What's the Biggest Lesson You've Learned Off-Roading?

[userdude]

Walking the obstacle, or even a good portion of the trail ahead = ABSOLUTELY. I’ve saved my butt a couple times with a 15-minute walk. Sometimes a trail is totally gone and impassible and going backwards isn’t going to happen. When things look sketchy, check it out. Sometimes OnX is not as accurate re: trail conditions as one might like. ;-)

We went out one time to Barnwell east of DFW and it was supposed to be a leisurely easy trail. Big group, single track, no backing up. (It was actually a Ford-related event but not the guide.) Well, they had had some East Texas gully washers earlier that summer and the Level 3 trail was now a Level Six right around this blind corner. Oops! Literally the experienced guide that led us into it said "this is totally different than just two months ago. A lot of water went through here. Really shocked!"

I like to say going 1-2 miles an hour on trails at or slightly above the lowest experience level in the group is a good thing, it means you're paying attention, and walking ahead and scoping things out at critical junctures where you can still move off the trail is also a good thing.

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[T800]

When in doubt, throttle out!

Though funny, it is completely wrong most of the time and will lead to breaking things. If you can't climb the obstacle at .000001 mph, you're probably doing it wrong and need a different line. Sure, there are some that you need to 'give it a bump'. Just make sure it's just a bump and not flooring it.

Watched a guy total his Jeep when a 'bump' led to flooring it. He made it over the ledge, then flopped sideways in a really bad spot. Didn't have to total it, but his impatience with the recovery led to dragging it down a hill (which is what really totaled it) instead of doing as I suggested and taking as long as he needed, calling for more help and experience.

As embarrassing as a catastrophic mistake can be, don't make it worse by being in a hurry. If the recovery isn't going right, don't be afraid to make everyone step away from your vehicle. Taking your time to recover it correctly could be the difference between a few $100 and having your vehicle totaled.

This was in 2014. The worst recovery I have ever witnessed. Definitely a learning experience.

'Listen to your spotter' was another problem here. Choose your spotter carefully and don't be shy with telling a bad spotter to take a hike!

I made my friends laugh one time when a guy from the group in back of us 'tried' to help. He was holding a tall can of beer. I interrupted him and told him "We got this! Why don't you go back to your group and finish your beer!"

 

[Roc_Cero8]

Don't bomb through mud puddles in the 6th gen Bronco. The alternator is way to low.

 

[HalfmuleFarmer]

When in doubt, throttle out!

Though funny, it is completely wrong most of the time and will lead to breaking things. If you can't climb the obstacle at .000001 mph, you're probably doing it wrong and need a different line. Sure, there are some that you need to 'give it a bump'. Just make sure it's just a bump and not flooring it.

Watched a guy total his Jeep when a 'bump' led to flooring it. He made it over the ledge, then flopped sideways in a really bad spot. Didn't have to total it, but his impatience with the recovery led to dragging it down a hill (which is what really totaled it) instead of doing as I suggested and taking as long as he needed, calling for more help and experience.

As embarrassing as a catastrophic mistake can be, don't make it worse by being in a hurry. If the recovery isn't going right, don't be afraid to make everyone step away from your vehicle. Taking your time to recover it correctly could be the difference between a few $100 and having your vehicle totaled.

This was in 2014. The worst recovery I have ever witnessed. Definitely a learning experience.

'Listen to your spotter' was another problem here. Choose your spotter carefully and don't be shy with telling a bad spotter to take a hike!

I made my friends laugh one time when a guy from the group in back of us 'tried' to help. He was holding a tall can of beer. I interrupted him and told him "We got this! Why don't you go back to your group and finish your beer!"

Ouch.

 

[RustysBronco]

Don't be an asshole and tear up the trail. Air the F down.

 

[jofer]

Don't be an asshole and tear up the trail. Air the F down.

Seriously. Folks don't pay enough attention to this one. You don't just air down for comfort and traction. It's also to preserve the trail.

