BE PREPARED!

Spend anytime in the off road game and you are bound to end up on a road trip. Going off to some distant location with very little amenities, if any - no running water, lots of dirt and full of good times. The big question is how prepared are you for the trip ahead? No matter what the trip, where you are going and why, you should be prepared for anything that may come your way.

A tarp can come in handy for many things, giving the prima donna of your crew a clean place to sleep is just one use.

Over the last couple of years I have been going to a lot of desert races, everything from the King of the Hammers in Johnson Valley, CA to the Baja 1000 in Mexico. With each one of these trips I have discovered a new obstacle to be prepared for whether it be with my immediate crew or someone outside of our crew that needs some help. So the big question is, what do you need to be prepared for your next trip into the dirt?

First and foremost before anything else is a GPS unit of some sort, be it a hand held or a dash mounted race unit, knowing where you are at is essential.

Next is your vehicle. Is it ready to go, is it in good and safe working conditions and can it handle the areas that you are going? We have all been out on the trail and seen the guy in a stock truck or SUV that has gone in over his head, tried to climb some rocks, cross a stream or whatever else and the end result has left him sitting there begging for help. While a stock vehicle will work for many things, it is usually not going to work very well off road; the conditions, even on a groomed/maintained trail can be too much. With that in mind, no matter what you are driving there are some essential spares you should always have.

Traveling in a group is always a good idea, as everyone has each others backs.

The fact is that you can never have too many spares and tools on hand. Items to consider packing include:

• Spare tire in good condition
• Oils and other essential fluids
• Small fuel can (filled)
• Jumper cables
• Electrical fuses
• Tool box with common hand tools
• Come along or hand winch
• Tow rope/strap
• Duct tape, electrical wire, electrical tape, bailing wire, zip ties
• Bungee cords
• Flashlight
• Rags
• Degreaser

Tires, bungee cords and a comfy place to sit and relax.

Now that your rig is ready, it is time to look into things that will keep you comfortable and alive. Out for a fun day in the dirt or chasing for a race team, things can happen; you can end up stuck for a while. You should be prepared to be there for a while and being comfortable can make it a much more pleasant experience. Now everyone has a different idea of comfort so add to the list as you see fit, but here is a good start on items you should pack with you.

• First aid kit
• Cooler
• Light food and snacks
• Water
• Candy
• Cigarette lighter
• Pain killer, aspirin, etc.
• Cleaning wipes
• Small blanket

Fires are great but keep them in check, take all necessary precautions to ensure that it stays in control.

Now let's put yourself in the worst case scenario, you are stuck in the middle of nowhere, there is no one around to help and you are going to be there unless you get some help. These are helpful tips to get some help.

There is a handy new device called Spot. Spot is a GPS tracking device, when you get in trouble you simply turn it on, follow the simple instructions. Once completed the Spot sends information such as your GPS location to a satellite, that info is then sent to authorities who use it to find you.

Things always can go wrong, having tools to handle problems is a must.

Your cell phone can send text messages with less signal than it takes to make a call. Send a mass text to everyone you know that includes a short message that you are in need of help and provide your GPS coordinates.

There is an "extreme emergency" number that can be picked up by most cell phone providers even when you have little or no signal. That number is 112.

Most cell phones have hidden battery life. Dial *3370#

Is that enough tires?

In Mexico their version of 911 is 066

Use a mirror to signal aircraft

Bury human waste. While being stuck sucks, being stuck because you have attracted wild animals is worse. Bury your waste.

Ration food and water

Your body can survive on sugar for a while and your brain feeds on it, consume candy between small meals to stay alert.