my X is bone stock besides the mud flaps being removed and the step bar being removed, what else would i need for rausch creek besides a strap with loops? do i need to buy tow hooks? cb? anything you can think of will help

communication is very important(either cb or 2ways)
do you have a rear tow point?
d-ring shackles are a good idea
keep water in your rig, a few slim fast are good to have since they are packed with calories, carbs, and fill you up

Ohhhh GOD you went and asked the ULTIMATE QUESTION!! Get READY FOR SOME answers!! GOT A PRINTER?......lol....

i dont really need complicated answers..just the very basics for a day trip now and then

Remove your rear sway bar. Or, we can do it there in the morning. I have a cb, it helps a little bit to communicate with people. Basically you don't need to scramble to get stuff. I have nearly everything required to get you unstuck if it happens. The only thing that I don't have is air for tires to air up at the end of the day. But that will be coming in my next mod.

again,
1. a rear tow point is important, like frame hooks or a hitch receiver
2. d-ring shackles
3. tow strap
4. a means of truck to truck communication
5. nourishment for you and your passengers(you never know when you will get stuck and spend alot of time in one place, food and water is important)

Yeah. between Kyle and I we can solve a pretty decent stuck problem. We both have winches, straps, D-rings and alot of other stuff. Other than that I would say a small cooler with drinks and some sandwiches. Just enough for a short lunch. Mabe some snachs for the ride home.

Kyle are you bringing hand held radios? If so I have 2 I can grab and my CB is fixed now too. so i'm almost all set. Just need to change 2 tires if I can afford 2 new ones.

I use Cobra handhelds that I picked up at Home Depot for about $35. They have a 7 mile range or something like that, plus you can pick up the emergency weather stations. I will get a cb in the next few months but until I do, I just take one hand held and give the other to the trail leader. That way if trouble is ahead or if I have problems, he can stop the party or let me know what's ahead.

Drop your rear sway and you're ready to friggin' rock man!

i am nervous about the taking my sway bar off cause of my daily comute for work, 65-80mph down a high way for 20 milles with no sway bar is kinda scary dont ya think?

nope i do it all the time..... i have had my Sway Bar off for over a year and haven't had any problems.... and also i have that assurance that the sway bar isn't going to rupture my shock when you flex the rear going up my driveway.. LOL

I'll second that. Take it off. You won't notice. And if you really want we can put it back on after we wheel. I've had both of mine off for over a year and it didnt roll much at all. It does have a decent lean around corners now though with a tire in the roof rack.

I have a 60 mile roundtrip commute to work everyday and it's 90% interstate and it's no different. I didn't even notice a change when I first took it off.

If you're still sketchy and want to keep then so be it. But DO NOT WHEEL WITH IT ON! You will destroy your rear shock! And that is no BS!

Buy a set of quick disco's, so when you pull up on the trail you can pull the pins and remove it rather than unbolting the whole set up.

I've had mine off since September and I haven't had a bit of trouble and I've pulled trailers loaded with landscaping equipment with it.

I'll be honest with everyone...everybody says take the rear off, take the rear off. I say that too, but I don't have a single sway bar on my xterra. I took the front and the rear off. I used to run the rear when I was driving on the street but I have all but given up on using it. I was using the quick disco's, but you still need to remove the entire bar anyways. As much as everyone says don't take off the front, I didn't knotice any change from it. I do notice a change when I put the rear back on, but you just need to change your driving style. I mean I think now with everything I did to mine, my top speed is like 75mph downhill with a strong wind to my back lol. And I am comfortable with that.

i think i am gonna take off my rear sway this weekend and see if it bothers me when i drive, if it dont i will leave it off

hey i took off mines just a few minutes ago, im sure itll help on the trail.

ditch the rear sway. unless you are towing a significant amount, it does nothing. just unbolt it and zip tie it up if you are worried about it. that way putting it back on is as easy as fastening two bolts.

minimum two tow straps
more food/water than you think you will need
front and rear recovery points
flashlights
simple tools

This used to be the list back when I was in NZ and is what I consider the bare essentials.
tp
a friend or friends and their truck(s). Don't go alone
spade or shovel
recovery points front and rear
first aid kit and fire extinguisher
recovery strap

in here comes Nissan freebees like removal of sway bars, side steps, and mudflaps.

From here it becomes optional and more expensive
tires
winch
cb
roll bar/cage
etc
depending on the trip food and survival gear.
tools and spare parts

I ran all day up there with the beginner group. As mentioned before bare essentionals are communacation (CB or 2 way radio) tow points front and rear (front tow hook and trailer hitch will do) Recovery strap and definately some food and water for the day. Set of basic tools will do. There was a guy with a completely stock X infront of me on the trail that had nothing with him except for food but because he had us he was fine. Only got stuck once.