Clean Up, Clear Out For The New Year
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This is also a good time to review the gear and equipment.
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January is a time for resolutions: lose weight, eliminate bad habits, be a better person.
Perhaps you made a list for this year (and are already finding it difficult to follow).
This is also a good time to review the gear and equipment used in off road driving.
Does any need replacing or repair? Are any pieces missing? Perhaps you need to brush up on some skills.
A favorite author, since child hood, is Horace Kephart. He was a writer for Field & Stream magazine from 1904 to 1906.
In 1917 he published Camping and Woodcraft. I have a MacMillian Company 1968 reprint. It would be difficult to purchase this book today
(more outdoor books).
Kephart was a master wordsmith and could capture the heart of the outdoors mentality perfectly.
Here is a quote from Chapter II - Outfitting that sums up the theme of this article.
" It is great fun, in the long winter evenings, to sort over your beloved duffel, to make and fit up the little boxes and hold-alls in which everything has
its proper place, to contrive new wrinkles that nobody but yourself has the gigantic brain to conceive, to concoct mysterious dopes that fill the house
with sanctimonious smells, to fish around for materials, in odd corners where you have no business, and generally to set the female members of the household
buzzing around in curiosity, disapproval, and sundry other states of mind." - Horace Kephart.
This list will help you start the driving year in good shape.
Incidentally, these are great tasks to work on during those dreary winter Saturdays. Let’s begin!
- Create or buy a first aid kit.
You can read my column on building a first aid kit here.
If you already have a first aid kit, review the contents for any products that should be replaced.
Heat and cold are hard on drugs, band aids and other items in your first aid kit. So is riding around for a year or more in your off-road vehicle.
Packets break and dry out, bottles leak, drugs expire, etc. Inspect anything a year or more old.
(It’s a good idea to mark your supplies with the purchase date.)
After refreshing your kit, transfer the displaced supplies to your home or other places where they’ll be used up quickly.
- While you’re at it, make a pocket survival kit. Here is how!
Get the kids involved in this project. They will love all the small items.
- Restock your go bag. Like with the first aid kit, replace any missing or old supplies. Wet Ones, even those in foil packets, can dry out over time.
Swap in some new ones, and use the others at home. Make an inventory of the contents of your bag if you do not have an inventory.
Include on the inventory the date last stocked / or expiration date for each item, and minimum quantities you always want to keep in the bag.
- Clean up and restock your camp box. Not sure what to include?
See my article here.
This might be a good time to empty it out and scrub the shelves, drawers, etc.
You might even need to put a fresh coat of paint on the outside. The spices, sugar, flower and many other supplies in a camp box do not get used up regularly.
Inspect and refresh everything. Make sure the match box still has matches in it.
- Sharpen all your knives. Buy a sharpening kit if you don't have one.
The only way to really get a good edge is to maintain the correct angle. Without a sharpening kit guide most people cannot hold a consistent angle.
Lansky produces a good quality compact knife sharpening system.
It is compact enough that you could take it to camp with you.
Replace any knives that are chipped or rusty.
Here is our article on Keeping a Sharp Edge and another high end sharpening system.
- Inspect your firearms to see if they need cleaning. Repair and replace slings, messed up scope mount screws, missing scope lens protectors, etc.
Buy a new hard side, lockable gun case to meet any new state rules or to travel on airlines.
Check your ammo supply, and replenish as needed.
Something you might add to your actual New Year's resolutions list is to acquire a CCW permit this year.
If not possible in your home state, see if you can get one in one of the many states that have broad reciprocal arrangements.
- Condition your boots if you haven’t in the past 3 or 4 months.
- Check the chemicals in your water filter. Replace if needed.
- Recycle stored gas and water. Both can go bad over time. Use up at home. Add Sta-Bil to the fresh replacement gas. It will extend the shelve life considerably.
The manufactures claims that it will extend shelf life as much as 12 months. I have used gas treated with Sta-Bil well beyond 12 months of storage (forgot to rotate) with no
issues. You only need 2 ounces for a 5 gallon can of gas. If you purchase it in the 32 oz. bottle, the price is quite reasonable.
- Restock the bird feeder. (OK. Just checking to see if you’re reading this column.)
- Stock up on any worn-out winter gear. Stores tend to put that stuff on sale right about now. Donate your old clothing so others can make use of it.
- Inspect your repair kit (for tents, sleeping bags, and such). Replace any missing materials.
Read my related article on the subject for more information.
- Inspect your tent, sleeping bag and other gear for rips. Replace any items that are in really tough shape.
This being the off season, you should be able to find camping gear on sale. Also, make sure you have enough lantern mantels and other replacement parts.
- Change batteries in portable devices used off road. They can leak and ruin your unit. Use the batteries in appliances at home.
Most batteries today have date on them. They are guaranteed to be fresh and not leak until that date. If you have had a backup package of batteries for some time
check the date. If the date is past, throw them away. It is not worth risking expensive electronics and gear with old batteries.
View it as the cost of being insured with back up batteries.
- For you ham radio operators, verify that the proper simplex and repeater frequencies are programmed into your radios.
This is a great time to research and load in repeaters for your trips this year.
