OFF-ROAD AIR PRESSURE
Lowering the tire pressure, or airing down, can offer a smoother ride while driving off-highway. It also expands your tire’s footprint, resulting in better traction over rocks and loose terrain.
How much to air down has a lot to do with your personal preference, so it’s a good idea to consult an experienced driver before airing down for the first time.
Check your tire in the morning prerun, before ambient temperature rises. Direct sun exposure will significantly increase pressure. If the pressure is correct while a tire is warm, it will likely be underinflated when it cools down. Lowering pressure too much could push the tire off the rim, damaging the tire and wheel.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
As simple as it may sound, the first thing you’ll need to know is how to put your vehicle in gear. Make sure you can properly locate the gear selector in your vehicle. In older vehicles, the gear shift may be located on the steering column, whereas in newer vehicles, it is often located near the center console.
There may appear to be two gear shifters on the floor. The other is actually the transfer case, which
will allow you to engage four-wheel drive. Automatics are generally easier to control because you let the transmission do most of the work. Remember, speed is not the answer. Let the vehicle do what it was designed to do.
USING YOUR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Engine braking may be limited with automatic transmissions. Supply sufficient brake and throttle as your vehicle speeds and slows. Gearing down to D1 or D2 and using 4WD Low should allow the vehicle to crawl and idle over obstacles with little to no throttle. Use the highest gears possible for climbing. Descend in the lowest gears.
Using the overdrive button will lock the vehicle out of its highest gear. This is useful when navigating steep hills and difficult terrain – as well as in on-road towing situations.
ADVANTAGES
More user-friendly
Smooth transition of power
Less effort
Easier for towing
No clutch to burn
More adaptable to four-wheeling
DISADVANTAGES
Runs away on downhill slopes
Cannot push-start
Cannot stall-start
Higher repair expenses
May overheat in tough terrain
MANUAL TRANSMISSION
If you have never driven a manual transmission, the trail is not the place to start. Make sure you have mastered the basics before heading off the pavement. Monitoring three pedals and choosing gears must be second nature, so you can focus completely on the ever-changing conditions of the trail.
USING YOUR MANUAL TRANSMISSION
Keep your foot off the clutch as much as possible. Otherwise not only will you lose forward momentum, but it can also cause the clutch to burn up. Only press the clutch when you need to shift; otherwise keep your left foot on the floor. Do not cover the clutch pedal with your foot, even if you aren’t actively riding it. Rough terrain can bounce your foot into the pedal and accidentally depress the pedal. Stick to first and second gears when navigating difficult terrain.
ADVANTAGES
Controlled descent
Able to stall-/push-/ pull-start
Generates less heat
Less fuel consumption
Cheaper/easier to maintain
Driver controls the vehicle
DISADVANTAGES
Clutch can overheat
Requires good hand/foot coordination
Not as smooth
Can be harder to negotiate on difficult terrain
Less user-friendly on the trail with OE axle ratios
DRIVING IN SAND
The most important aspect of driving on sand is your tire’s flotation. The more tread you have touching the sand, the better. You will need to air down your tires to some extent in order in increase your tire’s footprint. How much depends
on your vehicle and the type of sand in question. Refer to page 14 for pressure recommendations.
All-terrain tires tend to perform better in sand, but wide-profile mud-terrain tires can also work to your advantage and even perform like paddle tires at the correct pressure. While the right tires do matter, there is quite a bit of strategy when it comes to driving in sand. Air pressure, momentum and throttle application are the fundamentals that will ultimately keep you moving.
Soft, loose sand robs the power and traction from your 4X4 vehicle. So it’s imperative to keep steady forward momentum to lessen the chance of getting stuck. There are so many variations of sand out there that it’s always a good idea to check out the area by foot. If your feet become completely submerged, imagine how much your
half-ton rig will sink. Regardless, if you do plan to drive on sand you should always remember the following:
Once your vehicle is in motion, ride at the highest comfortable gear to maintain momentum. When you do need to stop, it’s important to park your vehicle in a spot where you can easily gain momentum, such as a slight downhill slope.
Sharp, sudden turns may cause your tires to dig deep into the sand. If forward progress ceases, DO NOT apply more throttle. This will only worsen the situation by causing your tires to dig down deeper into the sand. If you lose momentum, try to back up your rig gently. If your tires start to spin, it’s time to get your shovel.
If your vehicle gets stuck, you’ll have to dig out around the wheels. Hub caps, Frisbees or your spotter’s hat can serve as makeshift shovels if you’ve forgotten yours. If there’s water near, wet the sand in front of the tires to provide firmer terrain to grab onto. You can even place your vehicle’s floor mats under the tires for traction.
DRIVING IN MUD
Rather than trying to prove that you can do it, take a step back, analyze the situation and ask yourself if you really need to do it. If the answer is yes, then it’s time to do a bit of detective work to ensure that your rig is actually going to make it to the other side.
TERRAIN
Are there tracks going in? And are there tracks coming out? If there are only tracks going in, then someone didn’t make it, and chances are you won’t either. You’ll never know how deep it is until you check. Test the depth with a stick, shovel or anything you can get your hands on before entering.
GETTING TO THE OTHER SIDE
So this is it. You’ve taken the proper precautions, decided you and your vehicle are prepared to make it and are ready to let the mud fly. But in order to avoid a few laughs from onlookers, keep in mind the following:
Lock ‘em if you got ‘em.
Engage both lockers and 4WD before entering mud.
Avoid ruts when possible. Driving in existing ruts or tracks will only reduce your vehicle’s ground clearance and increase your chances of getting stuck.
Enter the mud with a good amount of momentum, and use light throttle to avoid wheel spin.
Pick a straight line and commit. You need to live with your decision or live with getting stuck.
DO NOT brake. This will only kill momentum.
If you feel yourself losing traction, turn your steering wheel back and forth quickly, which will add the tire’s cleated sidewall to the traction equation. The sidewalls will act like “paddles” that use the sides of the trench the tire has sunk into for extra traction.
POST-MUD BATH
If you make a mess, you must be prepared to clean it up. Check your differentials, transmission, transfer case and brakes to make sure nothing was displaced after driving though deep, thick mud. After a bit of mudslinging, it’s always important to thoroughly clean your wheels, undercarriage and brakes with a pressure hose. Dried mud can pack into your wheels and brakes, which will cause vibrations and may affect your vehicle’s ability to brake properly when you
return to the highway
