Caleb MorganBy Caleb Morgan

Departure day is not the time to guess whether a route is open, whether a storm will roll in, or whether your tires have enough air. A short series of checks at home, at the trailhead, and before you lose cell service can turn a risky outing into a controlled, enjoyable trip. The checks below draw on guidance from land management agencies, safety organizations, and off-road driving educators. They focus on planning and route decisions, not on driving technique or vehicle modification.

Before you go: Confirm your route is legal and passable, file a trip plan, check the weather, set tire pressures cold, pack essential gear, and verify your beacon registration.

File a trip plan and set an overdue time

A written trip plan left with a responsible contact is one of the most effective safety steps you can take. The National Park Service’s backcountry trip plan guidance for Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve recommends including specific details that will help searchers if you become overdue. The plan should list who is going, what you are doing, your method of travel with distinct identifying characteristics, and your route details including intended camping locations. It should also state exactly when to initiate a search: “If party has not returned to (location) by (time) on (date), contact (agency or person) at (phone number).”

Group information matters just as much. The NPS guidance says to include all group members’ names, contact information, emergency contacts, medical conditions and medications, and descriptions of jackets, backpacks, tents or other identifying gear. List every communication and signal method you carry, such as a satellite messenger, personal locator beacon, VHF radio, or cell phone, along with the numbers or frequencies you will monitor. Note the survival equipment you have, the number of days of food and stove fuel, and a full vehicle description: make, model, color, license plate number, and where it is parked. A backup itinerary with the same level of detail helps responders narrow the search if your main plan changes. For more on building a thorough trip plan, see our off-road trip preparation article.

Check the weather and flash flood risk

Weather can change a route from passable to dangerous in minutes. The National Weather Service’s Turn Around Don’t Drown campaign emphasizes that more deaths occur each year from flooding than from any other thunderstorm-related hazard. According to the NWS, over half of all flood-related drownings happen when a vehicle is driven into hazardous flood water. A mere 6 inches of fast-moving water can knock over an adult, 12 inches of rushing water can carry away most cars, and 2 feet of rushing water can carry away SUVs and trucks. The NWS states that it is never safe to drive or walk into flood waters.

Before you leave, check the forecast for the entire area your route covers, not just the trailhead. Pay attention to flash flood watches and warnings. If your route crosses low-water crossings, remember the NWS warning that a road may have collapsed under flood water. The NWS describes yellow permanent warning signs that read “When Flooded, Turn Around Don’t Drown” and pink temporary incident signs. Heed any such signs and never drive around barriers blocking a flooded road. For a broader look at weather and terrain planning, visit our off-road route research guide.

Confirm route status with the current MVUM

Legal access on public land depends on the Motor Vehicle Use Map. The U.S. Forest Service explains that the MVUM displays National Forest System routes and areas designated as open to motorized travel, along with allowed uses by vehicle class, seasonal allowances, and distance allowances. Routes not shown on the MVUM are not open to public motor vehicle travel. The Forest Service notes that routes designated for motorized use may not always be signed on the ground, so it is the public’s responsibility to reference the MVUM to stay on designated routes.

On departure day, download or print the most recent MVUM for the ranger district you will visit. The Forest Service requires that the most current version be posted on the individual forest’s website. Check for seasonal closures that may affect your route. The Forest Service’s Know Before You Go page also advises monitoring weather conditions before you set out and being prepared for sudden changes. If you have any doubt about a route’s status, contact the ranger district directly. Our pre-trip checks category page has more on confirming conditions before you drive.

Set tire pressures cold using the door placard

Correct tire pressure is a safety and durability factor that is easy to get wrong if you rely on guesswork. The correct inflation pressure for your vehicle is listed on the Tire and Loading Information Label on the driver’s side door edge or doorjamb, or in the owner’s manual. NHTSA emphasizes that the pressure on the tire sidewall is not the recommended pressure for your vehicle; it is the tire’s maximum pressure.

