7 Off Roading Mistakes To Avoid
1 – Not Preparing For An Emergency
One of the main thrills of off-roading is that you’re in a place you really shouldn’t be – not legally speaking, of course, but naturally. Without an off-road vehicle that you can rely on, you’d risk prolonged exposure to the elements and likely succumb to your fate in about a week.
That’s what makes it fun. But it’s not fun when an emergency happens and you aren’t prepared to handle it.
Before taking off on one of our amazing St. George off-road trails, make sure you have emergency supplies and equipment on hand.
- A first aid kit
- Plenty of extra food and water
- A change of shoes
- Warm clothing (clothing that would keep you warm if you had to spend the night)
- Lantern
- Flashlight
- Maps
- Tools
- Tow chain
- Long-range walkie talkies
2 – Being Too Heavy
If your off-road vehicle is bogged down with too much equipment, you aren’t going to be able to have the fun you thought you would.
Even with high quality St. George off-road equipment – chassis, wheel bearings, suspension, etc. – your performance is going to suffer if you’ve overpacked.
There’s also the warranty to consider – exceeding the weight allowance set by the manufacturer can render it void.
It’s a fine line to walk between being properly prepared and overly encumbered, but it’s one you need to get down pat.
3 – Buying Low-Quality Gear & Equipment
In the long run, this is just going to end up costing you more. When it comes to St. George off-road accessories, spending a little more for something that will stand the test of time is a far better idea than buying a cheap piece of junk that you’ll have to replace over and over again. It’s also important to have this equipment installed by a professional at a St. George off-road accessories store or similar auto shop if you don’t know how to do so yourself.4 – Going In Blind
Before charging in, you should have a good idea of what you’re getting yourself into. If you don’t, you’re likely to encounter terrain you didn’t expect – terrain that you and your vehicle aren’t prepared for. The solution here is to do your research on the routes you plan to take. There are plenty of online sources, many of them with forums and comment sections where other off-roaders can give you advice and tell stories about their experiences. It’s not just the trails you need to research either – know what the weather conditions are going to be like. This can make or break your time out in the wild. Before going out, make sure you have the right skill set, supplies, and St. George off-road accessories for the challenges ahead – the safety of yourself and your vehicle depends on it.5 – Not Knowing The True Depth Of The Water
You need to test the depth of any water areas you’re about to plow through. Seems common sense, right? Well, there are plenty of people who totally disregard this and end up stranded.
Standing water specifically tends to give an illusion of shallowness, when in fact the bottom is a thick layer of mud that you initially thought was solid ground. This is how people get stuck.
It’s not just a matter of personal inconvenience – if the breathers on the axles, transfer case, and manual transmission take on water they can get stuck. Not to mention the engine’s air intake – if that takes in water, you’re pretty much toast.
6 – Refusing To Turn Around When Things Seem Too Risky
You need to know when to swallow your pride and accept that either you, your vehicle, or both are going to totally fail to clear what’s ahead of you. It could be a steep slope, a large rocky area, or standing water that may just be too deep. What separates a mediocre off-roader from an expert is that the latter can recognize a challenge that isn’t worth taking – because the chances of overcoming it are slim, and the cost of failure is too high.7 – Poor Technique
This is a spectrum.
On one end, we have the selfish, thrill-seeking behavior that ruins off-roading for everyone – spinning up mud bogs, leaving huge donuts on claypan soil, blasting through an overcrowded trail with no regard for others… things like that aren’t going to win you many friends in the off-roading community.
On the other end of the spectrum is behavior that can destroy your vehicle and cause serious damage to yourself and others. This really comes down to being too aggressive and overestimating your abilities.
Here’s a quote you should keep in mind: “As Slow As Possible, As Fast As Necessary.”
Let’s say you come upon a muddy incline. You obviously don’t want to try and scale it at a snail’s pace – but is charging up as fast as possible and hoping for the best really the right choice? Not when you consider what may be on the other side – a sudden drop, rocky terrain you weren’t prepared for that sends your vehicle out of control, maybe even other off-roaders…
When it comes to off-roading, you need to know your skills, know your limits, and be considerate of others.
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