1.Set-up & Upgrades

When you are looking at heading out on the tracks and breathing in some fresh air, nothing quite beats going 4WDing. But most tracks won’t be navigable in a stock standard SUV although it might be equipped with AWD generally you’ll find they are lacking in ground clearance.

A typical 4WD will be able to do a lot, straight out of the box – the ability to not only have greater suspension articulation, but also has a massive reduction gearset called low range which means you have massive amounts of torque and reduced wheel speed, maintaining traction even on extremely soft and slippery surfaces.

By upgrading a 4WD’s suspension, by adding a quality lift kit, you have an instant advantage for ground clearance, entry angles, departure angles, and much more.

The addition of 50mm of height to your vehicles suspension also requires replacing your shock absorbers with heavy duty, large bore, long travel shocks which along with improved spring rates, massively improve both on and offroad performance!

By adding a set of good quality AT or MT 4WD tyres will also enhance your experience offroad extremely easily and make your trips away that much better!

2.Preparation

When you are heading offroad, you are literally heading off the beaten track – by making sure you have everything you need to rescue your 4WD and your buddies 4WD too.

One of the most critical bits of kit you need is a remote area first aid kit this could be as simple as a cheap kit from the supermarket but should be something a little bit more like the Adventurer Rescue Swag which includes equipment for minor cuts and abrasions, major life-threatening injuries and even specific things for Snake/spider Bites, burns.

The next thing you need to bring is a reliable 5 Watt UHF radio such as an Oricom UHF380PK, with the included 6.5dBi antenna can reach out to a HUGE 18km, or using the DUPLEX feature can reach out hundreds of kilometers, perfect for calling for help no matter where you are!

3.Read the track ahead

You may have the most jacked 4WD rig on the tracks, however 90% of offroad success comes from the loose wingnut behind the wheel (the driver), if you pay attention to the surface up ahead you should be okay, when you are paying attention, obstacles, such as washouts, rough corrugations, huge ruts, rock steps and any other unstable offroad surface!

If you drive offroad in a matter more fitting for the highway, any of the obstacles mentioned above can cause some serious strife!

By dropping your tyre pressures using a Kwiky Tyre Deflator looking well ahead and travelling a bit slower, you’ll find little that is surprising when you are off the tracks!

4.Making Tracks on the Beach

Sand driving has a lot of unique challenges and stepping into springtime camping season, you are probably thinking about smashing some beach tracks yourself!

By dumping the air out of their tyres down to a seemingly wild 16psi with your Kwiky Tyre Deflator, you’ll nearly triple your surface area and reduce your down force on the soft tracks by around 2 thirds this lets your 4WD float smoothly above the surface!

5.Take A Swim

If you are planning on plugging your 4WD through a bit of a puddle, a creek or a river, you are going to need to make sure that the water won’t swallow your pride and joy whole!

There is only one true way to make sure you will make it out the other side, unlace your boots, and take a dip!

T.V. ads may lead you to believe your 4WD is practically a boat – these ads are wrong, many 4WD’s are only capable of crossing water, up to around 600-700mm deep of not moving water.

This may sound deep but it is only around knee height, if you are wearing shorts, they shouldn’t get wet if you walk it!

The other thing to consider is the obstructions hidden underneath the mirky water, branches, roots, sharp rocks and deep drop offs hidden under the water all potentials to damaging your vehicle under the waters surface!

6.Get out of dodgy situations!

No matter how good a 4WDer you are, the odds are, eventually you are going to get stuck. This may sound dreadful, but in our opinion it is one of the most exciting parts of hitting the tracks!

There are a billion and one ways to un-stuck a bogged rig, but our go-to is with a Hercules Snatch Strap, with the ability to be stretched out by another vehicle, it will snap back like a bungee cable, easily freeing your 4WD from deep doo-doo!

As an alternative to the traditional snatch recovery – a Domin8r X 12,000lb winch, is a serious workhorse being able to pull out even a fully loaded rig – coupled with a Hercules Complete Recovery Kit will make your 4WD UNSTOPPABLE!

There are many other tips and tricks but getting out and getting your tyres dirty will let you have a much greater understanding of what is possible in your 4WD!