4×4 Guidelines For Beginners
If you are a newcomer to the thrilling world of 4×4 or off-road driving, there are many of tips and guidelines that you have to remember before wanting to be the next 4×4 stunt driver and parking your newly acquired 4×4 on its roof in a ditch!
To begin with you must know and obey your own limits. If you are struggling to clear an obstacle hitting it faster or harder might be amusing to the passengers in your car or any onlookers next to the hurdle course, but it will most likely not help you in clearing the object successfully. Some obstacles are designed for seasoned drivers, don’t feel disheartened if you are battling the first couple of outings.
Do not put pedal to the metal the very first time you are attempting to cross or clear an obstacle. Although speed is required to some degree, it may also land you in danger at an increased rate! Momentum in contrast is a lot more valuable than just charging a hurdle at full speed and hoping for the best. In most instances a bit of traction will help to steadily carry you over the obstacle in question.
Watch out for mud! What might look like tiny mud splash might in fact be a hole deep enough to swallow your 4×4! Rather get out of your vehicle first and use a stick or other object to test how deep the mud hole really is. Also inspect the bottom of the hole – a harder bottom will offer a bit more traction than a soft bottom. Yet again a bit of momentum might be required to successfully cross the mud hole. If you find that your car is losing a bit of traction or momentum, don’t stress! Simply move your front wheels a bit to the left and then a bit to the right – this will usually be enough to gain some footing and move ahead again.
If your tires are too hard, you will have a decreased surface area which is not ideal for traction. If you get stuck you might want to let your tire pressure down a bit so that the increased surface area will help with traction. This will also ensure that the rest of your ride is less bumpy. It is however important not to drive with too flat tires as you can break a bead in the process. Once back on solid ground you have to inflate your tires again – don’t leave this until you’re at home as you can totally destroy your tires.
Don’t ever drive without tow straps. Ultimately even the most seasoned 4×4 driver will get stuck and you will then need tow straps to get out of the specific situation. Invest in good quality straps that won’t break the first time you’ll want to use them.
Becoming a seasoned 4×4 driver takes some time and practice. Do not attempt to achieve the impossible on your first couple of outings. Get to know your vehicle and your own limits, and then little by little experiment with more tricky obstacles and courses as you obtain experience.