Don’t rush
Whenever a hurdle or pothole comes in the way, calm down and mentally prepare yourself before tackling the obstacle. This can be anything from a pond to a fallen branch. By keeping it cool, you will tackle it in a better way.
Engaging 4-wheel drive
In case your vehicle is not permanent 4-wheel drive, you will need to navigate the settings of low range or 4-wheel high range. It’s better to apply the settings while the vehicle is still. Low range is perfect for steep paths and high range is ideal for fast speed. If you’re unaware of 4WD, you should know the following terms:
H2: 2WD
H4: 4WD
L4: low range 4-wheel drive
Lower the tire pressure for rugged terrain
Tires come with standard road pressure according to the specification of the tire. This can be 270 kPa. If you lower it down to 170 kPa, the ride quality will improve and better traction control will be achieved.
Stick to the left side
This is a common rule but it’s easy to forget about it. It’s adventurous to drive on dirt roads but you will definitely come across a few blind corners. These corners are tighter than their appearance without any warning.
After you start cutting corners, cruising in the center and thinking you’re definitely a pro, you need to be careful as there is almost always someone else coming from the other way. There is no warning about this either. Without sticking to the left, you can get yourself in an accident. So, take it easy.
Place your thumbs outside the steering wheel
Sometimes if you are in a rush, or collide with a pothole, the steering wheel can immediately and intensely turn without any indication. If your thumbs are located on the inside of the steering wheel, strain will be applied on your thumbs and it can lead to a serious injury which takes time to recover. Hence, driving with the thumbs outside of the steering wheel is safe. This can easily become a habit if you practice it long enough and it will save you on normal roads too.
It’s not mandatory to use the brakes while going downwards
In a manual diesel, you just use the right accelerator application which makes the engine slow down and the right gear makes the vehicle go down the hill. This is known as engine braking that works best in a manual diesel vehicle. When it comes to an automatic diesel vehicle, you can still engine brake but not so much.
This can be done by choosing a lower gear while the vehicle is still prior to initiating the downward path. However, this effect is not as significant as in a manual diesel vehicle. Therefore, allow some rest to the auto transmission by regularly going back to the brakes.
Utilize 4-wheel drive to navigate path on dirt
4WD is not only utilized for slippery terrain or hills. Even if the terrain is flat, especially on corrugations or a sandy track, you will realize that the vehicle slides less and points better, even at slow speed. This will also allow the driver to hold the line and maintain the accurate side of the road in corners. This is a huge safety advantage when someone else unexpectedly comes the other way around.
Practice more caution in a water crossing
When you have to cross rivers and creeks, do not assume it will be exactly as depicted online, like water washing on the bonnet. In case the water crossing is deeper than halfway up the wheels, you should be cautious.
Moreover, the depth of the water crossing may not be the same throughout. It can have holes and if it appears to be flowing faster than the walking speed, the pace is very quick. In case the water crossing gets too deep, the vehicle will float, lose traction control and the vehicle will start to float in the direction of the water.
Before crossing the water, enter the water slowly and regulate the same speed similar to the walking speed. Do not go any quicker than this otherwise your safety and vehicle will be harmed. The general rule is that if the water is deeper than halfway up the wheels, it is best to not enter the water crossing.
