Did I Lose My Mind? Maybe. But I Haven’t Lost My Keys… Lately. By Doug Russell | Colorado SxS AdventuresI know—some folks are going to think I’ve lost my mind. Others might think I’m a genius. Truth is, I’m neither. I lost my marbles years ago (just ask my co-pilot). But every now and then, I find myself thinking about the little things—those under-discussed, easily overlooked issues that might just save someone a ton of trouble. So here goes…CELL PHONESLet’s talk about phones—yeah, cell phones.I’m not naming names, but I’ve had two friends lose theirs out on the trail. Mine has almost taken flight more times than I care to admit. Same goes for my wife. One moment it’s in your pocket, the next you’re turning pockets inside out and retracing your steps like a crime scene investigator.I don’t have the magic answer to not losing your phone, but I’ve learned this: lock it down. Use a passcode, fingerprint, facial recognition—anything. Because if you do lose it, you don’t want some random person getting access to your whole life before you can hit the “locate my phone” button. Trail karma’s real, but don’t bet your banking info on it.CAR/TRUCK KEYSWant to see a grown man get yelled at? Watch me lose my truck keys. It’s practically a seasonal tradition. I mean, I get yelled at on the daily….(that’s how ya know she loves ya?)…about paying attention.These days, I’ve got a system: once the rig’s unloaded and we’re ready to ride, the keys go into our top-secret hidey-hole on the truck. I don’t take them on the trail. Ever. No matter what happens out there, I know the keys are waiting for me when I get back to the truck.And for any would-be thieves reading this—don’t bother. You’ll never find them. And even if you did? It takes more than a key to fire up my truck. I’ve dumbass-proofed it.INVENTORY CHECK: SPRING EDITIONSpring isn’t just for tulips and allergy meds. It’s also the perfect time to go through your gear. I’m talking:ToolsSpare partsFirst aid kitSurvival gearFire extinguisherRegistration & Insurance cardsMake sure everything that lives on your rig is still there, still working, and still up to date.And here’s a tip I started doing last year that might save your bacon:Take photos of your SxS, your trailer, and any major gear. VIN numbers, custom accessories, everything. Why?1. If it gets stolen – You’ve got proof. Plus, law enforcement knows what they’re looking for.2. For insurance – Claims go smoother when you’ve got fresh, dated pictures.3. To show off – Let’s be honest. We all like scrolling through pics of each other’s setups.These aren’t groundbreaking tips. But they come from the kind of trail-earned experience that only comes after losing enough stuff to fill a lost-and-found bin the size of a horse trailer.Got your own tip or lesson learned the hard way? Drop it in the comments—we’re all ears.