Tuesday 16 / April / 2024
Summer's in full swing and instead of hitting the highway, how about taking a sharp turn off-road instead? Off-roading is always challenging and fun. You never know what's going to happen on the trail or what you can see over the next hill. The best part of off-roading, is that it's ageless. It's a great vacation for all ages, old and young. You can get away from the crowds or take your personal crowd with you in their own rigs. You can smell the campfire, see the stars, enjoy the adrenalin from playing in the dunes or finding that perfect campsite.
For beginning off-roaders, here are a few tips for a memorable experience:
1. Slow down: Enjoy the scenery and watch for the challenges so you can approach them correctly and safely.
2. Safety first: Always carry plenty of water and never go off-road alone. Just like swimming, you always want to have a buddy along.
3. Fluid situation: Check all your vehicle's fluids (oil, brake, coolant, wiper) to make sure they are at the right levels.
4. Don't trash it: Respect the outdoors and trail you're on by not leaving any trash behind.
5. Nice spare: Along with a matching spare tyre, keep a spare fan belt as well (and the tools needed to change it). Your rig will never break down in the driveway, but a fan belt could snap or slip at any time.
6. Be careful: Know your off-road driving skill level and limitations: Don't do more than you can safely handle.
7. Know your tyres. Choose a tyre that's appropriate for the terrain you'll be on most of the time. For off-roading, you'll need something extremely durable, with great traction.
Good tyres are super essential on- or off-road, because they play a vital role in braking, steering, comfort, and handling.
Maintaining your off-road tyres for daily use is essential, too. This includes taking five minutes a month to check your tyre pressure. Keeping them properly inflated will give you a better ride and save fuel.
