Where There Are Sheep, Wolves Will Always Thrive
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Posted: 6/12/2025 12:58:11 PM EDT
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So I got a new truck in the fall and it has a lot less interior storage compartments and options than it's predecessors did. I've added some MOLLE panels to the front seat bottoms and to the seat backs and those have given me lots and lots of additional storage options now. I've crossloaded everything I had in my old trucks, but thought I'd ping the hivemind if there's a good idea or three that I've missed. I live in the sticks so vehicle security is a minor concern. I have a CHP and carry routinely, so "truck guns" don't need to be part of the attached/permanent loadout for this thought exercise. In the cabin: -first aid kit -tourniquet -gloves -seatbelt cutters -multitool -flashlights and spare batteries -compass -firestarting kit -air compressor -spare cold weather clothes -spare mags for CHP pistol and sometimes-carried long guns -hardcopy map atlas In the bed: -offroad recovery kit -fire extinguisher -fuel -shovel Anything other folks prudently keep in theirs that I've missed? Thanks! |
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Originally Posted By TAP: So I got a new truck in the fall and it has a lot less interior storage compartments and options than it's predecessors did. I've added some MOLLE panels to the front seat bottoms and to the seat backs and those have given me lots and lots of additional storage options now. I've crossloaded everything I had in my old trucks, but thought I'd ping the hivemind if there's a good idea or three that I've missed. I live in the sticks so vehicle security is a minor concern. I have a CHP and carry routinely, so "truck guns" don't need to be part of the attached/permanent loadout for this thought exercise. In the cabin: -first aid kit -tourniquet -gloves -seatbelt cutters -multitool -flashlights and spare batteries -compass -firestarting kit -air compressor -spare cold weather clothes -spare mags for CHP pistol and sometimes-carried long guns -hardcopy map atlas In the bed: -offroad recovery kit -fire extinguisher -fuel -shovel Anything other folks prudently keep in theirs that I've missed? Thanks! Does your off-road recovery kit include kitty litter or some other material/tool to increase traction where needed? Sounds dumb, but it can be really effective in a self-rescue type of situation when your stuck and cant get traction. |
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Hammock and motorcycle tie downs Tarp stakes chord ( improvised shelter. ) Wool Blanket Just on the chance you don’t want to miss nap time. Quick Clot Gauze Small Gransfors Bruk Axe, Saw Saw |
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I usually keep some kind of comms monitoring/info monitoring radios onboard. Sanitation gear. Recovery planks. Full tool kit. Maintenance parts, and spares. Lubricants and additives, general adhesives and sealants. Water. Multiple fire extinguishers, not just one. And if possible, ditch the powder style. Tarps. Paracord and general cordage. Multiple tie-down straps, and ratchet straps. Emergency lighting. road flares, aerial flares, smoke. satcom of some type folding bicycle |
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Where There Are Sheep, Wolves Will Always Thrive
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Does your off-road recovery kit include kitty litter or some other material/tool to increase traction where needed? Sounds dumb, but it can be really effective in a self-rescue type of situation when your stuck and cant get traction. Thanks! I don't keep kitty litter but have a set of traction boards in the bed. Around here, soft and/or deep mud is the major I'm-stuck contributor and those have worked great for those situations. Kitty litter would be a great add in the winter. |
Where There Are Sheep, Wolves Will Always Thrive
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Hammock and motorcycle tie downs Tarp stakes chord ( improvised shelter. ) Wool Blanket Just on the chance you don’t want to miss nap time. Quick Clot Gauze Small Gransfors Bruk Axe, Saw Saw Thanks! I have Quick Clot in the FAK. I've thought about a good saw or axe, but haven't come up with a good long-term storage or mounting solution yet. |
Where There Are Sheep, Wolves Will Always Thrive
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VA, USA
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I usually keep some kind of comms monitoring/info monitoring radios onboard. Sanitation gear. Recovery planks. Full tool kit. Maintenance parts, and spares. Lubricants and additives, general adhesives and sealants. Water. Multiple fire extinguishers, not just one. And if possible, ditch the powder style. Tarps. Paracord and general cordage. Multiple tie-down straps, and ratchet straps. Emergency lighting. road flares, aerial flares, smoke. satcom of some type folding bicycle Gonna need a bigger |
Where There Are Sheep, Wolves Will Always Thrive
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air compressor tire repair kit make sure the emergency jack to lift the truck actually has enough range to get the truck corner up in the air. Tow strap pair of soft shackles Thanks! Everything llisted there is in the recovery kit already. i have the standard jack and it is ok but not great in terms of its range. I can use it centered on one of the recovery boards which helps, but it still is far from a high lift jack- which I'm not sure I want to dedicate the space to. |
