Is Your 4WD Vehicle Ready For Back To The Desert?

Are you ready to go back to the desert? As we get deeper into autumn, conditions in the desert Southwest become more conducive to being outdoors. Four-wheelers and others begin planning their return to those fascinating parts of our country.

Whether your heart is set on Death Valley, the Mojave Desert, or some other hot spot (perhaps all of the above), it’s important to prepare well.

This is a good time to remind you, also, of the importance of driving in groups. Going out alone is risky. Having at least one extra vehicle along ensures that you have help as well as transportation should that become necessary.

Use a checklist for orderly preparation

A checklist brings efficiency and order to your preparation. Create a list in Word or Excel and print it out before each trip. Having the file on your computer allows you to quickly add or change items as needed.

Group your items into categories to make it easier to review them. Some suggestions include:

• Vehicle essentials (oil, tool kit, tow strap, tire repair kit, for example.)
• Camping (tent, sleeping bag, pads, chair. firewood, etc.).
• Reference material (trail books, emergency packages), as well as paper and pencils
• Food and food preparation (stove, grill, gas, cooler, matches, pot holder, or camp box, if most of that is in there)
• Clothes, toiletries, medicines
• Last-in items (frozen food in freezer, cell phone, lap top)

The key is to use the checklist. Don’t gloss over this step because you’ve used the list several times already. If you don’t pay attention, you’ll forget something. Then you’ll be kicking yourself.

Inspect your vehicle thoroughly

You should inspect your vehicle before every trip. It’s important to verify that your vehicle is prepared to make the journey out and back. A breakdown can occur almost any time. A thorough inspection will catch many issues that can be resolved before leaving home.

Use a methodology for your inspection. That is, a systematic approach or process. Use a checklist if you feel more comfortable.

My process is to divide it into three major steps:

1. Walk around the outside (“do the 360”). Inspect the outside and underneath.
2. Look under the hood.
3. Inspect the inside of the vehicle. (More below.)

Get down at ground level and inspect carefully. Look behind each tire. Any liquid running down? You could have a cracked brake line. Inspect the tires for cuts, bulges or worn spots. Look for cracks in the suspension or springs.

Check fluid levels in the master cylinder and radiator overflow tank. Most vehicles now have clear bottles, so it is easy to make a quick visual check of fluid levels. Carry a few bottles of each critical fluid. A very low level requires additional inspection for possible root cause.

Tidy up inside of the vehicle

Make sure everything is put away and secured. If the vehicle recently encountered a difficult recovery, lots of gear may have moved or been pulled out. The vehicle might have been off camber; certain gear may be difficult to reach. Take the time to review how all gear to stowed. Rearrange as needed.

Incidentally, recovery gear is as important as a first-aid kit and tool kit. If you drive off road regularly, you’re bound to experience or encounter a recovery situation. Pack the proper gear and store it where you can reach it easily

Similarly, ensure that navigation equipment, communication equipment, safety equipment, recovery equipment, and food are stowed properly, too. Check your fuel. Do you have enough to complete your journey and return?

Natural hazards in the desert to watch for

The desert is an amazing place. Despite the harsh conditions, numerous plants and animals thrive there.

Looks can be deceiving. Certain plants may be appealing to the eyes but can ruin your day if you get too close. Needles on the Cholla plants, for example, can easily puncture clothing and even tires. The Yucca plant and Cat’s Claw also present hazards, and should be avoided.

Getting poked by a needle or thorn won’t kill you. These aren’t punji sticks, but any puncture should be treated.

Watch for bugs and animals, too. During a recent visit to the Mojave Desert, I suffered a nasty bite and sting from a harvester ant. The darn thing snuck up my leg when I stopped to put gas in the Jeep. Nothing serious, but it sure did sting.

The bottom line: When in the desert, take in the beauty and serenity of your surroundings, but keep the plants and critters at a safe distance.

Refresh your first-aid kit

First-aid kits are easy to overlook. They’re usually tucked away and tend not to get used often. But when you did need one, it’s nice to have those supplies at hand.

