Getting back to the trail.

The season is almost upon us in Ontario. Anyone with a Jeep or off-road truck, is just buttoning up any last minute projects, or giving it a once over after the strain of winter. In your rush to make it back to the trails it's a great idea to make a checklist of things to pack in, and go over before you head out.

Most important is the truck itself. You may have gotten the mods you wanted done but have you overlooked something simple? Check out all your suspension joints and bushings for play or cracking, take a look at your U-joints, and ball joints. Make sure your fluids are fresh and full. Ensure you haven't developed any new fluid leaks over the winter. Clean filters are a good idea as they soon won't be after a few weekends of fun. Have a look at your belts and hoses. Cracked belts and old hoses are better replaced at home then on the side of the road. Give your old reliable rig a big splash of grease.

Beat your rust. No really, beat on it! Use a hammer, scraper, screwdriver, pry bar, whatever you have and test your metal. Don't be gentle. Look for holes in the body and get them fixed. Make sure your frame will hold up to a big tug, or a sharp hit. Finding out the hard way can ruin your day... Or worse.

Then there's the question of what to bring. What do you pack in for a day or weekend out on the trail? First you need to pack the static inventory of the truck. Things that always need to be with the vehicle. A medical kit is a good idea, tools, and spare parts. I keep all sorts of stuff with me, a spare T-case chain, spider gears, axle shafts, a drive shaft, bearings, fluids, and U-joints. A fire extinguisher isn't a bad idea either. Think lumberjack tools as well as truck tools. You may need to dig to get yourself free or trim away a fallen tree.

Next is what to pack for the outing, things that need to be removed when you're done. Water, and food is often overlooked as must haves even for a day outing, warm clothes, and blankets because you don't know what might happen. A CAA card is a worthy investment. A cellphone is worth having but may not always work in the bush.

The last and most important thing to bring is a friend, and his rig. NEVER GO ALONE. Period. Full stop. You need someone else with a rig. In case you get stuck, need a pull or something happens to you or your truck and you need to be driven out.

Get out there, have fun, and be prepared to make the trip enjoyable and worry free.