{"id":580,"date":"2021-11-08T20:41:58","date_gmt":"2021-11-09T01:41:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/passportoverland.com\/?p=580"},"modified":"2023-02-28T20:08:12","modified_gmt":"2023-03-01T01:08:12","slug":"off-roading-101-what-you-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/passportoverland.com\/off-roading-101-what-you-need-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"Off-Roading 101: What Do You Need To Know Now?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Off-Roading<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A 4×4 was designed for life off-road. They are capable vehicles that are able to navigate difficult terrain with ease. Even so, many 4×4’s spend their lives cruising around town centers and buzzing along highways. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have access to an all-terrain vehicle then you might consider taking it off-road. Exploring off the beaten track is an enjoyable way to get back to nature. It’s not something you should do unprepared though. This guide will look at what you need to know before offroading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Off-Roading 101: Practice on an Off-Road Course<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you have never driven off-road before then you will need to learn. It’s nothing like driving on the road, you have to make all sorts of different decisions. An off-road course is a great place to learn. There are also some courses which have experts who will help you to learn how to find the best route around the course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With a few practice sessions, you are prepared for anything a real-life offroading trail has to throw at you. It’s all experience though, you will never stop learning how to drive off-road. You will learn new driving techniques to make driving on difficult terrain much easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finding an Off-Road Course<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are off-road courses all over the country. So you shouldn’t have a problem finding out. Ideally, you will want to look for one that allows you to drive your own car around the course. This will give you chance to get to know it better. Try searching online to find off-roading trial courses around your area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have written extensively about off-roading in each state. Check the list at the bottom of this post. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Off-Roading 101: Get to Know your Vehicle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Not all off-road vehicles are created equal, different off-road vehicles are capable of different things. You will need to familiarize yourself with the capabilities of your very own 4×4 vehicle. The easiest way to do this is to drive it around an off-road course yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, take a look at the features fitted to your car. Check the specifications regarding its wading depth, and the maximum angle it can handle. Make sure you have the right tires fitted for the weather conditions, season, and type of terrain you are driving over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are of course plenty of upgrades you can make to your vehicle if you want to make it more capable. Upgrading the shock absorbers, fitting under bodyguarding, or replacing the bumpers and snorkels are all ways to push your car a bit further. Research the different offroad accessories before choosing what to equip your car with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Off-Roading 101: Learn the Terms<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are a few special terms that you will need to learn about in order to drive off-road. By understanding these terms you will know how to best get out of difficult situations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Locking Differential<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A car will normally provide a different amount of power to each wheel. This can cause problems when driving off-road since the stuck wheel can dig in more making the problem worse. A locking differential is normally just a button you need to press. This will lock the differential so all the wheels turn at the same speed. This should help to pull the vehicle out of the soft ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Traction Control<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

All modern off-road vehicles will have traction control. This will normally be helpful when driving off-road, but there are times when you might need to turn it off. Read your vehicle’s manual to learn about how the traction control system works.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Off-Roading<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

High and Low Ratio<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

An off-road 4×4 car will have two gearboxes. A High Ratio Box for everyday driving, and a low ratio box for when you need more torque. 4×4 high ratio allows you to drive at normal speeds ad is perfect for most parts of an off-road course and also driving on asphalt roads. The low ratio box is much slower but has more torque to get you out of tricky situations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Off-Roading 101: Be Prepared<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before you go offroading be prepared. Make sure people know where you are going and when you should be expected back. Also make sure you have plenty of fuel to get there and back again, you really don’t want to run out of fuel in the middle of nowhere. Other things you will need include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n