Off-Road Preparation

The Raptor Offroad Community (ROC) has made a list of gear we recommend all desert off roaders should have. As AAA does not go to the wilds of the desert, it is best to come prepared.

For a rule of thumb, we advise your vehicle to have the same performance level of a stock Ford Raptor and that it be in good mechanical condition.  For example, a Toyota Tacoma, Dodge Ram, Chevrolet Silverado, or Toyota Tundra upgraded with bypass and appropriate offroad tires should be fine for any adventures you should go on.  If your vehicle has 22-inch wheels and low profile street tires, it will make for a very short day for you and can make for a long hot hike to get back into cell service.

Recommended Gear:

• VHF Radio with ROC1 Weatherman (151.625) and TRR1 (152.000)
  • Rugged Radio will give a 20% to those who mention “Raptor Offroad Community” on all purchases
  • You can get a Rugged Radio RH-5R Handheld VHF Radio that will be programmed for you for about $65.
  • Preferred –  50 Watt Mounted VHF radio.
• GPS Unit
  • Lowrance is the main GPS of choice. This is a simple line and marker system but always works.
  • Lead Nav – For those using “IOS devices,” this is the newest GPS app we’ve found.
  • Backcountry Navigation – For those using Android, this is the best GPS we’ve found.
• Two full-size spares tires, as your day might be over too soon if you only have one.
• ALL vehicle maintenance up to date and the vehicle be in good mechanical order. If you have a small problem with your truck, it will almost always become a big problem on the trail.