There is often nothing more exciting than turning off the tar and feeling the crunch of a gravel or dirt road under your tyres. In this part of the world, where driving off road is pretty common, it’s incredibly important to know what you’re doing when faced with uneven terrain, and for a lot of us who enjoy taking our vehicles to parts of Southern Africa that are often unexplored, means that you need to have a sound understanding of where you’re going, the vehicle you are driving and the conditions that you are going to expect. If you are a beginner with a growing thirst for off-road adventure, here are 5 tips to get you started and to keep you safe.
- Don’t go alone
There are a few simple reasons for this and even the avid off-roaders will attest to this. Anything can go wrong when driving off road. Your vehicle may break down, you may have an accident, or someone may get hurt. Having another vehicle with you means that you are more than likely able to get to safety should something unfortunate happen.
- Read your Vehicle Owner’s Manual
This may sound a little silly, but that manual will provide you with a good understanding of your vehicle, how the 4WD system works and what its capable of. It’s a lot more important than you think!
- Know your ground clearance
This is a key point, especially if you consider yourself to be a slightly over-confident individual. Before driving off road, take a few moments to get underneath your vehicle and figure out where its lowest point is and pay particular attention to the position of your diff housings.
- Check the weather
The thought of sliding through the mud in the middle of a rainstorm may be tantalizing, however freak downpours can cause severe flooding, so try to plan your trip when the weather forecast is generally clear.
- Know your size
Know your vehicle’s length, width and height. The last thing you want to do is venture down an overgrown dirt road and scratch the paintwork off your new 4×4. Driving off road is fun, but with out the right knowledge you can damage your vehicle
For more tips on driving off road get in touch with us, the experts in 4×4 accessories.