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Year round Basic survival stuff you would expect I.e. a survival kit including signaling, fire starting, nav, etc. E tool and snow shovel Jumper cables Gloves Air compressor Multi tool and a tool roll with tire repair kit and some normal basic hand tools Duct tape Extra pair of shoes Extra t shirt Extra underwear Extra socks Goretex top and bottoms Flares Winter time adds Wool blanket Sleeping bag Camping stove (pocket rocket) Extra gloves and cold weather kit Kitty litter and a door mat I normally have my edc on my person or in a bag next to my desk including medical equipment and survival items. Need to add soft shackles and a strap to round it out. |
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Originally Posted By darkpaladin1: Does your off-road recovery kit include kitty litter or some other material/tool to increase traction where needed? Sounds dumb, but it can be really effective in a self-rescue type of situation when your stuck and cant get traction. I keep a little section of a 2x12. Can help with providing a rigid surface for jacking the truck up, or help with retrieval (under wheels) like you mentioned. |
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Any older soft armor you may have can be hung over/on the seats and then a seat cover placed over it. Same thing with extra plates or the steel plates most people buy before they "know better." I have a couple extra plates stacked on top of each other on the driver's seat, then a few in the back seat as well as some soft armor from an old OTV Interceptor vest. About 4-5 extra pistol magazines in the pocket areas of the doors, as well as extra eye pro and a SOFTW TQ. Little sling bag hangs over driver's seat, quick pull type setup with some "oh crap get you of the riot area" stuff in it. In other words, you don't have time to grab anything else. It's riot season again and folks should check to see that any anti collision software is turned off which may keep you from "pushing" cars or hitting certain items to get out of an area. |
www.jrhenterprises.com
Over 30 Years in business- Thank you for your business!
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Over 30 Years in business- Thank you for your business!
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| That's my setup. First aid kit on molle panel. In my decked storage system I keep a hatchet and tow strap. A 12k big red bottle jack. I would seriously consider a winch. I have mine mounted behind the bumper. I use a HF badlands 12k I believe and I have used 4-5 times and it has been solid for a $350 winch. |
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You'll keep adding to it. Now that I have a truck camper, you would not believe the stuff I have in my truck now. What I can tell you is of the "What if" stuff, that I use most over the years. No. 1, the knife I keep in the glove box and the roll of paracord I keep under the back seat. I'm often opening something or tying something down. No.2, Water and windshield cleaner which includes micro-fiber towels or paper towels. Holy cow do I use the crap out of those blue shop towels. No.3, First aide kit. Mostly nicks or bites and usually not me, at one drive in movie I treated so many kids I thought I was an aide station. No.4, Tire repair stuff, mostly rescues but it's way easier to plug and air than change a tire which is important on the side of an interstate at night. No.5, lubricants. No.6, Tie wire, duct tape, and electrical tape. Note: I don't include flashlight and or firearm. They're kind of like clothing and one should always dress for the environment. Hope this helps some. Tj |
"We prepare so we don't have to go to the Superdome!"
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Decking out my truck was a fun off season activity for me while i was recovering from shoulder surgery -- Tacoma (so, small truck with 5' bed) -- have a Husky job box that slides just under the tonneau lid (rigid tonneau that i keep locked , so the bed is basically just a big trunk most of the time) This still leaves me plenty of room for stuff specific to whatever i might be doing outdoors (usually mountain bike stuff -- box full of MTB shoes, water bladders, MTB specific tools, etc. ) or room for range bag and rifles cases, etc. or tent, deflated air mattress, camp stove etc. In it i have a basic tool kit (pliers, screwdriver or two and some common to the vehicle sockets and wrenches plus wire strippers, - some electrical wire, safety wire, tie wraps , etc) as well as ever present duct tape and tire repair tools. I use a Dewalt tire inflator so keep a extra battery pack and charger there too. Also has tie down and recovery straps, hatchet, shovel, machete. spare pair of old jungle boots plenty of 550 cord and some rope seat backs have some "just break in and steal me !" MOLLE stuff on the back from 5.11 that gets customized periodically but generally has a mid size first aid kit and pouches for spare mags for long gun and pistol of choice plus a dump pouch for more 550 cord and carabiners. I keep a cheap Cold Steel Bushman lashed there too behind the rear seat on one side is my climbing rope, the other side is a stuff sack full of spare clothes and a pair of Vans shoes -- not winter