Before I settled down and had a couple of children, my husband and I would often take the two-man tent and hire a 4 wheel drive and go off-road for the weekend.
We loved it so much that it became a sort of tradition, to pack up Friday night and take off, setting up often after dark, and toasting marshmallows on the open fire, whilst enjoying a beverage or two before bed.
4 wheel driving today is such and experience for those that don’t mind getting off the beaten track for an adventure. Often there you leave without thinking of what you may require whilst on the trip, and we would always come across people that have run out of water or food, the appropriate tools to get them out of rough terrain.
We use to always encounter someone who ran out of petrol too, thinking that they’d have enough for the two or three days they would spend trekking over rough terrain, muddy water holes or obstacles. But, all these types of 4 wheel driving experiences will definitely chew through your petrol a lot quicker than when you were driving on the normal roads.
There are many clubs in your area that you can join for free or a small fee to gain the knowledge necessary to keep you and your loved ones and your beloved 4 wheel drive safe and maintained when embarking on your own adventures. If you don’t want to join them, you really should consider doing some research before you leave home. Making sure that the basics are all covered like these few useful parts that you may require:
- Spare tyres with repair kits
- Fuel pump
- Spare fan belts
- Water pump
- Fuel filter
- Plugs
- Radiator hoses and clips
- Air filter
- Oil filter/oil and fluids
- Alternator belt
- A jacking plate and jack in case you need to change the tyre
- A high quality snatch strap
- Ropes and a First Aid Kit
- Fire Extinguisher
There’s many more spares and or tools that you need to consider, but speaking from experience, these are the items that I’ve needed over the years whilst 4 wheel driving. My husband taught me a good lot of this whilst on our adventures. Little did I know on our first trip, and we ended up bogged and knee-deep in mud getting the 4 wheel drive out. That was a lot of fun and very messy at the time!
I learnt too that on your vehicle you will find a sticker on the drivers’ side that will explain what the best tyre pressure your 4 wheel drive needs to cushion any terrain that you’re going over and avoid puncturing those expensive tyres on your trip. Please, if nothing else read this sticker! Lowering your tyre pressure should help protect your tyres when traveling over rough surfaces. Above all research the weather conditions of the location you are visiting prior to leaving so that you can be best prepared for any weather on your trip.
Enjoy your 4 wheel drive experience and stay safe out there!