Go Off Roading

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

Steps

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, unless you plan on spending a lot of time in the mud. They are just too big to fit on trails.
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.
For beginners, find an easy trail, but not just a flat dirt road. Old Mountain Back roads that aren't used often are usually good for beginners.
Once you've arrived at the start of the trail, make sure all your gear is tied down and engage your vehicle's 4 (all) wheel drive option.
Start down the trail.
Watch for rocks in the center of the trail. Some may be too big to straddle. If you try to drive straight over a rock that is too big you can damage the bottom of your vehicle or crack the engine's oil pan and then you and your vehicle are stuck.
Enlist a Spotter; it helps!
Learn the location and placement of your vehicle's wheels. This will help you get through difficult spots without the help of a spotter to tell you where to drive.
- Practice using a setup of aluminum soda cans in a parking lot. Try to crush each can with the passenger side tires. Successfully doing this in reverse a few times is very helpful when you find yourself at the dead end of the wrong trail.

Help other people if they are stuck. Wouldn't you like help if you were stuck?
Lower your tires to around 15 PSI. This makes them "squish" around rocks and get more traction, but it's not required.
It's always better to go with another vehicle so one can help the other if one gets stuck.
Bring a tow strap. You may need to tow someone out, or get yourself out. A winch may prove to be helpful as well.
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.
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. That is why Humvees have independent front and rear suspension.

Rolling your vehicle. Off-road vehicles have a higher center of gravity due to their height, so they are especially prone to tipping over.
Straddling big rocks. You could damage your vehicle or get stuck.
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 {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}}.