagner]

Get rid of the clock, watch, phone, etc. The only time you should worry about is I'm hungry time, I'm sleepy time, I'm thirsty time, I'm horny time, and It's fishing time.

That's awesome! Sounds like a great motto.