When the desire to explore arises, most drivers tend to stick to the paved roads. That's because the most popular campsites, landmarks, and panoramas can be accessed via roadways. However, if you want to discover more unique and captivating sights, you'll need to venture off-road.
Fortunately, going off-road is now easier than ever before. You don't need to spend years modifying your vehicle; several car companies offer brand-new vehicles with more off-road capabilities than you'll ever need. And if you prefer to customise your vehicle yourself, the aftermarket community has a wide range of options available at different prices.
In this article, we will cover the basics and essentials of off-roading. With the right equipment and fundamentals, whether you have a crossover or a Jeep Gladiator Rubicon, you can explore far beyond a fire road.
What You’ll Need To Go Off-Roading
Before hitting the trails, ensure you have these essentials for your vehicle, whether it's old or new, two- or four-wheel drive.
Tyres
Different terrains require different types of tyres. Mud-terrain (M/T) tyres are specifically designed to help you drive through mud, snow, or sand and can eject them quickly from the tyres to help you move through the muddy and loose stuff.
However, these off-roading tyres might make some noise on the road. On the other hand, if you live in a snowy area, using the best snow tyres on your off-road vehicle would be safer.
All-terrain tyres are also a good choice for those who expect to encounter a wide variety of surfaces but likely aren't planning to do anything too hardcore.
It's important to note that attempting to drive across mud, rocks, or sand in summer tyres or, worse, balding or cracked tyres is asking for trouble. It is also important to size your tyres according to what fits and turns easily in your vehicle’s wheel wells.
While larger tyres provide more ground clearance and a bigger contact patch, going too big will require re-gearing your axles or transmission to avoid power loss and poor fuel economy.
Some people believe that all-wheel drive, transfer case, or locking differential will magically cure wheel slip in the snow or overcome any tyre inefficiencies off-road.
However, this is not true. The right type of tyres is the most important factor when it comes to driving on different terrains.
Recovery Gear
A good set of tyres is crucial for maintaining control on rough terrain, but sometimes you may get stuck, making recovery gear an essential addition to your off-roading kit.
Some of the must-have items include traction pads to help you extract and plough through loose terrain, snatch straps to attach to another vehicle's recovery points and pull you out of a snag, a high-lift jack and base to elevate your rig and change a tyre on any terrain.
Additionally, you need a patch kit to temporarily cover a tear in your tyres, a shovel to dig yourself out of a difficult situation, work gloves to protect your hands, a headlamp or other light source to illuminate the issue (which often happens at night), and a jump starter to overcome a dead or faulty battery.
While you can opt for fancy equipment like winches, keep in mind that these come with a significant weight penalty and expense and are not essential for the average off-roader.
Lights
Many of us have probably encountered weekend warriors who have about thirty LED, halogen, and HID lights pointing in all directions. However, following this trend is unnecessary (and unless you have a particular use case, it shouldn’t be done).
In reality, all you need is a good set of driving lights that cast a wide enough beam far enough into the night. If your stock headlights are not bright enough, an easy solution is to attach a set of auxiliary driving lights to your front bumper with a switch wired somewhere on your dashboard.
If you want to illuminate the left and right sides of a path ahead, you may consider installing a set of spot/search lights that can be mounted near your door mirrors.
Although LED light bars look cool and can be useful, they can also create problems if not mounted correctly (think intense glare off your hood), so be sure that’s what you want. On top of that, you can get LED lights as well as an aluminium tray and canopy from OZI4X4. Order from us today!
Emergency Gear
It's important to plan and prepare for emergency situations before they happen. If you're going on an overlanding or camping trip, make sure to pack enough food and water for a few days.
In case of an emergency, it's important to have some rations and water stashed on board. Don't forget to pack warm, waterproof clothes, even if the weather looks good. Also, don’t miss out on the off-road supplies.
It's also recommended to have a seatbelt cutter or glass breaker somewhere on hand in case of a rollover or other dangerous situation.
An off-road first-aid kit is essential. If you're concerned about being found after an accident, consider buying a long-distance radio with a spare battery. If you're driving in snowy conditions, make sure to have snow tyres, an ice scraper, and a roadside emergency kit.
Learning About The Controls
Depending on your vehicle type, the driver's seat may have numerous switches, buttons, and levers. This invites the question of what each one does and when to use them.
Traction Control
Most vehicles manufactured in the last decade are equipped with some form of traction control, whether it has two-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, or four-wheel drive.
The most basic version of this is an on/off switch, but vehicles designed for various climates and terrains come with multiple settings that adjust throttle mapping, braking, and/or power distribution to limit wheel slip and overcome obstacles.
If your vehicle has an on/off switch, it's best to keep the system off when driving off-road since it prevents the vehicle from applying the brakes at the slightest sign of traction loss.
If your system has several settings, it's a good idea to do some research on YouTube videos, forums, or your user manual to determine which setting is best for different conditions.
4WD high vs. 4WD low
If you have a 4WD vehicle with a two-speed transfer case (4WD Hi and 4WD Lo), it is important to know how and when to switch between these settings. In most vehicles, this is done through an additional lever located in the centre console area.
However, in some vehicles, it may be a knob mounted on the dash. If your vehicle has a permanent 4WD and does not have a 2WD setting, keep it in 4WD Hi while driving on the highway or when tackling terrain where momentum needs to be maintained, such as mud, sand, or snow.
On the other hand, 4WD Lo should be used when maximum torque is necessary at low speeds, such as when rock crawling. When in the 4 Lo setting, it is important to use the right gear. Setting the gear to a lower number increases the amount of torque that is available.
