lists

Scott is the Author of Overlanding 101, A Field Guide to Vehicle-Based Travel. The book is published by Simon and Schuster / Adams Media for global distribution. It is available for purchase:
Amazon
Amazon UK
Barns and Noble
Indigo
Simon & Shuster Australia

Daily Checks

  • Visual inspection of the front of the vehicle.
  • Open the hood and check the battery hold down, belts, engine oil, and engine coolant.
  • Visual inspection of the engine bay, looking for chafing or loose components.
  • Visual inspection of suspension components.
  • Visual inspection of tires (look for cuts, chunking, and signs of low pressure).
  • Visual walkaround of vehicle (look for loose trim, damage, or leaks).
  • Communication and navigation check (radio, satellite beacon, and start track recording).
  • Equipment is loaded and lashed safely.
  • Wellness check with all fellow travelers and a driver’s brief.

Weekly Checks

  • Tool kit and jack inspection (serviceability, inventory, and accessibility).
  • Front number plate (if fitted).
  • Front bumper inspection (secure).
  • Winch inspection (secure, power cables, and rope/cable).
  • Lighting check (auxiliary lights, low/high beams, indicators, and hazards).
  • Physical suspension check (look for leaking dampers, broken jounces, and loose bolts).
  • Physical steering check (tie rod ends, damper, bolts, and watch while the wheel is turned).
  • Transfer case and axle checks.
  • Chassis inspection (look for cracks, inspect attachment points, and cross members).
  • Open the hood, check all fluids, belt tension, and condition of all hoses and the air filter.
  • Inspect battery and cables, wiring and sensors.
  • Inspect operation and condition of wipers; clean windscreen.
  • Inspect each tire, pressure check (tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) can fail) inside and outside tread face and sidewalls.
  • Auxiliary power system checks (battery mounting, cables, charger, and solar).
  • Water storage checks (leaks, levels, cleaning, and potability).
  • Loading and lashing (drawer system inspection, tie downs, and straps).
  • Recovery equipment checks (accessibility, serviceability, cleaning, and traction boards).
  • First aid and ditch bag kits (accessibility, damage or missing items, and expiration dates).
  • Documentation (inventory, copies, and upload new documents to the cloud).
  • Communication systems (cell, radio, satellite, and PLB).
  • Navigation systems (map/compass, GPS, apps, download tracks, and updates).

Basic Recovery Kit (With a Vehicle-Mounted Winch)

  • 2 metal shackles
  • 2 soft shackles
  • 30-foot kinetic recovery strap or rope
  • 10-foot utility rope or tree protector strap
  • Pulley block
  • Line damper
  • Full-size D- or T-handled spade shovel
  • Leather gloves and safety glasses
  • Suggested Additions:
    • 20-foot utility rope
    • 50–75-foot winch extension rope
    • Pull-Pal ground anchor
    • Second pulley block
    • Transit cluster

Tools and Spares

  • 12-volt air compressor
  • Long travel bottle jack
  • Tire deflator and gauge
  • Mechanics tool set
  • 12-volt repair kit and spare fuses
  • Spray lubricant
  • Plastic funnel
  • General hose repair kit
  • J-B Weld SteelStik
  • Fluids (brake, engine, and power steering)
  • Spare accessory belt
  • Engine oil filter
  • Engine air filter
  • Fuel filter
  • 10- or 20-liter fuel can
  • Super siphon hose
  • Extra wheel studs and lug nuts
  • OBD-II code reader
  • Engine code printout
  • Jumper cable (heavy duty)
  • Emergency triangles

Support Equipment:

  • Two-way GMRS or HAM radios
  • Combo lock
  • 2 ratchet straps
  • 40-foot cord (4 millimeter in diameter)
  • GPS
  • Satellite communicator
  • Paper maps or gazetteer
  • Country guidebooks
  • Spare AA, AAA, and 9-volt batteries
  • Compact inverter (100 watts)
  • Compact foldable solar panel for emergency charging

Typical Ditch Bag Contents:

  • Garmin inReach Explorer GPS with preloaded maps
  • Dual hemisphere compass
  • LED headlamp
  • Lighter
  • MSR Dromedary 4-liter bag with hydration kit
  • MSR Thru-Link inline water filter
  • Water purification tablets
  • Notepad/pencil/pen
  • Signal mirror
  • Adventure Medical Kits Mountain Series Day Tripper Lite
  • SOL Escape Bivvy Orange
  • SOL all-season blanket
  • Compact butane backpacking stove
  • Compact pot and pan kit (holds stove and fuel canister)
  • Documents (copy of passport and a spare driver’s license)
  • Cash ($60, small bills, stashed in several locations)
  • Insulated gloves
  • Poncho
  • Electrolyte drink packages (10)
  • Hard candy
  • Meal bars (4)
  • Good To-Go backpacking meals (2)
  • Blister kit
  • Medications (NSAID, antibiotic, antihistamine)
  • 50 SPF sunscreen
  • Sunglasses (polycarbonate lenses double as safety glasses)
  • Bandana
  • Multitool
  • Parachute cord
  • Wool socks
  • Optional for cold climates: NEMO sleeping bag and insulated pad

The Adventure Rider Gear List:

