What should we carry with us?
Every person has their own list of things they like to carry
with them when they go for a day/weekend trip, this list is by no means
complete as what should be carried with you as this is really a personal
opinion. It is up to you to decide
what is important to you within the storage capacity of your ATV.
The duration and riding conditions of the trip will also dictate what
one should take along. Some of the basics essentials you should try to carry
and some optional items while riding are:
-
First Aid Kit
Kind of a self explanatory thing, a kit doesn't have to be contain
everything although items for quad related type injuries are
important. Recommend your kit a pressure bandage to stop major
bleeding.
-
Small Tool Kit
Most ATV's now come with this essential item. You might want to
add a few additional, "easier to use" tools for working convenience.
Also maybe included a spare spark plug in this kit.
-
TIRE REPAIR KIT
More is better when it comes to this item. Experience has shown that
sticks and debris can cause large puncture holes in tires that
require numerous plugs to fill. Some riders place their repair
plugs, glue, plug tool and some patches in a plastic container with
a snap lid for ease of storage.
-
A small Air Compressor
This can be either a 12 volt electric model or a foot pump model,
both work well, inexpensive and available at
Canadian Tire or other vendors Tire pressure
should be checked before each ride and inflated to proper PSI as per
the manufactures instructions.
-
Tow Rope
A tow rope is a valuable part of the kit to have as many (if not
all) winches are not manufactured to "tow" with the winch cable.
A chain is not recommended but a tow rope providing some elasticity
(stretch) will help prevent damage to both quads. A 10 - 12' tow
rope is plenty for most cases, and can be used to extract yourself
from a mud pit when you find you are just a few feet way from that
tree that will support the weight. A Tree Saver is also a good idea
to carry as this minimizes damage when winching to trees.
-
Fire Starter Materials
Fire starting materials, starter kits, paper and matches are for
starting a small fire (when permitted) for lunch or to keep warm
when stranded for a night or during cold weather. Most forests
provide plenty of kindling material but some riders with extra
storage capacity carry a small package of kindling for wet weather
conditions. Safety matches or disposable lighters are recommended
than plain household wooden matches when bouncing around in a quad
storage box.
-
A Chainsaw
One rider carrying
a small chainsaw is worthwhile, a second is better. A downed tree
along the trail can wreck a good day of quading, worse is when a tree falls across your path on your way
home. This can add quite a bit of frustration to what would have
been a perfect day.
Communication devices
While cell phone coverage may excel in the local Prince George area,
coverage in remote areas is spotty at best. It is still a good idea to
carry a cell phone "just in case" coverage is there, but when travelling into further remote areas it is a good idea to carry either a
Satellite Phone or a Spot
Satellite Messenger. A sat phone can be rented for a short
duration if necessary but can be expensive. Spot Satellite is
a recently developed device that is relatively cheap to purchase, and coverage can be purchased for a
yearly basis. This gives you 24/7/365
days a year coverage for those who venture into remote areas.
Food (extra)
While packing a lunch for the day is a good idea, if a situation
arises where you will be stranded overnight, having a bit of extra
"munchies" is a good idea. Injuries or accidents can happen
anywhere, and sometimes we are not the ones it happens to, but being
prepared for an overnight trip is a good idea.