I know this has been addressed before, but I can't find a good thread. If you know of one, please point me to it.

For my new ATV I'm going to put together a trail kit. Some items will go with me everytime I get on the bike, and others depend on what and where I am going. I'm asking input and critique on items there or not there, and what would be considered "essential". When you do mention something, I may ask "why" as that will help me get on the same page. I have a version of this for when I do my backpack trips, but I've never done one for something like an ATV. You can see it's a long list, but it's not refined.

99 means I have not ranked it for purchase or importance, yet.
1 - A few Tool bags like in Jeep
1 - Medical kit
1 - Gloves
1 - 2x Lighter
1 - Tow strap
1 - Clovis hitch
1 - Air Compressor
1 - Tire plugs (harbor freight ones are good) Look at Industro in a bok (tubeless tire repair chords)
1 - Plug insertion tool
1 - Reaming tool
1 - Headlamp
99 - Fuses
99 - Jump Starter
99 - Electrical Tape
99 - Anti-freeze
99 - Motor oil
99 - 2x blue rags
99 - Surgical gloves
99 - Brush Machete
99 - TP
99 - Zip Ties
99 - Gorilla tape
99 - Bungie cords
99 - WD-40
99 - Hose clamps
99 - Amsteel to extend
99 - 2x screwdrivers to get tire on rim
99 - Slime tire sealant for small punctures
99 - Brake cleaner to pop a tire bead
99 - Spare valve stem
99 - Tire valve tool
99 - Spare tire nuts
99 - Ratchet strap
99 - Allen Wrenches - american, metric
99 - Torx Wrenches
99 - Diagonal cutters (side cutters)
99 - Needle-nosed pliers
99 - Pliers
99 - Channel locks
99 - Vice grips
99 - Ratchets, extenders, sizes for the ATV. Deep & shallow
99 - Multi-screw driver
99 - Extra Fuel
99 - Winch
99 - ****** block

 

If you planning a long extended ride over many days, your list looks good, but for a days ride or a few hours it seems excessive. Remember that stuff is weight and takes up room. I ride lots of woods trails and also have a SxS with far more storage room so I also carry a bow saw and an axe. If you ride with others as you should, someone could always ride back to your trailer to pick up special items so you wint need to carry everything with you. I have a small medical kit, basic tool kit, tire repair kit, 12v compressor, tp or wet wipes, quart of antifreeze, quart of oil ( never had to use) small scissors jack and a set of jumper cables vs a battery jump pack for me. Extra og googles, dust mask, extra gloves. My machine has over a 150 mile cruising range so no need to carry fuel but do carry a siphon hose. My spare tire is in my trailer, can carry it if on a multi day ride. In most cases over my 20 yrs of riding, the tire repair kit, basic tool kit, duct tape, 12v compressor, antifreeze, scissors jack, extra gloves and googles are all I have used!!
I do lots of maintenence on my machines between rides and I dont ride stupid....last one has been my biggest help!!

 

Agreed. I will be taking a week-long trip at the end of May where I will be away from towns, which is what I'm ultimately preparing for. For those shorter trips or just messing around I do agree, it's too much. Though I will go take some very short pleasure rides, most of my weekend trips will be camping and I may not see anybody else.

As for riding stupid, I PLAN to NOT do that, but only time will tell!

 

Over the last 8 years of some good back country riding here is what i carry and i have slimmed down the list since i first started. My own tool kit with wrenches and sockets that fit mine and my friends machines, multi screwdriver, knife, plyers, wire cutters, tire plugs and tool, tape, zipties. I have never needed more in a tool kit. High volume compressor, winch straps, clevis, ****** block, 50ft of winch rope, hatchet, first aid kit, collapsible shovel military style, small jumper cables.. I also carry a chainsaw and manchette as where i ride their is always blowdown so i pack a small thing of fuel and oil for the saw.

The best thing you can do to your machine is upgrade the tires to something good and keep the air pressure set right for your riding. The biggest fail i see is tires, crappy stock tires getting slashed or a stick puncturing a good tire because the rider things the tire pressure on the side of the tire is for riding. That is usually the beading pressure and then you air them down to 4-10 lbs depending on where you are riding.. Then usually the stick will not poke through the tire the tire will just fold around the stick

 

I had not thought of my stock tires, but you are probably right.

As for my long list, I am trying my best to only take what is appropriate for the type of trip I'm be taking. No doubt I'll take too much then modify it, as you did. I did and continue to do this on my backpack trips.

Thanks for the input!

 

no prob... the biggest thing for me is making sure i had the tools to fit everything including my friends i ride with... We were riding one day and a buddy bent a tie rod out in the middle of no ware in a Miskito infested area. Between all of us we did not have the proper wrench so with a adjustable laying in mud it took us 4 hours turning the nut a 8th at a time to get it apart straiten it and put it back in tight enough to get us out.. I came home went to the store and bought a new set of wrenches for my tool box and took all the sizes i needed out of my box...But thats also a learning experience no matter how prepared you think you are you always miss something.. I blew my belt on the trail while i had all the tools to change it out it would have taken a bit, a buddy had a 1/4 ratchet and extension with a swivel that turned the job from probably over a hour to a 20 min fix... That will be the next tool going in my box when i see the extensions go on sale..LOL... at the end of the day having the tools will get you home

 

I'm trying to find a resource now that shows the sizes on my new Honda. The manual itself does not but I know I used to buy aftermarket manuals that were very detailed, to include sizes. I'm racking my brain to remember what that brand is and if they are still on the top of the heap.