There’s something liberating about getting in a 4×4 vehicle, heading towards the “great outdoors”, and trying to make your way through it. Sometimes it can be a little tricky, but that’s part of the fun of off-roading. As long as you keep safety in mind, you’ll have a fun experience.

Here are three tips to make your next 4×4 outing a safe one.

1. Don’t drive like you’re on the highway

When you’re used to driving on the highway, it’s easy to get caught up in going too fast. That’s not something you want to do in a 4×4 when you’re off-roading. They’re designed to be able to move through any terrain, not speed through it.

You should drive as fast as necessary to maintain a certain speed so you don’t have problems with traction or flotation, like on sand or mud, but it’s not a race. You’ll be able to find a much smoother path if you take your time while also maintaining the necessary speed for the conditions in which you find yourself. Going slow also gives you plenty of time to react to a shifting terrain like moving rocks.

2. Don’t go diagonally up or down a hill

If the pitch of the hill is very steep, it can be tempting to go up or down diagonally because you feel safer doing it, and it feels less taxing on your vehicle. That’s a terrible idea, though, and it’s actually very unsafe. When you have to go up or down a hill, do it perpendicular to the hill. As much as possible, go straight up and straight down.

Sometimes you may find yourself going along a hill instead of up or down it. It’s important to know where the center of gravity is on your vehicle because that’ll help you know how high of an angle you can handle going across the hill. Occasionally you’ll have to drive over terrain like this; just go slow and you’ll be fine.

3. As much as possible, don’t let your wheels spin without taking you along with them

There will be times you find yourself in a situation where your wheels spin and spin but you don’t move anywhere. Continuing to spin them won’t help at all. You’ll only dig a deeper hole and make it more difficult to get out.

If you find yourself stuck, lift the vehicle with a jack and put under the tires anything you can find that will give more traction. You may find some wood or brush that you can use. It may be a good idea to carry some boards with you just in case you get stuck.

Of course, if you can’t go forward but you can back up, do that. You’ll likely be able to find a better path around the obstacle and make it safely to the other side. Take care not to rock back and forth, though. It usually only makes the problem worse.

Have fun out there!

By following just a few common-sense safety procedures and taking time to think about what you’re doing, driving a 4×4 vehicle will be a very fun and thrilling hobby.

Before going on your next trip, check your 4×4 suspension, tires, brakes and more and have a safe journey. Be safe and enjoy your outing. Check out this website to get more information.

By Jarrod Slater

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