Off-Roading Tips
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Roof racks will
effect handling. |
So, you’ve loaded up your 4x4 and are heading for nowhereville, what now?
Where are you headed, exactly? Are you prepared? Your vehicle? Has your
buddy shown up with his/her 4wd? Remember... don’t go out alone.
1) Plan your routes ahead of time. Take the time to review maps and local
information of the areas you plan to visit. Call the Forest Service, local BLM office, and/or tourist centers. Heck, call us if you like.
2) Obtain local maps; the DeLorme series of maps is very good and contains
GPS markings on each page.
3) If you’re using a GPS, practice with it before you venture out. Learn to
read the map as well, via Lat/Lon.
4) Prior to departing the last town, make sure that the tires are properly
inflated, including the spare(s). The fuel tanks must be 100% full, the same
applies to all cooling & drinking water, and don’t forget the ice box and
food supply. Double check your batteries (flashlight, GPS), clothing, and
camping supplies.
Important note: If you have a GPS, take a fix of your last town (name it)
and the last major paved road (name it) before turning off-road; this way
you’ll be able to punch in the name and “go to” , thus enabling yourself to
find your way out if you are lost (or just not sure of your location).
5) You’ve now found the trail you have been looking for, stop and take a
peak at the terrain ahead.
6) We don’t suggest it, even more so when the vehicle is loaded heavy, but
some prefer to lower tire pressures at this point. If you do so, keep in
mind that this will effect high speed handling. Before you do so, do you
have a way of reinflating them? If no, do not lower the tire pressures. Make
sure you don’t lower them too much, low air pressures allow the sidewalls to
flex more, in turn they generate more heat and at a higher rate, this will
result in sidewall failure. Do not over-inflate either. Use manufacturers
recommended pressure figures then adjust accordingly (that of the vehicle,
not the tire. Tires always list the maximum pis for “x” load on the
sidewall).
7) Be aware of how your 4wd is loaded, roof racks make vehicles top heavy.
Try and load all heavy items as low in the car as possible (and as close to
the back of the front seats -ahead of the rear axle- as possible). Adjust
your load as necessary. Adjust your driving speeds and habits as well.
8) You have now arrived at your first desired location -let’s say near an
old mining camp- for god’s sake keep an eagle eye on your children, abandon
mineshafts are everywhere, and though some have been fenced off, these may
be broken, some are very old and now missing. Watch where you walk. Stay out
of old mine shafts & caves.
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Mine shafts like
this are very dangerous. |
9) While you’re motoring along you spot a group of wild Mustangs... back off
and give them room. You should be aware of all wild animals while off road;
horses, cats, burros, snakes, rodents, etc. Stay away from them. Watch where
you walk as well, in summer months make enough noise to scare off any
lingering snakes hanging out under local bushes during the heat of the day,
they don’t like their nap being interrupted.
10) When visiting any historic area take only pictures, leaving the
artifacts for others to enjoy. In some locals, such as a BLM Scenic Byway,
it is illegal to remove anything. The penalties are pretty huge, so beware.
Make sure you bring out what you brought in, such as garbage, and don’t toss
cans/bottles out the windows as others do. Respect the land. Don’t give
anyone a reason to close public land. TREAD LIGHTLY.
11) The western portion of the country is covered with old emigrant
trails/roads. These are a neat way to see the country and enable you to get
an idea of what it was really like to travel across country in the 1800’s.
However, be aware of the road conditions/time of year... do not travel on
them when wet and muddy. Don’t destroy history.
12) Carrying on the theme of #10 (above), we’ll look at structures, such as
old ghost towns, mining camp remains and homes... Recently “ORE” has come
across some damaged buildings. One building in particular, an old jail, has
recently been damaged, the southern wall having been pulled down with the
help of a vehicle (marks present), the center wall had been kicked/pushed
down. A month prior to our visit (when we stopped there), the building was
okay (though some youths had blown it up some years ago with found TNT from
an old mine). This destruction of historic sites is stupid! I’m sorry, but
there is no other word for their actions. Well, maybe a few. Another item of
note are the theft and damage of historical markers along the
Applegate-Lassen Trail in northern Nevada, the two at Rabbithole Springs
have been damaged, one having its marker plate taken, while the other was
cut down. Why!? If you’re out-n-about and come across people undertaking
this sort of activities, note their descriptions and vehicles, then report
them to the local Sheriff and BLM offices as soon as possible. Try not to
confront them, some carry weapons while out. At present “ORE” has asked the
local BLM for permission to repair some of these damaged/destroyed sites. If
you’re interested in lending a hand, contact us any time.
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