Sensible Driving Tips for Your Spring Off-road Adventure

Spring is a lovely time for some outdoor adventure in Canberra or its surrounds (Yass, Jindabyne, Marulan, Goulburn to name a few) especially for off-road driving enthusiasts. It’s a great time to explore after taking your Land Rover for repair or check-up. The season brings in just the right amount of rain that produces the type of mud perfect for extreme off-road driving. Of course, your Rover is perfectly capable of taking it rough, but it doesn’t mean you can afford to be complacent in your driving. Here are ways to stay safe while enjoying the rush of your off-road adventure.

Know when to get off – if this is your first time to go in a particular area and you encounter a rough stretch of road, it’s best to get off your vehicle and traverse a kilometre or two by foot to get an idea of what your Rover will be encountering later. This will give you time to figure out your game plan in case a steep downhill or something equally challenging lies ahead.

Shift into 4WD right away – as soon as your Rover encounters dirt, shift into gear right then and there. There’s is always a chance that you’ll forget to do it later and once your vehicle is already stuck, shifting into 4WD is not always a guarantee that you’ll get out of it. Knowing the transmission gear to use is a must as well. Use a higher gear when driving through soft or sandy soil to keep tires floating on top.

Lower tyre pressure – this brings increased traction and will allow your tires to easily adjust to rocks and other trail obstacles.

Know your streams – crossing a stream is one of the best ways to get the most out of your 4X4. Check the fording depth of your vehicle first (usually found in the manual) and don’t ever cross a stream without knowing the depth if you don’t want your engine flooded.

Roverworks is Canberra’s top choice for automotive repairs, parts and maintenance. Our mechanic team specialises in Land Rover and Range Rover models, in addition to servicing of 4x4s, off-road and other car models. Visit our shop for a quick check-up or consultation, repairs, maintenance and parts.