10 Home Depot Finds That Could Come In Handy For Off-Road Enthusiasts

Venturing off-road and into the wilderness can be, depending on the situation, either a very rewarding or very frustrating endeavor. Without the correct tools, it's much more likely to be the latter. There are plenty of tools to consider when packing for an expedition – you'll need to be able to fix damage, recover a vehicle, and set up camp if needed. The requirements for each trip will be slightly different, and so it's always worth double checking you have all the things you'll need.

If you're missing something, you probably don't have to venture further than your nearest Home Depot to find it. The venerable chain's huge range of products cover all the essentials and then some, offering heavy-duty tools that will stand up to the rigors of all-terrain adventure. Below are the most essential off-roading items from Home Depot, each of which might be worth checking out for anyone looking to leave the asphalt behind.

Buyers who prefer the budget-oriented tools found at Harbor Freight should take a look at SlashGear's top Harbor Freight picks for off-road enthusiasts.

Spend long enough off-road and tire damage of some degree becomes almost an inevitability, so having a tire repair kit like the Husky T-Handle Tire Repair Kit is a must. It costs $14.98 and includes six patches, five plugs, and rubber cement. Two insertion tools are also included. While more serious tire damage might warrant swapping to a spare wheel, there's no point resorting to a time-consuming swap when the tire can be quickly patched up with a kit.

The Husky kit includes everything that drivers will need to get back on the move again, and its compact size means it's small enough to fit in a glove box. Husky has warned buyers that extreme hot or cold temperatures can make the kit less effective, both affecting the pliability of the patches and the setting time of the rubber cement. However, unless you're heading out to the remotest part of Alaska, it should work just fine until you get back to town.

There are few things that can halt an expedition more quickly than a flat battery, no matter whether you're camping in the middle of nowhere or stuck being unable to head off from your driveway. To make sure that doesn't happen, a compact, portable jump starter is a great tool to keep handy. Thanks to its diminutive size and impressive power output, the Schumacher Electric 12-Volt 1500 Amp Portable Jump Starter and Power Bank is a solid option, and it can be picked up for $139.00 from Home Depot.

Measuring 8.6x5.3x10.8 inches, it's small enough to be stored under a car seat but powerful enough to jump start gas engines up to 8.0L and diesel engines up to 6.0L in displacement. It also doubles up as a power bank for charging small electronic devices thanks to the 2.4A USB output port. On a single full charge, the jump starter is able to start cars up to 35 times before running out of juice.

A fundamental element of any off-road enthusiast's range of tools is a recovery strap. Getting stuck is bound to happen sooner or later, and whether it's your vehicle in a tricky spot or a member of your convoy, it's best to be prepared. The Husky 4 in. x 30 ft. Vehicle Recovery Strap has a 10,000 lb maximum capacity and features reinforced looped ends for added durability, and can be bought from Home Depot for $39.98.

The strap's webbing is designed to be weather resistant and so can survive repeated use in the harshest conditions on the trail, as well as being stored outside when it's not in use. Its flat construction means it can be rolled up and kept in a bed or trunk with less space required than a rope of equivalent length. Despite its strength, the strap itself is a mere 1mm (0.04 inches) thick.

There is a huge range of hazards that can crop up when off-roading, and avoiding them all isn't always possible. Unseen rocks, sharp debris, and plenty of other trail detritus can cause damage to the underside of your truck or puncture a tire, and that's when you'll need an all-terrain jack. The CAT 3-Ton Big Wheel Off Road Jack is a significant investment, retailing for $449.00, but it's a worthwhile one for serious off-road enthusiasts.

It can hold up to 6,000 pounds and features chunky wheels to make it easier to maneuver over uneven ground. A full length skid plate is also fitted as standard to guard against underside damage. To ensure that the process of jacking up the truck is as fast and painless as possible, it only takes seven pumps to reach the jack's maximum lift height of 21.2 inches. When it's not needed, the jack can collapse to just over six inches in height, with the adapter can be stored in a built-in cradle.

The Vortex 16 in. Steel Folding Ring Spiral Ground Anchor can serve multiple purposes on an off-road trip. It can be used to hold down tents or trailer covers in bad weather while camping, providing significantly more reassurance than any standard peg, but it can also be used while out on the trail as an anchor point for a winch. While a winch is always useful assuming there are trees, rocks, or other vehicles with which to attach it, it becomes significantly less useful in barren areas without those anchor points.

The spiral ground anchor can be used in a pinch to provide a temporary anchor point, helping to get a vehicle out of a difficult spot when there's little else to work with. It's especially useful for solo drivers, who might not have the luxury of another truck to assist them if they're stuck. Plus, for a retail price of $14.98, it's not like it will break the bank even if you end up never needing it.