{"id":37793,"date":"2026-05-15T08:50:38","date_gmt":"2026-05-15T15:50:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.4x4training.com\/w\/?p=37793"},"modified":"2026-05-15T08:50:38","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T15:50:38","slug":"spring-cleaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.4x4training.com\/w\/spring-cleaning\/","title":{"rendered":"Spring Cleaning"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\" 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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019t know how I missed all those candies the first time.<\/p>\n

Time for an archeological dig\u2026inside your vehicle<\/strong><\/p>\n

That incident impressed upon me the need for a thorough cleaning of on a regular basis. I suggest you do the same. But don\u2019t view it as a chore. Instead, think of it as an adventure \u2013 a type archeological dig.<\/p>\n

Dig through the glovebox, center console, and under the floor mats and rugs. You might be amazed at the types of goodies you\u2019ll find\u2026especially if you typically transport young kids. They can leave a mess.<\/p>\n

One four-wheeler\u2019s positive experience<\/strong><\/p>\n

Some people actually enjoy performing a thorough cleaning. Check out this comment from a fellow four-wheeler. It\u2019s amazing what you can accomplish when you put your mind to it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI moved everything out and gave the interior a good vacuum,\u201d he explained. \u201cI inspected my recovery gear, including pulling out my Pull Pal (rarely used), to make sure things weren\u2019t rusted. Gave it a little WD-40 here and there.\u201d<\/p>\n

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 He went through his food box, tossing out stuff that was out of date.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.<\/p>\n

Over the years, I\u2019ve 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\u2019re prospecting the \u201cmine\u201d inside in your vehicle. The \u201cprizes\u201d can run the gamut: coins, pens, gum wrappers,\u00a0a used red plastic shot glass, a burned out fuse, disgusting looking dried out tooth brush, and a tube of hard RTV blue.<\/p>\n

Replace and restock important items<\/strong><\/p>\n

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:<\/p>\n

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  1. 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\u2019s 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\u2019ll be used up quickly.<\/li>\n
  2. 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.<\/li>\n
  3. Camp box. Clean and restock. Not sure what to include? See my article\u00a0<\/a><\/li>\n
  4. 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.<\/li>\n
  5. Sharpen all knives. Buy a sharpening kit if you don\u2019t 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\/<\/a>\u00a0 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<\/a>.<\/li>\n
  6. Inspect your repair kit (for tents, sleeping bags, and such). Replace any missing materials. Read my related article on the subject for more information.<\/a><\/li>\n
  7. 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.<\/li>\n
  8. 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.<\/li>\n
  9. 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.<\/a> \u00a0https:\/\/www.4x4training.com\/w\/schedule\/<\/a><\/li>\n
  10. 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.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Springtime is a great time to get prepared for the four-wheeling events ahead. You\u2019re probably pretty good about vehicle maintenance. Perform a thorough cleaning on the inside \u2013 do an archeological dig \u2013 to really spiff up your vehicle. And remember to inspect all gear and materials. Then hit the trails and have fun.<\/p>\n

    #\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 #\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 #<\/p>\n

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    Did you miss the previous articles?<\/p>\n

    2026<\/strong><\/p>\n