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- Airing down your tires can help you gain traction. Typically you don't want to air down less than 10 p.s.i. unless you have bead-lock rims.
- When off-roading, always place the largest obstacle you must conquer directly in front of your tire and drive over it. Don't try to straddle it with your tires
- When traversing a gorge or a ravine, if the sides aren't too steep try going through it at an angle of about 45 degrees. This will allow you to keep as many tires on the ground as possible and maintain maximum traction
- When fording deep water, enter the water slowly, and then gain a few miles an hour of extra speed. Back off the throttle slightly and then get right back at the same speed. This will create a bow wave in front of you and dramatically lower the water.
- For manual transmission owners: If you stall your rig when headed uphill, try starting your rig while in 1st gear, low range to keep from rolling backwards. Most new vehicles can't do this unless you bypass the clutch/starter disablement.
- If you don't have a locker or a posi-traction and you are spinning one wheel in the front and/or rear axle try modulating the brakes while you accelerate. Sometimes this will align the spider gears in your differential and apply equal traction to both tires.
- Use rubber air stems on your rims not chrome or metal. The rubber ones will be more likely to flex away from an object and not break.
- Before venturing off road, use a grease pencil and mark where your wheel weights are on your rims. If they slide out of position on an obstacle or get knocked off you will know.
- Tire Siping increases traction on average by 22% and tire life expectancy by 30%
- A good waxing before off-roading will prevent most light scratches from penetrating the paint of your rig and make buffing them out easier.
- You can turn your heater on high if your rig is overheating to help dissipate some of the heat
- Always tell people where you are going and how long you will be gone before you head off road... because getting lost and dying sucks!
- Air snorkels don't just let you go into deep water, it also allows cooler and cleaner air enter your rig, especially if you are following a caravan down a dirt road.
- You can fix a pinhole leak in your radiator by pouring pepper or egg whites into the radiator after it has cooled off.
- Higher octane gas allows your engine to run cooler
- Did you know that Dana made a closed knuckle, front Dana 60 that works great for trucks who do a lot of mudding? (Although it's a bit weaker than a standard Dana 60)
- You can heat a burrito or other food on the exhaust manifold of your rig… just be sure to wrap it in tin foil first
- CB Radios work by line of site. Finding the highest point when in hills, valleys or mountains will increase your reception and transmission range
- Did you know that unequal tire pressures on an axle with a locker can cause damage?
- When venturing off road you should always go with another vehicle in case you get injured, stuck, etc.
- Always check what's on the other side of a hill before cresting the top in your vehicle.
- Always lay a jacket, large towel, floor mat, etc. over the top of a winch cable when winching. In case of a cable snapping, this will help keep it from flying around and hurting someone.
- Winch ropes are now available that store no kinetic energy. If the winch rope breaks under heavy load, it will fall harmlessly to the ground.
- Always bring extra drinking water with you when you venture off-road. A human can survive 3 or more days on water alone, plus it can be used to refill a radiator if your rig overheats.
- Add a bar of white soap to your recovery/tool box. Rubbing a bar of soap on a leaking gas tank will seal the leak, plus it will keep a fan belt from squeaking.
- Bailing wire, duct tape and a big hammer can fix just about anything.
- Military MRE's (new age C Rations) can be stored in your rig for decades without going bad and can be a lifesaver if you get lost.
- Always lock your manual hubs and engage 4-wheel drive before starting a trail, don't let a simple obstacle surprise you.
- Always wear your seatbelt, but if you have shoulder belts and they tend to lock up and restrict your movement, put the shoulder portion behind you and wear the lap portion, this will still keep you in the vehicle should you roll.
- Always check all of your fluids after water crossings or deep mudding for water contamination, water will ruin differentials, trannys, t-cases, and definitely motors! The fluid will look lime green and opaque of water has mixed with it.
- A roll cage bolted to the floor of your rig is no stronger than the floor itself, no matter how strong the tubing is, tie it to the frame for the ultimate in strength.
- When driving off-road, always keep your thumbs and fingers outside of the steering wheel. Bumpsteer caused by climging/hitting rocks, ruts and stumps can quickly spin the steering wheel hard enough to break or seriously injure a finger.
- When backing down a hill, always put your vehicle in reverse, this will help keep your vehicle from sliding and also keep your tires in motion and straight.
- When traversing a tough obstacle with others around, use only one spotter to avoid confusion.
- RTI ramps are great for measuring how much axle articulation you can get but do not guarantee off-road success.
- After an off-road adventure, be sure to do a thorough safety check of your vehicle's suspension and drive train (e.g. bolts, reconnect swaybars, etc.)
- After venturing off road, be sure to air your tires back up for the trip home. It will be safer and increase the life of your tire.
- Spare fluids to bring when off-roading: Engine oil, brake fluid, tranmission oil/fluid, water, power steering fluid and gear oil.
- Even if your not heading off-road, always carry a complete First-Aid kit in your vehicle.
- Basic spare tools to bring when off-roading: pliers, hammer, adjustable wrench, duct tape, Phillips/standard screwdrivers, knife, flashlight, small set of your most commonly used wrenches, tire repair kit, spare bulbs and fuses, extra electrical wire and spare electrical connectors.
- Did you know that panty hose can be used as an air filter or even an emergency fan belt in a pinch?
- Cooler Coolers -- Keep you food and drinks colder in your cooler by 'pre-chilling' it with ice the night before. Coolers with white tops are also much more efficient than darker colors.
- Add some epoxy putty to your on-trail repair kit. Simply rip off a piece, knead it, and slap it on to a gashed oil pan, a hole in a gas tank or radiator, repair repair a stripped bolt, and more. It hardens to a substance close to steel, never dries out, and keeps many years.
- Submitted by M. Funkawitz
- When stuck in the mud, especially in deep ruts, turn your steering wheel side to side as you accelerate forward and/or reverse. the seesawing action and the tread on the sidewalls will help get new grip on your slippery situation.
- Submitted by M. Funkawitz
- To stop a squeaky engine belt, do NOT apply soap, WD40® or belt dressing... check to make sure it's tight and the pulleys are in alignment. You can also clean the pulleys thoroughly with non-chlorinated brake parts cleaner to rid the belt of any contaminants
- A tire underinflated by only 4-5 p.s.i. can cause as much as a 10% drop in fuel efficiency?!
- A 5 Gallon (painters) bucket has many uses off road. It makes a great tool carrier, a fluid catcher, or a water carrier for you radiator. It'll also hold tow ropes/straps when dirty, you can put parts in in when you're working on your rig, use it as a seat or a step stool, a make-shift cooler, and for the nights around the camp fire… a darn-fine party hat.
- Submitted by NICK
- 4X4REVIEW.COM is the best off road site in the world!
- Prepack spare bearings with grease and seal them in a Ziploc bag. Label the bags as to their location. - Posted by R. Pena
- Use small (short) wheel air valves (schraeder valves) on your rim. They're less likely to be snagged and broken by off-road debris. - Posted by R. Pena
- For long camping / off-road trips, pack some of your food in dry ice. It will last considerably longer. - Posted by R. Pena
- Install spare cigarette lighter plugs in the front and rear of the cab of your rig. They can be used for a variety of things and will be easier to reach. - Posted by WideOpen
- Never, ever, ever go off-roading alone. - Posted by GrumpyDawg
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