"Wobbles the Mind" (wobblesthemind)
09/26/2020 at 14:56 • Filed to: Advice
1
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"Wobbles the Mind" (wobblesthemind)
09/26/2020 at 14:56 • Filed to: Advice | 1
| 15 |
I don’t like to be caught learning something during an emergency, so I have been gradually learning the system in case I end up in a ditch, in snow, or just want to drive over to a frontage road when interstate traffic is at a standstill due to a trailer tipping over . As a consequence of this though, I think that I’m quickly gaining an interest in driving off the pavement.
Can you all give me some tips? I know enough to be safe and conservative , but I can’t reasonably quantify how much more I can ask of this thing since it has a lot more capability than I ever expected with these tires (in regards to some sand and dirt).
Also, if you have any quick tricks for assessing the difficulty of one path over another , throw them at me.
OhCrikeyTheRozzers
> Wobbles the Mind
09/26/2020 at 15:25 |
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I’ve done a few Jeep Jamborees and always thought this had some good introductory pointers— https://jeepjamboreeusa.com/common-sense-off-road-driving/files/inc/cca77024ba.pdf
As you already know, tires (and air pressure) make a huge difference. More generally, take your time and think through each obstacle. I also can’t emphasize enough that you always should have an plan/option to get yourself unstuck—back when I was an idiot high schooler I learned all too well the perils of not having a plan when I sunk my Jeep down to the frame in deep mud, alone, without so much as a tow strap...
Nibby
> Wobbles the Mind
09/26/2020 at 15:30 |
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monitor your tire pressure
mass graves are great places to practice off roading
PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120
> Nibby
09/26/2020 at 15:41 |
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This got dark quickly but I like the honesty.
atfsgeoff
> Wobbles the Mind
09/26/2020 at 15:46 |
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First rule of off roading is always go with a friend who has their own vehicle.
If you can’t do that, a winch is almost mandatory for anything dicey enough that you’re likely to get stuck. Also bring a shovel, small air compressor and good full size spare tire.
CB
> Wobbles the Mind
09/26/2020 at 15:47 |
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I have nothing specific that isn’t just for exploring in general:
- know your routes and backup routes ahead of time
- bring a buddy, preferably in their own vehicle
- respect property rights, don’t trespass
- have a way to contact someone in an emergency
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PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120
> Wobbles the Mind
09/26/2020 at 15:49 |
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Enthusiasm and interest are a great start. I recommend spending time riding shotgun with someone, to learn as much as you can before you’re behind the wheel.
Beyond that, I’ve found that you need to be thinking at least 3 steps ahead. You’ll want to have a good recovery bag with you. That’ll consist of, a kinetic rope rated at least 3 times your gross vehicle weight (or a tow strap at minimum ), gloves, small shovel, a bottle jack, a hitch for rear recover point ( if you have a hitch receiver) and a tool kit. All-season tires don’t do much when off-road so keep that in mind, especially if things are wet.
I also recommend you travel with at least another vehicle, when doing anything serious.
Have fun!
gmctavish needs more space
> Wobbles the Mind
09/26/2020 at 16:05 |
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Hopefully stating the obvious, but you’re not gonna want to do anything that involves rocks or anything angular or sharpish with those tires/wheels. You also probably can’t lower your tire pressures too much with those tires.
If you’re unsure about a section of trail, get out and walk it first, it’ll give you a better idea of whether you can do it or not. It looks like you have a good amount of clearance and good angles, you should be able to do quite a bit with that thing, but ideally with all terrains
dieseldub
> Wobbles the Mind
09/26/2020 at 16:20 |
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I don’t have any real practical advise, and there’s so much wildly varying kinds of off roading you can do.
There is a great off road recovery channel on Youtube that regularly adds new videos, and often times he’ll show some tricks to get cars unstuck from crazy situations.
He has a highly custom built Jeep Cherokee XJ he uses for most of his recovery efforts, but you’ll see him recovering many fairly stock vehicles and some cases just driving the vehicle out of whatever it’s stuck in using some easy to make or buy recovery devices or even just driving techniques.
The above is one of his shorter videos, old school XJ like his recovery vehicle, except not extensively modified with custom axles, long travel geometry, springs shocks and no lockers... Just a stock XJ stuck in the sand.
Since his own recovery vehicle was occupied with towing something else out of the dunes, he tried a couple techniques to drive the stuck stock XJ out of the situation it’s in. Combination of airing down the tires, turning the wheel back forth to help it find traction in the sand and even apply the parking brake a little to act as a sort of pseudo limited slip differential.
Some guys I’ve talked to said they’ve done similar things in their Jeeps where they are on the throttle and use their left foot to “shock” the brakes a couple times to transmit power to the wheel that actually has traction.
Of course what’s really awesome about modern off roaders that have sophisticated traction programming in their ABS module, they can brake individual wheels for you for an even more effective way of sending power to where it’s needed.
As with most any other kind of driving and even racing, your choice in tires are the biggest thing you can do to improve ability for whatever the specific terrain or track you’re tackling.
TheD0k_2many toys 2little time
> Wobbles the Mind
09/26/2020 at 16:54 |
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4x4 high and let er eat. Also good tires. Before anything else get good tires.
Mercedes Streeter
> Wobbles the Mind
09/26/2020 at 17:32 |
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My biggest piece of advice is know where your wheels are and have a good idea of how much ground clearance you have. I often off-road cars not meant for the task, so this is important. I know what obstacles I can straddle and what obstacles I have to avoid. Knowing where my wheels are means I know just where I can fit the car.
I take my time to find a “line” through an obstacle that is least likely to damage the car. If avoiding damage is impossible, I try my best to protect vital components like the oil pan. Dragging my side skirt on a rock sucks, but it’s better than dragging the oil pan.
If you’re driving something definitely not meant for where you’re driving it, momentum may be key. I can’t tell you how many times I made the mistake of stopping in mud and needing to get towed out.
Also, don't be afraid to get creative. Back when I had my old Ranger, I came upon a massive tree blocking a trail. I couldn't reverse back out and the only way out was a very narrow opening in the trees. The turn was too tight to make normally. I took it out of 4x4, hit the brakes, then jammed the throttle. I did a burnout that swung the truck right into position.
MiniGTI - now with XJ6
> Wobbles the Mind
09/26/2020 at 17:47 |
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Haha I’ve been wanting to take my Volvo lightly off road just to see if the AWD is any good (YouTube seems to think it’s at least as good as an Outback)
There’s a huge construction site at the end of my street where a big industrial building was torn down to make a water retaining pond and park. It’s not even fenced in. SO TEMPTING!!
Ssfancyfresh
> Nibby
09/26/2020 at 18:14 |
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+1 on mass graves
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Nibby
> Ssfancyfresh
09/26/2020 at 20:25 |
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thanks
Just Jeepin'
> atfsgeoff
09/26/2020 at 21:07 |
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Honestly using a winch when you’re stuck alone is in some ways even riskier, because if you hurt yourself using it...
Anyway, never go off-roading alone.
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atfsgeoff
> Just Jeepin'
09/26/2020 at 21:13 |
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There’s risk in everything, I consider off roading on its own to be just as risky as using a winch. Winching can be pretty safe as long as you have equipment in good condition and aren’t an idiot about it. Also dyneema synthetic cable pretty much eliminates the potential for line breakage-related injuries.