Tips

Four Wheel Driving Tips

Want to know how to avoid accidents and get yourself out of sticky situations when off-roading? Our four wheel driving tips are just the ticket to a smooth off-road experience.

Get protected for off-roading

Regular car insurance policies won’t cover you for off-road activities. Make sure that you have adequate 4wd insurance before taking your vehicle off the city roads. Chat to us at DGA for more info on four wheel drive cover.

Do a 4WD course

The easiest thing you can do to get used to a wide variety of conditions in your 4×4 is to take a course. These courses usually are just a day long and only cost a couple of hundred dollars. The tips and techniques that you learn on a course are invaluable for future off-roading, so we recommend that everyone takes one! You might even like to take a few in a few different courses over a few different spots to cover a wider range of conditions. Check out your nearest 4×4 club for details.

Buy a shovel

This one is pretty much an essential. If you don’t have a shovel for when you inevitably get bogged (see our next tip), then shovelling out sand or dirt with your bare hands, a bucket, or some other contraption, is going to be a royal pain. Spare yourself and grab a shovel – they are made for digging, after all!

four wheel drive boggedWhen you get bogged

Think through what your course of action is going to be carefully when you get bogged. Many people panic, spin the wheels, and just get even more stuck. When you’re bogged, have a look at where your car is going to go next after you get unstuck – that’s your escape route.

If you don’t have enough traction, adjust your tyre pressure by letting some air out, use your differential locks or traction control, and then use traction aids like carpet squares or chocks to get out of there. If you’ve bottomed out, try digging out some of the dirt, using traction aids, or try using a winch if there is another vehicle or something to attach it to. If you’ve broken something on your vehicle, then it’s time to call in the experts.

River crossings

Make. Sure. You. Have. A. Snorkel. If your vehicle is unequipped and you find yourself in deeper water than you thought, you might be in deep trouble, if you’ll pardon the pun. Other than that, it’s making sure the river isn’t running too fast before advancing, going into and through the water between 7-10km an hour, and trying not to stop in the water.

How to hold the wheel

When you’re 4x4ing, it’s not quite the same drive as when you’re out on the city roads. City roads are usually fairly smooth, and that old adage, 10 and 2, holds strong. Out off-road? Not so much. You’re going to be going over rough terrain, which means that if you’ve got a fairly tight grip at 10 and 2 on your wheel you’re going to either a) hurt yourself, or b) have the steering wheel jump away from your hands. Give it a looser grip on the outside of the wheel for avoiding injuries and making sure the wheel doesn’t come away from your hands.

Grab a buddy

Off-roading on your own is a dangerous activity – and not as much fun! Always take along a buddy with you when 4WDing so that you’ve got someone to help out in case of emergencies. It’s a great way for those less experienced to ensure they’ve got a second set of eyes on a potentially dangerous situation.

Join a club

Going out with others on the road is a bit like grabbing a buddy with you, but even better. Clubs go out on drives all the time together. This means that when you’re in the middle of a drive, you can easily get winched out (or sometimes even get spare parts if you need them!) when you manage to get yourself stuck.