Summer, winter, spring, autumn - any season is a good time to get your 4WD dirty when you take it out for a spin! Off-roading is perfect for those who love to drive or if you’re just keen to check out some of New Zealand’s most spectacular sights. While four wheel driving can be challenging, especially for beginners, it’s the journey that’ll make it worth your while.
If you’re a rookie when it comes to off-roading, we’ve got you sorted with our top 10 tips you should know before setting out on your kiwi off-roading adventure!
Becoming one with your 4WD and understanding how it ticks will help you spot any irregularities when you’re off the beaten track. Have a read of your car manual (most likely at the bottom of your glove box) or search up your vehicle’s make and model online to learn about its strengths, weaknesses, capabilities and limitations. Understanding the departure, ground clearance, ramp breakover and approach angles of your vehicle will let you navigate around the rocky ground with ease, and limiting the dents to your undercarriage.
Don’t you just love the unpredictability of NZ weather? While it can leave you in two minds about your journey, it’s always best to have essential survival gear with you in case of an emergency. You could be faced with challenging obstacles in your off-road venture, so it’s much safer to have the necessary tools that can get you out of a sticky situation. Here are a few of the items we encourage you to bring along on your trip - whether you’re a beginner or a pro driver:
Don’t forget to include warm layers and wet weather gear for yourself, as well as a change of sturdy shoes. You will be surprised how much time is spent outside your vehicle assessing the situation, especially when the terrain gets tricky.
Take the time to plan your journey in advance. If you’re heading somewhere new for a daytrip, make sure you know how long it will take to get there and return. If the roads are unsealed or unknown, it can be hard to gauge the time it might take, so always allow extra time for unforeseen events. Take or print a map of the area in case there is no cell coverage.
If you are heading on sealed roads first, input your destination with a few simple taps using the Sat-Nav system, Apple CarPlay or Android Auto (if your vehicle has these features), mapping out the best route - with rest stops along the way to recharge your batteries. Having a planned route lets you backtrack if you miss a turn, and also gives your family and friends an indication of your whereabouts if you fail to check in with them.
Before you embark on your adventure, doing a pre-drive check of your 4WD prevents the chances of any breakdowns occurring during your trip. Run through the standard pre-drive inspection by checking that the engine oil, coolant, brake and clutch fluids, and radiator overflow are at the levels they should be. Walk around your car for a physical inspection to spot any loose or damaged parts, look for oil leaks, and give your tyre bolts a good tug to check they’re tightly secured.
Having a friend there with you to experience off-roading makes it all the more fun and memorable. Any four wheel drive adventure will almost certainly task you with a fair share of tricky situations, so if anything goes wrong, you have an extra pair of hands and another brain to help you solve your problem. It is recommended that if you exploring a more challenging 4WD adventure that you travel as a group so that if someone gets stuck you have another vehicle to tow it out.
When coming face-to-face with steep, rocky, sandy, slippery and muddy roads, you’ll need to lower your tyre pressure according to the terrain to improve comfort levels from your suspension, increase the traction from the tyres and protect the ground you are travelling over.. Remember to re-inflate them before you start travelling on paved surfaces or at any speed again.
Driving across a body of water can be problematic as it can be hard to gauge the depth or identify any unseen obstacles like large boulders or tree branches or stumps. The last thing you want is to be neck deep in itso it’s a good idea to walk through the water to see how high it reaches, and to check if your vehicle can make it through easily. You definitely do not want to be sucking in water through the air filter as this could be catastrophic for your engine.
Some 4WDs have a low range feature which works like a gear multiplier to give you more control in low-speed and low-grip conditions, and keeps you from rolling into a ditch. The lower gear traction technology in Suzuki’s 4WD Jimny gives you maximum torque at slow speeds, and boosts your power and traction in slippery terrain.
Hill descent control is a really handy feature to have when you need to control your speed and focus on controlling the car as you head down a hill. Once engaged, it automatically kicks in the brakes as required so you can drive down the hill at a steady speed - without having to constantly step on the brake or change gears. The hill hold control feature is perfect when you are heading in the upward direction. It stops your vehicle from rolling backwards as you transfer your foot from the brake to the accelerator.
If you are a pro, beginner or somewhere in between, take it slow! Speeding only means you have less time to react to situations and make critical decisions. Driving on sand, through mud, or over rocks is not the same as tarseal. Often you have to calmly and logically navigate yourself out of a tight spot, so you don’t do yourself or your vehicle serious damage. You’ll also have less time to enjoy the view, which is the whole point of getting out and exploring.
If you are in a tricky situation, you may notice that you are holding your breath. Relax, take a breath, wriggle your fingers and think about what you are going to do before you do it.
Going off-road is fun even with all the ups and downs. The stunning sights of New Zealand, and the thrill of the adventure make it all worthwhile.
Whether it’s your 1st adventure or your 50th, these top 10 tips will help you make your next journey a breeze, ensuring you’re prepared for whatever your NZ off-roading adventure throws at you. If you’re on the lookout for a new car for your next 4WD adventure, download our Complete Guide to Buying a New Car today!