Guides / Preparation

Before you leave: trail preparation

Good trips start before the engine does. This is a general checklist. Adapt it to your vehicle, your group and the trail.

Plan the route and tell someone

• Share your route and expected return time with someone who is not on the trip.
• Check the forecast for the whole route and the hours of daylight.
• Know where you can turn back.

Check access and permissions

• Check the access rules and permits for the area before you go.
• Respect private land, wildlife and local communities.

Get the vehicle ready

• Check engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, brakes, battery and lights.
• Check tyre condition and pressures when the tyres are cold, including the spare.
• Fill the fuel tank before a remote route.

Pack the essentials

• A recovery strap suitable for your vehicle, rated recovery points or shackles, and a shovel.
• A tyre gauge, an inflator or compressor and the tools to change a wheel.
• Water, food, a first-aid kit, a torch, a charged phone and a power bank.
• Offline maps in case you lose signal.

Travel as a group

• Avoid remote trails alone where you can.
• Agree hand signals or a radio channel before you start.

Know when to turn back

If the weather changes, the light fades or a section feels beyond your skill or your vehicle, turning back is the right decision.

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