Off-Road Driving Tips for Snow, Hills and Water in Australia
Travelling off road in a 4WD can present multiple terrain challenges, especially in Australia where we have almost every extreme of terrain, all of which require different approaches to increase your enjoyment and safety and reduce the risk to you and your 4x4 off road vehicle. This off-road driving guide aims to give a brief summary of the best way to approach some different terrain types.
Before setting out on your 4x4 adventure, always make sure you and your passengers are wearing climate-suitable clothing and have the full complement of safety equipment including an emergency beacon, extra food and water, extra fuel, tow rope and shovel and plenty of water. The final safety precaution is always to tell someone where you are going and when you expect to get back.
**1 - Ploughing Through Snow in a 4WD**
As with mud and sand, an advanced four-wheel drive Terrain Response system can also be set for driving in the snow. Here are some additional tips for off road driving in snow.
Before you drive in snow, check which snow chains are recommended for your off road vehicle and whether they can be safely fitted to the tyres on your vehicle. After fitting, inspect them regularly to ensure the chains are taut and make sure you practice fitting snow chains before you actually need them, preferably on a sunny day.
Always use steady momentum to carry you through deep snow and do not select a gear that is too low in snow as it will spin tyres more easily, select the highest gear possible for the conditions. If the wheels start to spin, ease off the throttle and allow the tyres to slow down and regain traction. Make sure you follow the tyre and vehicle manufacturer's advice on tyre pressures.
**2 - Ascending and Descending Hills in a Four-Wheel Drive**
Wherever possible, investigate the area on foot. Always know what's on the other side of the hill. If your 4x4 has Hill Descent Control (HDC), engage it, if available, before going down.
Ascend a hill in the highest gear in which the vehicle will ‘pull' comfortably. If the gear selected is too low, the wheels will spin. If too high, you will not have enough power to climb the hill. Always approach the hill from a straight-ahead position, rather than diagonally, to avoid a roll-over and never attempt to turn the vehicle on a steep slope.
Be prepared for a failed climb. It happens to the best drivers. Work out an escape route and know where all the obstacles are.
If you are about to descend a hill, stop a vehicle's length before the descent, so you have time to make any corrections. At this point you can also get out of the vehicle and assess the land ahead. If your 4-wheel drive has Hill Descent Control, engage it. As a rule of thumb, use 1st gear low range or ‘1' on the automatic gearbox and use brakes sparingly.
If possible follow the natural fall line; the route water would take down the slope, and never roll or reverse downhill with the transmission in neutral or the clutch depressed.
Finally, never turn the vehicle on a steep slope. This could lead to sideways sliding, and if you do need to stop on the way down ask yourself one question: is it safe?
**3 - Crossing Water Safely in an Off-Road Vehicle**
Whenever possible, go across water at a ford. As long as it is safe to do so, walk a stream before you try it in a vehicle, using a stick to gauge depth and pinpoint underwater hollows.
In deep streams create a small bow wave about one metre in front of the bumper. To do this, accelerate as you enter the water until a bow wave has formed. Try to keep the wave about one metre in front of the bumper to keep water away from the fan electronics. Maintain a speed that keeps the bow wave flowing in front of the bumper and remember, the aim is to create a gentle wave, not a surfing wave!
Do not attempt to cross deep fast-flowing streams. Even shallow fast-flowing streams should be approached with extreme caution.
As you cross, do not slip the clutch as this reduces control of the vehicle. Ease off the accelerator as you approach the other side of the water and if there's a steep slope, take a look at the above guide on driving up and down slopes.
Finally, make sure you and your passengers enjoy your off road 4x4 adventures enough to hunger to do it again and always respect the environment you travel through.
Before setting out on your 4x4 adventure, always make sure you and your passengers are wearing climate-suitable clothing and have the full complement of safety equipment including an emergency beacon, extra food and water, extra fuel, tow rope and shovel and plenty of water. The final safety precaution is always to tell someone where you are going and when you expect to get back.
**1 - Ploughing Through Snow in a 4WD**
As with mud and sand, an advanced four-wheel drive Terrain Response system can also be set for driving in the snow. Here are some additional tips for off road driving in snow.
Before you drive in snow, check which snow chains are recommended for your off road vehicle and whether they can be safely fitted to the tyres on your vehicle. After fitting, inspect them regularly to ensure the chains are taut and make sure you practice fitting snow chains before you actually need them, preferably on a sunny day.
Always use steady momentum to carry you through deep snow and do not select a gear that is too low in snow as it will spin tyres more easily, select the highest gear possible for the conditions. If the wheels start to spin, ease off the throttle and allow the tyres to slow down and regain traction. Make sure you follow the tyre and vehicle manufacturer's advice on tyre pressures.
**2 - Ascending and Descending Hills in a Four-Wheel Drive**
Wherever possible, investigate the area on foot. Always know what's on the other side of the hill. If your 4x4 has Hill Descent Control (HDC), engage it, if available, before going down.
Ascend a hill in the highest gear in which the vehicle will ‘pull' comfortably. If the gear selected is too low, the wheels will spin. If too high, you will not have enough power to climb the hill. Always approach the hill from a straight-ahead position, rather than diagonally, to avoid a roll-over and never attempt to turn the vehicle on a steep slope.
Be prepared for a failed climb. It happens to the best drivers. Work out an escape route and know where all the obstacles are.
If you are about to descend a hill, stop a vehicle's length before the descent, so you have time to make any corrections. At this point you can also get out of the vehicle and assess the land ahead. If your 4-wheel drive has Hill Descent Control, engage it. As a rule of thumb, use 1st gear low range or ‘1' on the automatic gearbox and use brakes sparingly.
If possible follow the natural fall line; the route water would take down the slope, and never roll or reverse downhill with the transmission in neutral or the clutch depressed.
Finally, never turn the vehicle on a steep slope. This could lead to sideways sliding, and if you do need to stop on the way down ask yourself one question: is it safe?
**3 - Crossing Water Safely in an Off-Road Vehicle**
Whenever possible, go across water at a ford. As long as it is safe to do so, walk a stream before you try it in a vehicle, using a stick to gauge depth and pinpoint underwater hollows.
In deep streams create a small bow wave about one metre in front of the bumper. To do this, accelerate as you enter the water until a bow wave has formed. Try to keep the wave about one metre in front of the bumper to keep water away from the fan electronics. Maintain a speed that keeps the bow wave flowing in front of the bumper and remember, the aim is to create a gentle wave, not a surfing wave!
Do not attempt to cross deep fast-flowing streams. Even shallow fast-flowing streams should be approached with extreme caution.
As you cross, do not slip the clutch as this reduces control of the vehicle. Ease off the accelerator as you approach the other side of the water and if there's a steep slope, take a look at the above guide on driving up and down slopes.
Finally, make sure you and your passengers enjoy your off road 4x4 adventures enough to hunger to do it again and always respect the environment you travel through.
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