Below is a list of some of the gear we use when we are out on the trails, including links to the added protection we have on our Grand Cherokee.

This is not an exhaustive list, but it highlights our most used items. If you are looking for a list of what to pack for off-roading adventures, see this post here. Also, when you are done checking out the list, hop on over to our discount/promo code page to see if there is a current deal on any of the products listed below.

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Essentials/Protection:

Tires: Falken Wildpeak AT3W All Terrain Radial Tire - 265/65R18 114T

Winch: Smittybilt X2O COMP - Waterproof Synthetic Rope Winch - 10,000 lb. Load Capacity

Air Compressor: Smittybilt 2781 5.65 CFM Universal Air Compressor

Protection by Chief Products: Sump Plate, Transmission plate, Lower Front Guard, Hidden Winch Mount, Rear Bumper/Corner Guards, Rock Rails (bare bones), Bull/Nudge Bar

Roof Rack: Gobi Stealth Rack

Tow Straps and Soft Shackles: Rhino USA (Use code PRODIGAL for 15% off any purchase)

Communication/Safety:

Midland Radio Walkie-Talkies- These tiny devices have been used more then any other gear we have. Walkie-talkies have become a lifeline when we are out on the trails. We carry 6 of them. That gives us enough to pass out to other cars in our group and leaves extra for the spotter to carry. Cell service is spotty or non-existent on a lot of trails and these handy devices make it possible to keep in constant communication. Drivers and spotters need to be able to hear each other clearly and communicate quickly. The walkies make that possible. We started out using ones we had for our kids, but the battery life was poor and the cost to constantly change batteries was not ideal. The model we use comes with a rechargeable battery and a 2 unit plugin base. We keep one charger base in our home/rig and the other in the Jeep. This way we can keep at least 2 of the walks charging throughout the day, even while in use! In addition to the ability to communicate on dedicated lines with people in your group, there is access to the NOAA weather service.

Our walkies have held up over the past year, through almost daily use and varying environments. When we are not on the trails, we use them in campgrounds, on hikes and for our kids. Our kids have to carry one with them when they leave the rig. This allows us to stay in constant communication while giving them some freedom. And of course the kids love using them for their own fun and games! (In our previous home, a bunch of kids in the neighborhood had walkies, as well as the parents. It allowed us all to keep track of our kids without giving them cell phones.)

Garmin In-Reach Satellite communicator: This little device is not cheap but it is worth it for our peace of mind! We are often in places where there is no cell service and having the ability to text for help or send our GPS coordinates in the case of an emergency is worth the money to us. You may find that you are rarely in this situation and it is not a priority for you, however we highly recommend that you always let someone know where you are going and when you plan to be back if you do venture off-road and do not have one of these.

First Aid Kit: This is a no brainer. We keep one in each car and carry a smaller version in a backpack for hiking. We have added a few things to our set that meet the specific needs of our family and you may like to create your own kit based off of your needs. Either way, make sure to have some type of first aid kit on hand when you head off-road. The same company that makes the cooler we have has 3-day emergency backpack that is pretty sweet and easy to take on the trails whether by foot or by car.

BlueDriver Bluetooth Pro OBDII Scan Tool for iPhone & Android: This handy device lets us know what’s going on when an alert pops up on the Jeep. There have been several times when the engine light goes on and we are in the middle fo doing a trail. We plug this little guy in and it lets us know if it is safe to continue driving. We also use this for the truck we use to tow our home. It has saved us several expensive trips to the auto repair shop!

Recovery Tracks- We currently have these but would only recommend for use on mud and sand. Ours Cracked when used on rocky steps. To be fair their description only recommends mud and sand, but we wanted to reiterate that just in case you are thinking they will perform like the better known brand: MaxxTraxx. We currently do not have any but hope to have them soon as they seem to be the best out there- and for a crazy crew like ours, we need something that can take a beating and keep on ticking!

Check out our Promo Code/Discounts Page to see if there are any current deals being offered for any of the items on this page.

Over-landing/Convenience:

Bluetti Power Stations: Personally we have the mid-range Bluetti EB55 that we use when we are camping without utilities. This unit has been more then sufficient for our everyday needs as far as charging devices and powering our fridge/freezer for about 12 hours. See more details and our full review in this video.

Direct on the website enter DISCOUNT CODE: BradEB55 to save some cash ($54 Off)

On Amazon: https://amzn.to/3m1j2b9

The Blue Cooler: This blue beauty is a fairly new addition to our gear. Prior to purchasing this, we carried around a standard ….. cooler. It worked ok for a day ride, as far as keeping things cool, but it was a pain in the neck to carry around. We like to store our coolers on the roof rack when we are out on the trails for two reasons: 1- we are a family of 5 and our 2 dogs hang out in the trunk, leaving us no room inside. 2- We bounce all over the place and drive on steep inclines/declines making it likely that our cooler will flip over if it is not tied down. (It happened when we were playing on the sand dunes in Michigan and the mess was not fun!) Our old cooler required us to strap it down over the lid making it a bear to undo each time we wanted to grab something. Our new Blue Cooler has a unique strapping system that allows the cooler to be strapped securely while still having access to the inside contents. The lid secures with thick rubber straps and there is a place to put a lock on if wanted. Inside, the cooler had a divider that doubles as a cutting board and a basket to keep things like sandwiches dry. This cooler is similar to a Yeti, but touts thicker insulation and comes at half the price. See what else they have to offer, here.

use code BLUE10 for 10% off

Plano Storage Trunks: If you have seen any of our videos, then you have probably seen the storage trunks we have strapped to the roof. Since we travel full-time, we have to get creative about our storage. As a result we carry 2 of these trunks. We leave one empty for when we have to go to the store or haul things like laundry and our car is full with all 7 of us (counting the dogs). The other one carries all our tent camping supplies. When we are settled in a campsite they are easy to remove from the roof rack and maneuver around with their 2 wheels. They also come in handy as extra seating when needed! These are one of the cheaper purchases we have made, but also one of the most used. They have held up since the beginning and they keep our stuff dry and rodent free.