If you and your family or friends are into 4x4 off-roading, chances are high that you may someday get stuck. For that very reason, it is important to keep an off-road recovery kit in order to help you in sticky situations. There are several things that you should keep with you when off-roading in rural areas so that you can make sure you will be able to stay safe. Some of what you need to keep with you may depend on how often you off-road, along with how daring you are when you go. Here are a few things you may want to bring along.

A Shovel

A shovel is one of the most basic tools that you should keep on you for off-road recovery. The most common way that 4x4's get stuck is when their wheels get sunk down into sand or mud. In order to get a vehicle out of a sticky situation, you will need to dig around the wheels in order to give them a chance to get traction. Once you have done this, you can add more solid terrain in order to give them something to work against. Even the most novice off-roaders should keep a shovel on hand. 

Kinetic Straps and Shackles

You should never go off-roading alone. This is partly so that you will always have a buddy available to pull you out of a bind if you get stuck. This is done with kinetic straps and shackles. Kinetic straps are another basic necessity for any 4x4 recovery kit. Once you have placed shackles on one of the recovery points of your vehicle, you can slip a kinetic strap into the shackle and attach that strap to another vehicle. If you have never used a kinetic strap before, make sure that you have done your research to know about towing strength and vehicle weights. 

Traction Boards

Traction boards are another easy way to get your car out when your wheels get stuck. As previously mentioned, you can dig around your wheels and then lay down some traction boards so that your 4x4 can easily maneuver out of mud, sand, or snow. Traction boards can be expensive, so these are for more serious off-roaders.

No matter how experienced you are, never go off-roading alone. Also, make sure to keep basic gear with you so that you are always prepared to get yourself out of a jam. You can never be too prepared, so you should make sure you have a way to free yourself if your 4x4 needs to be recovered. Contact a 4x4 recovery service for more information.