Expeditionr

Stepping outside our comfort zone is something that most people will avoid doing unless absolutely necessary. There are those lucky few who seem to thrive by living life on the edge, but for most of us, there’s something truly unnerving about moving into unexplored territory. I guess I’d place myself somewhere in between. I like to push my limits because I feel it improves me as a person and allows me to grow and learn from the experience. But I’m also cautious when I take these steps and prefer to feel my way around before jumping in head first. This is true for many aspects of my life and off-roading is no exception. Every time I push my limits as a driver or the physical limitations of the FJ, I get nervous, but over the years I have discovered a few tips and tricks that help to reduce the stress.

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With some of the larger upgrades out of the way, it was time to review the list of smaller items required for the upcoming trip to Rausch Creek.  The following items are in no way limited to an FJ Cruiser.  These are simply my recommendations for anyone who wishes to travel off-road or longer distances into remote areas.

For those of you looking to attend sponsored off-roading events, a lot of the equipment requirements will depend on who’s hosting the event.  Most sanctioned off-roading events will have a list of items that must be present in or on the vehicle, prior to participation.  In fact, it’s not uncommon in the larger events for your vehicle to go through a complete inspection before the event begins.  Typical checklist items are usually aimed at vehicle and passenger safety and include things like working headlights, wipers, and brakes.  Again, many of these requirements come down to the event type and sponsors.

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Given the variety of equipment available for off-road adventures, locating all the necessary parts and pieces for an expeditionary load-out can be more than a little time-consuming.  There are a lot of factors to consider when selecting the perfect piece of equipment for your trip. I am by no means an expert in expeditionary trips.  As a matter of fact, I have very little experience in this area.  But since I am learning as I go, I wanted to avoid as many potential catastrophes as I could.  So I came up with my the following list of questions based on a purely-logical, common-sense approach.

I realize that it may not be the most comprehensive list, but so far I’ve found it to be quite useful when purchasing and preparing equipment for any type of overland adventure.  I know I can’t prepare for every possible event, but the more time I spend focused on the necessities, the better off I’ll be in the long run.  And my plan is to continue adding to the list and tweaking questions as I gain more experience in off-roading and overland travel.

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