Off-roading is a growing sport that is really adrenaline-pumping and adventurous. It’s also a good way to spend time outdoors especially when the weather isn’t great. There are lots of opportunities for fun since you can often find the same trail is different according to the weather and time of year. To get the most out of the experience you do have to know what you’re doing, however.
That means that there are some common mistakes that you should avoid. It doesn’t matter if you are new to offroading or have experience. There are mistakes that everybody makes. In this article, we will go over several of the mistakes you should avoid so you can enjoy your adventure.
1 – Not modifying the vehicle
You can’t just take any car or truck out to go off-roading unless you modify it. The biggest mistake people make is thinking that any vehicle is fine and then ends up stuck or causing expensive damage to the car. For instance, you need to have the vehicle lifted so that it clears any obstacles on the ground. Then, to make sure that you can get into the cab you’ll need to choose the best running boards to mount.
There are also lights to mount on top of the truck to be able to go during twilight or nighttime hours. Even if you don’t plan to use it at that time, you never know when you will get stuck or lost and find yourself out at night.
You should definitely be using the right tires for the job as well. It depends on what type of terrain you are likely to face as to what the right tire should be. The right tire is going to give you more traction and make it easier to get through the terrain.
2 – Going out alone
It is a very dangerous idea to go off-roading on your own. If you get injured there is nobody there to help you. If you get stuck there is nobody there to give you a hand. When you are alone and injured you may not even be able to call for help. The problem may even be minor but if you can’t get help then it can become major in a hurry.
Always go out with somebody else riding along with you or with people driving their own vehicles off-road.
3 – Not bringing emergency gear
There will be a time when you find yourself stuck. It isn’t a question of if but a question of when. Even with others there to help you, it may be too difficult to get extricated. This is why you need to have some emergency gear.
Have a winch and straps to get you out of a jam in no time. The straps can be wrapped around a tree or boulder and then the winch pulls with a lot of strength until you can get your vehicle moving again.
