Off Roading Basic Skills Thread

[Turboman]

Not a fan of harnesses myself. Even ccv comp Motors you only require lap belts. If wearing harnesses binder you controlling your vehicle then stick to normal belts.


Join an offroad club a proper one like the Awdc or association of land rover clubs that will teach you how to drive. Myself and 300bhp had fun competing in the Nationals this year and it turns out points wise pretty much matched.

I used to have harnesses in my series when I used to drive in a few trials in the 80s. HD springs on the series, it was so bouncy the harness used to help keep my feet on the pedals.
Agree about AWDC, I was in that too back in the day, very experienced at running comp events and so on, I learnt a lot from being in it!

 

[Harry Clarke]

Don't wade without absolutely knowing how deep the water is, how good the base is to drive on, and if you're approaching a flooded ford, make sure you know whether the ford has a dog-leg in it so you don't drive straight into the river instead of on the road ...

I agree with you on this one Paul! It's definitely a good idea to check your vehicle and destination before you set off. This article is a good resource if your planning to take your Land Rover off road!

 

[huffhuff]

This is a good page from the Land Rover site... mentions most of the above. I quite like (and hearty agree with) BE PREPARED TO ADMIT DEFEAT!

http://www.landrover.co.uk/ownership/guides-and-manuals/off-road-driving.html

 

[Coffeelandy]

Gravity is your friend. Use it instead of acceleration and crawl down steep slopes in first feet off brakes. Engine braking is king! Never go on your own unless it is ultra make able ie flat and dry with no watery holes slopes or side slopes.

 

[Turboman]

Gravity is your friend. Use it instead of acceleration and crawl down steep slopes in first feet off brakes.

Absolutely, first low, and dont touch any controls except the steering wheel as it creeps or slithers its way down

Sideslopes and steep uphill similar, but with the throttle as required to make progress.

 

[goonarmy]

Absolutely, first low, and dont touch any controls except the steering wheel as it creeps or slithers its way down

Sideslopes and steep uphill similar, but with the throttle as required to make progress.

Kinda makes me wonder why hill descent is on the models with low range. It just chews through brake discs.

 

[Coffeelandy]

One more top tip! If you're not sure about what is ahead, get out and walk it first. Ta

 

[Turboman]

One more top tip! If you're not sure about what is ahead, get out and walk it first. Ta

It is a top tip as well. And take a stick to poke into deep mud and water, find out just how deep it is!

 

[The Mad Hat Man]

One more top tip! If you're not sure about what is ahead, get out and walk it first. Ta

or, better still, get someone else to drive it first

 

[Coffeelandy]

If a massive puddle has tyre tracks going in and none coming out, it's really deep!

 

[Pompey]

Currently in a Disco 4, 8400 miles on the clock, auto with road tyres. Hire vehicle.
I am halfway up a hill, grass/ mud, been raining most of the day, later on I have to go up the hill, through part of a forest to pick a work colleague up. He won't drive it anymore as he slid sideways into a post removing part of the trim and rippling the rear door skin. After that I have to come back through the forest, down the hill, through the field to reach the road/ track again. People are falling over on the steep bit at the bottom. Imagine picture of Glastonbury and you will be close.

I think he didn't have the correct settings, anybody know what I should set the vehicle to so that I can avoid a sideways slide, or what to do if I should go into a slide ? Power out of it steering uphill/slope is my guess.

Settings I used this morning. Raised the height, Lo range, grass/snow/ice, and descent mode selected.

Sorry if in wrong fred.

 

[goonarmy]

Mud and ruts and possibly hill descent on.

 

[Pompey]

Thanks Goonarmy,

Was going to add downhill with a right to left 15 degree? Slope.

Shortly will be gong round the off road course in an Audi Q7 wth instructor so will ask them.

 

[goonarmy]

Thanks Goonarmy,

Was going to add downhill with a right to left 15 degree? Slope.

Shortly will be gong round the off road course in an Audi Q7 wth instructor so will ask them.

I wouldn't traverse the slope. Straight up and straight down. Things can go wrong very quickly on side slopes.

 

[Pompey]

I wouldn't traverse the slope. Straight up and straight down. Things can go wrong very quickly on side slopes.

Yes I think my colleague found that out, I won't do it again then however it is drying out now.

Many thanks for your advice.

 

[Turboman]

Yes I think my colleague found that out, I won't do it again then however it is drying out now.

Many thanks for your advice.

If you have a way to reinflate them before going back on the road, letting the tyres down a bit may help in very greasy conditions.
Don't know much about that kind of vehicle, or alloy wheels, but I would guess about 22 psi all round would do no harm.

 

[Pompey]

Thanks TurboMan, but no way of doing that, have track access now so no need to drive that route anymore.

The Q7 was good, looks like I will meet up with the Audi team again on my next job, tell you about it next week.

They didn't bother to try and sell me a Q7 as they said you can't beat a LR and I was honest and said Freelander.

 

[Rizo]

Fully dedicate hahah and keep right foot down

 

[JustynP38]

If a massive puddle has tyre tracks going in and none coming out, it's really deep!

That's funny.
I've watched all the vids and read all the links posted by everyone on this thread - loads of good advice and you keep hearing the same pointers from different people so you know they are correct.