Five Off-Roading Tips that Might Come in Handy
Chances are if you own a Jeep, you’re always looking for a few tips on how to get more enjoyment out of your vehicle when off-roading.
Then again, maybe you’re a first-timer hoping to gain a little more insight before venturing out on the rugged terrain.
Either way, I’ve stumbled on a few tips from Italian two-time World Rally Champion Miki Biasion pulled together from his first Jeep event that I thought some would find interesting. I only wish I’d had a chance to join in the Wrangler excursion as the journalist did at Autocar for this report.
1. “If you drive fast off-road, you lose time. The trick is to follow the ground with the car and the wheels, and drive very smoothly. If you try to push a little bit and the car starts to jump and shake, it’s much more uncomfortable and usually slower.”
2. “You have to make good use of the traction … if you hurry and spin the wheels then you’ll lose time.”
3. “In the mud you must use the brakes very gently and very smoothly. Never lock the wheels; if you do, the mud packs into the tread in the tires, and then it’s incredibly difficult to get any grip or traction.”
4. “… people must understand that while four-wheel drive and electronic systems help you go, they won’t help you stop. If you don’t have winter, or even all-season tires, you won’t be able to do anything.
5. “You have to drive carefully and respect nature, though – drive using your head and intelligence. Drive aggressively and it won’t end well.”
Oh, but one of Biasion’s best tips picked up from the Autocar report is, “You must drive a Jeep.”