ok all help totally apreciated any tips for how to not knacker my disco when off roading , at the mo just running at the hills/inclines and hoping for the best and then worry about the coming down bit after i get to the top all tips gratefully received
First thing is do your research before you get out.
Next think about how you are going to get unstuck when you get stuck, if you dont have a mate or the kit to get yourself out dont go out.
Mobile phones dont seem to work in where you get stuck places.
Get it in low and diff lock if you think it's gona slide and make sure its in cause they dont go in properly, give it a little extra shove as you start moving, sliding backwards is scary and roll over material. It aint that easy to go back down a hill.
A roll over hurts, even a simple one, and if your kit aint fastened down it's gona fook you, and it's quite hard getting out a vehicle on it's side let alone upside down, and some seatbelts wont release you need to cut them, worked for the fire service trust me.
High lift jacks are fookin nasty things, and it aint easy pushing a vehicle off one if you are stuck in mud, in fact I have tried it twice, the first time, no chance, and the second it wouldnt go so I kept jacking until it went squinty and it fell off.
The side steps are crap and get caught on everything, mine are off now and I made up sliders.
The tow bar is a plough and opinion is divided here wheither to keep it on or take it off, it gives a little bit of protection to the plastic fuel tank, I dont like it.
Steering protection for the front is available but not the back, I got caught up on a tree stump and it bent my track rod and damper two weeks ago, I thought I was going over a bump but it was the front protection acting like a scoop and bang steering gone. lesson learned.
Hand winch yes or no it's up to you I left mine behind one day cause I thought I would use the highlift to winch myself out, but I got stuck and unable to winch, no fookin trees, so tried to shunt it on the highlift but needed the winch to pull it over, but it was in the fookin house, no trees but a fence would have done the trick. In the end I slid into the fence damaged my wing, bumper and tore the light out.
Three lenghts of angle iron to fook into the ground to give you an ankor and some chain cause there aint gona be trees when you get stuck, and a big hammer, and shackles and straps. I got all mine of the motorway fokin fall orf trucks all the time so they do, but bought a real good one and a rope for extraction if I get well fooked and need a tractor.
I got a good heavy ratchet strap bran new of the motorway and it has been great for winching, I use it for taking up the slack when using the hand winch although care here cause you can get hurt and they aint strong enough if you are well stuck, but in combination with other bits and bobs it will get you out.
A tool kit with some spares, and a first aid kit, and a pair of gloves and rags. You get fookin covered in mud so best to have something to clean off and the gloves save blisters and fingers a bit. And a torch.
Get an army spade, one that folds and has a pick at one side for digging out, and waffle boards absalutely worth their weight in gold, it's a portable road/bridge, fookin brill. You can make a strap up to go through a wheel to allow you to lift it with the high lift to get the boards under.
Punctures, take a couple of bottles of tyre weld, in the event you need them they are a get you out of jail card. I slid into a metal railing last friday and a flake of rust went fokin through my side wall, rather than fook about since I was loaded I fooked one in to get me home. Tyre is fooked and should get a new one monday.
Long winded but hope it helps, but I am a total amature at it and still learning at the minute.