Locking Differentials
A 4WD system with a two-speed transfer case is more effective than an all-wheel drive or two-wheel drive setup. However, if you want to tackle any type of terrain, you need locking differentials.
When an axle has an open (not locked) differential, each wheel rotates independently. If one wheel loses traction and spins uncontrollably, you lose all the power that would otherwise go to that wheel.
But, by locking the differential (usually with a button or switch on the dashboard), you connect the two wheels so that if one slips, the power is transferred to the wheel with traction. This combination of power and traction ensures that you can move forward regardless of the terrain.
What You Might Want For Off-Roading
These may not be essential for basic off-roading, but they are helpful extras to know before venturing into more serious terrain.
Air Compressor
When you are driving off-road, it's important to air down your tyres for better traction. However, once you're back on paved roads, you must restore the tyres to their standard psi. You can find the recommended psi in your manual or on the tyres themselves.
Additionally, if you experience a puncture, you can use an air compressor to inflate the tyres before applying a patch. Air compressors come in different sizes, shapes, and price ranges.
Expensive compressors have higher CFM (cubic feet per minute) ratings, which means they can fill more air into each tyre in a given minute. Cheaper compressors with lower CFM ratings take longer to refill the air, but they are usually lighter and more affordable.
Even if you don't own an air compressor, it's important to travel with someone who does if you plan to tackle off-road terrain that requires you to air down your tyres.
Suspension
A significant portion of the aftermarket industry focuses on the combination of shock absorbers and springs that are placed between a vehicle and its wheels. A good suspension is designed to support the weight of the vehicle with an accurate spring rate and shock valving.
If either setting is too low, the vehicle will bottom out on every bump, and if it is too high, the occupants will experience an uncomfortably stiff ride. When choosing the right suspension for your vehicle, it's recommended that you consult with the manufacturer.
The specialists will provide you with tailored advice based on the size of your tyres, any weight-adding equipment, and the vehicle's intended use.
Snorkel
A snorkel is a device that relocates the vehicle's air intake from the engine's height to a higher position. Its sole purpose is not to enhance the off-roader image.
Routing your vehicle's air intake to a higher position can serve two purposes. Firstly, in situations where you are crossing or going through the water at or above your grille level, a standard intake could suck that water into your engine.
Instead, a snorkel takes fresh air from above the surface, preventing water from entering the engine.
Secondly, if you spend a lot of time in loosely packed dirt, you may clog your air filter with the cloud of dust that hovers at window height.
This is especially true if you are following other vehicles. In this case, a snorkel will pull cleaner air from above the dust cloud, keeping your air filter clean and your engine running smoothly.
Tips For Driving Off-Road
Some people assume that they can't drive off the pavement because their vehicle doesn't have a 4WD, while others attempt to rock crawl in a passenger car. However, there's a happy medium.
If you have a two-wheel-drive vehicle with good ground clearance, proper off-roading techniques and equipment can take you far. On the other hand, if you're driving a passenger car, it's best to find a friend with a truck instead of risking damage to your car.
Drive Within The Limits And Bring A Buddy
Remember these two pieces of advice, which are linked together and happen to be the most important words of wisdom we can give.
Firstly, always remember that if you exceed your limits and damage your vehicle or yourself, you won't have the chance to get back on the road for a while. Even if you've made it down a trail only to find an obstacle you're uncomfortable with, it's better to turn back than end up in a dangerous or expensive situation.
This is where your buddy comes in. While it's possible to make a bad decision by yourself, it's less likely to happen with someone else (who is sensible) weighing in. If you both agree to go for it, your buddy can also serve as a spotter to help you navigate the obstacle safely.
If your buddy has his or her own vehicle, they can either pull you out of trouble or rescue you from an overturned or damaged rig (which is much harder to do when they're sitting next to you).
Airing Down
If you plan to take your stock vehicle off-road or have invested in a set of AT or MT tyres, you may notice tread on the sidewalls of each tyre, known as biting edges. This is not just for show.
Before going off-roading, you can improve your car's traction by reducing the air pressure to between 20-25 psi.
This will put more of your tread, including the biting edges, in contact with the ground, providing more grip. With less air in the tyre, the shape of the tyre can change based on the surface, enabling it to dig into rocks or mud and pull the vehicle forward.
Alternatively, airing down on deep mud or snow enhances your "float," allowing your vehicle to glide over the ground instead of sinking into it.
After your off-road adventure, remember to use a compressor to fill the tyres back to their recommended pressure. This will help improve your fuel economy on the highway and prevent the tyre from coming off its rim.
Check The Depth
If you have installed a snorkel on your vehicle, it does not guarantee that you can cross any body of water without any problem. If you drive into a deep or fast-moving current, you may flood your car or be carried away by the river, possibly even upside down.
Therefore, checking the water's depth at its deepest point before crossing is highly recommended to avoid any potential disaster.
Final Thoughts:
Off-roading demands preparation and knowledge to ensure a safe and enjoyable off-roading experience. Equipping your vehicle with appropriate tyres tailored to diverse terrains is paramount, while recovery gear becomes essential for unpredictable situations.
Understanding vehicle controls like traction control, 4WD settings, and differential locks maximises capability. Supplementary items such as lights, emergency gear, and suspension upgrades enhance safety and comfort.
Practising proper driving techniques like airing down tyres and assessing water depth mitigates risks. Ultimately, respecting personal limits and leveraging companionship to uphold off-roading's essence: adventure with responsibility and togetherness.