getting started off-roading starts here:

Get oriented with your vehicle // from barlow adventures

top 10 off-roading tips // from the fast lane car

11 things every off-roader should know

1. Bring a buddy

   You’ll want them to help you spot you as you go over, through, and around some obstacles that are difficult to assess properly from the driver’s seat. It’s even better if you go with more than one vehicle, in case one of them breaks down.

2. Know your vehicle’s 4WD

   How do you shift into 4-Hi and 4-Lo in your vehicle? Are those even options in your vehicle? Read your vehicle’s User Manual so that you’re comfortable in your vehicle when you’re out on the trail. It’s no fun sitting at the bottom of a steep hill flipping through the manual to figure out how to shift from 4-Hi into 4-Lo (we’ve been there).

3. Know your vehicle’s low points

   Take a peek under your vehicle and get familiar with where the lowest hanging bits of your vehicle are so that you can make sure no rocks or tree stumps come near them.

4. Drive over high points with your tires

   When you come across obstacles on the trail, such as big rocks, you have two options. One, drive clear around them, or two, drive over them with your tires. You don’t want to drive over an obstacle in a way that it might strike a low point on your vehicle.

5. Your butt follows your front

   Once the front of your vehicle clears an obstacle, remember that the rear has to clear it too! Keep an eye on that using your side-view mirrors, a spotter, or even by sticking your head out of the window and looking.

6. Walk the trail

   Sometimes you’ll come across a technical section of the trail where you’re not sure what the best line to take is. In those cases, get out of the vehicle and walk the trail. It will help you get perspective on all the possible ways you could tackle it, what are the tricky spots, and how to clear them. Pick the line that looks like the flatest road.

7. “Slow is Steady, Steady is Smooth, Smooth is Fast”

   Or another way to think about it is: go as slow as possible, and as fast as necessary to make it over an obstacle. Take it easy and you’ll have more fun and less stress.

8. Uphill traffic has the right of way

   Be aware of that in narrow sections of trail where you might need to squeeze by another vehicle, or pull to the side to let someone pass.

9. Start Full

   We recommend fueling up your vehicle before hitting the trails. In our experience, expect to get somewhere between 8-12mpg off-road. Similarly, start with a full day ahead of you to give yourself the most daylight. We’ve also found our average speed to be 3-5mph off-road, so a 12-mile trail can take about 3-4 hours.

   And don’t forget to bring enough water, food, and snacks for the trip!

10. Let someone know where you’ll be

    It’s easy to screenshot your planned trail and send that to someone who isn’t coming with you, just to be safe.

11. Drive Off-Road, not off-trail

    Last but not least, stick to existing trails so we can continue to have access to these amazing lands!