First Timer looking for off-road gear advice

[ColoradoRoz]

Hi all! We picked up our TRD ORP a couple of weeks ago. In the lead up I've read and watched a lot of info on off-roading, and while I've learned a lot I'm not quite ready to take the car down to the shop to throw a ton of mods on it simply because I don't know what I'll want yet.

That said if I want to go dip my toes in the water (say to a trail rated up to 3, 4 tops) what would be the minimum gear I should be bringing? Ie: do I need a deflator and compressor on a 3? Recovery gear?

I'm trying to baseline so that I can get a feel for what mods I may want to get down the road.

Thanks all!

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[fur_runner]

The easy answer is don't buy anything at all, go with ppl who already have gear and understand where you're coming from

MAYBE you need a winch but MAYBE you'll be uncomfortable taking a $60k truck into situations it may not come back from. You shouldn't worry about airing down non-LT rated tires, and if you're always gonna go alone you don't really need to worry about recovery gear.

If you really really don't want to find experienced ppl to go with, I would say you really only need two things:

1. Maxtrax will get you out of most things
2.. A satellite phone will get ppl to where you are when the Maxtrax don't work

Everything else - tires, winches, lifts, recovery gear - just get you further and further into trouble until you have ALL the gear and more experience.

Your truck has the tools on board to replace a tire, but not patch or repair a tire. I would consider that, independently of the off-road angle

 

[ColoradoRoz]

The easy answer is don't buy anything at all, go with ppl who already have gear and understand where you're coming from

MAYBE you need a winch but MAYBE you'll be uncomfortable taking a $60k truck into situations it may not come back from. You shouldn't worry about airing down non-LT rated tires, and if you're always gonna go alone you don't really need to worry about recovery gear.

If you really really don't want to find experienced ppl to go with, I would say you really only need two things:

1. Maxtrax will get you out of most things
2.. A satellite phone will get ppl to where you are when the Maxtrax don't work

Everything else - tires, winches, lifts, recovery gear - just get you further and further into trouble until you have ALL the gear and more experience.

Your truck has the tools on board to replace a tire, but not patch or repair a tire. I would consider that, independently of the off-road angle

Awesome - thanks for this. Finding some folks to go with was among the recommendations I read about, so I'll probably put more effort there. It'll delay gratification but probably the smart thing to do.

 

[fur_runner]

Awesome - thanks for this. Finding some folks to go with was among the recommendations I read about, so I'll probably put more effort there. It'll delay gratification but probably the smart thing to do.

On a personal level, this ISN'T advice I followed, and I have a garage full of giant ropes and shit I'll never use. The truck is very capable out of the box, and the easiest thing that will increase it's capability is having another truck with you out on the trail

But you know what, it was rude of me to shut it down with the first reply. I need to remember that a lot of the fun of hobbies is the journey, even if it isn't realistic. Here is what my plan was:

Tier 1: Foundation & Core Recovery Tools

1. All-Terrain Tires (Load C or E) - Most important for safety, grip, and durability. - Recommended: Falken Wildpeak AT3W, Toyo AT3, BFG KO3.
2. Tire Pressure System
   1. Portable air compressor - Viair 520PP
   2. Tire deflator - ARB manual. If you get a tool that removes the cores, also carry a large number of spare cores
3. Traction Boards - Maxtrax, ActionTrax, or GoTreads. - Solve most stuck scenarios without power tools.
4. Tire Repair Kit + Full-Size Spare -
   1. Puncture repair, plug kit
   2. Offroad jack - bottle jack or floor jack that works in the dirt. I went with the 3tn Badlands, and use it when I'm working on the truck at home too
   3. Ratchet strap to help get the bead reseated
   4. Breaker bar with lug socket ready to go
5. Kinetic Recovery Rope + Soft Shackles - Smooth, safe recovery with a second vehicle
   1. 3x 3/8" Factor55 soft shackles
   2. 7/8x30' Factor55 kinetic rope
   3. 7/8x10' Factor55 kinetic bridle
   4. Factor55 pro rear recovery point
6. Portable GMRS walkie talkie

Tier 2: Protection, Comfort & Confidence

1. Tree Saver Strap + Snatch Block
   1. If you're going to go right to this step on day one, you can use your tree strap as a bridle, but I would get both
   2. Get the Factor55 rope specific pulley
2. Come-Along or Manual Winch - Slower but reliable solo recovery.
   1. Wyeth-Scott makes a 3tn rope specific come along, which won't need special mounting on the truck (so it works in the front AND back)
3. Skid Plates - Engine, transmission, and transfer case protection.
4. Recovery Gear Mounting
   1. Keep in mind that everything listed above is gonna be a nightmare in an accident (the rope puller is like 40lbs) so you need to plan a way to safely store it all

Tier 3: Overland-Ready Upgrades

1. Suspension (2–2.5” Lift) - Notice how a collar lift wasn't on the list yet?
   1. Dobinsons Monotube or OME MT for clearance and ride.
   2. If you don't have SDM, have a dedicated set of tools to take off the endlinks-to-control-arm bolts, and the four bolts to hold the bushing brackets, and just throw the whole bar in the back of the truck when you're offroad
2. Navigation & Communication
   1. Gaia GPS / OnX Offroad
   2. Onboard 20w+ GMRS radio
   3. Garmin inReach/sat phone - I have the SpotX personally
3. Rear Cargo Setup - Drawer systems, MOLLE, fridge slide for gear access.

