Oklahoma provides a sprawling playground of diverse terrains for you to seek out and enjoy, from muddy riverbanks to rocky trails and everything in between. While it’s typically more fun and much safer to go off-roading with a crew of vehicles, there’s no reason you can’t sometimes hit the trails alone as long as you’re properly prepared. The number one thing to remember if you’re going solo off-roading is that there won’t be any other vehicles to help you get out of tough situations, which is why it’s crucial to have the best recovery tools available before you hit the trails. So today, we’re going to give you our list of suggestions!
Winch: Most Important Lifeline
If you went all out designing your custom build for off-roading, then there’s a solid chance you’ve already got a high-quality winch installed on your vehicle. If you don’t, it’s arguably the most essential recovery tool for any off-road trip, but especially for solo off-roading. If you end up getting buried in deep mud or wedged between a couple of rocks, a powerful winch will allow you to self-recover without relying on another vehicle.
- When selecting a winch, make sure you know how much your vehicle weighs as you’ll want to choose one rated for at least 1.5 times that weight.
- You’ll also want to carefully consider whether you want a synthetic rope or a steel cable. While the steel cable offers durability in extreme conditions, synthetic rope is much lighter and often considered to be safer for solo use.
- While it’s not required, we recommend opting for a winch that offers a wireless remote so that you can control and operate the winch from a safe distance.
- Recommendations: Check out the Warn Zeon 10-S or Smittybilt X20.
Recovery Boards: Quick Traction
In situations where you need to establish traction in a hurry, recovery boards – sometimes called traction mats – can be lifesavers. If your tires are losing grip on soft surfaces, such as being bogged down in deep mud or loose sand, you can place the boards under your tires to let the aggressive tread help your Jeep pull itself forward.
- When shopping for a recovery board, look at things like their grip patterns and weight to find the perfect fit for you. You want durability, quality construction and deep grip patterns more than anything.
- Recommendations: Check out options from Maxtrax or Tred Pro.
Hi-Lift Jack: Multipurpose Recovery
When you think of a jack you probably immediately think of changing your tires, and likely don’t see any other use for them outside of other examples of working under the vehicle. But Hi-Lift Jack Co. has been building multipurpose jacks for more than a century. This underrated recovery tool can actually help you lift your whole Jeep over obstacles or even assist in the winching process in addition to any tire changes or undercarriage maintenance. It’s an especially invaluable tool for solo off-roaders, who might not be able to try more traditional methods of recovery afforded by having other vehicles around.
- Before using a Hi-Lift Jack, be sure that you’ve got a sturdy base to prevent sinking into soft ground.
- You can pair your jack with a tow strap or winch to attempt unconventional recoveries.
- Make sure you always keep your jack lubricated to prevent jamming up in muddy conditions.
Additional Considerations
While these three options give you a great base, there are plenty of other recovery tools that are indispensable to the solo off-roader. Be sure to consider these options as well before tackling the trails alone:
- Recovery straps
- Soft shackles
- Foldable shovel
- Portable air compressor
- Emergency communication device; satellite communicator, two-way radio
Hopefully, all of this information has helped you get better prepared before tackling your solo off-roading adventure. If you have any questions feel free to get in touch with us, but we leave you with one last tip. Make sure you tell someone where you’re going and keep them updated whenever you can!