ADVICE: Some Driving Tips when Driving Off-Road

1) SAFETY -
WEAR A SEAT BELT
KEEP YOUR DISTANCE FROM THE CAR IN FRONT
KEEP YOUR THUMBS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL
ENSURE YOU HAVE ENOUGH BRAKING DISTANCE IN ANY GIVEN CIRCUMSTANCE, A 2 TONNE CAR WILL SLIDE A LONG WAY IN WET MUD
ALLWAYS CONSIDER THE SAFETY OF THOSE AROUND YOU

2) SPEED
DRIVE AS SLOW AS POSSIBLE AND AS FAST AS NECESSARY, BY THIS I MEAN, ONLY CARRY ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO CARRY YOU THROUGH A CERTAIN OBSTACLE, UNNESSARY SPEED THROUGH GREEN LANES IS BOTH DANGEROUS AND IRRESPONSABLE

3) RUTS
FIRST TRY AND STRADDLE THE RUTS, THIS MEANS THE EXISTING RUT WONT GET ANY DEEPER AND YOUR LESS LIKELY TO GET GROUNDED OUT, HOWVEVER SHOULD YOU FALL INTO THEM THEN FOLLOW THE LINE OF LEAST RESISTANCE, IF YOUR IN DEEP RUTS THEN KEEP THE STEERING WHEEL STRAIGHT, YOU’LL ONLY CRAWL OUT WHEN THE RUT IS SHALLOW AND DAMAGE TO YOUR TYRE SIDE WALL MAY RESULT

4) WATER
IF YOUR UNSURE THEN GET OUT AND PROD A STICK AROUND TO TEST FOR DEPTH AND UNDER WATER HAZARDS, ONLY DRIVE FAST ENOUGH TO CREATE A SMALL BOW WAVE IN FRONT OF THE CAR ( NOT PLOUGH IN AT SPEED SENDING WATER ALL OVER THE CAR, REMEMBER WHERE THE AIR INTAKE IS !!! )
IF POSSIBLE ATTATCH RECOVERY STROPS FRONT AND BACK BEFORE YOU GO IN

5) ASCENDING
YOU HAVE A LOW RANGE GEAR BOX, USE IT, LOW SECOND SHOULD SEE YOU UP MOST CLIMBS, KEEP THE REVS LOW AND USE THE TORQUE OF THE ENGINE, IF YOU USE TO MUCH POWER/HIGH REVS THE WHEELS WILL SPIN AND YOULL LOOSE GRIP
TRY CRAWLING UP TO START WITH AND ASSES HOW MUCH GRIP YOU HAVE, IF YOU CAN CONTINUE UP WITH NO WHEEL SPIN THEN DO SO, IF NOT TRY AGAIN WITH A LITTLE MORE MOMENTUM, BUT REMEMBER TO ENSURE YOU HAVE THE BREAK OVER ANGLE TO COPE WITH THE TOP OF THE SLOPE

6) DESCENDING
AGAIN KEEP IT LOW RANGE ( AND HELD IN LOW GEAR FOR THE AUTO’S ) AND LET THE CARS ENGINE DO THE BRAKING, DO NOT TOUCH THE BRAKES.
IF THE CAR GOES AWAY FROM YOU THEN A DAP ON THE THROTTLE IS REQUIRED WHEN SAFE TO DO SO

7) INCLINES
IT ALL DEPENDS ON YOUR CENTRE OF GRAVITY AND THE TRACTION YOU HAVE BETWEEN TYRES AND GROUND, IF IN DOUBT TRY AND TURN UP IT AND TREAT AS AN ACCENT.( RISK OF ROLL OVER )

RECOVERY
THE MOST COMMON IS A SIMPLE TOW OUT OF TROUBLE WITH A RECOVERY STROP ( NOT A TOW ROPE ) I'LL BE WRITING A NEW RECOVERY PIECE SOON