survival stuff -- just spares in case i get stuck in the mud or get doused and need some dry duds. Under the seat is moderate winter stuff like a wool GI style blanket , thick socks - coupl e of other things Console is a small inverter and a small jump pack - 90% of the time it gets used to quick charge a cell phone and thats about it but it will jump a car as long as its not stone dead. Glove box has a small first aid kit - a "bee stings and boo boo's" type kit that also has headache powders and other OTC meds -- and spare feminine products for the lady in my life And im missing a bunch of stuff --- but what i view as a must and you can secrete these wherever in the vehicle you feel like, -- but a couple of rolls of your favorite TP . Single ply Scott tissue from a gas station is quite literally a pain in the rear - plus wet wipes keep several inexpensive headlamps in console , and in stuff sack , -- and there is usually a pocket knife or 3 handy Generally also have a couple of gallons of drinking safe water on hand in stainless steel containers of varying sizes and there's always a Yeti "Roadie 20" cooler in the back Hitch mounted bike rack for my bike The vehicle , except for the bike rack - looks stone stock on the exterior. I dont really want an "Overlander" looking rack , but at some point when i have a few spare shekels to rub together, a color matched topper would be very nice, as ive seen many people deck those out to give a nice dry sleep spot when needed -- the short bed setups, people rig up diagonal sleep platforms to give enough room |
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Originally Posted By darkpaladin1: Does your off-road recovery kit include kitty litter or some other material/tool to increase traction where needed? Sounds dumb, but it can be really effective in a self-rescue type of situation when your stuck and cant get traction. Originally Posted By darkpaladin1: Originally Posted By TAP: So I got a new truck in the fall and it has a lot less interior storage compartments and options than it's predecessors did. I've added some MOLLE panels to the front seat bottoms and to the seat backs and those have given me lots and lots of additional storage options now. I've crossloaded everything I had in my old trucks, but thought I'd ping the hivemind if there's a good idea or three that I've missed. I live in the sticks so vehicle security is a minor concern. I have a CHP and carry routinely, so "truck guns" don't need to be part of the attached/permanent loadout for this thought exercise. In the cabin: -first aid kit -tourniquet -gloves -seatbelt cutters -multitool -flashlights and spare batteries -compass -firestarting kit -air compressor -spare cold weather clothes -spare mags for CHP pistol and sometimes-carried long guns -hardcopy map atlas In the bed: -offroad recovery kit -fire extinguisher -fuel -shovel Anything other folks prudently keep in theirs that I've missed? Thanks! Does your off-road recovery kit include kitty litter or some other material/tool to increase traction where needed? Sounds dumb, but it can be really effective in a self-rescue type of situation when your stuck and cant get traction. For snow or ice cat litter could be of some use, but if you're stuck because of mud or terrain, cat litter isn't going to do anything but take up space. |
Where There Are Sheep, Wolves Will Always Thrive
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So I wrapped up the interior storage and stowage project, once the molle panels finally arrived for the seatbacks. Thanks to everyone for the listings- I adjusted and added a few things based on some of the suggestions. Under Rear Seat: Jack / Tire Kit Components Road Flares Machete Air Compressor Jumper Cables Crash Axe 100mph tape Crowbar Breaker Bar & Socket Behind Rear Seat: Jack Body Hardcopy Maps Cold/Wet Weather Parka Spare Beanies Seatback Panels: First Aid Kit Tourniquet QuikClot Flashlight Spare Batteries 550 Cord Nitrile Gloves Compass Monocular Matches, Hexamine Tablets Spare Mags for carry pistol Spare long gun ammo Pepper Spray Seatbelt Cutter Glass Breaker Knife MRE Toilet Paper Space Blanket HotHands Canteen Front Multimount Panels: Holster for carry pistol when not carried Seatbelt Cutter x2 Multitool Flashlight Various Interior Pockets / Glovebox: Bungee Cords TieDown Straps Gloves Beanies Baton Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File The mount setup for the bed is underway, so the exterior project is next up! |
Where There Are Sheep, Wolves Will Always Thrive
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Originally Posted By Deny_Everything: Tell me about the whole holster set up. It looks like it's mounted to the front of the driver's seat. I would like more info about it. This company makes "multi mount panels" that use existing seat bolt locations to provide a small panel in that location. It works really well in mine given the seat geometry, and I never even know they're there until the seat automoves when I'm getting out. |
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WY, USA
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Duct tape Tow strap A case of bottled water (swap out regularly). Back up LED headlamps A cheap tarp and some rope and stakes. An extra car Jack $100 in cash in small bills Of the above I’ve used Duct tape, tow strap and bottled water most often to help folk out. |
