An Off-highway vehicle is any type of vehicle which is designed to be driven both on and off the road. They are also known as all-terrain, all-wheel drive, or 4×4 vehicles. All Off-highway vehicles are quite big and are extremely popular. Most of them however spend their whole working life on asphalt roads.
What Does OHV Mean?
OHV stands for Off-Highway vehicle. It’s another term for any off-road vehicle which is designed to cope with driving off paved roads. They have a bigger ground clearance which allows them to drive over rough terrain without getting beached. They also have an all-wheel drive which makes them more capable to drive off smooth roads.
What is an OHV?
An OHV is any type of off-road vehicle. These are also known as ATV or all-terrain vehicles. If you are interested in driving off-road trails then you will need to get yourself a capable off-highway vehicle to make this possible. There are many different types of OHV available on the market. Most of the major vehicle manufacturers like Ford and Dodge produce all-wheel-drive vehicles. There are also some car brands like Jeep which specialize in designing and making off-road vehicles.
Differences Between an SUV and an OHV
An SUV is a Sports Utility Vehicle, on the face of it looks very similar to off-road vehicles. However, the two are not the same. SUVs are also known as soft-roaders. They are designed to look similar, and be a similar size, without being quite as capable. These are designed to fill a gap in the market for people who want a large capable-looking vehicle but have no intention of ever actually taking it off-road.
SUVs are great and can be a practical choice if you want a large car. But if you are serious about taking it off-road then you will defiantly need an OHV. These are designed specifically for being driven off-road and won’t get stuck as easily.
Where Can OHVs Go?
OHVs are designed to handle some of the roughest terrains around. They can be driven on muddy, rocky, and many other types of terrain. As all of the wheels are driving the car should be able to pull itself out of even the roughest ground. So they should be capable of driving virtually anywhere on earth. They can drive over rocks, rough landscapes, through rivers, and over mud. However, there are some rules where you can drive a vehicle off the road.
Do I Need to Register an OHV?
If you intend to drive our OHV on a public highway then you will need to register it with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in any state. It also needs to meet certain standards and be safe for use on the road, not every OHV is suitable for use on the highway. It needs to be fully roadworthy.
The rules regarding OHV registration differ in different states. If you are not planning on driving the car on the road, then you may not have to register it. Some states have registration stickers that need to be displayed on your car’s windscreen, other states require license plates need to be displayed.
If you do need to register the OHV in your state then you will need to be over the age of 18 and have proof of your identity. If you are planning to drive the car on a public road and it meets the requirements then you will also need to show a copy of your driving license.
Driving Off Road Sensibly
When you are driving off-road you need to be sensible and careful. Off-road driving can be dangerous if you aren’t careful. You really need to understand what your off-road vehicle is capable of and just how far you can push it. Over time you should start to build trust in your off-roader and understand just what it can handle.
Off-road driving can also be damaging to the landscape if not done carefully. There are some important things you should consider
- Only Drive Off road with the Landowners Permission
- Keep the Speed down
- Watch out for signs of wildlife
Driving with Permission
You cannot legally drive on someone else’s land without their permission. This would be treated as trespass and could become a criminal issue. Ask permission before taking your off-road vehicle onto any land. The safest way of finding somewhere to drive off-road is to go to an official off-roading trail. These are ideal for beginners since experts can help you traverse the course.
If you are not sure who owns the land, then you should never trespass. Ideally, stick to organized offroading events or off-road trails that are safer and completely legal.
Keep the Speed Down
Off-road driving should always be slow and steady, it’s not the sort of thing you should rush with. There are many reasons why you should keep the speed low. It’s safer, there’s less risk of causing damage to the tires or other parts of your vehicle, and also less chance of damaging the environment.
Offroading too quickly will cause the wheels to spin. These can churn up the dirt and cause unnecessary damage to the landscape. This is why you really need to keep the speed down while you are driving off-road.
What to Look for in an OHV
If you are looking at getting yourself an OHV for some serious off-road driving, then there are some things you need to consider.
- Ground Clearance
- Protection
- Tires
- Number of Driven Wheels
- Extra Equipment
Ground Clearance
Cars have some pretty delicate things underneath. Driving over rough ground can quite easily cause harm and damage to the exhaust and engine. That’s why it’s so important to choose an off-highway vehicle with plenty of ground clearance. This will allow the car to pass over rocks without them causing any damage to the vehicle.
Some off-road vehicles also have sump guards or extra protection under the vehicle. These will provide some much-needed protection in case the rough terrain does come into contact with the underside of the car.
Tires
The type of tire is very important as it will affect the amount of grip your vehicle has. Different types of tires are designed for different weather and terrain conditions. These tires have much more tread than standard road tires as they provide much more traction for driving in poor conditions. Winter tires also provide extra grip in ice and snow.
Number of Driven Wheels
Most road cars have two driven wheels, either the front or rear wheels. An off-road vehicle has all-wheel drive. As most OHVs have four wheels, this means that all four of the wheels are powered. The more driven wheels, the more capable the vehicle is off-road. There are also some off-road vehicles with more wheels, like the 6×6 G 63 AMG from Mercedes.
Some off-road all-terrain vehicles have tracks instead of wheels. These are often able to handle off-road better than wheels, but cannot be driven on the road.
Extra Equipment
Off-road vehicles can have all sorts of additional equipment fitted to them to improve their off-road abilities. The extra equipment you may want to fit onto an OHV includes:
- Snorkel
- Winch
- Off Road Tires
- Jerry Cans
Snorkel
Engines need to breathe air, otherwise, they will stall. A snorkel allows your car to breathe while it’s driving through deep water and so will increase its wading limit. If you are doing a lot of off-road driving then a snorkel will be a must. They also make your off-road vehicle look even better.
Winch
A winch can be used to pull your vehicle out of the mud when it can’t get enough traction under its tires. The winch can be thrown around a tree, or another vehicle to pull it free. A winch isn’t essential when you start off-roading, but a good quality winch will reduce the chances of you getting stuck. Don’t risk getting a cheap winch, it might let you down when you need it most.
Jerry Cans
Anyone going off-roading needs to ensure they have an ample supply of fuel with them. Filling up the fuel tank in your car is a good start, but to be even better prepared consider getting some Jerry cans. A Jerry Can holds an additional supply of fuel for your vehicle should you run out in the middle of nowhere. This will allow you the opportunity to get to a filling station.
With the right vehicle and the right equipment, you can have a lot of fun driving offroad in your OHV. Just make sure you are sensible and understand exactly what your vehicle is capable of. Off-road driving is so much fun that once you’ve done it once you will want to do it time and time again.
