May 4, 2022 - Article By Devan G.
Half the fun of off-road adventures is planning the trip. The spontaneity of a wheeling trip can be fun, but a well-planned trip usually goes more smoothly and leaves less room for things to go wrong. Before I even start packing for a trip, I always do a few things that make a significant difference in whether it will be a fun, successful one. Here are five tips for planning the perfect off-road trip, along with an explanation of how they help. Let's get started.
5. Choosing a New Destination
My truck is my best friend, and I love exploring new places with it. Every wheeler has his or her tried and true favorite wheeling spots, and it's important to preserve traditions. However, it's very rewarding to visit a place you've never been, and observe how the terrain behaves. An idea to visit a new place can come from any source, including seeing photos of a friend's adventure, hearing about an interesting feature (such as a waterfall hike or a slot canyon) nearby the trails, or learning about historical significance of the area. I enjoy learning about the history of these places, and often times, history is preserved in remote areas only accessible by off-road vehicles. When planning your next destination, try to find somewhere you haven’t been, and research some of the best points of interest in that area.
4. Mapping Your Route
I don't like getting directions verbally on where to go. I'm a Maps addict, so whenever I'm planning an off-road trip, I head straight to Apple Maps and take a look at the terrain in order to familiarize myself with the area. You can create routes on Google Maps by adding points of interest, camping spots, or anything else you'll need to remember (gas stations, ranger stations, etc.). The map can be downloaded to your phone or GPS. By knowing precisely where I am relative to the nearest highway, I've avoided a lot of headaches over the years and even avoided bad situations. While there is nothing as reliable as a physical map, having a digital map of your journey increases your chances of getting off the grid and back on without any trouble.
3. Packing Appropriately
We’re not just talking about packing a poncho for rain. Your length of stay will determine the gear you’ll need to bring, so keep that in mind. Different terrain requires a different set of gear, regardless of how ready you think you and your rig are. If it’s a day trip to the mountains, I’m getting the bug spray and small cooler full of ice full of sandwiches and snacks. If it’s a weekend in the desert, I’m packing sunscreen and almost my entire fridge/freezer along with a grill and propane. These are just examples of camping gear, but the same applies to your rig. I normally bring a small tool bag for a day trip, but a week-long point to point trek means I’m packing my off-road tool box, so I’m ready to tackle any kind of trail repair, whether it’s on my own vehicle or somebody else’s. Recovery gear should always be a part of any trip, regardless of your destination or length of stay.
2. Anticipate Fuel Needs
Keeping in mind this tip shouldn't seem so crucial for short trips, but it's essential when making longer, point to point trips like the Mojave Road. MPG and fuel economy are usually lower when off-roading than they would be on the road. When accelerating constantly to pass through sand or change elevation, more fuel is consumed compared to driving down the highway. The MPG you will get off-road may be as little as half what you would otherwise get. For example, if your rig gets 18 MPG on the highway, expect to see 9 MPG on the trail. Regardless of whether it's accurate or not, it's a helpful benchmark to use. Your trip's total mileage can be calculated ahead of time using the map you created in the second tip above. You can then plan your route based on your off-road MPG and how much fuel you'll need to carry to get to your destination. This is based on how many miles you'll cover when you hit the dirt. Although this is not an exact science, you should definitely consider it before starting your journey.
1. Use the Buddy System
I always bring a friend with me when I venture off-road. Not only does it significantly increase your chance of getting back to civilization safely should something go wrong (or if you get stuck in a mud hole you thought you could bog through), but it's twice as fun. I'm aware that many wheelers enjoy the solo lifestyle, and have a variety of contingency plans in case something should go wrong with them or their rig. But I have always found planning a trip with friends and sharing the experience with them to be so much more rewarding. Get a hold of a few of your wheeling buddies and see if they've got a Saturday or Sunday open before setting your alarm for 4:00 AM. It's likely they'll make it work if they're avid outdoorsmen and off-roaders.
To understand why we started off-roading, it is necessary to remember our roots. Our reasons for wheeling are the same whether you just got your first rig or have been doing it ever since you were a baby. It's a chance to experience life differently, to make memories that last a lifetime, and to change your pace from what you're used to. If you plan ahead of time, you'll probably be smiling on the drive to work next week as you tell your coworkers funny stories. Hopefully one day I'll catch you out there on a trail. Plan your next off-road adventure now.
