10 Important Tasks After Driving Off Road

Just as you put a lot of thought and preparation into your trip before you set off, you should also take the time afterward to ensure that your vehicle and gear survived the drive and are ready for the next adventure. Even a mild course can affect your vehicle.


Print this checklist and keep it in your glove compartment or other dry location. By following this list carefully, you ensure that you review every important section or component of your vehicle.

First and foremost, do a thorough inspection of your vehicle to make sure that it is in safe driving condition. You should not take the vehicle onto roads, especially the highway, if there are significant structural or other safety issues.

1. Air up your tires. Don’t try to drive on pavement with your tires low on pressure. Not only will you have difficulty handling the vehicle, but you risk serious damage to tires and rims. Check your tire pressure the following morning. It can drop 2 to 5 PSI overnight. Remember that you aired up when the tires were hot.

2. Wash and vacuum your vehicle. This will help prevent the spread of weed seeds to other areas, but also makes it easier to spot any fluid leaks and damage that needs repairing. Invasive plants are a problem all over the U.S., caused in part by people driving in multiple areas—sometimes even in different states—without cleaning their vehicles between trips. As a result, they spread noxious weeds to new locations. Be a good sport and clean your vehicle after each off-road drive.

3. Wash your engine. Drive to an appropriate facility, turn off the engine, and hose it down. With a clean engine, you can spot any leak that has developed, as well as a loose bolt, hose, clamp, or other part.

4. Check fluid levels, fan or serpentine belt, and other parts. If you do this frequently enough, you will become accustomed to your engine compartment, and it will be easier to spot a problem or potential problem when one occurs.

5. Examine the differential and transmission for cracks and the fluids for water.

6. Inspect and clean drum brakes, if applicable. Pull off the drums and clean out any mud or sand inside. That will wear down your brakes in a hurry. This is a good time to adjust your brakes or even replace the shoes, if need be.

7. Inspect CV boots, struts and shocks, and other underbody parts. Any need replacing? Take a look at joints, bearings, and other parts that may need regreasing. What about the nuts and bolts that hold the axle and suspension together? The vehicle’s suspension system (track bar, control arm, shocks, and spring) are very susceptible to loosening and affect the drivability. Problems with any one of these items could cause damage to the drive train over time.

8. Push and pull on the suspension to see if anything is loose. Push on the side of the vehicle. Are the track bars loose? Have a friend rotate the steering wheel back and forth while you inspect the tie rod ends.

9. Inspect your tools. Are they clean, in order, and accessible?

10. Clean and restock any fluids or gear (including medical supplies, spare parts, and fire extinguisher) you used or that became damaged (such as recovery straps). Make sure you put back all the essential items, and that your vehicle is tidy and prepared for your next trip.


Regards,

Tom Severin, President
Badlands Off Road Adventures, Inc
310-374-8047
http://www.4x4taining.com/
Make it Fun. Make it Safe.

###

10 Safety Rules For Off-Road Driving

Four-wheeling is one of the more exciting hobbies you can experience. Going off road opens your eyes to places you would not otherwise see. It also challenges you, as the terrain is far different from what you are accustomed to driving on. And you can find yourself in a remote and very hostile environment in just a few hours.

Follow these very important rules for a safer and more enjoyable ride.

1. 
   Let someone know where you will be and when you expect to return. This applies to all trips, not just those in challenging areas. People have been known to get stuck or lost in relatively easy terrain. Should something happen and you’re unable to leave the area or call for help, your friends or family will know to contact authorities.
   
2. 
   Always have at least one other vehicle along. This ensures that you will have transportation out in the event your vehicle becomes stuck or damaged and can’t be fixed there. Plus, the extra vehicle means additional manpower to help with problems.
   
3. 
   Pack survival gear. Even a Sunday drive on the beach can turn sour. Pack the proper gear to get you through the night and to handle medical emergencies that may occur.
   
4. 
   Tie everything down inside. Your gear will go flying around if you roll over or lay the vehicle on its side. Loose items become missiles which can injure and kill anyone inside.
   
5. 
   Everyone wears a seatbelt, just like when you drive on paved roads. You and your passengers will get jostled around quite a bit on many of the trails. Plus, the possibility for a rollover or crash exists at any time. The big rock you suddenly hit could cause you or your passengers to go flying out a window. Make sure everyone is belted in.
   
