If the track becomes even rougher, stop the vehicle and engage low ratio. Remember the off road rule: 'drive as slowly as possible and as fast as necessary'.
Aim to keep up a steady speed without too much bouncing about. Drive sensibly and thoughtfully. Concentrate on the ground ahead. Steer out of trouble, rather than straight into it.

If your accelerator foot is accidentally varying the revs as you bounce about, wedge the side of your foot against the side of the bulkhead. This makes it easier to control the amount of throttle required.

Adapt to differing ground conditions. When driving a manual or automatic vehicle in low ratio, engage the centre diff lock if fitted. Use first gear for crossing rocky areas, second or third for most other situations. You also have a 'D' option on a four-speed box for most level situations. Straddle ruts if they are too deep to drive in and watch out for potholes. Advise your passengers if you are about to lurch. Drive even more slowly if you have a rock-strewn area ahead.

If the route becomes very difficult, consider any alternative route which might be less damaging to the vehicle and the track, taking care to stay off private ground.

Try to keep the vehicle level across the axles so you get better stability. Pretend you have a spirit level mounted across the dash. Try also to drive in such a fashion as not to get cross-axled. Getting into a position where you have diagonal wheels dangling into holes or hung up on humps does nothing for traction and forward movement.

Your propshafts may well be linked solid together with drive through the transfer case or locked centre diff, but unless you have Electronic Traction Control (rear only) or ARB Air Locking Diffs fitted front and rear, don't think that all four wheels are driven simultaneously.

Steer and drive so as not to allow any of the four wheels to spin out. If you do become stranded with one or more wheels spinning away hopelessly, don't risk breaking the transmission. Back off and find an alternative way out, either backwards or by having the vehicle recovered.

Index [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] ]

(c)Goodwinch Limited 2006