There I was, just cruising along and munching on a handful of Hot Tamales. At one point I hit a bump, and the box slide off the passenger seat and landed on the floor, mostly on the passenger side. Later that day, I stopped to clean up my mess. Those darn things were all over the place.
About a year later, I happened to lift the carpet and discovered probably 20 of those buggers. They were mashed, stuck to the floor, and otherwise quite messy. I don’t know how I missed all those candies the first time.
Time for an archeological dig…inside your vehicle
That incident impressed upon me the need for a thorough cleaning of on a regular basis. I suggest you do the same. But don’t view it as a chore. Instead, think of it as an adventure – a type archeological dig.
Dig through the glovebox, center console, and under the floor mats and rugs. You might be amazed at the types of goodies you’ll find…especially if you typically transport young kids. They can leave a mess.
One four-wheeler’s positive experience
Some people actually enjoy performing a thorough cleaning. Check out this comment from a fellow four-wheeler. It’s amazing what you can accomplish when you put your mind to it.
“I moved everything out and gave the interior a good vacuum,” he explained. “I inspected my recovery gear, including pulling out my Pull Pal (rarely used), to make sure things weren’t rusted. Gave it a little WD-40 here and there.”
He inspected 30 feet of winch line, and cleaned and lubed the winch. He went through his food box, tossing out stuff that was out of date. Also inspected his first-aid kit, and made a list of items that needed to be replaced.
Over the years, I’ve heard from several avid four-wheelers who did the same. All told me they enjoyed the task. Yes, they enjoyed it. Because they treated it like an adventure. Like visiting an old gold mine in the Southwest, you’re prospecting the “mine” inside in your vehicle. The “prizes” can run the gamut: coins, pens, gum wrappers, a used red plastic shot glass, a burned out fuse, disgusting looking dried out tooth brush, and a tube of hard RTV blue.
Replace and restock important items
I want to pick up on a point made above. Use this opportunity to inspect your gear and materials. Replace anything that is in poor condition or beyond its useful life. Make a list of items to purchase. Some areas to focus on include:
- 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.
- 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 new wipes, and use the others at home. Make an inventory of the contents of your bag if you do not already have one. 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.
- Camp box. Clean and restock. Not sure what to include? See my article
- This might be a good time to empty it out and scrub the shelves, drawers, etc. The spices, sugar, flour 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 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 https://www.lansky.com/ produces a high-quality 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.
- 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. You may be able to find gear on sale yet. 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.
- Make a calendar of events for 2026. 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. https://www.4x4training.com/w/schedule/
- Replace stored gas and water. Both can go bad over time. Use up at home if possible. Dispose of the gas properly. Add STA-BIL fuel stabilizer to the new gas. The manufacturer 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.
Springtime is a great time to get prepared for the four-wheeling events ahead. You’re probably pretty good about vehicle maintenance. Perform a thorough cleaning on the inside – do an archeological dig – to really spiff up your vehicle. And remember to inspect all gear and materials. Then hit the trails and have fun.
# # #
Did you miss the previous articles?
2026
- 2026-04-12 Base Camp Or Cruising – Which Do You Select?
- 2026-03-25 Refresher: Handle Cold-Weather Medical Issues Properly
- 2026-02-12 Foul Weather Food
- 2026-01-16 Pack Spare Bolts and Nuts
Some Upcoming Events (click on the link for details)
The 2026 schedule of clinics and adventures trips has been posted on the web site.
If you are interested in the Fall Death Valley or the Rubicon trip this is a good time to signup.
June 2026
June 13, 2026 Mini Clinic – Dutch Oven
June 20, 2026 Starting Rock Crawling
June 27, 2026 Mini Clinic – Synthetic Rope Repair
July 2026
July 04, 2026 Independence Day Run
July 18, 2026 Starting Rock Crawling
July 25, 2026 Tire Repair and Hi-Lift Mini Clinic – LA Area
August 2026
August 10, 2026 Rubicon Adventure
August 22, 2026 Sand Dune Off-Road Driving – Oceano Dunes
August 23, 2026 Self Recovery Clinic – LA Area
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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Copyright 2026, Badlands Off-Road Adventures, Inc.
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