Basic 101: Your truck is your life
Of course you can likewise go offroading with a beat-up ancient truck your grandpa made do to haul fertilizer, but you surely will not go far. And, you shall probably come back walking. So if you want some enjoyable offroading outing, get your truck in tip-top condition especially its engine, chassis and springs. Using% LINK1% is also a positive plus, and using lift kits is positive plus-plus, as they are specially designed for offroad driving. Making your vehicle dependable is the first requirement of offroading, since your life is dependent on it while on the trip.
Basic 102: Go dirty easy
Find an area offroad that contains a dirt road, a small hill or two, mud or waterhole, ruts, gravel and passable rocks, where you can discern how your vehicle performs. Move to 4-low and drive slowly over the hazards, keeping your speed below five mph. Choose your route mentally and put the wheels on the line you want them for optimum traction. This is termed picking the line and it just means you should choose the easiest path around or over the obstacles. Be conscious of how the vehicle performs while you are crossing the hazards, so you can expect them later.
Basic 103: It could be’ muddlin’
Mud is slick, wet and constantly moves even without your permission, so as much as possible go about the mudhole. If you cannot, pick a line via the shallowest, hardest part you can see and try going through in 4-low with 3rd or 4th gear in use. The plan is to go fast enough that there is momentum and you do not get stuck, but slow enough to remain in control. Move fast and you could intake water, too slow and you might sink and get bogged down. But if you did get bogged down, back up the way you came in, waggling the steering wheel and with enough wheel spin to get the mud from the tire tread. Otherwise dig the truck out of the mud.
Basic 104: Offroading on the rocks
Considered the most demanding form, scrambling over the rocks really tries your truck and your capabilities. But there are methods. First, bring down your tire pressure to about half that of usual road driving for better traction. Inspect the underside for any part that may get damaged if {dragged|hauled| over the rocks as well as remind you of the ground {clearance|height]. Explore your route to pick your line and then change to 4-low or first gear. Go over your route slowly, ears pricked up meanwhile for the sound of sliding tires or the rock dinging your under carriage. If it proves too difficult, back up and seek another way.
Basic 105: Bugging the Sandhills
The sand is looser in the day and thus more tricky to drive on. Braking and swerving take longer distances so attempt to offset this. Momentum can help you traverse difficult passages]; hence, go in 4-Hi and gear in Drive, running at 10-15 mph, tires deflated to half its usual pressure for footing and to ‘float’ them. Park it on harder parts of the sand and pointing downhill for [easier departure. When you are turning tires but not progressing, stop and back up.
