Tips & Techniques For Safe Off-Road Driving

by Txpower Sports TX Power Sports

There’s no special license needed to drive off-road, even though there’re many different practices and techniques involved. Responsible 4-wheeling is about skill. Other features & driving techniques help in the general safety of your off-road trip, but skill is the first and foremost part of your driving range to acquire.

Here are some tips to help you in this area:

It is always important to drive within your ability. There’re times when in soft sand like beaches, speed should be moderate & flotation through snow and mud should be kept up. Generally taking your time on the trail will let you choose a smooth trail & time to respond to the diversities of terrain you can face like moving rocks & logs under the tires. If you’ve a ground clearance deficiency, going slow helps here, in that, if you do hit a rock with the differential or another rock grabber, it’ll generally stop the vehicle on impact or you’ll lightly scrape over it. If you were going too fast & hit a rock or other obstacle, it could knock a hole in the oil pan, differential, or even knock off the oil filter.

Get rid of the surprises by surveying the road before you go through it. By doing so you can get a good idea on where to place your tires!

Always drive straight down hills. Know your approach & departure angles, the bumper to tire distance. Some terrains will need off-camber driving. In circumstances like this, it is wise to go slow, keeping the tires on the tracks. Make each attempt to avoid losing attention & ascending up a rock or stump on the upside of the hill. 4x4s will incline to slide sideways prior to rolling over – the tires will slip sideways a bit. Stop if the slide puts you off the edge of the trail. If it’s clear downhill & a rollover is forthcoming, instantly turn the vehicle into the slide & drive it down. If that isn’t a choice, and you’re going over, turn the vehicle off & hold on to your seat-bottom while hoping that the seat belt works perfectly.

Cross logs or ditches at an angle so that one wheel at a time goes over the obstruction; the other 3 help the one wheel to climb over. Dropping the tire into a crack or a ditch in a rock can put you & your vehicle in a dangerous position. Sometimes the vehicle pitches & one or more tires will catch air. Be very conscious & careful when taking over this demanding section of any terrain. Logs can bounce up & catch the undercarriage, so come off these obstructions slowly & meticulously.

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