Living the Dream: Going Off Road with Your Land Rover SUV
Land Rovers are rightfully known for their posh pedigrees and comfortably luxurious interiors. But the fact is, Land Rovers are for so much more than the urban experience. You haven’t fully appreciated your Land Rover until that beauty has been covered head to toe in mud. The guys at this Cincinnati auto repair shop aren’t afraid to get their Land Rovers muddy. You owe it to yourself, as well as that SUV, to take it off road and see what it can do.
Start at the Beginning: Learning to Drive Off Road
If you’ve ever driven on a snowy road, a slushy road or one paved in gravel, you know that not all terrain is created equal. Keep this in mind before you go haring off into the wilds if you only have city driving experience. Off-road riding is a learned skill. Unpaved roads are unlike any highway you’ve ever driven, so use your head before you take any risks. Sure, your 4WD may make it up the hill, but the angle at the top might cause you to bottom out. These are the things that you have to think of when you go off trail.
If you are a complete beginner, Popular Mechanics has some handy tips to make sure you aren’t stranded in a very silly place.
1. Always read the terrain: Keeping an eye on what’s ahead will keep surprises to a minimum. Reading the trail will become second nature with practice, so start with good technique at the beginning. For example, decide the path you are going to take on a steep ascent, and keep an eye out for a missing horizon that could mean a steep descent.
2. Keep straps and a winch for emergencies: Though part of the fun of going off roading is seeing what sort of mud pit you can end up in, you also have to be able to get back out of that pit. If you are driving with a buddy, some tow straps can help get you out of a pinch. If you are off-roading solo, you should invest in a heavy-duty winch to go along with those straps to do the hard work for you.
3. Consider lowering your tire pressure: Lower tire pressure means grippier wheels. This will help with uncertain terrain, and ensure a wider wheel footprint to help prevent you from sinking in sand or soft dirt. Just be prepared to pump it back up before you get back on the highway. Lower tire pressure and high road speeds can cause dramatic blowouts. Battery powered air compressors are handy for more than just off-roading reasons, and will live happily in your trunk.
4. Keep Your Vehicle’s Clearance in Mind: Know both the fording depth to which your car is rated, and the angles of clearance on both your front and rear bumpers. Shallow streams may not be as shallow as you think, and nothing ruins a day on the trail like a (literally) flooded engine. Not even the best auto repair mechanic is likely to do house-calls in the woods.
And don’t forget to check out this training video directly from Land Rover. Discover the adventure on the other side of the 4WD.
Start Local, and then Have Fun Mapping Your Adventure
Once you have some experience under your belt with the basics, it’s time to decide where you are going to go with your new skills. The Off-Highway Drives section of Trails.com is a fantastic place to find some ideas. Some of the best places in the country to take that Land Rover off road are found in the database, whether in your backyard or halfway across the continent. Who knows, there may be a place just a stone’s throw away from your next family vacation. And if you have any problems, your Land Rover mechanic will be happy to help when you get back, and delighted to swap stories. Buckle up and be ready to get muddy.
