Driving a SUV Offroad

Driving a SUV Offroad

In America today many people own a 4-wheel drive SUV or truck. Most of these people don't know the fun they can have in these vehicles by going where few dare to venture. Driving a 4-wheel drive off road is one way you can have fun rather inexpensively, except for the cost of the vehicle itself. For the most part, people are afraid to take their expensive vehicles into the unknown. This fear may come from the fact that they simply don't know how to drive them on non-paved and non-maintained roads or places where there is no road at all. It is relatively easy to tackle many obstacles in a 4-wheel drive such as overcoming steep hills, going though ditches, tackling deep snow and mud, driving on loose sand, and crossing rivers.

I am an owner of a 4-wheel drive truck and I use it both for on-road and off-road applications. I'm originally from the small town of Ligonier, which is nestled in the mountains of Pennsylvania, and have spent countless hours running around on the mountains. The 4-wheel drive systems vary slightly, but for the most part they are equipped with 2-wheel drive, 2 high, 4-wheel drive high range, 4 high, and 4 wheel drive low range, 4 low. The high range has the same gearing as you have for road driving. The low range, however, has much lower gearing to allow you to get the extra slow speed and high torque needed for certain applications. In all off-road applications being gentle with the gas and maintaining momentum is essential. You should consult the owner's manual of the vehicle to see how to engage the different features of your 4-wheel drive system, if so equipped. Also, I would recommend traveling in pairs of vehicles and investing in a good heavy-duty tow strap or chain so if you get stuck you have help right there.

Steep hills are one of the easiest obstacles to overcome. Once the 4 low is engaged you proceed up the hill in the lowest possible gear. The average speed needed to climb a steep hill is only three to five miles per hour. Just maintain a constant gas pressure and let the vehicle do the work. Whatever you do don't stop! You must keep the momentum or else you will stall the vehicle and risk sliding or crashing back down to the bottom.