Start Your Offroad Minus The Hassles

So, in response to hearing many beautiful things mostly factual about adventure in the Great Outdoors, you finally bought a four-wheel drive truck, intending to take it deep into the realm of outdoors. In fact, you had it furnished with off road tires, and when some friend suggested you try beadlock wheels, you did that also. And to be reasonable, your rig was a beauty to see, and people say, in the offroading adventure, too. Most probably, that is, since you also heard that much of offroading enjoyment depends on the driver, and you are a newbie...

What now

The most appropriate thing for you is to begin your offroading lessons slowly. First you have to be adept in controlling your truck, so drive it around and get a close feel of its features. You need to understand the power of the brakes, its speed and power in the different gears, turning traits and so on. When you feel you can fool around with the vehicle, go offroad. There are many trail systems tested and mapped for four-by-four enthusiasts such as in the Eastern Sierra area. If those are too distant for you, get acquainted an experienced outdoorsman and ask him to assist you to a nearby location to learn offroading.

What to take

Experienced offroaders take a winch, but as you would not go in too deep, a levering bar and a spade would be enough to get you off many little errors, plus the normal provisions for a long trip. Although the weather may be hot, take along some cold-weather clothes, for the 'just in case'. Reserve water and canned food will not hurt; you need some weight in the truck after all. If there is, go with other offroaders in a group, even neophytes like you, for security. At the very least you are assure of a ride home.

Slow does it

When you hit the unpaved road, the compulsion to floor the gas pedal will be very powerful and most succumb. Never. Even four-wheel drives behave differently on unpaved roads, and you are as yet unacclimatized with the variations in control and performance of your vehicle in such situations. Ditto with the area; you could be, euphemistically, in an unfriendly place. If the ground gets a little complicated, switch to four-by-four mode right away: it beats getting out of the two-wheel mode when you are losing traction. This is your first run, so be very vigilant about all things around you, the truck and the trail.

Some caveats

When ascending a steep gradient, the rule was to use the lowest gear for good tire 'bite', but it also means change to the highest gear that grants good progress without lugging the engine. Too low gear may result to too much power and hence, turning traction-less wheels and lost control. When moving down, use low gear to let the engine to function as brake. Constantly pushing down on the brakes can {lock|stiffen] them and let you slide downwards, particularly on slick surfaces. In unknown and complicated ground, scouting ahead will let you determine which route and how to go, or maybe if you have to proceed at all. There is no rule against turning back and coming another way.

Finally, remember you are there to take pleasure in the trip, not punish yourself.