If you’re into adventure sports, dirt biking, and the likes, you’ve probably heard of the term ‘off-road use’ or ‘off-road use only’. But what exactly do these terms mean?
Off-Road Use simply means traveling offroad, on rugged terrains. These vehicles can travel off-road and are generally best suited for this purpose. Off-Road Use Only refers to certain items that can only be used off-road. Take for example certain LED lights and lighting systems.
Let’s take a closer look.
Off-Road Use means that you can operate in off-road settings. Even though you can still drive off-road vehicles on road with the appropriate license plate, it is usually geared for overlanding or off-roading and other similar forms of recreation.
Over the following few sections, we will describe offroad use in detail and learn everything there is about it. So, if you wanted to know what does offroad use only means, here are some snippets of wisdom.
What Are Off-Road Use Vehicles?
At this point, you’re probably wondering what off-road use vehicles mean in the first place. They can be categorized into several subcategories, the primary ones being ATV, ROVs, and UTVs,
ATVs
This is the abbreviation for all-terrain vehicles and it typically refers to bikes that are either three or four-legged and are powered by tires with low pressure. Depending on your geographical location, it may not even be street-legal in your area. This applies to some countries America, and Canada among others.
All-terrain vehicles need a permit called the OHV permit and they also need to register with the OHV. This will ensure that the vehicles are driven in safe conditions and are used responsibly. Additionally, it also guarantees the fact that the registered vehicles meet all the applicable carbon emission standards, though they may vary depending on the type of vehicle.
Most ATVs feature a handle gear which is also the primary steering instrument. The driver, on the other hand, will straddle the vehicle as a set like you operate motorcycles.
ROVs
In certain cases, off-roading use vehicles are also used for recreational purposes. These come with a minimum of four wheels along with additional features like bucket seats and other seats for a bench. They also have dedicated automatic settings to drive the steering and the brake of the vehicle.
At times, you will also find these vehicles with restraint mechanisms for the occupants and a set of roll bars (depending on the model). They usually have a speed of 30mph and are frequently used for motor racing.
UTVs
Also known as UTVs, these are other types of vehicles that you may want for off-road use. These vehicles share several common functionalities with the ROVs and they feature multiple aspects that can be used for a range of functions. For instance, you can use them to see beautiful sights in spots where the traction is usually low or the ground is challenging to charter on.
These vehicles usually have an exceptional clearance rate and thanks to their traction, you can use them for any off-roading adventure. In the majority of the cases, they have an average speed of 30mph.
What Are Off-Road Use-Only LED Lights?
When you try purchasing LED lights and explore your many options, you will find some of them come with a label called ‘offroad use only’.
What does offroad use only mean? How are these LEDs any different? Off-Road Use Only means that you can’t use these LEDs on traditional roads and that they are an allowed-gear for off-roading, overlanding, or special race tracks.
Every time you come across the term ‘offroad’, you probably assume it’s a driver who keeps driving a fully untamed area. But that isn’t necessarily what offroad use signifies. Some of these led lights also mean that they are designed for racing cars that travel in a fully monitored environment like a private track for instance.
Alternatively, it can also refer to a simple showcase for your car where you use the led as an add-on to make your vehicle appear as attractive as ever.
Depending on the manufacturer, certain off-road LED lights are excellent for difficult terrains. Take for example the Lighboss LED Light Pods as seen here on Amazon. They offer proper luminosity and make your rides even smoother. However, the market is also flooded with several aesthetic variants of the functional models. So, while exploring your options make sure you only buy the right one.
Why Aren’t Off-Road Use Only LED Lights Used On Regular Roads?
There are multiple reasons why off-roading lights aren’t always used on conventional roads.
LED Lights Extreme Luminosity
The first point is attributed to the luminosity of these lights. Because these bulbs are extremely bright it might be intimidating for other drivers when driven on a normal road. In some cases, it can end up dazzling them and lead to several accidents. This is one of the biggest and defining reasons why off-road LED lights aren’t installed or recommended to use on normal highways and roads.
LED Higher Average Lumens
The next and another determining factor behind why these lights aren’t used on regular loads is their average lumens. Typically, a moderate range of LED lights for off-road use features around 2000 to 4000 lumens. This is nothing similar to the halogen lights that you would usually find on normal roads. Because of these lumens, crossing the different signals and chartering normal roads can get difficult especially in heavy traffic areas.
That is why it is required for off-road vehicles to use off-road use only LED lights and restrict their functionality to the same. You should do the same with other off-road use-only gadgets. Check out our article here on different truck mod gear.
Bottom Line
Now that you know what exactly offroad use and off-road use only mean, always make sure your vehicle is appropriate for offroad rides. Try trucks, RVs, trailers, dirt bikes, and a range of other vehicles depending on your type of adventure. But make sure the vehicle is sturdy enough and if it is big (like RVs, campers, Overlanding trucks et al), try to ensure it has ample space inside.
Trucks are the best of both worlds because they help with off-roading and have enough space for you to eat or sleep. Either make your pick and enjoy your offroad use vehicle to the fullest!
