Go Off Roading

How to Go off Roading

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Want to go off-roading? If you're a first time 4 wheeler then there are things you'll need to know.

Steps

1. Get an off road vehicle if you don't have one already.-Older Jeeps are the best.-New Wranglers are good but they cost a lot!-The best off road vehicles are small with lots of ground clearance.-BIG Trucks aren't good. They are just too big to fit on trails.
   
2. Get supplies for you and your vehicle. (Extra oil, spare tire, jack, water, and things for you in case of that small chance you get stuck and have to hike back)
   
3. For beginners, find a easy trail, but not just a flat dirt road. Old Mountain Back roads that aren't used often are usually good for beginners.
   
4. Once arrived at the start of the trail, engage your vehicle's 4x4 option.
   
5. Start down the trail.
   
6. Watch for rocks in the center of the trail, some may be too big to straddle. If you try drive straight over a rock that is too big you can damage the bottom of your vehicle. You could also hit the oil pan and then your vehicle is stuck.
   
7. Learn your vehicle's wheel location and placement. This will help you go over difficult spots without a spotter to tell you where to drive up. Still, a spotter always helps. A good way to do this is setup aluminum soda cans in a parking lot, and then try to crush them with the passenger side tires. Successfully doing this in reverse a few times is really helpful if you find yourself at the dead end of a wrong trail.
   
8. Know Your limits. Don't become someone with "Jeep Ego". Some people with Jeeps think they can go anywhere and get themselves stuck.
   
9. Complete your trail!
   

Tips

• It's always better to go with another vehicle so one can help the other if one gets stuck.
  
• Vehicles with a solid front axle are better. It gives you more flexibility when off-roading. Independent front suspension vehicles are generally more comfortable on the road, but will struggle more off the road.
  
• Lower your tires to around 15 PSI. This makes them "squish" around rocks and get more traction, but it's not required.
  
• Get a vehicle with a limited slip differential or a locking differential. This allows a vehicle to provide power to a wheel even when the other wheel on the same axle is spinning without any traction. This will help you when you are climbing over rocks and one wheel lifts into the air.
  
• Most cameras don't effectively take pictures of depths, so if you want to show off to your friends you'll have to get a special camera. Rocks look smaller on camera than what they did when you went over them.
  
• Bring a tow strap. You may need to tow someone out, or get yourself out. A winch may prove to be helpful as well.
  
• Help other people if they are stuck, wouldn't you like help if you were stuck?
  

Warnings

• Straddling big rocks. You could damage your vehicle or get stuck.
  
• Rolling your vehicle. Off-road vehicles have a higher center of gravity due to their height, so they are especially prone to tipping over.
  
• Water holes. You never know how deep the water is, or the mud under it. A 4,000 pound vehicle will sink like a rock. Even if a stick or branch only sinks 8". Your HEAVY vehicle may sink 8 feet.
  

Things You'll Need

• Off road vehicle (4x4)
  
• Extra oil
  
• Extra water (for you and the vehicle, in case it overheats)
  
• Tow strap
  
• Time
  
• Gasoline
  
• Spare tire
  
• Jack
  
• 4-Way to get tire off if it's flat.
  
• Camera (optional)
  

Related wikiHows

• How to Identify Cars
  

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Go off Roading. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.