My Tire Pressure is Low

Did you forget?! Your tankless ARB air compressor is located in the rear panel behind the bed on the drivers side!  There’s a good chance the 25’ hose is inside the access panel adjacent to it.  Bike tires, river tubes, even your vans tires can be aired up using this pump. The Power switch is directly above the blue air connection port in the wall.  Quick connect fittings make it super easy to attach and detach the hose. 

*If you do air down to tackle off-road obstacles or deep sand on a beach, you MUST re-inflate your tires to recommended operating pressures before you get back on the road. Check the manufacturer’s (Ford or Mercedes) owners manual for recommended pressures.

My Headlights are Dull

This might sound crazy, but hear us out. Put a glob of toothpaste on a cloth and wax on… wax off. This will give you brighter lights in a jiffy!

I'm Stuck in the Snow

Your van has super duper rugged tires so this shouldn’t happen too often, but in case it does, here are some tips.

• Keep a couple of old rugs in your van. Set it behind (if you are trying to back out) your wheel and try to wedge it under the tire as much as possible. Your van should be able to catch a little bit of traction to get you out of the rut. (Don’t have rugs? Look for sticks, branches, etc. to cover up the ice to get you on your way.)
• This is a last resort measure, but might be able to work for you! Let a little bit of air out of your tires. Doing this will put a little more rubber in contact with the ground to get you out. But like we said earlier, make sure to use the air compressor to fill them back up ASAP. Driving like that for too long could do some serious damage!

I Forgot a Bottle Opener

You can use your seatbelt! Or the teeth of the bear over there. (Don’t drink and drive, you crazies)

Items to Pack: Helpful Things to Have on Hand

• Dryer lint and paper towel/toilet paper rolls. Great for fire starters if all the pine needles are buried in the snow.
• Pocket knife: It’s obvious.
• A small pot: if for whatever reason you run out of fresh water, you can always boil water from the river/lake/snow around you so it’s safe to drink.
• Dryer sheets: did you know they work as bug repellent?
• Isopropyl alcohol: You probably know it’s a must have for scrapes, cuts, and burns, but also great for spider/tick bites, it sanitizes surfaces, and can even be used as fire starter!
• Duct tape: for everything!
• Safety pins: for quick fixes

What adventure tips do you use to #ExpandYourMap? Let us know!