Off-Road Destination: The Ultimate Guide
Off-road driving is one of the most popular types of extreme recreation.
Such trips give everyone the opportunity to test their driving abilities, plunge into the natural world and gain invaluable experience that will be useful in everyday life.
We invite you to get to know off-road adventures better, study all their features and find your optimal destination.
Choosing the right vehicle
Any off-road trip requires careful preparation. Its primary stage is always selecting a suitable vehicle that can simultaneously provide comfort, safety and the ability to overcome complicated sections of the road.
For this reason, it is recommended to use four-wheel drive vehicles. They will provide an excellent grip on the surface and help you cope with obstacles.
The following characteristic of an ideal vehicle for off-road travel is high ground clearance.
Its presence will simplify overcoming rocks and other natural barriers and avoid damage to the car’s underbody.
Vehicles that can be used on off-road routes must have special tires that have increased strength and provide excellent traction. Their presence makes it possible to better handle and control the car at every stage of the trip.
In addition, such tires increase the chances of reaching your chosen destination without punctures or other troubles. An equally important characteristic for off-road use is the efficiency of the suspension of the selected vehicle.
Not only does the comfort of all participants in the trip depend on this, but also the ease of control, maneuverability, and stable position of the car on the road.
Also, a well-functioning suspension reduces the load on the body and prevents damage.
Ensuring off-road travel safety
Off-road driving is always exciting but not safe. That is why it is important to pay maximum attention to this aspect and minimize the likelihood of various troubles.
This can only be achieved through a whole range of measures taken. First, you should study the chosen route in detail and find its most dangerous areas.
This can be done in several ways, from simply walking in the direction of travel to using unmanned aerial vehicles. If the route is very long and lasts several days, then you should at least look at the map and study the information provided by other off-road enthusiasts.
When choosing a route, it is essential to consider your own experience, the opinion of professionals and the vehicle’s capabilities. This approach will make it possible to find the optimal direction of movement and ultimately arrive at the given destination.
When traveling, you should have a variety of essentials in the trunk of your car.
These include various medicines and medical supplies, water and food, communications equipment, everything necessary for simple vehicle repairs, thermal imaging binoculars and other night optics (will help you navigate in the dark and identify potential dangers), as well as many items, the list of which is determined individually for each specific case.
All of the above will be useful during your vacation (if you choose multi-day off-road routes) or in case of troubles that leave you without outside help for a long time.
Finding the optimal off-road destination
Every state, region, and country has various off-road riding destinations. Among them, dozens of popular prepared trails are traveled daily by many fans of this entertainment.
These roads have varying complexity and configuration so everyone can choose the best option, depending on their preferences and driving skills. Most often, prepared trails are preferred by beginners and drivers with little experience in off-road driving.
This is easily explained by the routes’ excellent safety and location near various populated areas.
For lovers of extreme off-road adventures, the best option would be wild locations where various vehicles are allowed.
There are no paved trails on their territory, so anyone who wants to take a risk and get a hefty dose of adrenaline will have to decide where to go and what final destination to strive for. This option of off-road travel is associated with huge risks.
Even after thoroughly studying the route, it will remain a mystery and present drivers with many unpleasant surprises.
In this regard, such an off-road destination is suitable exclusively for professionals and people who go on the road with them (for example, an experienced driver can drive ahead, and all the beginners can follow him).
With many trails and wilderness routes available, some options fall into the four most popular types of off-road riding. The most popular is the so-called Green laning.
It is characterized by the presence of many dirt roads, each of which is suitable for off-road trips. The trails are often laid through the forest or run along its outskirts. The second popular type of off-road riding is called Dune bashing.
Having chosen it, the trip participants will have to overcome many sandy embankments, trying not to skid or rollover. This option requires special preparation of the car but gives everyone incomparable emotions. Another type of off-road adventure is Rock crawling.
It involves traveling along rock-filled routes where any mistake or careless movement could end the journey prematurely. The latest popular off-road touring option is called Mudding.
He typically overcame roads and paths with clay, water and dirt. This option is equally suitable for beginners and experienced drivers; therefore, it is considered one of the most versatile.
Combination with active recreation
Off-road driving may seem monotonous and not very interesting to some. In this case, you must diversify and combine them with other outdoor activities.
For example, you can take a mountain bike, kayak, climbing equipment or backpack with everything you need for a hiking trip in your car and give yourself some extra fun.
To carry it out, you must select a suitable location in advance and stop at this point on the route. If you are planning a long trip, off-road trips can be combined with camping and other similar activities.
In all cases, additional entertainment will diversify the journey and provide an opportunity to become more familiar with the surrounding nature and people who share your love for off-roading.
Off-road travel attracts the attention of a vast number of extreme recreation lovers.
They offer hundreds of routes for everyone to choose from, most of which provide the opportunity for close communication with nature and self-discovery. Once you participate in such an adventure, you will fall in love with it and will not want to spend your free time any other way.