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Originally Posted By TAP: So I wrapped up the interior storage and stowage project, once the molle panels finally arrived for the seatbacks. Thanks to everyone for the listings- I adjusted and added a few things based on some of the suggestions. Under Rear Seat: Jack / Tire Kit Components Road Flares Machete Air Compressor Jumper Cables Crash Axe 100mph tape Crowbar Breaker Bar & Socket Behind Rear Seat: Jack Body Hardcopy Maps Cold/Wet Weather Parka Spare Beanies Seatback Panels: First Aid Kit Tourniquet QuikClot Flashlight Spare Batteries 550 Cord Nitrile Gloves Compass Monocular Matches, Hexamine Tablets Spare Mags for carry pistol Spare long gun ammo Pepper Spray Seatbelt Cutter Glass Breaker Knife MRE Toilet Paper Space Blanket HotHands Canteen Front Multimount Panels: Holster for carry pistol when not carried Seatbelt Cutter x2 Multitool Flashlight Various Interior Pockets / Glovebox: Bungee Cords TieDown Straps Gloves Beanies Baton https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/145914/PXL_20250613_151228683_jpg-3566915.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/145914/PXL_20250611_221221835_jpg-3566916.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/145914/PXL_20250613_172250718_jpg-3566918.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/145914/PXL_20250611_214317797_jpg-3566919.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/145914/PXL_20250611_214336403_jpg-3566920.JPG The mount setup for the bed is underway, so the exterior project is next up! Is this a Toyota? -- The rear underseat bins look like my Tacoma a bit ---- also appreciate the fact that you seem to have the appropriate amount of dog hair |
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Originally Posted By TAP: Thanks! I have Quick Clot in the FAK. I've thought about a good saw or axe, but haven't come up with a good long-term storage or mounting solution yet. Check out Quickfist |
Land of the Free ~ Because of the Brave
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"The laws that forbid the carrying of arms, disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes." - Thom
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I carry a bit of food for me. MRE, 5 granola bars, and some snacks that don't go rancid. A couple of tea bags so I can get my caffeine fix in the morning. I change out the food every year. Off road I carried a hi-lift jack and a come-a-long with an assortment of cables so I can pull myself out of a "stuck". Old school US Forest Service requirement of AXE, BUCKET, AND SHOVEL. |
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Perhaps instead of flares something like this. I stopped at an accident a few years back and was offered flares from a passer by, the grass on the sides of the road was dry and we had forest fires everywhere that year. These can be used as flashlights (depending on settings) and around camp if you like. Electric "road flares" High Vis Vest; I tossed one on at a wreck. Yep, I was instantly in charge, until the cops arrived. Can also be used when you have to work on your rig on the side of the road. Sometimes you want to be seen. Code Reader, laptop cables and any firmware you might need to clear a code, or check things when the Maint Required light comes on. My brother was moving; his car sent a code to the dash, he ended up having to call tech support from Reno, NV; to get help as the dealership could not help him. He said the tech support was awesome, and got him out of the jam. Code Reader for Cars A jumper box may be a better idea than a jumper cables these days. No chance of a feed back from the jumped car damaging yours. Gives you back up power for your cell phone, laptop, etc. Yes, I know with all the batteries I have suggested that you need a charging system for all of it. Trade offs. Which non powder fire extinguishers do you recommend? |
Where There Are Sheep, Wolves Will Always Thrive
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VA, USA
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Interior and exterior loadout pretty much done finally. Some of these have already been posted, but here's my five-pic limit in one place: Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File |
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Depends on your area and your skills. I know guys who drive around with machine shops on wheels and guys who could probably make a living off the land eating bugs and snakes. I am neither type. Figure on what it would take you to last maybe 72 hours until you either make it to your cache or have some kind of plan in place. And all that stuff is really nice until you have to move on foot. I can pack for a week in Vegas with a Walmart backpack. Add some spare ammo and a bit of quick energy and I'm ready for The End. Having said that I will say a cheapo floor jack and a sturdy four way wrench has been by far and away the most useful thing I keep with me. |
Meowdy!
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| Even though I have a 12V compressor and plug kit, which I have used a lot over the years, I recently added some Fix-A-Flat just in case. Reason being is going through a disaster area, like after a tornado or flooding, etc.; with the potential of housing debris as an example, it might get to a point that its too much to plug and/or don't have time for that and likely multiple tires. And that's the innocent unintentional scenario. |