Kverkfjoll OffRoad
Today we are heading for a fresh offroad tour to Kverkfjoll mountains and the area north of the great ice-cap Vatnajokull. Weather forecast has not been too optimistic.

New AEV JK Parts
Jeep aftermarket supplier American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) announces a whole new line-up of award-winning parts and accessories for the new model Jeep Wrangler (JK). The parts are available for purchase direct from AEV's newly configured website.

Camping and Survival Vehicle
For over a year, Campa USA has been offering its Campa All Terrain Trailers to government organizations, disaster management personnel and outdoor enthusiasts.

Video: 4x4 - Fun, Sun & Snow
A 4 wheeling day in the Icelandic highlands. Allow yourself to flow with the music on this fun filled day of snow and sun. Get a feeling of off roading on snow and ice.
This is as good as it gets!


 

ARTICLE
 

Recovery kit
You can select to pack a number of items in case you get stuck. A shovel, jack and a recovery strap are an absolute must. Tow hooks make hooking onto something much easier and a winch can come in handy.

- Shovel - The most important 4x4 truck accessory - always keep a shovel handy! The best for digging have a round point blade; the best for cutting through soil have a sharp square edge.
- Hi-lift jack - For getting unstuck you can often lift the tire and shovel under the tire. A hi-lift jack is also the easiest way to remove a tire. It can sometimes be a delicate balance, so take precautions! Carry a special base or simply a block of wood that you can use as a base if the ground is loose.
- Recovery strap - is usually the quickest way to get a truck unstuck. The best recovery straps are elastic and help transmitting the force of the moving truck in just the right amount.
- Tow hooks - Your truck needs to have a place to fasten the recovery straps both in front and rear. Even if you never get stuck yourself someone else might!
A popular system for tow hook is the class 3 system where a standard 2x2 inch steel profile is ready to receive a towing hitch or a shackle bracket. These brackets can also be used to hold a winch.
Fastening tow hooks is easier done on body-on-frame designed vehicles than the unibody type.
- Winch – A winch can be of great help especially when you are traveling alone or if your truck is much heavier than the others in the tour. The weight of a winch is considerable and when you want to travel light you should consider that.
Manual winches are a lightweight option - but are lower capacity than mechanical winches.
The most common winches are electrically powered and are available in different pulling power versions.
Hydraulic winches are getting more popular. They get power from the power steering pump.
A typical 2-3 ton truck needs a winch that is able to pull almost twice as much weight or 8,000-9,000 lbs (3.7-4.1 tons). The winch needs to be fastened securely on your 4x4, preferably to the frame or a class 3 receiver system.
Other items you might consider depending on the terrain are axes and saws for wooded areas and picks if you are planning on heavy digging.

Thrandur Arnthorsson is a 4 wheeling enthusiast and the webmaster and owner of 4x4OffRoads.com.