The reason most of us head off-road is it's fun and we get to push the limits of our 4WD vehicle, but pushing boundaries means we need to be prepared for the challenges that can quickly come up.
So to help you out, we have put together the below handy essential tips to make you a better driver on your next 4WD adventure.
1. Be aware of your environment.
No matter what terrain you are driving on things can change quickly and then the fun begins, but so do the dangers, so before letting the rush of the moment take over, we suggest getting out of your vehicle and checking out the challenging section ahead, and if possible watch another 4WD tackle the challenge first and learn from their approach.
2. Be in 4WD mode from the off-set.
It's great to be excited about heading off the beaten track but as soon as leave the smooth bitumen, always shift into 4WD mode immediately. While it’s not essential for basic dirt roads, it’s all too easy to forget to shift into the correct mode when you most need it and then it is often too late.
3. Drop your tyre pressure.
It doesn’t matter if you are hitting sandy terrain or rough rocks, lowering your tyre pressure is the way to go for a much better ride and better traction. With rougher terrain lower pressure will allow your tyres to be more flexible or have more give, providing them with the ability to better grip the ground you’re on.
If your 4WD adventure is at the beach or along long stretches of sand, then having lower tyre pressure will allow your tyres to travel more smoothly over the sand rather than digging in.
4. Hold off the throttle and turn your wheels.
While having lower tyre pressure is great, the added grip makes it easy for tyres to dig in on rough ground, or on sandy terrain, just not give you the grip you need. Our natural tendency is to put your foot on the accelerator, but this can make the situation worse, digging you in further.
The trick is to back off on the accelerator and turn your steering wheel side to side to allow your tyres time to try and find some traction and get your vehicle moving forward again. It does take a little bit of practice to do this correctly but as your skill level increases, this will keep you out of trouble in rough conditions.
5. Know your angles of your vehicle
Understand your ground clearance is important, but often when people say this, they are just talking about the underneath areas of their vehicle, when in fact, you should know what your approach and departure angles are.
When we say approach and departure angles, we're talking about how your rear bumper or front bumper will affect your ability to go over that big rock or extremely steep section.
So next time you are getting your back or front bumper adjusted or upgraded, make sure the person fitting it understands this, as the higher the angle the more clearance you will get.
6. Know the safe depth of your vehicle
When you get off the beaten track it's inventible that you’ll have to cross water at some stage.
With this in mind the first thing you need to know the safe driving depth of your vehicle. Check what this depth is in your vehicle user manual.
The other thing is don't guess the depth of any water that you need to cross, no matter how sure you are. Take a moment and find a long stick and wade out into the water and check that the depth is manageable for your vehicle. There are too many horror stories of people losing their vehicles, or even worse their lives, when underestimating what water can do.
In closing
There is always something to learn when you're out four-wheel-driving, so we hope these quick tips help you out and save some trouble when you're next out enjoying the great outdoors.
Here's to awesome 4WD adventures and enjoying the great outdoors!
Let us know your thoughts: We would love to hear any other tips you have learnt on your 4WD adventures, so please comment below and share your passion and knowledge.