  • Lightweight helmet with sun visor and Bluetooth communicator
  • Sunglasses
  • Aether Expedition Suit with D3O Jacket and Pant
  • Garmin Montana with inReach and GPS maps
  • Multi-tool
  • Tire gauge
  • Lighter
  • Ear protection
  • Sunscreen and lip balm
  • Motorcycle or leather boots
  • Leather gloves coated in beeswax
  • Large wool or cashmere scarf (can also be used for EMS needs)
  • Waterproof Duffle
    • □ Wool base layer
    • □ Mid-layer hoodie
    • □ Hard Shell Jacket (can layer under Moto gear)
    • □ Travel pants (one pair)
    • □ Travel shorts (one pair)
    • □ Two wicking T-shirts
    • □ Pearly’s Possum and Sealskinz socks (3 pairs
    • total)
    • □ Synthetic underwear (3 pairs total)
    • □ Wool collared shirt for border crossing or
    • semi-formal dinners
    • □ Wool beanie
    • □ Dopp Kit for toiletries
    • □ Barefoot Trail-Running shoes (black)
    • □ iPad Pro to serve as navigation tablet and
    • computer
    • □ International plug converter
  • Tank Bag
    • □ USB-C charging block
    • □ Charging and data cables
    • □ 8-TB SSD
    • □ Mirrorless camera
    • □ Compact prime lens
    • □ 24–105-millimeter zoom lens
    • □ Headlamp
    • □ Smartphone with mapping and travel apps preloaded
    • □ Paper map and small compass
  • Pannier #1
    • □ 1–2 person backpacking tent
    • □ Backpacking pad
    • □ Ultralight sleeping bag (add liner for comfort)
    • □ Inflatable pillow (can be used as a splint)
    • □ Tarp/poncho
    • Basic Tool Kit in Pannier #1
    • • Basic wrenches matched to the motorcycle
    • • Vice grip pliers
    • • Crescent wrench
    • • Multi-bit driver set with ratcheting grip
    • • Tire plugs or spare tube and hand pump
    • • Tire irons (if tubed)
    • • Hub wrench
    • • Duct tape
    • • Wire and zip ties
    • • Spare Rollercam strap
    • • Electrical wire pair (for jumping) and spare
    • fuses
    • • Quiksteel metal repair
    • • Lithium jumper pack
  • Pannier #2
    • □ NOLS Med Kit 3.0 with medications
    • □ Israeli bandage
    • □ Tourniquet
    • □ QuikClot trauma gauze
    • □ 4-liter MSR Dromedary bag for water storage
    • (with shower or hydration hose)
    • □ Grayl GeoPress water filter
    • □ Ready-to-eat food or good-to-go meals (72-
    • hour supply)
    • □ Backpacking stove or Jetboil
    • □ Backpacking pot/pan combo
    • □ Ultralight bowl/cup/utensils
    • □ Starbucks Via Instant Coffee or AeroPress

Medical Kit List:
The NOLS Med Kit 5.0 contains:
Wound Care/Burn/Blister
• 4 dressings (gauze, sterile, 4 inches , 4 inches, Pkg./2)
• 4 dressings (gauze, sterile, 2 inches , 2 inches, Pkg./2)
• 3 dressings (non-adherent, sterile, 3 inches , 4 inches)
• 2 bandages (conforming gauze, non-sterile, 3
inches)
• 1 bandage (stockinette tubular, 1 inch , 4
inches)
• 8 bandages (adhesive, fabric, 1 inch , 3 inches)
Offerings like the Rescue Essentials Motorcycle
Operator’s Kit are intentionally minimal yet are tailored to
the injuries riders tend to suffer.
• 5 bandages (adhesive, fabric, knuckle)
• 1 tape (1inch , 10 yards)
• 2 cotton tip applicators (Pkg./2)
• 1 syringe (irrigation, 10 cc with 18 gauge removable
tip)
• 1 wound closure strip (1 inch , 4 inches,
Pkg./10)
• 1 povidone iodine (1 ounce)
• 2 moleskins (pre-cut and shaped, 14 pieces)
• 2 dressings (GlacierGel, rectangle, 2.5 inches ,
1 inch)
• 6 antiseptic towelettes
• 4 triple antibiotic ointments (1⁄32 ounce)
• 2 Skin-Tac topical adhesives
Bleeding
• 2 gloves (Nitrile (pair), one hand wipe)
• 1 trauma pad (8 inches , 10 inches)
• 1 trauma pad (5 inches , 9 inches)
• 1 dressing (gauze, sterile, 4 inches , 4 inches,
Pkg./2)
• 1 CPR breathing barrier
Fracture/Sprain
• 1 bandage (elastic with Velcro closure, 3 inches)
• 1 bandage (triangular)
• 3 safety pins
• 1 ibuprofen (200 milligrams, Pkg./2)
Medications
• 4 ibuprofen (200 milligrams, Pkg./2)
• 4 acetaminophen (500 milligrams, Pkg./2)
• 4 antihistamine (diphenhydramine, 25 milligrams)
• 4 Diamode (loperamide HCL 2 milligrams),
Pkg. 1
• 1 aspirin (325 milligrams), Pkg./2
• 2 After Bite sting and itch relief wipes
Instruments
• 1 EMT shears (4 inches)
• 1 splinter picker/tick remover forceps
• 1 Duct tape (2 inches , 5 yards)
• 1 pencil
• 1 patient assessment form
• 3 thermometers (disposable)
• 2 plastic vials (flip-top, large)