Off-roading

Top Tips

The key to driving on sand is maintaining controlled momentum by using higher than normal revs. Make sure that you are in 4WD mode and stick to the lower gears (not low range yet). Selecting the correct gear and engine revs will come with experience, but try not to over or under accelerate when tackling soft sand. The more you practise, the more you’ll be able to anticipate where your vehicle is going to struggle, and change down a gear before you hit the tricky patches. It is all too easy to grind to a halt in sand, so practise flipping the clutch down and changing gear with lightning speed.

Sand driving
Sand driving should be seen as ’surfing’ the dunes, not ploughing through them. Look at the shape and form of the dune. It is usually better to travel with the direction of the dunes (the direction of the wind). But be careful, because while you may find it easy going with the flow on the way up, it gets a bit tricky if you find yourself going back against it when you turn around. Existing tracks normally define the best route to take. If there are no tracks, plan a route that seems the easiest and limits damage to flora and fauna. You should only be using the accelerator, and barely touching the brakes or clutch. The general aim is to gain enough momentum going down to allow you to coast over the top of the next dune smoothly.
 
The sand’s consistency changes during the day and also seasonally. When it is very hot, dry conditions render the surface soft and loose. Blowing sand collects in hidden hollows and can catch out an unwary driver. Driving at around midday, especially in the summer, is particularly tricky as there are few shadows and little contrast to show the bumps and hollows before it’s too late.If you are unsure of the best way to proceed, then stop in a safe spot, and get out to have a look. In addition to keeping your momentum going at crucial points and learning to ‘read’ the sand, the following are key elements for driving successfully.
 
Tyres
Ensure your tyres are in good condition and that you select the correct tyre pressure for a particular terrain. The following guidelines are general considerations for your tyres:
  • Inspect the tyres carefully before you leave and in between periods of driving. Check each tyre for worn tread, damaged side walls and for any wear in or around the valves. Check for cuts and gashes caused by sharp stones (usually after wadi driving)
  • The difference between inner-tube tyres and tubeless tyres is not critical. In general, tubeless tyres are less likely to puncture abruptly, and punctures in a tubeless tyre can be ‘quick-fixed’ until a more reliable repair is possible. However, inner-tube tyres are usually more reliable at low pressures
  • Don’t neglect your spare tyre – check its condition regularly to make sure it is sufficiently inflated. Make sure you have the key if your spare tyre is fitted with a locking wheel nut. And if it is bolted to the underside of your vehicle, make sure you have the correct tools for its removal
 
Gears
  • 4WD High Range: This is what you will use for most of your off-road driving. The torque of the engine is distributed between all wheels, front and back
  • 4WD Low Range: Low range is engaged only when driving challenging terrain, or when stuck or bogged down. It allows for controlled and steady movement. Engine revs are much higher and progress is slow
 
Diff-lock
Power from the engine is usually distributed through a number of differentials to all four wheels. These differentials are located on the front axle, the rear axle and on the drive shaft between the two axles. This means that if one of more of the wheels gets stuck, the differentials transfer power to the free wheels, causing them to spin aimlessly, doing nothing to get the car unstuck. Not all cars have diff-lock, but if yours does, engaging the locks forces the wheels to move at the same speed, which cuts down on spinning and allows the wheels with the best traction to pull you out of trouble.
 
For wadis and mountains, you should be able to drive mostly in high range without diff-lock, while in the desert, engaging central diff-lock assists in providing even power and traction between the front and rear wheels.
 
As a rule, rear diff-lock is for when you get stuck – it can get you out of trouble in the desert, or help you over uneven, rocky ground if one or more wheels lose contact with the ground. Don’t forget to disengage diff-lock once you are out of trouble, otherwise you can seriously damage your vehicle. It should only be used for driving in a straight line, and not for going uphill or turning.
 
Most importantly, diff-lock will not stop you from sliding in wet or slippery conditions, and will only worsen your predicament.
 
Automatics
The performance of an automatic transmission in the desert differs from a manual in a number of ways. Automatics are smoother and faster at gear changes than a manual, which can make it easier to keep your momentum, and easier to drive. However, you may find that automatics can change gears at inopportune moments. But as you get used to your car’s performance, you will probably be able to predict when this might happen, and know how to stop it. With a little practice, you can get the engine to stay in a particular gear, or to change gear up or down, just by use of the accelerator. Additionally, the gear selector can be used to limit the gear so that it doesn’t change to a higher gear when you don’t want it to.
 
Another major difference involves engine braking. An automatic does not offer the same engine-braking ability as a manual, especially if the car is kept in the ‘drive’ gear. There will be some circumstances where you will need to use the other gears – when descending dunes, for example, you’ll have to change down to control your speed with engine braking. Staying in ‘drive’ gear may result in you freewheeling down a dune – only by selecting a lower gear will your engine control the speed of the car.
 
Also, if you are cruising over undulating terrain in ‘drive’ gear, you can’t slow the car down simply by taking your foot off the accelerator as you would in a manual. If you want to slow down you will need to use the brake lightly, but remember that when you do accelerate again you should do it gently to keep the car moving smoothly.

Write to us

Latest News

View More

Newsletter Subscription

View Newsletter
About us Contact us Join us Advertise Corporate Shop