NHTSA advises checking the pressure of all tires, including the spare, at least once a month when the tires are cold, meaning the vehicle has not been driven for at least three hours. Use an accurate gauge. If a tire is low, add air to reach the recommended cold pressure. If you must adjust pressure after driving, fill to the cold inflation pressure shown on the placard; the tire may still be slightly underinflated when warm, but that is safer than driving with a significantly underinflated tire. Recheck and adjust when the tires are cold again. NHTSA also notes that underinflated tires are visually difficult to detect, and that a tire pressure monitoring system warning light means at least one tire is significantly underinflated. For more on vehicle readiness, see our recovery and safety section.

Pack the gear your off-road guide recommends

BFGoodrich’s off-road safety guide, citing Jim Allen’s Four-Wheeler’s Bible, lists essential equipment every off-road vehicle should carry. The guide frames this as a must-pack list for getting out of tough spots and back home safely. The items include front and rear tow points for safe vehicle recovery, a heavy-duty tow strap, a full-size spare tire suited for off-road conditions, a complete tool kit for on-trail repairs, an off-road jack with greater lift and stability than a stock jack, spare vehicle parts such as belts, hoses, and fuses, a first aid kit, a portable air compressor for tire inflation and pressure adjustments, duct tape for quick temporary fixes, jumper cables, a lubricant for moisture protection, and bailing wire and zip ties for securing broken or loose parts.

The guide also stresses that real off-roading happens at low speeds and in low gear: control, not chaos. While this gear list covers many common situations, recovery technique requires hands-on training. Our off-road recovery basics article explains the safety rules and gear categories without substituting for in-person practice.

Verify your emergency beacon registration

If you carry a 406 MHz personal locator beacon or emergency position-indicating radio beacon, NOAA requires that it be registered and that the registration be kept current. According to NOAA’s SARSAT program, U.S. coded beacon owners must register their beacon online through the National Beacon Registration Database. Registration is valid for two years, and NOAA will attempt to contact you to confirm your information. You must update the registration any time your contact information, address, or vessel or vehicle details change. If you sell a beacon, notify NOAA and tell the buyer to register it themselves, otherwise you may be contacted by rescue authorities if it is activated.

Before departure, log in to the registration database and confirm that your beacon ID, phone number, and emergency contacts are accurate. NOAA asks owners to confirm the accuracy of the registered information, particularly the beacon ID, and to notify NOAA immediately if anything is inaccurate. If you have a non-U.S. coded beacon, contact the manufacturer or check the Cospas-Sarsat website for registration instructions.

Frequently asked questions

What should I include in a trip plan for an off-road route?

The National Park Service recommends listing who is going, your route and intended camping spots, your method of travel with identifying details, all group members’ names and emergency contacts, communication devices and frequencies you will monitor, survival gear, food and fuel quantities, your vehicle description and where it is parked, and a specific overdue time after which your contact should alert authorities. A backup itinerary with the same detail is also advised.

How do I know if a forest road is legally open to my vehicle?

The U.S. Forest Service states that the current Motor Vehicle Use Map shows which routes are open to motorized travel and for which vehicle classes. Routes not shown on the MVUM are not open to public motor vehicle use. Check the forest’s website for the latest version and look for seasonal allowances that may affect your route.

When should I check my tire pressure before an off-road trip?

NHTSA recommends checking tire pressure when the tires are cold, meaning the vehicle has not been driven for at least three hours. Use the pressure listed on the vehicle’s Tire and Loading Information Label, not the maximum pressure on the tire sidewall. Check all tires, including the spare, and adjust to the recommended cold inflation pressure.

For a full set of departure-day and pre-trip checklists, visit our Pre-Trip Checks page.

Sources

Caleb Morgan

About Caleb Morgan

Caleb Morgan is part of our editorial team and reviews and edits our off-road trails & overlanding guides, checking product details against manufacturer specifications and owner feedback.