Some people are content to drive into the desert in a rented Impala with nothing more than a few cans of PBR. There should be a simple checklist of what everyone should bring into the wilderness to keep that kind of thing from happening.
Everyone has a phone with GPS these days, and you should have jumper cables, a spare tire, and a jack in your car already. To face Mother Nature, bring extra food, water and extra gas in case you get lost and have to spend more time out there than planned.
What kind of equipment should everyone bring when driving off the beaten path?
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