Chris Collard shares his three decades of backcountry breakdowns, and the tools and equipment needed to get you (and your vehicle) home alive.
If we sat around a campfire spinning yarns about our early exploits into the backcountry, my guess is that the memories, regardless of the details, have been filtered into blissful adventures. They were most likely simple affairs with a full complement of necessities: a cooler of coldies, sleeping bags, and camp chairs. I recall the first trip in my ’82 Hilux. My buddy Rich Currie and I blazed out of town one afternoon, bent on exploring a place called South Fork. The route, a muddy 6km trench, was a good distance from the tar and we had the place to ourselves. All was good until I buried the truck to its frame and realised the cooler lid made a poor digging implement. We survived, but the takeaway was that I should pack a shovel next time.
During the next adventure, a friend became mired in axle-deep snow. I attempted to pull him out with an old rigging rope, which immediately broke. Another takeaway… I needed to buy a recovery strap. A year later, the radiator and fan of another friend’s Jeep did the tango. I watched as the “old guys” in my club resuscitated the radiator with needle-nose pliers and coarse-ground pepper. Yet more stuff to add to my toolbox: pliers and pepper.
So, for this 4×4-skills instalment, we are diving headfirst into equipment; specifically, the tools, spare parts, recovery gear, and speciality items that might help you (and your rig) get home alive.
When it comes to self-supported travel, developing a list of what items to bring and what to leave at home can be daunting. After 35 years of takeaways, I suggest crafting one around your personal style of travel. If you favour day trips and staying in campgrounds a short distance from services, a basic recovery kit and tools may be all you need. However, if you pine for the road less travelled and pitching your tent in the loneliest of locales, a detailed evaluation is in order. Things to consider should be the age and condition of your vehicle, your mechanical skills, and available storage space. At the end of the day, packing your vehicle’s suitcase is akin to sorting out personal items for a big trip. Lay out everything you think you will need, determine what will actually fit, prioritise, and cull the items at the bottom.
To simplify things, I’ve broken the process into several categories: recovery, tyre surgery, spares, standard and speciality tools, welding kit, fluids, and go-to overlanding gear. Don’t feel compelled to stuff everything on my list in your rig; simply use it as a guideline.
Recovery
Recovery List
Kinetic straps (2)
Tree Protector
Winch line extender (15m minimum)
Winch line damper
Pulley block (2)
Bow shackles (4-6)
Gloves (heavy duty)
Pull-pal
MAXTRAX/Recovery tracks
Shovel
Tyre Surgery
Tyre Repair List
Self-vulcanising yarns
Reaming tool
Yarn insertion tool
Lubricant
Razor Blades
Needle-nose pliers
Valve stems and cores
Valve core remover
Patches (various sizes)
Rubber cement
Buffer/scraper
Cordless drill and bits
Micro paracord, baling or stainless steel wire
Large surgical needle
RTV silicone
Air gauge
Air compressor
Spares
Spares List
Battery cables
Belts
Axles and seals
Brake line
Clutch and brake slave cylinder kit
Fuel pump, line, clamps, filter
Drivelines
Distributor cap, rotor, coil, points
Leaf/coil spring
Radiator hoses and clamps
Steering (tie rod, links, ends)
U-bolts and nuts
U-joints
Water hose (various diameters 1m lengths)
Water pump
Wheel bearings and seals
Thermostat
Tools (Basic)
Basic Tools List
Full set spanners
Full set sockets
Screwdriver set
Allen set
Channellocks (large, small)
Crescent wrenches (large, small)
Vice-Grips (large, small, needle-nose)
Files (combination, keyhole)
Hacksaw
Mallet, hammer
Hub wrench
Pinion nut socket
Pickle fork (two sizes)
Pry bar
Snap-ring pliers
C-clamps (small)
Brake line bender
Multi-meter
Telescopic magnet
Gasket material
Electrical connection kit, wire, crimper
Fuses
Brass punch, metal chisel, and metal punch
Tape (Teflon, electrical)
Cleaning brush
Spark plug thread bore
Emery cloth
Dental tools (picks, tweezers)
Alligator-clip jumpers
JB Weld, Loctite, fuel cell epoxy
Stop leak
Utility knife
Tools (Speciality)
Speciality Tools List
Drill and bits
Bolt extractor set and reverse-rotation drill bits
Die grinder (various disks, wire wheel)
Pneumatic or electric cut-off tool
C-clamps (large)
Gear puller
Vice-Grips (C-clamp style)
Sledgehammer
Safety goggles
15m air hose
Vehicle-specific tools
Fluids
Fluids List
Motor oil (2 litres)
Differential/transmission oil (2 litres)
Oil pump
Power steering and brake fluid
Brake cleaner
Carburetor or mass air-sensor cleaner
Drain pan, used oil container
Bearing grease (high temp)
Siphon hose (shaker type)
Starting fluid
WD-40
Hand cleaner
Welding Kit
Welding List
Ready Welder/Premier Power Welder/Unipower welder (optional)
Welding rod (6011, 6014, 7014)
Storage tube
Welding shield, gloves, brush, hammer
Battery welding kit: heavy-duty battery cable with terminal-mount ends
Jumper cables or welding leads, two or three 12-volt car batteries
Basic Overlanding Kit
Overlander List
Hi-Lift jack and base
Axe
Shovel
Saw
Machete
Bungee cords, ratchet straps, zip ties
Rigging rope and paracord
Collapsible bucket
Jumper cables
Fire extinguisher
Tyre iron (4-way star type)
Utility mat
Safety glasses
Nitrile rubber gloves
Medical kit
Flares
Bug repellant
Canteen, water filter or tablets
Compass
Extra food (3-day supply)
Flask of spirits (your choice)
Flashlight/headlamp (extra batteries)
Sleeping bag for each occupant
Fuel sticks (fat wood)
Waterproof matches
Knife and multi-tool
Spare ignition key
Sunscreen
Toilet paper
Biodegradable soap
Baling wire
Gorilla tape
Ziploc bags
Shop rags
Hardware (various sizes)
Metal flat bar, angle iron
Tarp
Poncho
