Do It Yourself

, and when some associate advised that you try beadlock wheels, you did that as well. And to be fair, your outfit was a beauty to see, and people say, in the offroading adventure, too. Most probably, that is, since you also heard that much of offroading pleasure depends on the driver, and you are a newbie…

So?

The most appropriate thing for you is to begin your offroading lessons slowly. First you have to master managing your vehicle, so drive it around and get a close feel of its features. You need to know the power of the brakes, its speed and power in the various gears, cornering traits and so on. Once you believe you can play around with the vehicle, go offroad. There are a lot of trail complexes tested and mapped for four-by-four enthusiasts such as in the Eastern Sierra area. If those are too far for you, befriend an experienced offroader and request him to guide you to a nearby area to learn offroading.

What to bring

Experienced offroaders take a winch, but as you would not go in too far, a pry bar and a shovel would be enough to get you out of many small ‘miscalculations’, plus the usual provisions for a long trip. Although the weather may be warm, take along some cold-weather clothing, for any emergency. Reserve water and canned food will not hurt; you need some load in the truck after all. If there is, go with other offroaders in teams, even neophytes like you, for safety. At the very least you are assure of a ride home.

Slow does it

When you get to the dirt road, the urge to push down the gas pedal will be very powerful and most succumb. Never. Even four-wheel vehicles behave another way on unpaved roads, and you are as yet unacclimatized with the variations in control and performance of your vehicle in such conditions. Ditto with the location; you could be, in other words, in ‘hostile environment’. If the terrain gets a little complicated, switch to four-by-four mode immediately: it beats moving out of the two-wheel form when you are losing traction. This is your initial run, so be very vigilant about all things around you, the vehicle and the trail.

Some caveats

When ascending a sharp grade, the advice was to use the lowest gear for good traction, but it also means change to the highest gear that gives good forward movement without stalling the engine. Too low gear may mean too much power and therefore, turning traction-less wheels and lost control. When moving down, use low gear to allow the engine to function as brake. Riding the brakes can {lock|stiffen] them and make you slide downwards, especially on loose surfaces. In unknown and complicated terrain, exploring ahead will let you determine which route and how to go, or maybe if you have to proceed at all. There is no rule against moving back and coming another way.

Last, remember you are there to enjoy the trip, not punish yourself.