How Do You Define Off-Roading?

[Oldhippie]

To me it is getting out where others can’t with like minded folks and testing vehicles and skills against nature…the idea is getting it done without breaking stuff…good times!

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[dgorsett]

I call it little j jeeping, because I'm almost always on a road of some kind. To me a trail is for hiking. I would define it as traveling where high ground clearance and/or low range are required, excluding most of todays SUVs or Crossovers.

 

[gbub]

Exploration is what i call it. I just want to experience remote areas and trails that are less travelled. Whether it be The Continental Divide Trail, Backcountry Discovery Routes, the trails around Death Valley, etc. The destination is the important thing to me. Yes, the challenges along the way are part of the enjoyment but it does not beat sitting around a campfire at night in the wilderness with friends.

Being with nature in remote wilderness helps me to appreciate life more. The off-road part is just a means to get there.

 

[BlueWaffle]

If gps or the gazetteer recognize whatever your driving on as a road... It's not offroading.

 

[MNBigfoot]

If you are following a trail, path, or road, you are not off-roading, there I said it. Now back to ice-fishing.

 

[VehicleNanny]

I've accidentally gone off road while texting and driving. Went about 100 feet on a sidewalk, and a little into a yard once. Does that count?

This goes into the same category as, "if a tree falls in the woods..."

 

[TheKim]

Off-road to me is getting away from traffic, to dirt trails to get away from buildings, cities, and people.
It's a place of peace and calmness, fun and excitement, and good times.

 

[Desmolicious]

Off roading to me is the kind of place where you stop, gaze at the setting sun on the horizon, feel the wind on your face while listening to the sounds of nature. And as you retrieve your shovel from your truck think to yourself... they'll never find the body out here.

 

[Valhalla]

If you are following a trail, path, or road, you are not off-roading, there I said it. Now back to ice-fishing.

We just make ice in the fridge, no need to fish for it, falls out the flap in the door!

 

[Fastmc25]

Anytime I can go out and “get a little mud on the tires” is a good day

 

[Valhalla]

 

[23OBX2.7]

Curbs, medians, pot hole ridden roads, any thing off the road.

 

[SeptuagenerianSasquatch]

If gps or the gazetteer recognize whatever your driving on as a road... It's not offroading.

Somebody posted, "Don't call it overlanding." That's what I think you're describing--overlanding. Precious few places where you can do that nowadays. I found a few in the Southwest, but I'm not telling where they are.

I consider "offroading" to be where an AWD "SUV" (I have a problem with that word) would have serious risk issues, either getting stuck or vehicle damage. So that means roads and trails, yes, but one which receive very little--or no--repair and maintenance. On these, you might encounter a landfall, a washout, downed trees or other such obstacles requiring all-terrain tires, lift, specialized gearing, possibly a winch and other recovery gear, and--especially--driving skill.

What I'm describing would probably be too much for a stock Jeep or Subaru.
This is offroading: a shallow but very rocky Massachusetts ravine that serves as a trail:
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This is overlanding: no road, trail, or tiretracks:

Conceivably, a Jeep or Subaru could handle the grassy terrain here, but there are washouts, dried rivers, glacial debris, and things like that which would frustrate or defeat a lesser truck. Incidentally, my map suggested I could make the drive to a road along the base of the distant hills, but I was solo, and didn't think that prudent.

 

[Valhalla]

They used to just call it Jeepin

 

[JSW377]

I've accidentally gone off road while texting and driving. Went about 100 feet on a sidewalk, and a little into a yard once. Does that count?

Decidedly NOT funny

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