I've been four-wheeling for 30-something years.  Therefore, I've picked up a few things that I'd recommend to anyone that is considering venturing from the paved roads.  I'm not talking about the hard-core stuff, but what I'm talking about is for anyone who even considers driving on a typical Forest Service dirt road and beyond.

If you're planning on attending a sectioned run, such as the runs put on by the CA4WDC, your vehicle must be equipped with the following trail and safety items as a minimum:

* Tow rope or strap ( recommended at 2 times the weight of your vehicle)

* Seat belts for the driver and all passengers

* Fire extinguisher with a gauge indicating good/full and appropriately stored

* Working emergency brake, parking brake or Micro-Lock

* Mufflers (no open headers allowed)

* Jack capable of lifting your vehicle and a tool capable of removing the lug nuts

* Spare tirel that's within 3" of the tires your' re using on your rig  (no temporary spares)

* Water and/or water bucket

* Roll bar or full cage or factory hard top

* Battery holdown (no bungee cords or rubber straps allowed)

* First aid kit

* C.B. Radio (highly recommended, but remember, no antennas over 4' 6" in length are allowed on CA4WDC runs)

* Adequate attachments front and rear, i.e., tow hooks, receiver, etc.  Tow balls are generally not   recommended.

Those are the minimum items required to participate on organized runs.  In addition, you need to consider the following: NO ALCOHOL ON THE TRAIL!!  It is not only stupid and unsafe to drink on the trail, but it is illegal. On organized runs, if you do the booze, they will not only kick you off the run (with no refunds) , but will often summon the county mounties to give you a place to stay for the night.  Trust me, I've seen it happen. So, save the cold ones for camp at the end of the run.

On the organized runs, there is always help when you need it.  I've seen vehicles overhauled on the trail. There is always someone who has the expertise or the part that you need and they're willing to help.  Of course, use courtesy, e.g., pay them for the parts or give them a beer for their labor, etc..  It's called "trail etiquette."  Remember, the definition of a "trail" is when you have to use four wheel drive.  Yeah, it could be the Rubicon in July, or 1st street in January.  But, it's a trail!  On the trail, we're all brothers and sisters and we take care of each other.

Sure, I'm a proponent of organized runs, for the support, safety, camaraderie and fun.  However, I go on a lot of trips by myself. Then, what should you do?  A lot of it depends upon what you're going to do.  For example, I would treat a trip to the New York Mountains in July, quite differently than I would treat a trip to Lida in March.

It is best if you go with a buddy or two, in an extra vehicle or two.  Yeah, that doesn't always happen.  You need to let somebody know a tentative itinerary  of what you have planned to do; then if you don't come back Sunday night as planned, they can send out the search teams to look for you on Tuesday.  

I do a lot of exploring by myself, as sometimes it's hard to get a buddy to go with me, due to my weird work schedule, and sometimes, I prefer my own company and schedule.  So, over the years, I have taken great pains to equip myself and my truck, to be able to confront and overtake any conceivable situation.  And, I've had some good ones!

I prefer to 'wheel in the "great basin" country and desert.  Sure, I live closer to the Sierras, but I still prefer the wide open spaces. So the great majority of the things I carry and recommend apply to the desert.  But the Sierras can be truly inhospitable, so the advice applies there as well.   There are things that I wouldn't leave home without, and I carry them in the toolbox of my truck. What do I carry?  Well:

* Shovel, axe, wrecking bar, army pick, engineer's hammer, wrenches, pliers, ratchet/sockets

* Wire, fuses, spare parts, tire fix kit, nuts/bolts, duct tape, cable ties, spare key, knife, scissors

* matches, can opener, toilet paper, paper towels, alcohol, mess kit, 3-days of canned food

* water, water purification,  .357 magnum handgun, 100 rounds ammo, flares, eating utensils

* 3"x30' nylon tow strap, 2-sets snow chains, rubber tie-downs, bungee cords, tarps

* Hi-lift jack, bottle jack, 2"x6" wood, air tools (I have on-board air) and spare parts

All of the aforementioned items, plus a whole lot more, fits inside the toolbox with lots of room to spare.  I also keep the following items in my the back seat area (with the seat folded down) of my truck:

* Wool blanket, pillow, coat (army jacket), socks, sleeping pad, sleeping bag and lots of maps

In the back of the truck, I always keep lots of water.  I use the minimum of 1 gallon of water per person per day.  However, in the California/Nevada desert, water is few and far between.  So I usually bring along about 12 gallons or so, even if I'm going to only be in the "outback" for a couple of days.

OK, now for the somewhat "touchy" subject of spare gas.  If we all lived in a perfect world, we'd have a big tank and auxiliary gas tanks.  I don't have that luxury.  My truck has a 23 gallon tank and that's it.  Sure, I know that sounds like a lot, but it isn't.  Yeah, I could drive from Sacramento to Los Angeles on a tank, but it's a whole different world when you're on the trail.  So, I carry extra gas.  I usually carry 2, 6-gallon plastic cans full of gas.  But one thing that you need to know is that your gas must be strapped-down very securely.  I usually strap the extra water and gas down, and secure them to the toolbox in the bed of the truck with keeper straps.  It works for me.

Well, there's your survival and safety tips from me.  If you're interested in something more, go ahead and email me.  My email addess is at the navigation bar, on the left side of the page, near the top.

This web page was last updated on February 24, 2006.