Tips for off-roading beginners
Hey, fellow off-roader! So you have finally decided to head out into the wild, but don’t know where to begin? Well, I’m here to guide you through the basics so next time you go out there will be that much better.
1) Narrow or wide?
When looking at a potential obstacle what do you think would work better, a narrow or wide tire? This is something that there are two answers to. The first answer is that if you have the option of the right tools then the wider tires work better. Why? Well because they can contain more weight so even though it might be harder to get up the obstacle with them, once at the top your truck won’t get stuck like it might with a narrower tire.
The other answer is that it depends on the obstacle you are trying to climb. For some obstacles, the wider tires will work better, while for others they would not do so well and it might be better to try and get your truck just over the edge of the obstacle and drive up. This usually works better because there is not as much weight on the tires so they might have an easier time getting over the obstacle.
2) Practice makes perfect!
Like anything else, practice can make you better at off-roading. If you don’t do it very often then every little thing will seem like a lot of effort for not that much return. You will be better at it if you do more off-roading so next time when you are driving through the mud, crossing over rocks, or climbing up hills you can do it with ease!
3) Always prepare for changes in the weather.
This one is super important because nobody wants to get stuck out in the middle of nowhere because they didn’t check the weather forecast. You can usually find these on your smartphone which you probably already have if you are driving out into the wild alone. If not, there are many websites you can go to where they show the weather for today and other days so you know what to expect. Also, it is always better to be prepared for rain if you are driving through mud or crossing over rocks so your truck doesn’t get stuck while you are out there.
4) The right tools for the job.
As I mentioned above, it is really important to know what kind of obstacles you want to navigate and have the right tools to do so. If the obstacle has a lot of weight on it then your car might struggle with the obstacle, but if you have the right tools then it can make or break whether or not you are successful. If you don’t have them and your vehicle is struggling, consider turning around early before you get yourself into too much trouble.
5) Be prepared for everything.
This means having the right tools as well as proper attire for whatever weather you might encounter on your trip. You wouldn’t want to be out there in shorts and a t-shirt if there is rain expected, would you? Also, make sure to keep some food and water with you at all times so you don’t end up getting stuck and having to walk back. This might be a bit of a long hike depending on where you are and how far away from civilization you are.
6) Respect other people driving out in nature!
Last but not least, make sure to respect everybody out there driving through nature. It is important to help each other out when stuck or in trouble and make sure everybody is safe and nobody gets hurt. These places are also sometimes home to animals that don’t like to be bothered! So keep your eyes open and watch where you step because there might be a snake there ready to strike!
Thanks for reading, remember these tips if you ever decide to go out into the wild yourself.
