OFFROADING 101
JASE ANDREWS IS THE HOST OF AUSTRALIAN
4WD AND ADVENTURE SHOW, ALL 4 ADVENTURE.
There’s nothing better than exploring the
outdoors and venturing off the beaten track, but I
know from experience that an offroad adventure
doesn’t come without risks. That’s why it’s
important to be knowledgeable and prepared for
all of the bumps you might face along the way.
PREP FOR EMERGENCIES
When embarking on your adventures, don’t
forget to pack the necessities so that you are
prepared for anything unexpected that comes
your way, in particular a shovel, an air-compressor
and Maxtrax. While not many would think to
keep a shovel in the boot, when you’re offroading
there’s nothing better to keep on hand. Buy a
quality shovel that won’t break when you need
it the most – the one from Rhino-Rack is great.
Installing a winch and having Maxtrax as part of
your kit is a great investment. Using Maxtrax with
sand or leaves work well to create traction where
there is none.
58
gorv.com.au
LOW PRESSURES FOR INCREASED GRIP
To prevent the need to put that shovel to work
or whip out the bog boards, an air-compressor
will allow you to adjust your tyre pressure to the
terrain you’ll be conquering. Very low pressures
of 20psi and under will provide more contact with
the ground for increased grip and lessen the risk
of punctures when driving over rocky surfaces.
On sand, a lower tyre pressure allows you to remain
on top of the sand instead of sinking into it.
KNOW YOUR GEARS
Knowing your driving gears and their different
uses is important when offroading. 4H, which
is high-range, is suitable for the easier unsealed
tracks; however, once you reach more difficult
terrains and steep inclines, you’ll want to use 4L,
which is low-range 4WD.
KEEP YOUR DISTANCE AND KEEP IT SLOW
We all love to hit the road and escape the city,
which means it’s likely you’ll be sharing the road