While you are at it, buy a programmer to make the job easier. Then reorganize all the repeater frequencies you have tacked onto the memory as you need them.
- Sort through your file of product warranties and user manuals. Toss out any for products that you no longer have.
- Make a calendar of events for 2014. By putting your 4WD trips on the calendar, you are more likely to actually take them.
Need to brush up on some skills or add new ones? Sign up for courses, and put them on your calendar as well.
You can view my schedule here.
I’ve always found that engaging in these types of activities gets me really fired up. I imagine all the fun I’ll have during my trips.
I think you’ll agree that as you start tackling the list above, you’ll get revved up about four wheeling this year.
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On the way to Titus Canyon
Death Valley National Park
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Related Articles from Badlands Off-road Adventures
Did you miss the previous articles?
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Moab, UT
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Sign up now for Easter Safari April 14 – April 18, 2014.
It seems a long ways away, but all the trail rides are assigned on a first come first served basis.
The first date to sign up for the trails is January 21st this year. Hotels, RV parks and camp grounds need to be reserved this month.
They are all close to being sold out.
So if you think you might want to go to the Easter Safari this year with Badlands Off-Road Adventures,
you need to register right away. Once we have your registration; we will tell you which trails to sign up for.
http://4x4training.com/calendar/calendar.php#EJS.
A few pictures:
http://4x4training.com/images/Moab/Moabpicture.html
Check out
http://4x4training.com/Adventures/EasterSafari/EJSMain.html
You can register directly at
http://www.4x4training.com/calendar/calendar.php#EJS
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Some Upcoming Events
(click on the link for details)
Winter is a great time to be in Southern California
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The clinic schedule for January & February:
- January 25 Getting Started Off-Road - San Diego:
- January 26 Advanced Beginner Clinic- San Diego:
- February 01 Tire Repair & Hi-Lift Mini Clinic - Hawthorne
- February 08 Getting Started Off-Road - LA:
- February 09 Winch Clinic - Mojave
- February 15 Advanced Beginner Clinic- San Diego:
- February 16 Tire Repair & Hi-Lift Mini Clinic - Borrego
- February 28 Advanced Beginner Clinic- San Diego:
- March 02 Winch Clinic - Borrego
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You have 2 opportunities to attend this one day clinic. It starts with the basics and builds into complex riggings.
If you are considering installing a powered winch on your vehicle, or have one already but need training to learn how to get the best from it and do it safely,
you need to take this class. The one day course covers: safety related issues, basic operation of the winch, simple and complex riggings, stuck assessment,
winch capability, and minimizing environmental impact. This is a hands on class.
By the end of the day you will be safely rigging some complex recoveries.
More Details...
You can register directly at
http://www.4x4training.com/calendar/calendar.php#Winch
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The February 1st clinic will be held in Hawthorne, CA and the February 16th Clinic will be held near Borrego Springs, CA.
This 3 hour clinic will provide you with the knowledge and skills to repair the most common tire problems and to use a Hi-lift jack safely to aid you in the process.
To drive confidently off-road learn how to:
- Fix a bead
- Plug a puncture
- Break a bead
- Replace a valve stem
You can find out more details on line at
Tire Repair & Hi-Lift Mini Clinic:.
And register on line at
http://4x4training.com/calendar/calendar.php#TireRepair.
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Winch Recovery Bandana & Winching DVD
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We have our new stock with many new colors (Red, Orange, Green, and Blue) on hand.
The Bandana is packed full of useful information and is a quick reference in the field when no DVD player is available."
The Bandana layout follows the “Vehicle Recovery Plan” with pathways to more detail.
A unique section of the Bandana, gives the steps for a “Winch Rigging Check: Walk through” so that you verify every element of the rigging before you commit to the pull.
Stuff this in your recovery kit and you will always be ready!
Pick up or order the Winching DVD too!
There is no substitute for hands on training. If you can, sign up for one of Badlands Off-Road Adventure’s Winching Clinics.
Warning – the Bandana and DVD are not a substitute for proper training and use of quality equipment that is used within the bounds of their safe working load.
We advise you to use the information provided in both the Winching Recovery Bandana and the "Basic to Advanced Winching and Recovery DVD" at your own risk.
We cannot control the quality and specifications of the equipment used and the methods actually employed.
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Winch Recovery Bandana Order Button
Order a Basic to Advanced Winching & Recovery DVD too!
(Click picture for more details)
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I hope to see you on the trails!
Tom Severin, President
Badlands Off Road Adventures, Inc.
4-Wheel Drive School
310-613-5473
http://www.4x4training.com
Make it Fun. Keep it Safe.
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and follow the instructions to join our mail list.
Want To Use This Article In Your Magazine, E-Zine, Club Newsletter Or Web Site?
You are welcome to use it anytime, just be sure to include the following author/copyright information:
Tom Severin, 4x4 Coach, teaches 4WD owners how to confidently and safely use their vehicles to the fullest extent in difficult
terrain and adverse driving conditions.
Visit www.4x4training.com to develop or improve your driving skill.
Copyright 2013, Badlands Off-Road Adventures, Inc.
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