First time offroading
 

I'm heading out to Wharton State Forest in New Jersey next Sunday with a large group of offroaders.

My Truck: 2011 FX4 SCREW 157" 5.0
Mods: Level Kit, XD Monsters, 295/70/18 Nitto Trail Graps

I have Cobra 38 XS handheld CB
20 ft. Recovery Strap, 20,000 lbs.
Two Smittybuilt D Rings

Anything else I should bring along or do to the truck in advance of this trip?

I'm coming to terms that my pristine truck will likely have "pinstripes" or other trail damage as a result.

My only concern is the long wheelbase causing issues.

Assorted tools, spare tire, air compressor and tire gauge in case you need to air down your tires, good gps, maps. The list could go on forever but these are a small percentage of the stuff I carry on the back of my rzr.

I know the Pine Barrens quite well (running dirt bikes, hunting, most recently in my former Jeep)... Other than stripes, be aware of water depth if we get rain over the next week. Some of the puddles can get VERY deep.

Otherwise, you're looking at a lot of sand and, possibly, mud depending upon where you go.

Have fun.
Jeff

Ha I live in new Gretna area if u need another f150 out there let me know!!

I'd look into getting a more heavy duty strap. Ive seen 20k straps pop like fishing line on multiple occassions. As long as you dont sink it to the frame it should do the job though

We are meeting at the Atsion Ranger Station, Sunday March 10th at 9:30 a.m. It's mostly FJ Cruisers in our group. Your welcome to join us

Put a think coat of wax on before you go! Will help with the pinstripping. When i was washing my truck after i trailed one time, you could see all the rub marks from the trees and weeds in the water. After a good sponge bath they never show up again. No damage to paint. It will help with light rubs

I know it sounds crazy but spray some Pam up in the wheel wells, this will help with the mud caking on and will make clean up easier.

I have a 22,500 pound 30ft nylon recovery strap with a 6" cut going length ways in it and I yank the heck out of it with zero issues. Had my 7000 pound truck buried to the frame in 3ft of hard snow at the bottom of a bowl at a dog party and had a truck that was much lighter than mine with massive tires trying to pull me out with 20 foot slack runs and I was just getting deeper as the snow was so hard and he was digging deep trenches I was sinking deeper in, basically my truck was floating on the frame with my massive bumper plowing snow. I didn't think I was getting out till we switched angles of pull. He also had a 20 foot strap that looked similar to mine and we had them both tied together. If you don't have the nylon stretchy rope and are getting a run at it I could see a problem maybe, but those stretchy ropes are the cats ass!

Shovel...and throw some plywood in the bed...would recommed a longer strap or like Sultan said have two...