Is Your 4×4 Vehicle Off-Road Ready?

HELP!

While we hope you don’t need to use this word while away it is important to be prepared. Usually if you are going4×4 vehicle off-road you will not be close to amenities, making it extremely difficult to solve issues you may be having. Because of this, we have designed a basic list of things we suggest you pack when going off track:

• First aid kit- the reason is obvious, in case someone gets hurt. Make sure it is stocked before each trip, hopefully it won’t be needed, but better to be safe than sorry.
• Spare tyre- yep, it happens, more often than we like to admit. Make sure you have a spare on board and the tools to change the tyre.
• Tow strap – if you are braving the terrain, there is always the possibility that you may hit some issues, such as getting bogged. Having a tow strap on board for your 4×4 vehicle off-road trip will be a blessing if you find yourself in this situation.
• Shovel- this ones goes hand in hand with the tow strap, it can be extremely useful in the case of any unfortunate bogging.
• Spare key-you would not believe how often we hear of people needing their spare key- for a variety of reasons, take our advice-take the spare key and keep it somewhere handy!!
• Basic tool kit- the benefits of having one of these on board is endless, they are SO handy!
• LED light in case it’s dark and your vehicle is not cooperating.

While having these necessities on board will not eliminate the chance of anything not going according to plan, they will be very well appreciated if anything unfortunate does occur. We want to ensure you are equipped to handle most situations during your 4×4 vehicle off-road adventures, and don’t forget we are always only a phone call away.

Prepare your tyres

Travelling with your 4×4 vehicle off-road is an exciting time, and you want your vehicle to be ready, however one of the most important things to check is your tyres. They are the ones bearing the brunt of the trip! Make sure you have:

• Checked the pressure of all tyres
• Checked the nuts and bolts are tightened and secure
• Check the amount of tread left on the tyre, as you want to ensure you have sufficient grip to travel safely, especially when taking your 4×4 vehicle off-road.
• Check for imperfections on the tyres, in particular cracks.

Once you have gone over all the tyres, if you notice anything that doesn’t look 100%, feel free to contact one of our helpful experts. We are happy to answer any questions and help in any way we can — your safety and enjoyment during your 4×4 vehicle off-road adventure are very important to us.

Belts and Hoses

We are referring to the belts and hoses under your vehicle’s bonnet, which are imperative elements in ensuring the safe and effective running of your vehicle. Assuming your belts and hoses are okay, issues can still lead to an overheated engine, loss of power steering, or the failure of the electrical charging system. And let’s face it, we do not want this happening when you are travelling in your 4×4 vehicle off-road. Experts recommend changing all hoses every 4 years or when one fails. For your 4×4 vehicle off-road adventures, here are some hints on how to check your belts and hoses:

• A good hose will have a firm but pliant feel.
• Inspect for cracks and bulges or fraying near the connection points (of hoses).
• Look for signs of glazing, fraying, cracks or splits.

Steering & Alignment

Your 4×4 vehicle off-road needs to be well equipped to tackle all sorts of terrains without any trouble. The steering wheel is a very important component of your vehicle, so it is imperative that you check your alignment while also ensuring there are no leaks. Going off-road generally means you will not be travelling along a nice, maintained, secure road — it means you will possibly be encountering ditches, logs, potholes, and dips while travelling on unfamiliar roads. Due to all these potential situations, it is even more important to ensure your steering and alignment are spot on, as this will help to avoid any misjudgements while driving your 4×4 vehicle off-road.