NEGOTIATING TERRAIN
Four-wheeling is a wonderful way to see the outdoors, and done properly, an environmentally sound way to experience the backcountry. Here are a few tips to help you negotiate the terrain and enjoy your four-wheeling experience while protecting the environment.
Put your vehicle in four wheel drive before reaching obstacles. Generally, selecting low range allows a slow and steady speed that is best for most
off-highway use.
Because you will be on an uneven surface it is important to avoid sudden acceleration, turns or braking. These actions may cause the vehicle’s center of gravity to shift, leading to a loss of traction or possibly destabilizing the vehicle.
Hills
Driving safely over hills requires excellent judgment and an understanding of what your vehicle can and cannot do. If you have any doubt about you or your vehicle’s ability, don’t drive up or down a hill. It may be best to turn around and find another route. Back tracking is part of safe off-roading.
Travel straight up or down a hill or grade. Avoid crossing a hill at a side tilt if possible. Try to travel in a path that is parallel to the “fall line” of the hill. The “fall line” is the natural path that water or a ball would follow down the hill. Traversing across the face of a hill may cause the vehicle to slide sideways, possibly leading to a rollover.
Use first gear in the transmission and low range in the transfer case for added engine braking and overall control.
Obstacles
Cross obstacles such as logs or ditches at an angle. Cross with one wheel at a time. This allows the other three wheels to provide traction on firm ground and raises the undercarriage above the obstacle, possibly avoiding high centering of the vehicle.
Large Rocks
Be aware of the size of obstacles your vehicle can clear.
Know the low points on your vehicle such as differentials, transmission, transfer case, etc.
Use a “spotter” to let you know what is going on underneath your vehicle and help you to avoid obstacles.
If a rock is too big to travel over and may possibly come in contact with the underside of the vehicle, carefully put a tire on the rock. This will raise the vehicle, adding clearance to the undercarriage. Travel very slowly to assure that the vehicle clears the rock. Use first gear in low range and use brakes to let the vehicle down gently off of the rock. Avoid compressing the suspension, which will decrease ground clearance.
Soft Spots (mud, soft or loose soils, sand)
Avoid mud if possible but always remain on the road or trail. If you can’t avoid the mud, don’t drive around mud and create your own trail. If you can’t avoid the mud, use as high a gear as the vehicle will pull comfortably, generally in low range, and use just enough throttle to maintain forward movement. Avoid wheel spin if possible.
Engage traction aiding devices such as locking differentials for added traction and minimum wheel spin. If necessary, winch yourself through the mud to avoid digging ruts and destroying the trail.
Turn the steering wheel rapidly from side-to-side if you sense a loss of traction. This can help generate additional traction by allowing the side wall tread of the tires to grip the sides of the ruts. This also helps to transfer power from a spinning wheel to a wheel with more traction.
Smooth, easy power is better than too much power. If you feel the vehicle sinking rather than moving forward, stop and try
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