People always ask us, “How can I prepare my car for an off-roading trip?”
My first and most important answer we give isn’t usually what they expect, but it’s the best one: know your car. I’ve asked everyone on our team: we can’t even count the number of embarrassing or stressful stories we’ve heard, and almost all of them have to do with insufficient knowledge of how to use (and fix) the car. In order to drive off-road, you need to know the car’s dimensions as well as its approach angle, ram angle and departure angle. Practice using your manual locking hubs, if you have them, and learn to use the low ratio gearbox. Also, memorize the locations of your engine’s computer and air intake – that way, you’ll know how much water you can drive across.
The next thing you’ll need to do when preparing your car to drive off-road is routine maintenance. Top off all the fluids in your car, and inspect filters, belts, and hoses for any weaknesses or damage. Put a tool kit, first aid kit, tow strap, shovel, and portable air compressor in your car, along with other supplies you may need (such as jumper cables).
Next, you need to make sure your tires are prepared for off-road travel. If you’re using your existing off-road tires, check them for damage before rotating and balancing them on your own or with your mechanic. You can also replace your tires with wider ones, depending on the kind of off-roading you’re doing. Next, lift the vehicle to allow your tires to move more freely under the wheel wells. Depending on your preference, lift the car between two and six centimeters. If you’d like, add skid plates, roll cages, and nerf bars – these will help you navigate on more difficult terrain.
If you’d like to modify your car to accommodate larger tires, you can use a reciprocating saw to cut down your wheel wells. If you do this, make sure you remove the rubber wheel-well liners first and cut parallel to the wheel wells’ existing shape. Now, you can buy taller, more rugged, all-season tires that suit the modifications you made. Make sure you buy a full-sized spare (you can purchase these used if you like) and store it in the car during your trip. Also, keep a sturdy lug wrench that fits your new lug nuts.
Whether you use your existing car or modify it to your specifications, if you’ve done these things, your car should be prepared for your off-roading adventure. Enjoy!