Off-roading is one of the most thrilling and adventurous cruising activities that a person can enjoy. The excitement and thrill a rider feels can not be explained through words. You get to cruise your muscular truck through rough terrain and rocky pathways that give you an adrenaline rush. However, with so much fun off-roading comes with a few perils as well. If you are not safe, you might end up injuring yourself badly or running your expensive vehicle permanently.
If you are a hard-core off-road driver who loves thrill and adventure in his life, here are some ways you can make your trip safe and fun.
- Know Your Vehicle’s Traction Controls
If you know your trucks you must know how traction works. To move all four vehicles at once you need front and rear lock differentials. Off-road traction works by locking the spinning wheel and sending all the power to other wheels that have more grip. If you own a Ford 150 truck and do not know your traction controls and differentials then look into the Ford-150 factory repair manual to find out. If you have any other vehicle, you can find this information in the owner’s manual that comes along with the vehicle.
- Never Fully Load For Off-Road Trips
When you are going for an off-road trip, make sure to put as little weight on your vehicle as possible. Over-weighing vehicles may cause trouble during the drive. Too much weight puts pressure on the engine as it has to work more to move heavyweight. It also reduces the efficiency of the engine. You might also lose balance in extreme conditions because off-roads are usually rough and not smooth like a highway or city road. You can get stuck in ruts and find it difficult to get out of the depths. Therefore, you should limit the luggage on off-road trips. Another most important reason to keep the weight within limits is that your insurance will not cover any damage caused by being overweight.
- Know Your Landing
The angle between the obstacle on which your vehicle is going to land with a horizontal plane is called the approach angle. You should know your approach angle before taking your vehicle to climb a rock. If you know at which angle you are going to approach the obstacle and if your clearance angle or the departure angle is right, your off-road adventure is going to be smooth and free from issues. However, little mistakes in calculations may result in balancing your vehicle on the rock like a teeter-totter with all four vehicles in the air. Avoid making such mistakes for a safe trip off-road.
- Always Keep An Emergency Kit
A true off-roader is always prepared for emergencies. When you are going on an off-road trip, consider factors like,
- Weather conditions
- Day-night time
- Technical issues with the vehicle, etc.
When you consider these factors, you might know what to keep in your emergency response kit. You should have bandages, painkillers, flashlights, warm clothes, an auto repair kit, long-range walkie-talkies, and extra food and water. You should be prepared for extreme conditions to avoid issues.
- Shift To Low In Extreme Conditions
When you are off-roading, it is advised to shift to the lowest gear available when you experience extreme conditions. Off-road terrains are rough and you might have to climb steep mountains and deep ruts or cross big rocks. Whenever you have a steep incline at hand, shift to the lowest gear. It not only gives you more control over the vehicle but also puts less strain on the engine. If your vehicle has a low-range transfer case, it can be activated with a switch or a lever. If your vehicle is equipped with this feature, you can go to places where vehicles without these features can not.
- Keep Tire Pressure Low
Experts believe that if your vehicle has low air pressure in the tires, your off-road ride can be more smooth. The recommended air pressure in the tires is good for paved surfaces, however, when it comes to rough tracks, keeping low pressures can reduce the bounciness of the vehicle. Low-pressure tires can absorb more impact and reduce the chances of harming the vehicle or tires. Therefore, to keep your vehicle in control and loss traction, you should keep your vehicle’s tires at a lower pressure than recommended.
- Always Buy Quality Gear
Poor quality and cheaper equipment can benefit you only once. Whereas, if you invest in good-quality gear, it might be expensive for the time but it will save you costs later on. Cheap equipment can cause you trouble when you are in the middle of nowhere and you might end up wasting your time and energy while stuck in some place no one can come to help you out. Therefore, when buying gear for your vehicle for off-road trips, always prefer quality over money.
- Keep Company Off-Road
When going on an off-road trip, try not to go alone. Always keep company for off-road trips. Firstly because you might have a helping hand in places where you get stuck. Secondly, there may come a time when you can not get your vehicle out of a place by yourself and you might need a push from another vehicle, a friend can help you in such situations.
- Train Yourself Before Going Off-Road
Never go off-roading without training yourself for the conditions you might face during the ride. You can take courses from local training camps. Do not rely solely upon the videos you have watched. You should practice first before going on a long trip. Off-roading comes with different difficulty levels that can be overcome only when you are fully prepared. You should know how to read maps, how to make minor repairs to your vehicle, and how to overcome different obstacles. If you are not fully prepared for such situations, you might end up in a bad experience.
Facebook Comments