If you’ve spent any time off the beaten path, you’ll quickly find that things don’t always go as planned. Vehicles can break down, weather conditions can throw a spanner in the works, tracks can close, and sometimes people end up hurt. Preparing for the unexpected is a plan B every single off-road enthusiast should possess. It can be difficult to hypothesise disastrous scenarios and the gear you’ll need to cover your butt. So we’ve got a little checklist below that’ll get you off to a great start.
SURVIVAL Kits
My boyfriend lives on his farm, which means every fortnight I make the 3 hour car trip to the country to spend the weekend out there. It also means I see a heck of a lot more Aussie animals roaming freely than most city folk do. I’ve got to watch out for roo’s when I’m driving, and I’ve got to worry about snakes when I’m walking through the scrub. Especially because I’m typically wearing clothes I’d wear in the city that aren’t equipped for the country. I’ve recently adapted and bought some Ringers Western gear to address the first issue and I’ve picked up a SURVIVAL Snake Bite First Aid KIT for the other.
Designed in Australia by leading first aid experts, the SURVIVAL Snake Bite First Aid KIT was developed in conjunction with snake safety experts, SSSafe. It contains all the essential first aid contents you need to assist in the onsite treatment of a venomous snake or Funnel-web spider bite. The KIT also contains lifesaving instructions on correct snake bite bandage technique so you can take the correct action quickly. It has been specifically designed for easy attachment to belts, backpacks, hiking and camping gear and mountain bikes. We personally keep it in the side-by-side, but it also stores easily in caravans and 4WD’s.
With all the long grass on the farm (the sheep can only eat so much) the likelihood of a snake lurking is quite high. And it’s not just on the farm. Whenever we go camping, we encounter snakes each and every time. Tiger snakes and brown snakes alike. It is their natural habitat after all, so it’s not that much of a shock. However, an aspect of accepting the snake is also preparing for one to launch at me. The SURVIVAL Snake Bite First Aid KIT is a piece of safety gear I’d never go exploring without.
First aid isn’t only for the farm
It was only last week when my roommate deeply cut her finger while cooking dinner did I realise I didn’t have a first aid kit at home. Scurrying to find a pack of band aids in the pantry that neither of us had ever purchased made me realise I never actually considered the need for a first aid kit until it was too late. This is the case for so many people. SURVIVAL Family First Aid KIT features everything you need for minor incidents to extreme emergency situations. Whilst I keep this one at home, I also bring it along whenever we head off to fishing and camping trips. It stores so easily I often forget it’s there, but it’s one item I never head off without.
Pro tip: Download iFirstAid on your device to have important first aid information and videos at your fingertips. It’s available for both iOS and Android devices.
Bull Bar
At its core, the purpose of a bull bar is to provide front-end protection for your vehicle. This is especially useful in collisions when you come head on with animals or even trees. You may recall reading a story we published, The day a bullbar saved my life, that detailed a collision with a horse. The author credited their bull bar, saying it absorbed an enormous amount of energy from the collision and protected both himself and the suspension and steering components as well, allowing him to bring the vehicle to a controlled stop.
Not only do they serve as protection for vulnerable mechanical components, they also provide a solid base for mounting other safety accessories such as winches and driving lights.
Electronic Secondary Park Brake
If you’ve got a Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series, chances are you’ve experienced some issues with roll away. Or you’ve likely heard chatter amongst the 4×4 community that the OE handbrake on these models is insufficient and prone to failure. I’m sure we don’t even need to explain why roll away is a safety concern. A roll away crash is a danger for pedestrians, can damage other cars and has the ability to wreck your own vehicle. The last thing anybody wants is an out of control vehicle. One way to up the safety for your Landcruiser is by introducing one of Terrain Tamer’s solutions, such as a secondary park brake.
This secondary system works to support the original handbrake which may need a little assistance. It’s important to note that it’s not to be used as an alternative or replacement of the original handbrake. The Electronic Park Brake Kit is what you’ll need to install to help prevent roll away instances. The kit includes calipers, wiring, controller, control switch and all accessories required for fitting, and is compatible with OE size pads and rotors, without the need to replace these parts. It features Plug & Play installation and only requires 3 hours of your time to fit. This secondary system uses the hand brake warning light on your vehicle’s dashboard and auto safe engagement, causing automatic activation when the vehicle’s ignition is off, in order to prevent potential roll-away.
PLB
Sure we all love to escape, hit the great outdoors and leave all of our emails unread for the foreseeable future. Although it’s refreshing, disconnecting completely and having no form of communication or ability to get in contact when you’re away on a trip is just downright dangerous. This is why I’d always encourage you to take a PLB along for the ride.
A PLB is an electronic device whose purpose is to send out a distress signal when you are of course in distress. If things have gone haywire, this handy device is what allows you to be located and ultimately rescued in a life-threatening situation. The MT610G by GME is one option that allows you to remain safe and connected, wherever your off-road adventure takes you. Whether you’re a bushwalker, a 4WDer or even a remote worker, this is an integral piece of safety equipment that allows a huge amount of peace of mind. It features an integrated 72 channel GPS receiver and requires zero warm-up time, allowing you to get help faster. Make sure your PLB is somewhere you can easily access it, such as in your glovebox, or strapped to you if you’re on foot.
I’m not a negative Nelly, but I am a “what if?” girl. Which is why safety is almost at the forefront of my mind when I’m heading off for an adventure. I’d much rather bring it all back with me untouched, than find myself in a situation where I was wishing I hadn’t left it behind. A little forward thinking goes a long way; in fact it can be the difference between a life or death situation.