What's the Biggest Lesson You've Learned Off-Roading?

[Steve_In_29]

A bad day makes the best memories!!!!! Read that again and remember that on a bad day. (This is what you will call the good ole days one day)

It makes memories but usually NOT the "best" ones

Having the biggest lift and biggest tire doesn't make the day more fun it makes it easy and boring.

Or it can make for fun entertainment for others on the trail when the owner of that vehicle CAN'T pick a line and proceeds to trash his rig

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[jeffreybehr]

I got nothing to prove...I am old I go around...and I will drive home. LOL

I LOVE IT!!!!!...and AM it, at 82YO and starting over.

 

[jeffreybehr]

4WD means you walk farther when you get stuck.

ROFLMAO..............................

 

[jeffreybehr]

THANK YOU guys and gals; I really have learned something, and if nothing else, to take it easy and be prepared.

Oh ya...keep posting, PLEASE.

 

[Mik]

Walking the obstacle, or even a good portion of the trail ahead = ABSOLUTELY. I’ve saved my butt a couple times with a 15-minute walk. Sometimes a trail is totally gone and impassible and going backwards isn’t going to happen. When things look sketchy, check it out. Sometimes OnX is not as accurate re: trail conditions as one might like. ;-)

I agree, avoiding unused trails can reduce pin striping which can be permanent.

 

[crewchief182]

Crawl gear + 4 low for steep inclines with the manual

 

[Jason519]

Take extra gas lol pushed it a few times in Moab just not paying attention 2 door isn’t much to begin with

 

[CalvinT]

Crawl gear + 4 low for steep inclines with the manual

Especially when going down hill.

 

[Steve_In_29]

Crawl gear + 4 low for steep inclines with the manual

Only works if the ground provides traction

Some uphill terrain HAS to be taken with a little speed.

Conversely I have been on such a steep and loose downhill trail that even with brakes locked and tires not rotating I was still moving down hill

 

[T800]

Conversely I have been on such a steep and loose downhill trail that even with brakes locked and tires not rotating I was still moving down hill

This reminds me of another thing to keep in mind. If it's been raining lately, you may be dealing with mud.

I led a run with 5 Jeeps. The trail was normally 'stock friendly'. This time we went a couple days after some heavy rain. Going downhill was like a ski slope. Once you started going down hill, the Jeep would just start sliding on the mud. Three of the lesser built Jeeps quit after the first 30 minutes.

Two of us continued on MT tires with lockers front and rear. It definitely changed that trail from beginner to 'two lockers recommended'.

Another observation: Mud isn't worth the hassle. If a trail is muddy, I'm going to pass.

 

[Steve_In_29]

Despite what some have posted here, the BIGGEST lesson is that there is NO one size fits all solution for off-roading.

What works for one vehicle or situation might not for another. Even for vehicles in the same group on the same trail.

Where the driver of a vehicle with aggressive tires might be able to crawl something while the vehicle right behind him with more street orientated tires might have to take a run at it.

Or a vehicle with more ground clearance might clear an obstacle, while one with even slightly less clearance might drag and have to carry more speed to keep from getting high centered.

 

[Rivers90]

Always air your tires down.

 

[Oldhippie]

Despite what some have posted here, the BIGGEST lesson is that there is NO one size fits all solution for off-roading.

What works for one vehicle or situation might not for another. Even for vehicles in the same group on the same trail.

Where the driver of a vehicle with aggressive tires might be able to crawl something while the vehicle right behind him with more street orientated tires might have to take a run at it.

Or a vehicle with more ground clearance might clear an obstacle, while one with even slightly less clearance might drag and have to carry more speed to keep from getting high centered.

why I always say “don’t follow me”…

 

[Steve_In_29]

This reminds me of another thing to keep in mind. If it's been raining lately, you may be dealing with mud.

I led a run with 5 Jeeps. The trail was normally 'stock friendly'. This time we went a couple days after some heavy rain. Going downhill was like a ski slope. Once you started going down hill, the Jeep would just start sliding on the mud. Three of the lesser built Jeeps quit after the first 30 minutes.

Two of us continued on MT tires with lockers front and rear. It definitely changed that trail from beginner to 'two lockers recommended'.

Another observation: Mud isn't worth the hassle. If a trail is muddy, I'm going to pass.

Three of us took our trucks and campers on the White Rim Trail while it was muddy. Even after over an hour in the car wash at the end of the trip, I was still finding that red mud under it for years

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