Tier 4: Extras & Expansion

1. Roof Rack or Modular Storage - For light gear, not heavy items.
2. Lighting - Ditch lights, scene lights for night use.
3. Onboard Water + Filtration - Rotopax, jerry cans, Sawyer Squeeze.

This was the road I went down. I got most of the Teir 2 stuff before I realized that I didn't want to beat my truck up, and that my entire trunk was filled with ropes I never used. I hit the off-ramp on that plan when I realized what I liked was camping, and I left ALL that gear at home except the air compressor and the tire repair kit, and got fridges and solar and the stuff that improved my quality of life.

Again, sorry to shut it down, its fun to play even if it doesn't make sense, and everyone does it different. I hope you just go out there and have a great time with your truck!

 

[Rellims]

Awesome - thanks for this. Finding some folks to go with was among the recommendations I read about, so I'll probably put more effort there. It'll delay gratification but probably the smart thing to do.

Wouldn't recommend starting out when there can be snow on the trail as that increases the likelihood that recovery gear will be needed.

I've heard good things about On Trail Training but have not personally taken a course.

If schedules align, I'll go with you on some starter trails like Sugarloaf or Switzerland. Won't need recovery gear there.

 

[ColoradoRoz]

Wouldn't recommend starting out when there can be snow on the trail as that increases the likelihood that recovery gear will be needed.

I've heard good things about On Trail Training but have not personally taken a course.

If schedules align, I'll go with you on some starter trails like Sugarloaf or Switzerland. Won't need recovery gear there.

Dude, that Training link is huge! Thank you!
And thanks for the offer to go out. I will reach out at some point - as you suggested re: weather I think I'm mentally prepared to wait till spring.

 

[odins_beer'd]

On a personal level, this ISN'T advice I followed, and I have a garage full of giant ropes and shit I'll never use. The truck is very capable out of the box, and the easiest thing that will increase it's capability is having another truck with you out on the trail

But you know what, it was rude of me to shut it down with the first reply. I need to remember that a lot of the fun of hobbies is the journey, even if it isn't realistic. Here is what my plan was:

Tier 1: Foundation & Core Recovery Tools

1. All-Terrain Tires (Load C or E) - Most important for safety, grip, and durability. - Recommended: Falken Wildpeak AT3W, Toyo AT3, BFG KO3.
2. Tire Pressure System
   1. Portable air compressor - Viair 520PP
   2. Tire deflator - ARB manual. If you get a tool that removes the cores, also carry a large number of spare cores
3. Traction Boards - Maxtrax, ActionTrax, or GoTreads. - Solve most stuck scenarios without power tools.
4. Tire Repair Kit + Full-Size Spare -
   1. Puncture repair, plug kit
   2. Offroad jack - bottle jack or floor jack that works in the dirt. I went with the 3tn Badlands, and use it when I'm working on the truck at home too
   3. Ratchet strap to help get the bead reseated
   4. Breaker bar with lug socket ready to go
5. Kinetic Recovery Rope + Soft Shackles - Smooth, safe recovery with a second vehicle
   1. 3x 3/8" Factor55 soft shackles
   2. 7/8x30' Factor55 kinetic rope
   3. 7/8x10' Factor55 kinetic bridle
   4. Factor55 pro rear recovery point
6. Portable GMRS walkie talkie

Tier 2: Protection, Comfort & Confidence

1. Tree Saver Strap + Snatch Block
   1. If you're going to go right to this step on day one, you can use your tree strap as a bridle, but I would get both
   2. Get the Factor55 rope specific pulley
2. Come-Along or Manual Winch - Slower but reliable solo recovery.
   1. Wyeth-Scott makes a 3tn rope specific come along, which won't need special mounting on the truck (so it works in the front AND back)
3. Skid Plates - Engine, transmission, and transfer case protection.
4. Recovery Gear Mounting
   1. Keep in mind that everything listed above is gonna be a nightmare in an accident (the rope puller is like 40lbs) so you need to plan a way to safely store it all

Tier 3: Overland-Ready Upgrades

1. Suspension (2–2.5” Lift) - Notice how a collar lift wasn't on the list yet?
   1. Dobinsons Monotube or OME MT for clearance and ride.
   2. If you don't have SDM, have a dedicated set of tools to take off the endlinks-to-control-arm bolts, and the four bolts to hold the bushing brackets, and just throw the whole bar in the back of the truck when you're offroad
2. Navigation & Communication
   1. Gaia GPS / OnX Offroad
   2. Onboard 20w+ GMRS radio
   3. Garmin inReach/sat phone - I have the SpotX personally
3. Rear Cargo Setup - Drawer systems, MOLLE, fridge slide for gear access.

Tier 4: Extras & Expansion

1. Roof Rack or Modular Storage - For light gear, not heavy items.
2. Lighting - Ditch lights, scene lights for night use.
3. Onboard Water + Filtration - Rotopax, jerry cans, Sawyer Squeeze.

This was the road I went down. I got most of the Teir 2 stuff before I realized that I didn't want to beat my truck up, and that my entire trunk was filled with ropes I never used. I hit the off-ramp on that plan when I realized what I liked was camping, and I left ALL that gear at home except the air compressor and the tire repair kit, and got fridges and solar and the stuff that improved my quality of life.

Again, sorry to shut it down, its fun to play even if it doesn't make sense, and everyone does it different. I hope you just go out there and have a great time with your truck!

This! Highly recommend getting out and seeing what you genuinely need. Personally I put armor in tier 1 because I destroyed the flimsy little rain shield and bent up my predator side steps.

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