4X4 Tips For The New Land Rover Owner
So, you've just popped down to the local Land Rover Dealer and bought yourself a 4x4 now its time to head off road for some fun, before you go though you might want a few tips to help you along the way.
Firstly, and yes we all know it's a bit 'boring,' it's the old issue of safety.
Remember if you're new to the sport to take it slowly, wear a seat belt and just relax into it.
Hasty moves can lead to a rolled 4x4.
With this in mind it's onto the next not so fun step, forward planning.
Before you head out think about the weather, the terrain you're expecting to come across and if you've got all the gear you need to complete the trail.
With this in mind it's onto the next not so fun step, forward planning.
Before you head out think about the weather, the terrain you're expecting to come across and if you've got all the gear you need to complete the trail.
In addition to this when you first reach the trail, if at all possible, it's worth walking it first.
If you can't walk the full length it's still worth getting out of the Land Rover and walking any difficult spots you come across, this allows you to get a different perspective on tricky slopes and test water depth before you dive in or down them! Next up is holding the steering wheel properly; holding with two hands is a must! Driving over rough terrain can lead to clipping a wheel and jolting the steering wheel out of your grasp, leading to a loss of control and the potential of rolling the Land Rover.
Slightly counterintuitive to this too though is the fact you shouldn't completely restrict the steering all of the time, on rough ground and rutted muddy roads allowing a little slack in the steering means that the Land Rover will choose a path with less resistance, just make sure your ready to steady the course.
Finally it's using all the help the car can give you, if the Land Rover has a differential lock and your coming up to a lot of soft ground or a steep section of track it's worth turning it on before you hit the obstacle and end up with a stuck vehicle.
Mirrors are another great help, you can angle your wing mirrors so that you can see the tires from inside the cab, this will allow you to better judge how steady the Land Rover is on tricky sections.
Firstly, and yes we all know it's a bit 'boring,' it's the old issue of safety.
Remember if you're new to the sport to take it slowly, wear a seat belt and just relax into it.
Hasty moves can lead to a rolled 4x4.
With this in mind it's onto the next not so fun step, forward planning.
Before you head out think about the weather, the terrain you're expecting to come across and if you've got all the gear you need to complete the trail.
With this in mind it's onto the next not so fun step, forward planning.
Before you head out think about the weather, the terrain you're expecting to come across and if you've got all the gear you need to complete the trail.
In addition to this when you first reach the trail, if at all possible, it's worth walking it first.
If you can't walk the full length it's still worth getting out of the Land Rover and walking any difficult spots you come across, this allows you to get a different perspective on tricky slopes and test water depth before you dive in or down them! Next up is holding the steering wheel properly; holding with two hands is a must! Driving over rough terrain can lead to clipping a wheel and jolting the steering wheel out of your grasp, leading to a loss of control and the potential of rolling the Land Rover.
Slightly counterintuitive to this too though is the fact you shouldn't completely restrict the steering all of the time, on rough ground and rutted muddy roads allowing a little slack in the steering means that the Land Rover will choose a path with less resistance, just make sure your ready to steady the course.
Finally it's using all the help the car can give you, if the Land Rover has a differential lock and your coming up to a lot of soft ground or a steep section of track it's worth turning it on before you hit the obstacle and end up with a stuck vehicle.
Mirrors are another great help, you can angle your wing mirrors so that you can see the tires from inside the cab, this will allow you to better judge how steady the Land Rover is on tricky sections.
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