AZ (PHX/Mesa area) Off roading

For those of you in this area (or going off road in the desert) what suggestions do you have for must haves when starting? Traction boards? E Load? Etc.

Ready to start taking her off road a bit and want to ensure I'm set up for success. I have a friend with a stock Sequoia and he just goes out and rocks it stock. It's also my family's only vehicle currently, hence the wanting to ensure I'm most likely to get home haha.


LOCAL TRAILS

Bulldog Canyon (out and back or continue on to Apache Junction)

 

My AZ buddies were adamant about running E Load for rock resistance. A compressor is next, since you'll probably be airing down. Recovery gear is advisable. I haven't gotten into anything yet that needed my traction boards.

 

+1 on E loads and compressor. Lots of other items to take along with you to make sure you make it out and back home safe.

 

I'll have to bump to E loads next time I need tires. Hopefully not too soon as I just got these. I had one new one sitting around so I only had to buy 3 otherwise I would have went E this time. Do you guys recommend on board air or just a travel one? Also other than traction boards (eventually a winch but further down the list) what else is there?

 

Also going to add trails to the first post ... let me know if you have any you like.

 

It's all preference but I run a

$200 Viair 400p - 40043 Tire Inflator Portable Offroad Air Compressor for Truck & SUV | 12V On/Off Road Tire Pump Air Compressor Portable Heavy Duty 150 PSI, up to 35" Tires, Alligator Clips

Viair 400p portable so I can swap out to any vehicle.

Jump pack
Traction boards
Kinetic rope with shackles
Tools
Tire guage / tools to air down faster
First aid supplies / survival gear
GPS / radio

The list could go on forever my friend

 

Wheeled in AZ a couple times. Most of my wheeling is in Palo Duro Canyon which has similar terrain.
Stock with good tires is damn capable with a good driver. But here are some items that might we worth having.

The basics:
Air Compressor (Cheapo Viar works fine but can take a while)
E load tires (for puncture resistance) with a full size spare.
Some basic recovery gear if you're wheeling with friends. Winches are great but not as useful solo in the desert (without an anchor)
Recovery boards work nicely in sand.
Armor is usually a plus. Skids/ sliders
Handheld radio

Advanced:
More serious trails would benefit from >33" tires
2-3" lift for ground clearance
Long travel rear suspension.
Removing the front sway bar.
Trimming rear bumper for clearance or upgrading to steel bumpers.
GMRS and/ or HAM onboard radio
Satellite GPS mapping device
Onboard air.

 

Loving this so far! Thank you all!