If you like exploring remote trails, one thing is certain: getting stuck is not a matter of if, but when. Having the right gear can mean the difference between a minor hiccup and a very expensive (and sometimes dangerous) off-road recovery.
Over the past decade of overlanding, we’ve learned what’s important to keep in our rig to make sure we don’t put ourselves or others at risk. Below, we’ll walk you through the must-have recovery gear for exploring off-the-beaten-path so you can venture further with confidence.
Why Recovery Gear Matters in Van Life and Overlanding
When you’re living out of a van or overlanding through rugged terrain, you’re often miles—and sometimes days—from help. Cell service may be spotty, Starlink can be unreliable, and tow trucks are rarely nearby. That’s why having a reliable set of off-road recovery tools and preventative gear is essential.
Below, we outline the gear we use to ensure we don’t get stuck in the first place, followed by recovery essentials in the case we do get stuck. While these tools can make a smoother ride through mud, sand, snow, or rocky terrain, it’s also important to know how to use them.
Tire Deflators
Lowering your tire pressure creates a bigger footprint, which increases surface area and traction. This is one of the easiest things you can do to make a more enjoyable drive on soft surfaces like sand, snow, or washboard roads. Having a set of automatic tire deflators helps ensure consistent pressure and speeds up the process so you can get back on the trails faster.
Our Top Pick:
Why:
- These tire deflators allow you to set the tire pressure and deflate all four tires at the same time.
Important Notes:
- Ensure you know the safe tire pressure for your vehicle, tires, and wheels. They vary greatly, and if you deflate your tires too much, you could run into serious issues.
- An air compressor (see next) is essential to inflate your tires once you’re back on the pavement.
Air Compressor
After deflating your tires for traction, you’ll need a reliable way to reinflate them for paved roads. Driving with low tire pressure on hard surfaces can damage your tires and wheels.
Our Top Picks:
Why:
- To ensure you have a means to inflate your tires back to the recommended air pressure for highway driving.
- Helps in the instance that you get a flat and need to repair your tire.
Important Notes:
- Always make sure you check the recommended PSI for your rig to avoid blowouts.
- Both the onboard and portable air compressors are a good choice, it just depends on your budget, set-up, and how fast you want to be able to reinflate your tires.
- Air compressors can get very hot! If you have onboard air, make sure it is professionally installed to avoid failure. If you have a portable unit, you’ll need to make sure you give it time to cool off before you put it back in your rig.
Multi-Tire Inflation System
A multi-tire inflation system is a game-changer in managing pressure across all four tires quickly. It lets you inflate multiple tires simultaneously, saving time and ensuring even pressure.
Our Top Pick:
Why:
- Gets you back on the road much quicker than inflating one tire at a time, which can be very time-consuming.
- The air hoses are very pliable and easy to unpack and pack in the storage bag that comes with the kit.
Important Notes:
- The MorrFlate system comes in different wheelbase lengths, so make sure to get one that is sufficient for your rig.
- If you have the digital manifold, remove the batteries between uses. We have found that it will sometimes turn on in the bag and drain the batteries.
- This is best suited for a dual compressor, since you’ll be inflating all four tires at the same time.
Traction Boards
Traction boards are the ultimate multitasking tool for overlanding for a reason. These rugged boards provide grip for your tires in sand, snow, or mud, serve as leveling blocks to camp on uneven surfaces, and can also be used a shovel.
Our Top Pick:
Why:
- You don’t need an additional vehicle to assist in recovery.
- They are lightweight and can be mounted in multiple ways. Our favorite mount is the rear wheel harness.
- They come in a variety of different colors and sizes to suit your needs.
Important Notes:
- At a minimum, you should carry two traction boards, but four is ideal to place one under each wheel if you are really stuck.
Winch
A winch is one of those things that you hope you never have to use, but will be glad you have when you need it. We’ve had to use ours once, when a late-season Sierra snowstorm caught us off guard. If we didn’t have the winch that day, we surely would have been stuck with no one around.
Ours is mounted to our front bumper and uses a motor and synthetic rope to pull the vehicle out of tough spots.
Our Top Pick:
Why:
- Ideal if you aren’t traveling with other vehicles, but can help recover other vehicles, too.
- Self-recovery to get you out of deep mud, snow, or sand.
- Can also be used to move obstacles (like rocks and fallen trees) off the trail.
Important Notes:
- Choose a winch rated for at least 1.5 times your vehicle’s gross weight.
- Know how to use your winch properly. They can be a serious hazard (and life-threatening) if not used correctly.
Recovery Strap
If you don’t have a winch (or even if you do), a high-quality recovery strap is a must-have. These straps are meant to stretch and build up energy to help yank a stuck vehicle out with another one.
Our Top Pick:
Why:
- Kinetic ropes provide strength and durability to get you unstuck with the help of another vehicle.
Important Notes:
- Get one that is rated for your rig (and any potential rigs that you may need to use it on) and at least 20 feet in length.
Additional Off-Road Recovery Essentials
Here are a few more key items every overlander should carry:
Recovery Points
It’s important to have a spot (or multiple spots) that you can hook up a winch or recovery strap to, preventing damage to your vehicle.
Shovel
A compact recovery shovel helps dig out tires and clear snow. Pro tip: If you have recovery boards, they can also double as a shovel.
Chain Saw
You never know when you are going to come across a downed tree that could mean the end of the trail. Or worse, it could be blocking you from exiting. A chainsaw helps ensure that you can carry on or get out safely.
Gloves
Protect your hands with some general utility gloves during winching, digging, or handling recovery gear.
Tire Repair Kit
For smaller punctures, a tire plug kit is a lifesaver. Our top pick is this one from Black Rhino.
Tree Saver Strap
We’re all about saving the trees and protecting our gear. A tree saver strap helps when winching off a tree.
Soft Shackles
Soft shackles are a safer, lightweight alternative to old-school metal D-rings.
Snatch Block
Provides alternative angles and a little extra strength for winching out of technical situations.
Final Thoughts: Preparedness = Freedom
While we love traveling with friends, we often find ourselves alone on trails the majority of the time. Having multiple ways to self-recover is essential for overlanding. While you may not always use this gear, it’s better to have it than be sorry you didn’t.
In our past, we have found ourselves in situations where we were without the proper gear and what could have been a quick recovery turned into a very long and anxiety-filled day.
Lastly, it’s not just about having the gear, but knowing how to use it is just as important. Make sure to brush up on some basic knowledge so you can safely put these tools to work if ever needed.
Being prepared opens the door to ultimate freedom and exploring new places. Have fun and happy trails!
Ready to build your off-road recovery kit? Drop a comment below with your favorite gear. Also, if you’d like to see this as a more in-depth YouTube video, please let us know if that would be interesting!
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