A few years ago I was out on a trail a bit early. I avoid mud season/snowmelt to avoid tearing things up. It was dry down low and I thought things would be clear. Towards the top there was still a good bit of snow and over the pass there was even more general snowmelt.

The trail was wet, but not sloppy. I kept going and was barely leaving tire tracks, so I wasn't too worried about trail damage. A few miles along I met two Toyotas (4-runner-ish. Might have been a Lexus GX.) headed the opposite way. Their tires weren't even remotely bulging and looked fully aired up.

They were leaving ~1 foot deep ruts in things I had passed over barely leaving a track. They tore the hell out of the trail. I wound up absolutely covered in mud just from having to drive in their ruts. The ruts they left were still there last time I was out. Sadly that trail burned recently, so there's likely to be a lot of runoff / washouts soon, but still. It was really sad and dumb to see the trail torn up like that for no good reason.

The irony is that this was on the flat section. The ruts I could see years later ended partway up the first climb, so I assume they turned around.

Avoid going out when the trails are wet. But if it catches you by surprise, be sure to air down even more. There's no need to tear up a trail, and low tire pressures really help reduce stress on the surface / ruts.

 

[RustysBronco]

Seriously. Folks don't pay enough attention to this one. You don't just air down for comfort and traction. It's also to preserve the trail.

A few years ago I was out on a trail a bit early. I avoid mud season/snowmelt to avoid tearing things up. It was dry down low and I thought things would be clear. Towards the top there was still a good bit of snow and over the pass there was even more general snowmelt.

The trail was wet, but not sloppy. I kept going and was barely leaving tire tracks, so I wasn't too worried about trail damage. A few miles along I met two Toyotas (4-runner-ish. Might have been a Lexus GX.) headed the opposite way. Their tires weren't even remotely bulging and looked fully aired up.

They were leaving ~1 foot deep ruts in things I had passed over barely leaving a track. They tore the hell out of the trail. I wound up absolutely covered in mud just from having to drive in their ruts. The ruts they left were still there last time I was out. Sadly that trail burned recently, so there's likely to be a lot of runoff / washouts soon, but still. It was really sad and dumb to see the trail torn up like that for no good reason.

The irony is that this was on the flat section. The ruts I could see years later ended partway up the first climb, so I assume they turned around.

Avoid going out when the trails are wet. But if it catches you by surprise, be sure to air down even more. There's no need to tear up a trail, and low tire pressures really help reduce stress on the surface / ruts.

Sounds like you need to share this lesson with the idiots over at @aired_up_mafia on Instagram.

 

[Cooperhawk]

I've learned the hard way not to go into areas that I can't get through with no place to turn around. Had to back up a long way.

 

[CrystalRedTintCoat]

1. Go slow (over rocks, bumps, water)

2. Align tire with the rock, not under truck, depends on situation.

3. Air down. (Air up afterwards)

4. Recovery (massive topic. Don’t get killed doing it)

5. Water for you.

6. Fuel for Bronco.

7. Suitable clothes / shoes for walking steep terrain

 

[chopperbobby]

Stay out of water deeper than 12“.

Where were you 5 years ago? Now you tell me

 

[BluebroncoNC]

Make sure I hit a bathroom before embarking upon a "1 hour run" which turns into a 6 hour run.

 

[userdude]

Make sure I hit a bathroom before embarking upon a "1 hour run" which turns into a 6 hour run.

See @Brian_B's TEEPEE 4 BUNGHOLIO advice.

 

[2021FordBronco2]

That offroading is too much fun and a lot of money lol

 

[twendel44]

Speed breaks shit. I haven't been at this long but I've never seen someone break something that rode slow and winched up hard climbs vs skinny pedaling it.

One thing I've learned to greatly appreciate is riding the brakes. Some two foot action. Traction control is helped but mostly it helps with the throttle control. Especially when breaking over/through the obstacle.

 

[T800]

Great example of what NOT to do:



I wheeled with the guy that filmed this. He was quite the character. Love the look on the spotters face as she runs for her life.

Obstacle nickname is 'Pucker Pass'

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