How to Drive a Truck or SUV OffroadHere's a video and some tips to keep your offroad adventures fun with no unwelcome surprises.
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How to Drive a Truck or SUV Offroad
Although we like nothing more than slinging a sports car down a perfectly paved, stretched, desolate mountain road, we know there's plenty of you out there who'd rather just stop and explore the mountain itself. A recent comparison test of four wheel drive compact pickups gave us the chance to do just that.
To assure that we wouldn't end up axle deep in sand or hung up on nasty boulders, we enlisted the help of expert offroad guide, Bill Burke, to show us the does and don'ts of back country travel.
Tip One: Air Down Your Tires
His first helpful hint? Air down your tires. This simple trick will not only give you better overall traction, but a more comfortable ride as well. On tires normally set to 32 psi we aired down to around 20 psi. And always be sure to bring a tire gauge to confirm that you don't release too much air and don't forget to air them back up at the nearest service station once you've hit the road again.
Tip Two: Make Full Use of Four-Wheel Drive
Another simple suggestion: make full use of your vehicle's four-wheel drive system. Although two-wheel drive might get you farther than you think and save a little gas, using four-wheel drive from the get-go will give you better overall vehicle control and keep small obstacles from becoming big ones.
Dedicated offroad vehicles typically offer both high and low range gearing when in four-wheel drive mode. In four-wheel high, all four wheels are being driven but otherwise, the vehicle drives about the same as it does on the street. In four-wheel low, the vehicle's gearing is multiplied by the transfer case. This allows you to drive at much slower vehicle speeds while keeping your engine speed high enough for adequate power.
Tip Three: Use a Spotter
Always use a spotter when negotiating difficult sections. Finding the right line can be hard from the driver's seat. But good directions from someone with the proper persepective can mean the difference between success and stuck.
Tip Four: Take the High Road
Always pick the high road! When crawling through uneven terrain, try to place the wheels on the highest points of the trail. It's always easier to roll off high rocks than it is to crawl out from between them.
Tip Five: Go Slow and Steady
Slow and steady is always the best policy. Going too fast is a sure-fire way to get yourself stuck or worse and damage your vehicle. Maintaining a good line and letting the vehicle do all the work is the best way to keep moving and reduce the risk of breakage.
Finally, if you do get hung up, there are a few important things to remember about attempting recovery:
1.) Never attach a chain or yank strap to a standard ball hitch mounted on a vehicle's bumper. These are made for towing boats, not pulling vehicles out of ditches. One good yank and the ball could easily come flying out causing injury or vehicle damage.
2.) Never use the bumper itself as an attachment point. If your vehicle has tow hooks, always use these instead, or else find a way to use the frame of the vehicle as an attachment point.
3.) For proper recovery of a stuck vehicle, it's best to carry a well-stocked recovery kit. This should include items like a heavy duty length of chain, a yank strap and D shackles for connecting it all together.
4.) Use a chain and either wrap it around or through the frame. Use a D shackle to make the connection between the chain and the yank strap. If you're using a come-along or a high-lift jack, always make sure to use a tree protector to minimize damage to your anchor point.
By using these simple tips, you'll find that you can conquer most trails with ease in nothing more than a stock four-wheel drive pickup or SUV. And once you realize that scenic landscapes are just a dirt road away, you might find yourself spending more time offroad than you ever imagined.
Although we like nothing more than slinging a sports car down a perfectly paved, stretched, desolate mountain road, we know there's plenty of you out there who'd rather just stop and explore the mountain itself. A recent comparison test of four wheel drive compact pickups gave us the chance to do just that.
To assure that we wouldn't end up axle deep in sand or hung up on nasty boulders, we enlisted the help of expert offroad guide, Bill Burke, to show us the does and don'ts of back country travel.
Tip One: Air Down Your Tires
His first helpful hint? Air down your tires. This simple trick will not only give you better overall traction, but a more comfortable ride as well. On tires normally set to 32 psi we aired down to around 20 psi. And always be sure to bring a tire gauge to confirm that you don't release too much air and don't forget to air them back up at the nearest service station once you've hit the road again.
Tip Two: Make Full Use of Four-Wheel Drive
Another simple suggestion: make full use of your vehicle's four-wheel drive system. Although two-wheel drive might get you farther than you think and save a little gas, using four-wheel drive from the get-go will give you better overall vehicle control and keep small obstacles from becoming big ones.
Dedicated offroad vehicles typically offer both high and low range gearing when in four-wheel drive mode. In four-wheel high, all four wheels are being driven but otherwise, the vehicle drives about the same as it does on the street. In four-wheel low, the vehicle's gearing is multiplied by the transfer case. This allows you to drive at much slower vehicle speeds while keeping your engine speed high enough for adequate power.
Tip Three: Use a Spotter
Always use a spotter when negotiating difficult sections. Finding the right line can be hard from the driver's seat. But good directions from someone with the proper persepective can mean the difference between success and stuck.
Tip Four: Take the High Road
Always pick the high road! When crawling through uneven terrain, try to place the wheels on the highest points of the trail. It's always easier to roll off high rocks than it is to crawl out from between them.
Tip Five: Go Slow and Steady
Slow and steady is always the best policy. Going too fast is a sure-fire way to get yourself stuck or worse and damage your vehicle. Maintaining a good line and letting the vehicle do all the work is the best way to keep moving and reduce the risk of breakage.
Finally, if you do get hung up, there are a few important things to remember about attempting recovery:
1.) Never attach a chain or yank strap to a standard ball hitch mounted on a vehicle's bumper. These are made for towing boats, not pulling vehicles out of ditches. One good yank and the ball could easily come flying out causing injury or vehicle damage.
2.) Never use the bumper itself as an attachment point. If your vehicle has tow hooks, always use these instead, or else find a way to use the frame of the vehicle as an attachment point.
3.) For proper recovery of a stuck vehicle, it's best to carry a well-stocked recovery kit. This should include items like a heavy duty length of chain, a yank strap and D shackles for connecting it all together.
4.) Use a chain and either wrap it around or through the frame. Use a D shackle to make the connection between the chain and the yank strap. If you're using a come-along or a high-lift jack, always make sure to use a tree protector to minimize damage to your anchor point.
By using these simple tips, you'll find that you can conquer most trails with ease in nothing more than a stock four-wheel drive pickup or SUV. And once you realize that scenic landscapes are just a dirt road away, you might find yourself spending more time offroad than you ever imagined.
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