Most off-road driving calls for driving as slowly as possible, but you may well have to drive as fast as necessary to take the hill with sufficient momentum.

Don't even consider changing gear while climbing, as depressing the clutch will cause you to lose momentum. Experience will tell you which gear to use and what speed is required.

Approaching the base of the hill or bank too fast could easily have the front wheels lifting off the ground, which could cause lost traction and throw you off course.

Too much spinning of tyres up and over the top of a bank could have you reaching for the sky. This is the last thing you want as you are going 'over the top'. Damage to the front drive shafts can easily happen as the spinning wheels 'land' on the crest and they will show no mercy on the transmission as they hit the ground. Your front half shafts are at most risk.

Approach the foot of the hill or bank too slowly and you probably will not reach the top. But then, wouldn't it be better to slowly build up the speed and have several attempts to make the top? If you try to 'do it in one' you could lose control either on the way up or going over the top, risking both safety and reliability.

Having built up experience in climbing a variety of hilly situations, make up your mind that you are 'going up in one'. Judge for yourself the route, gear and speed required.

Always use an established track or rutted route when the ground is wet - providing the ruts are not too deep for your vehicle. To help maintain forward movement up the hill, use the steering wheel technique to gain extra traction on the front wheels.

'Work' the steering wheel from side to side fairly vigorously while still holding the wheel in the 'ten to two' position. This causes the shoulders of the front tyres to bite the edges of the ruts, giving additional traction. The treads too, will be searching for new ground on which to claw themselves up.

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