When should you buy off-roading kit?

I've just bought a Defender 90 2.2 with MT tyres and am planning on taking it green laning and off roading, but looking on here it seems that some kit is recommended or essential before doing so, e.g.

- recovery eyes? (standard ones say only suitable for road recovery not off road)
- ropes?
- hi lift jack?
- steering and diff guards?
- wading kit?

Plus then there's the obvious future potential for wanting winches and so on.

Thing is, I feel a bit silly buying any of this stuff before actually doing any off road driving. On the other hand, I don't want to look like an idiot if I go out with anybody and don't have the kit they expect me to.

So, what things should I really buy before going off road (hopefully with people from here) and what should I save until I've got some more experience?

I would suggest that you get to know your vehicle very well before going off road.
Recovery eyes are going to assist you on road and off.
You will need reasonably good tyres for off road.
Anyone going with you will be able to see what your vehicle is capable of and shouldn't push you or the vehicle if you haven't done it before.
Unless you are wanting to go in deep water there is no point in getting a wading kit yet.

Maybe doing a off road day will give you an idea if you like it and what kind of off road you want to do.
You can throw an endless amount of money at your vehicle.

If you hoping green laning for e first time the golden rule is don't go by yourself. Go with someone who has done it before and has some of the kit you need.

Yes good recovery points are essential but as long as you have rope / shackles / high lift between the group that's ok.

Only in extreme situations should you need recovery gear on a lane -due to he current anti feeling only lane that poses an obvious risk of getting stuck on shouldn't be driven, but as a group you should always prepare for the worst case scenario.

Most importantly have fun. The standard vehicles are very capable so don't go mad with the spending.

I have only been green laning a few times and haven't used any of my stuff. My opinion is:

Rope and shackes- Yes it is a good idea to have them just incase. I have a terrafirma strap thing and its been useful.
Hi Lift jack- They are handy, but the standard LR one is fine for virtually all jobs. Plus if you don't get a genuine hi lift jack they can be fatal...
Steering and diff guards- won't really matter if you don't have them, but if you are going to do a lot of off roading they are recommended.
Wading kit- The LR wading equipment is fine unless you are going to do some extreme wading

You'll need a snorkel, roll cage, winch, wading kit, sand ladders, mud tyres, suspension lift, underbody protection, side protection...

Really though to start with you only need good recovery points front and back, and a friend. Between you both you should have a spade/shovel, rope and shackles and a map (most important bit). It's probably worth buying your own rope too as nobody likes to get their rope muddy

Start out on easy lanes and continue until either you or your vehicle aren't up to it. As above, greenlaning is a bit political at the moment so as an act of courtesy, if it looks like you'll get stuck and make a mess, don't drive it.

If you then find that something isn't up to the job, upgrade it. I'd bet money on an experienced driver getting by in a standard Landy where a noob in a tricked out off road toy would get stuck - so experience and/or training are worthwhile investments

I agree with what has already been said. Probably the most useful first upgrade is a decent set of tyres - the factory fit are heavily biased towards road use, and if all that happens on a bit of wet ground is that your wheels spin, you are going to look like a complete idiot, and go nowhere fast! That said, don't buy a set of really aggressive knobblies either - the road noise and loss of fuel economy will be horrendous, and you'll lose grip on wet tarmac. A set of AT (all terrain) tyres are what you are after.

Once you have done that, go gently with a friend and learn the capabilities of your vehicle and your driving. Learn the difference between high and low range, when to use diff lock, how to cross gullies. A pay-and-play place will be great for that, just don't try and follow whatever herd is charging around you!

Good luck, and have fun

Recently i went offroading in my standard vehicle, nothing serious, drove steady and carefully which was only minor offroading. I got home and noticed a huge dent in the front diff.

So for me, protection such as diff guards and steering guards just give you peice of mind, and reduce the worrying on your day out. Obviously they arent fool proof!

Hope this helps

When should you buy off-roading kit?

Simple answer: before you need it!

Yoyodyne said:

When should you buy off-roading kit?

Simple answer: before you need it!

Click to expand...

What he said. Knowing how to use it safely also helps.

if you want to come green laning with me you will need minimum of front and rear recovery points and a front diff guard, without these you are a liability and could wreck a good day out

Ive never needed recovery kit for myself when laning and ive done some of the hardest lanes in the peaks, yorks and wales. Did them on AT or road tyres in a standard 90 or RRC too always carried a rope though just incase. Its all about knowing your and your vehicles capability.

Offroading really depends on what you want to do.

You won't need a wading kit unless you want to go through more than 2/3 feet of water. But for pay and play sites id at least reccommend good recovery points, your own rope and shackles.

I'm lucky that i have a Free 4x4 Playground near where i work and Live. I also got into 4x4s and offroading properly in December.

All you really need to get started is a set of good A/T or Mud Tyres and a Service (a broken down rig off road is a nightmare to recover so make sure your rig is healthy), However for your first time i really do not recommend going alone or at least have somebody who can help you out if you do get stuck. I have a friend who i will text before i go offroading alone to put him on 'standby' should i get beached or stuck. Same goes for him.

If you do not have any friends with trucks then take a group of friends with you and make sure somebody is always outside (and at a safe distance) to be a spotter. One of my best days off roading was trying to get round one of the hardest and slipperiest trails on my little offroad playground with 3 of my girlfriends friends. The truck spent most of it's time bogged with 3 girls digging it out. Was a great laugh. (dont forget to take some digging tools!)

As far as Kit i never leave him without, A small Spade and a recovery rope is a must. The rest (like the snorkel and Winch Bumper i just fitted) can come with Experience when you start needing to tackle harder obstetrical. Remember, a Spade is the best piece of kit to recover a truck, if in doubt you can always spend hours digging your way out of something. The rest just makes recovery easier, quicker and safer.

Some good replies, the overall gist being I don't need much except a rope and some recovery eyes.

So forgive me some stupidity as a n00b, how do I get recovery eyes onto it? I can't weld which seems to rule out all the suggestions I have seen.

hulk said:

Some good replies, the overall gist being I don't need much except a rope and some recovery eyes.

So forgive me some stupidity as a n00b, how do I get recovery eyes onto it? I can't weld which seems to rule out all the suggestions I have seen.

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Easiest way would be to take off the **** factory ones and fit 'jate' rings front and rear - they are proper recovery points.

Problem with the factory ones is they are only on one side so can rip out of the chassis or can rip themselves.

Jate rings are forged rings that straddle the chassis leg and a far stronger.

You can fit them front and rear, google the. They are available from most landrover places.

Also get a good length of recovery rope plus a couple shackles plus a shorter strop would be good.

A cheap cb is worth it as well.

If find an essential item is a gas stove and a brew kit. If you work hard to dig it out or it's ****ing it down with rain it's nice to have a hot brew.

Other than that just make sure your car is in decent mechanical nick and go have fun.

Jates on the front, nato hitch on the back