Pain drugs, ointments and lotions lose potency over time. That’s why the containers and packages have expiration dates. Bandages and related supplies degrade over time as well.

Four-wheeling is tough on medical supplies, even those in a container. The jostling causes packets to tear and bottles to break. Dust and sand coat the products, potentially contaminating them.

If you’re not sure whether something is good, replace it. If an item does not have an expiration date, write your purchase date on it. Use your judgment as to when it should be replaced. If you take batteries out of their package, write the expiration date on them. Rotate them early to avoid acid leak damage.]

Miscellaneous items to consider

Trip/towing insurance: Do you have towing coverage for long distances (up to 200-miles)? If you’re ever in need of a long, professional tow, you’ll be glad you bought the coverage. AAA offers a policy; other options may be available.

Spare key for your vehicle: You may need to be airlifted out, at which point a buddy can drive your vehicle out. If you lock yourself out, your buddy can open the door for you. Finally, if you need to get towed out, you can leave the spare in the ignition. That allows you to keep the main set of keys on you.

PDFs of important equipment manuals: Copy instruction manuals for first aid, camping equipment, first aid, communications equipment, GPS receiver, Jeep repair manual, and more. Specs and drawings are just a few taps away.

Bring along hard copies as well. Should your smartphone or laptop become inoperable, you can still access the user guides

Copies of important personal documents: These can include your driver’s license, passport, ham radio license, national park pass, and recreational licenses. All these papers can be stored in a medium-sized envelope in the glovebox.

Useful comm gear for four-wheeling

Cell phones don’t operate in many remote areas, so you should consider picking up additional gear. Options include:

inReach Mini

Offers two-way messaging and can send SOS alerts anytime. The unit will track and share your location.

Satellite phone

As the name suggests, these phones use satellites to carry your signal. They support two-way voice calling, but are more expensive than other devices.

StarLink Mini

The equipment cost is reasonable. You might be able to find it for under $200.  The service fee can be turned on and off on a monthly basis. Full roam service is $55.  For about $10 or $15 a month you can get service but only when you are stationary. It needs a solid 40 watts so it might not work on a regular car battery if the engine is not running. Glenn, the guy who monitors traffic on the Rubicon, told me he is seeing many vehicles with Starlink.

Radios

Amateur radio: A ham radio license gives you access to various bands from shortwave into UHF.

Citizens Band: CB offers 40 channels in the 27 MHz portion of the shortwave band. Range is typically one to five miles for the mobile units using an external antenna.

Autumn is a great time to visit the desert. Prepare well, and you will enjoy your time in that unique environment.

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Want to read more from the archives?

Search for these articles in the Articles tab on 4x4training.com 

“Refresh Your First-Aid Kit” June 2019

“Inspect Your Vehicle – 100 times,” November 2019

“Forgotten Items” Oct. 2018

“Use A Checklist For Every Outing,” May 2011

“Keep Recovery Gear Accessible,” April 2013

“Prickly Things In The Desert Can Put A Hole In Your Plans,” November 2009

“Communications Equipment Is Critical For Off-Road Driving,” January 2008

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November 2026

November 02, 2024 SEMA
November 07, 2026 Getting Started Off-Road Driving – LA Area
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November 07-08, 2026 Getting Started Two Day Package – LA Area
November 14, 2026 Getting Started Off-Road Driving – SD Area
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November 28, 2026 Turkey Run

December 2026

December 05, 2026 Getting Started Off-Road Driving – LA Area
December 06, 2026 Day 2 Getting Started Off-Road Driving – LA Area
December 05-06, 2026 Getting Started Two Day Package – LA Area
December 12, 2026 Getting Started Off-Road Driving – SD Area
December 13, 2026 Day 2 Getting Started Off-Road Driving – SD Area
December 12-13, 2026 Getting Started Two Day Package – SD Area
December 29, 2026 Saline New Years Run

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73 KI6FHA
I hope to see you on the trails!
Tom Severin, President Badlands Off Road Adventures, Inc.
4-Wheel Drive School
310-613-5473
www.4x4training.com
Make it Fun. Keep it Safe.

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