Be careful not to straddle large rocks or boulders. The damage they can cause will make you drive even more carefully! Land Rover products have live axles front and rear. The differential casings are offset to the right and are approximately in line with your handbrake (right hand drive vehicles). Newer Range Rover's have their diffs on the other side.

Watch out for deep ruts or rocks lying in the centre of the track. If in doubt, get someone to beckon you through, or take an alternative route.

Diff casings are the lowest point under the vehicle. Drive to ensure the front diff doesn't hit a rock. The front cover is only formed sheet metal and easily dented. Hit hard and this cover could be impaled on the wheel and the revolving crownwheel could soon wear a hole through the cover. If you lose oil and take in mud and water, your diff will very soon be destroyed.

When driving muddy tracks and through ruts, keep up a steady forward momentum. If you find you get crossaxled in the ruts, but you are still moving ahead, don't hesitate. Keep working at it. He or she who hesitates and dips the clutch will become stuck!

Never try and steer out of the ruts unless it is safe to do so. Don't fight wet, muddy ruts, simply let the steering wheel find its way straight ahead and hold it there. By accidentally turning out the front wheels in the ruts, extra drag will be caused and slow you down.

The real problem is if the ruts suddenly become shallower and your front wheels are accidentally trying to steer out of them. You could be changing direction without warning, heading for a tree, hedge or over the side!

All this leads us to one basic rule. Know at all times where your front wheels are facing. Take a look out of the window to know for certain that your front wheels are leading you straight ahead. Then, look down your nose and make sure the Land Rover logo on the steering wheel is level.

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