How To Prepare Your Vehicle for Extreme Off-Roading Conditions

If you’re looking to tackle tough terrain with your vehicle, there are quite a few possible upgrades that you could get to make that task easier. However, choosing the right ones may be a little bit tricky. To ensure your vehicle can handle all obstacles with ease, proper preparation is essential, and for this reason, we’ve prepared this guide on how to prepare your vehicle for the wildest adventures.

Maintenance and Inspection

One of the most important things to do before going off-road is inspecting your vehicle and performing any needed maintenance. This involves checking the tire pressure, fluids (including engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, and transmission fluid), suspension components, and the driveline. Driving in terrain is demanding on the car, so you should be sure that it's in good condition beforehand.

Choosing the Right Tires

It can't be stressed enough how important tires are when it comes to off-roading. They should be the first thing you upgrade. Generally, you can choose from all-terrain (AT) tires or mud-terrain (MT) tires. Such tires have aggressive tread patterns, provide better grip off the road, and have enhanced durability. AT tires are more versatile for use on and off the road, while MT tires excel mainly in harsh conditions such as deep mud or loose sand, but they don’t do so well in day-to-day tasks. Keep in mind that simply having the right tires is not enough. You also need to maintain the correct tire pressure, which can vary depending on the driving conditions.

Perfecting the Suspension System

After having the tires sorted out, you’ll also want to focus on the suspension. Upgraded suspension components can achieve higher ground clearance and better shock absorption, among other benefits. Look for offroad-specific suspension kits, which come with heavy-duty springs and shocks specifically designed for use in terrain. You might come across adjustable shocks, which allow you to fine-tune the suspension settings based on the terrain you need to get through, but they’re not an absolute must. Additionally, you can install a lift kit, which further enhances the ground clearance, and makes the undercarriage less likely to get damaged. Just as with the tires, maintenance is important. Make sure that bushings, ball joints, control arm, and stabilizers are all firm and undamaged.

Chassis Protection and Recovery

Another important aspect is chassis protection. Here, you’re looking at two main upgrades - skid plates and a bull bar. The skid plates are metal shields which protect the undercarriage from damage caused by rocks. Puncturing the oil sump is not as difficult as it may seem, and it can lead to catastrophic engine damage, which the skid plates can prevent. They also protect other components, such as the transmission and fuel tank. You typically have the option of choosing either metal or aluminum. The bull plates are just as important and protect the front of the vehicle. In addition to this, they can accommodate further equipment, such as lights and even more importantly winches. A high-quality winch can rescue you from very difficult situations, and pull you out of sand or mud. You can also use it to rescue fellow offroaders. Tow straps and jacks can also be helpful when it comes to recovery.

Lights

If you plan on doing any offroading during the night, you’ll appreciate some high-quality bright lights. They can be very helpful, as they allow you to better see the nuances of the terrain ahead. LED lights are the best option, as they’re affordable, low-maintenance, and very bright. We highly recommend LED light bars, which you can fit either on the front bumper, on the roof, or on the bull bar. You can also install a light source in the back of the vehicle - this can be helpful if you have a pickup truck, as you can then illuminate the bed. Optionally, you can look into fog lights and spotlights, which further enhance your safety and visibility, and can also improve your car’s design.

Post-Offroad Maintenance

As our second tip, pay attention to post-offroad maintenance. After your off-road trip, check your vehicle for any wear and tear. Also, clean off the dirt and mud that accumulated on the car, and especially the underbody. If exposed to it often and left uncleaned, you’ll be facing rust issues in just a few years.

Gear Up Your Vehicle for Extreme Off-Road Now

Knowing how to get your car prepared for tough terrain, you might want to make a few modifications. If that’s the case, don’t hesitate to contact our team. We’ll be happy to help you choose the right upgrades for your specific use case scenario, so that you may tackle any terrain with ease.