Post by izraf on Dec 12, 2007 15:46:04 GMT 8
Most 4WD vehicles are regularly used by their owners as everyday transport and off-road excursions are weekend trips, once or twice a month.
However, going off-road will put additional strain on the vehicle and small problems that would not normally arise with normal use may cause serious problems if you are out in the middle of nowhere.
Every off-road trip should be approached seriously and systematic routine checks must be made before starting.
The items to check are as follows:
Condition of the tyres: Check for cuts, bulges or other signs of damage. Also check that the spare wheel (always take one with you) is inflated and serviceable. If the spare is mounted underneath the vehicle or on the rear door, make sure it is firmly secured with the necessary wheel nuts or other fittings.
Water level in the cooling system: Most modern vehicles have a water catch tank fitted and it is this that is topped up rather than the radiator itself.
Engine oil level: If your vehicle has automatic transmission, check the level of the auto box. Hydraulic clutch and brake reservoirs should also be checked. Most modern systems use translucent plastic reservoirs that show levels through the material - so you don’t have to remove caps to check.
Battery check: If you are adventurous when going off-road, you may have placed your vehicle at steep angles, front, rear or sideways and there is a possibility that some battery acid has spilled onto the top of the battery.
It is advisable to wipe it clean as acid corrodes surrounding parts including the clamps. Make sure these clamps are firm and tight before you start. A loosely fitted battery can cause a lot of damage under the bonnet if it breaks free from its mountings. Top up the fluid if needed.
Equipment check: A standard checklist is essential, while it may seem over-comprehensive, it is better to be safe than sorry.
Fuel tanks: Fill up before you leave and start with a full tank. If you find yourself worrying about how much fuel you have left, you may not be concentrating properly when tackling those tricky sections.
Interior Stowage: Make sure all equipment including tool-boxes, camping gear etc is firmly secured in the back of the vehicle and not liable to start flying around when going over rough ground or up or down steep slopes.
Good Habits: It's said one should never question a man's competence as a driver but in defiance of convention here are few ideas for developing good off-road driving techniques.
Thumbs Out: When you hold the steering wheel do not grip it with your thumbs inside the rim. Keep your thumbs out and resting along the top face of the wheel. The reason is very simple.
A sudden deflection of the wheel from contact with a pothole, hard lump in the ground or tree stump will cause the wheel to spin out of our hands.
If your thumbs get caught by the spokes of the steering wheel it can be very painful indeed.
Momentum: There is no substitute for forward momentum when driving in off-road.
Changing gear when traversing a soft section may cause a momentary pause in forward motion that will make it difficult to get going again.
So plan ahead and choose a gear and stay in it until you reach firmer ground.
This applies particularly on uphill sections where the difference between successfully scaling the slope and ignominious failure is just a gear change away.
If you realise you are running into problems it is better to stop sooner than later.
Reverse back to a point where you can start again and make a more successful attempt in a different gear or by an alternative route.
Line Of Least Resistance: Try to take the line of least resistance when tackling an obstacle.
However, going off-road will put additional strain on the vehicle and small problems that would not normally arise with normal use may cause serious problems if you are out in the middle of nowhere.
Every off-road trip should be approached seriously and systematic routine checks must be made before starting.
The items to check are as follows:
Condition of the tyres: Check for cuts, bulges or other signs of damage. Also check that the spare wheel (always take one with you) is inflated and serviceable. If the spare is mounted underneath the vehicle or on the rear door, make sure it is firmly secured with the necessary wheel nuts or other fittings.
Water level in the cooling system: Most modern vehicles have a water catch tank fitted and it is this that is topped up rather than the radiator itself.
Engine oil level: If your vehicle has automatic transmission, check the level of the auto box. Hydraulic clutch and brake reservoirs should also be checked. Most modern systems use translucent plastic reservoirs that show levels through the material - so you don’t have to remove caps to check.
Battery check: If you are adventurous when going off-road, you may have placed your vehicle at steep angles, front, rear or sideways and there is a possibility that some battery acid has spilled onto the top of the battery.
It is advisable to wipe it clean as acid corrodes surrounding parts including the clamps. Make sure these clamps are firm and tight before you start. A loosely fitted battery can cause a lot of damage under the bonnet if it breaks free from its mountings. Top up the fluid if needed.
Equipment check: A standard checklist is essential, while it may seem over-comprehensive, it is better to be safe than sorry.
Fuel tanks: Fill up before you leave and start with a full tank. If you find yourself worrying about how much fuel you have left, you may not be concentrating properly when tackling those tricky sections.
Interior Stowage: Make sure all equipment including tool-boxes, camping gear etc is firmly secured in the back of the vehicle and not liable to start flying around when going over rough ground or up or down steep slopes.
Good Habits: It's said one should never question a man's competence as a driver but in defiance of convention here are few ideas for developing good off-road driving techniques.
Thumbs Out: When you hold the steering wheel do not grip it with your thumbs inside the rim. Keep your thumbs out and resting along the top face of the wheel. The reason is very simple.
A sudden deflection of the wheel from contact with a pothole, hard lump in the ground or tree stump will cause the wheel to spin out of our hands.
If your thumbs get caught by the spokes of the steering wheel it can be very painful indeed.
Momentum: There is no substitute for forward momentum when driving in off-road.
Changing gear when traversing a soft section may cause a momentary pause in forward motion that will make it difficult to get going again.
So plan ahead and choose a gear and stay in it until you reach firmer ground.
This applies particularly on uphill sections where the difference between successfully scaling the slope and ignominious failure is just a gear change away.
If you realise you are running into problems it is better to stop sooner than later.
Reverse back to a point where you can start again and make a more successful attempt in a different gear or by an alternative route.
Line Of Least Resistance: Try to take the line of least resistance when tackling an obstacle.