Basic Tips for Newbies Offroaders
- A Hawas
- May 11, 2020
- 3 min read
Updated: May 20, 2020
The excitement of getting off the asphalt, and driving over soft, shiny sand or taking on the rocky terrain of a mountain side is an experience that can turn a first-time off-road adventure into a life long passion.
It’s an intensely liberating experience: No traffic jams. No signals. No pedestrian crossings. No speed traps. Just the freedom to take any route you please, at any speed you choose, not stopping or slowing down for anything … WELL, NOT QUITE.
Good driving technique will get you a lot further than a good four wheel drive. There are some simple, common-sense rules that can be applied to any off-roading situation that will help you through the obstacle, or help you decide to rather turn back.
Know your and your vehicle's limits. It's a proven fact that many off-roaders, particularly those new to the game, loose confidence well before their vehicle looses ability. Know your vehicles' limits, and know your own. Always ensure you and your vehicle are in perfect condition.
Look before you leap. Always inspect the next obstacle on foot first. Assess the situation. Before getting back into your vehicle, decide on choice of gear, amount of power, and the line your wheels will take. Consider a contingency, and if in doubt, don't do it.
Left foot down - on the floor. Don't ride the clutch. Don't touch the clutch before, during and after an obstacle. Depressing the clutch while in an obstacle, such as a hill or dune, can cause loss of traction and consequently control.
As slow as possible, as fast as necessary. Driving as slowly as possible minimizes vehicle damage and possible personal injury. Balance this requirement with momentum - enough to safely negotiate your obstacle, but never faster than required. Remember that torque, and not speed, make for effective off-road driving.
Focus on the terrain The more challenging and complex the terrain, the greater the attention it deserves. Juggling between the wheel and your cell phone or changing radio stations while driving is not a good idea, especially when your 4x4 or SUV’s axle or cooler are in an extra vulnerable situation
Keep an eye on the dashboard From time to time, make sure you check the indications on your vehicle’s instrument panel. The fuel gauge, oil pressure light, tyre pressure warning light, engine temperature warning, battery alert, traction control malfunction and anti-lock brake (ABS) warning light are of special importance. Running out of fuel in the middle of nowhere or an overheated engine would be frustrating punctuation in your adventure
If in doubt, use low range. It's better to be in low range and not needing it than being in high range and needing low range. If you're in standing in front of an obstacle wondering what gear you should use, go with low range second.
The Seven points listed above are obvious. But it's amazing to see how many drivers consider themselves experienced and end up endangering themselves and others.
Sadly, it's common in the off-roading community. A sight seen all too often is the Super man mentality. The driver who just has to try everything, and that at far too high a speed. Trying to impress others is not a good motivation for off-road driving which ends up with rolling your car or very bad accident
Comments