Off-roading is a fantastic way to blow off some steam, bond with your family, escape the daily grind, and be free from the grasp of the digital world. It’s a fantastic activity that has spawned an entire community, as well as competitions across the world. But what is off-roading? How do you prepare for it? In this article, we’ll explain everything, as well as give you off-roading tips and tricks that will help you, as a beginner, dip your toe into the waters without incident.
What Is Off-Roading?
Simply put, off-roading is the activity of taking a suitable vehicle off the beaten path to get closer to nature and explore. Needless to say, you need an off-roader for this activity; even a moderately capable SUV is fine for a beginner. What you’ve got to ensure is that it has four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. There are significant differences between the two systems, but for a beginner, either system will be adequate.
Where Can One Go Off-roading?
There’s a myriad of places that can be crossed by off-roaders. These include sand, mud, streams and rivers, ice and snow, rocky outcrops, and sheer cliffs. However, as you may glean, many of these are for the advanced to veteran level off-roaders. For a beginner, it’s best to stick to novice-level trails that typically encompass hard ground with light levels of mud and sand.
What Does One Need for Off-roading?
You don’t need very much to off-road at a beginner level. Needless to say, you shouldn’t do this in a car, but some all-wheel-drive crossovers such as the Subaru Forester and Subaru Outback have proven to be surprisingly competent. At the very least, your vehicle should have decent ground clearance, a four-wheel or all-wheel drive system, and traction control that can be switched off if required. As you venture deeper into the off-roading world, things like high and low range and differential locks enter the scene. If your vehicle already has these, you’ve got a moderate level of capability — but if it doesn’t, don’t sweat it.
What About Tires?
There’s an old but popular saying that the most powerful engine, best electronics, and most intelligent software are no match for the right set of tires. This is true when you consider that the sole contact patch between your vehicle and the surface is the tires. If you’re planning to embark on off-roading in a luxury crossover or SUV with high-performance road tires, you should swap them out for something more capable — you can find a great range of tires on offer at 4 Wheel Parts, as well as speak to an expert for advice. High-performance road tires will not perform well on the trails, will wear out quicker, and can easily be damaged by an innocuous rock or sharp branch, leaving you stranded.
Preparing For Off-Roading
What should you take with you when embarking on your first off-roading foray? Of course, it goes without saying you should be taking a beginner or novice level trail. Firstly, you should have your vehicle inspected from top to bottom. The condition of the tires, brakes, powertrain, and cooling system all need to be checked and verified that they are in good condition. Once you’ve done this, here are the must-haves that should be on board your off-roader or SUV on your first and subsequent off-road journey.
- A full tank of gas and a jerry can with extra fuel.
- A portable air compressor and pressure gauge.
- A spare tire and a full set of tire-changing tools, including a strong jack, preferably a high lift one.
- A first aid kit and you should check that any medication, ointment, or lotion in it is not expired.
- Ample water and food for everyone aboard your vehicle. Food should be stored in an airtight container, as large creatures such as bears have been known to sniff out food and break into vehicles to get at it.
- A basic toolkit.
- A shovel.
- A power bank to keep your mobile devices charged.
- A two-way radio and paper map of the trail, as it’s likely that some areas will have little to no cell phone signal.
- A fire extinguisher, just in case.
5 Lessons To Keep In Mind
Are you ready to hit the trails? Fantastic! Here are five tips to help you survive your first encounter and come out a conquerer.
Always travel in a group: Don’t think you can do it alone. Find a group of like-minded off-roaders and travel with them. If you require assistance, they will stop and help you. If someone else needs assistance, you must stop and help them. It’s the correct etiquette in an off-road group – everyone helps everyone else. Nobody is left behind.
Stay on the trail: It may be tempting to take a shortcut but refrain from doing so. The charted trail has been made so by experts who have deemed it best for beginners or novices. Don’t venture off it, even if it seems easy.
Don’t speed: Even if you feel like the group is traveling slowly, resist the urge to speed. There are reasons for this — maybe the trail is safer at a slow speed, or there could be animals that frequently cross. Off-roading is supposed to be a minimal impact activity, and you should drive responsibly. It’s better to go slow than go fast and regret the outcome.
Keep calm, cool, and follow instructions: You will get stuck. It’s an inevitable rite of passage. When this happens, keep calm and cool. More experienced off-roaders will assist you with how to unstick yourself, and you should follow their instructions. Maintain light and controlled pressure on the throttle and brake as required – do not bury them and spin your wheels wildly or skid to a stop.
Stay hydrated: It can be warm on the trails, and you might sweat without knowing it. Ensure that you and your occupants take periodic sips of water to stay hydrated.
Everything Off-Roading Can Be Found At 4 Wheel Parts
Once you’ve been bitten by the off-roading bug, there’s no turning back. You’ve entered a veritable rabbit hole of enhancing performance, capability, versatility, and looks. What better partner to accompany you down this rabbit hole than us at 4 Wheel Parts? As a respected and established retailer of thousands of off-road parts, we only deal with the very best quality items from renowned brands.
We’ve got over 90 stores scattered nationwide, as well as six distribution centers to ensure that online orders are fulfilled perfectly. Our price matching policy ensures that your wallet is happy as well, and we offer comprehensive warranties on applicable purchases. Best of all, our friendly and knowledgeable experts are always on hand to provide advice and assistance, so you needn’t worry about a thing. Come to us, and let’s take this journey together.
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