6. 
   Arms and legs must remain inside. Many trails run through narrow passageways. Any arms or legs hanging outside can get torn off by the trees, cliff walls, or rocks just outside your vehicle. If the vehicle begins to tip your instinct is to put your hand out. There is no way you will be able to stop a vehicle this way. Roll your windows up if you can’t control the urge.
   
   Also, make sure no one holds onto the roll bar. Their fingers will get smashed in the event of a roll over. Hands can also be injured if you drive under low-hanging branches.
   
7. 
   Quit if you become tired. Four-wheeling requires the utmost concen-tration. Any letdown can lead to an accident and perhaps death. If you feel fatigued at all, pull over and rest, or let someone else drive. Do not force it.
   
8. 
   Lock it down. When driving off-road, you are seldom on level ground. Make sure your vehicle will not roll away from you. When you stop, put the vehicle in park, apply the emergency brake, and turn off the engine.
   
9. 
   Do not hang on a vehicle. If the vehicle gets stuck in a precarious position, do not try to pull it down or otherwise tip it by hand. And absolutely do not climb on the vehicle. Use the proper tools and techniques, and always be a safe distance away. A vehicle can and will crush you if given the chance.
   
10. 
    Treat winches and high-lift straps with respect. The straps, clevises, and other pieces are under extreme tension when in use. Inspect all parts before using, and stand clear while you are trying to recover a vehicle. A failure in gear or rigging can be lethal to you and by standers.
    

Regards,

Tom Severin, President
Badlands Off Road Adventures, Inc
310-374-8047
http://www.4x4training.com
Make it Fun. Make it Safe.


###

The Desert Is Not Your Personal Sandbox

You’ve heard the old saying many times: Haul it in and haul it out. That generally applies to trash, but more places now require that visitors carry out their human waste as well. In some, you don’t have any choice. In the Moab, UT area and on the Rubicon Trail, for example, the ground is so rocky that it’s impossible to dig even a small hole.

4-wheelers for the most part are good about cleaning up after themselves, but some still need guidance regarding the sensitive topic of going to the bathroom.

This isn’t the most pleasant topic to discuss in public, but it is necessary. Too many of our trails and camping areas have literally become open-air outhouses. What’s really annoying is all the toilet paper lying around because the user didn’t take the time to bury it or put it in a plastic bag for disposal.

Dealing with toilet time is challenging, no doubt about it. Some drivers have tried a portable toilet (often called a porta-potty). Those are fine if you’re on a flat, level surface or in an RV. In addition to their size, these units use liquids to treat the waste, making them impractical for 4-wheelers.

A better option is the PETT® toilet system. PETT uses a dry chemical, and provides plastic bags to catch and store the waste.

It’s a pretty nifty system. A small bag, which contains the chemical, is used during each trip to the toilet. That bag is sealed and dropped into a larger bag which is hung inside the toilet. At the end of your trip you simply dispose of all the bags in a trash receptacle. You can choose from 12-, 50- and 100-pack waste kits. All kits include toilet paper and hand sanitizer.

The PETT system is available at most camping-supply stores. For more information, check out the manufacturer’s Web site at www.thepett.com.

Other options include the “pickle bucket” or a large can used with kitty litter.
Start by pouring enough kitty litter into the container so it’s at least an inch deep. After going to the toilet, cover all waste with at least a half-inch of kitty litter. Leave at least an inch of room at the top so you can apply a final layer of kitty litter.

Regardless of the container you use, make sure it has a tight-fitting lid. You don’t want the contents spilling out while you’re bouncing around the trails. Also, consider purchasing some pet deodorizer to apply after each trip to the toilet. A regular-size bottle or box should be sufficient for your needs. Check your favorite pet store or general merchandise store for options.

Of course, you’ll need something to sit on, so pick up a toilet seat designed for outdoors use at any camping-supply store. They’re relatively inexpensive and last a long time.

Whether you use the PETT system or some other method, make a point to properly take care of your human waste. Doing so will show others that we truly do care about protecting the environment.

I hope to see you on the trails!
Regards,

Tom Severin, President
Badlands Off-Road Adventures, Inc.
310-374-8047
www.4x4training.com
Make it Fun. Make it Safe.