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Accessorizing and Stocking a Jeep

When stocking a Jeep for off-highway recreation, it is important to remember not to OVER do it. (For an excellent list of important items to include, please see Grant’s "Trail Mix".)

Since our TJ is the most prepared Jeep in our arsenal, we keep it ready to go at a moments notice. Bear in mind that the Wrangler is extremely limited on space, and we have yet to add any external storage ability. Also, the area in which you will be ‘wheeling may dictate alternative items.

Since our primary area of four-wheeling is limited to the Mohave Desert, one of our major concerns is having enough water - each vehicle present during our outings usually carries a minimum 7 gallons of drinking water. We also carry 2 - 5 gallons of fuel, a full-size spare, an air compressor, a jack suitable for off-road use, a tow rope, and a good assortment of tools.

A few more items we have decided to include are a half-dozen *MREs (meal, ready-to-eat), blankets, folding chairs, fire-starting equipment, a folding shovel, and, of course, Charmin. A come-along, GPS, camera, .22 pistol, spotlight, additional drinks, and CB radio always accompany us as well - it never hurts to be prepared.

With the above equipment strategically placed in our TJ, all four seats are still accessible, if not a little cramped.

We hope the addition of an external gas/water can carrier, and a rack of some sort, to our TJ, will free up enough room to make its riders a little more comfortable and make room for a little more equipment.


MRE* MRE, or Meal, Ready to Eat, is the current "gourmet" food for our soldiers in the field. They also make great meals for four-wheeling; emergency or otherwise. We use them almost every time we go out.

The meal pictured at the left is Menu #13, Pork With Rice. (The other meal shown is beef stew.)

The contents are as follows, and may be different for each meal:

  • Pork with rice in BBQ sauce (My personal favorite.)
  • Applesauce
  • Beverage base powder, orange
  • Crackers
  • Peanut butter
  • Meal heater
  • Spoon
  • Accessory packet:
    • Tabasco
    • Matches
    • Gum
    • Tissue
    • Iced tea drink mix
    • Salt
    • Wetnap

This is the new variety, and you may have seen the older, dark brown type. The meal heater is flameless, and is water activated. Other meals may include hot chocolate and even M&M's.
For more information, and MRE sales info, click here

Dirt Road Magazine is sponsored by Turner 4WD Parts Co.