4X4 Offroad

10 safety tips for taking your vehicle off-road

For many people, their four-wheel-drive vehicles will only ever see pavement. For others, rarely will they actually hit the trails and pound the hills.

For those who do attempt some actual off-roading, often they usually lack the skills for safe 4 wheel driving (4WD) because they don't have practice. They also fear damage to their cars, getting lost or getting stuck - which are all legitimate fears if you lack expertise. Here are 10 tips for safely taking your vehicle off-road:

1. Drive as slow or as fast as the situation demands - For the most part, driving as slow as possible is recommended. This gives you time to react to changing terrain. However, conditions such as snow, sand or mud require you to drive faster so you don't get stuck.

2. Reduce tire pressure - Lowering your tire pressure will improve traction and performance in all off-road conditions by increasing the surface area of the tires. Remember to re-inflate before driving on the pavement.
3. Survey the trail ahead - Keeping your eyes up and forward will give you time to develop a plan of approach. It will also prevent you from falling into a pit or off a cliff!
4. Drive directly up and down hills - Traveling directly up and down hills will prevent sideways slides and rollovers. Also, never turn around on a hill - back down if necessary.
5. Cross ditches at an angle - Crossing over obstacles at an angle allows for three wheels to remain firmly on the ground while only one wheel at a time crosses the ditch.
6. Keep brake use to a minimum - Overusing your brakes can cause the wheels to lock up in muddy, wet and loose rock conditions. Switch to lower gears when descending hills and rely on the engine compression for slowing down.
7. Avoid too much wheel spin - Spinning your wheels only digs the vehicle further into the track, leaving you stuck more deeply than when you started. It also wrecks the environment. If you get stuck on a trail, use the jack to lift the vehicle and then build up the ground under the tires using branches.
8. Don't over-steer - Do not over-steer in deep tracks or ruts. You may not feel like the wheels are fully turned, even when they actually are. The wheel will bounce around on bumpy sections - just hold it firmly once you've made a direction change.
9. Move slowly through deep water - Making slow, steady progress through deep water will create a 'bow wave' and a pocket of air around the engine. This will reduce the risk of engine drowning. Having a plastic sheet over the front of the vehicle will also help keep water out of the engine.
10. Get to know your vehicle's performance - Paying attention to how your vehicle works in off-road conditions will give you an idea of what it can and cannot handle in future situations.

4WD in daily driving conditions

Besides off-roading, four-wheel-drive vehicles also come in handy for certain highway driving conditions, such as winter snow. However, too many people with new SUVs have the false impression that 4WD means go anywhere. This is not the case - just because you're in 4WD mode doesn't mean you'll be able to stop better than other vehicles in icy conditions. You will have increased traction (to an extent), but this is reduced when the vehicle loses its ability to stop.

It's a fact: Many SUV owners end up in the ditch as a result of their own false sense of security. So be careful and learn how to use your brakes. Practice skid control in an empty parking lot to get a feel for what you may encounter.

It used to be we could depend on the reputation and reliability of North American cars to meet our standards - but could it be the times are changing? Here in the U.S., overseas models are continuing to rise in popularity. Find out why!

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