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Off-roading isn’t just a way to spend a day, it’s a way of life – and it can seem like everyone involved has years of experience.
It’s easy to forget that all four-wheel drive enthusiasts have started from scratch, and there are plenty of eager beginners looking to hit the track for the first time.
I was an eager beginner when I headed to the Flinders Mountains in South Australia to take an intensive off-road course as part of the Isuzu I-Venture Club.
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The learning curve was steep, but I walked away from the week with lots of lessons.
Here are some of my biggest takeaways as a beginner so you can prepare for your first adventure.
Preparation is key
Failed planning is planning to fail.
It’s a saying that applies to many aspects of life and that includes traveling off the tarmac.
Preparation means a few different things when it comes to off-roading.
First, you need to understand your vehicle’s capabilities as a beginner heading into the great unknown.
While old-school four-wheel drives were pretty rudimentary, even basic modern off-roaders are loaded with smart technology, and it’s worth finding out how to use these features to your advantage.
In South Australia we had the opportunity to test the range of features of the D-Max and MU-Xwhich includes selectable dual-range 4WD, locking rear differential, rough terrain mode and Hill Descent Control (HDC).
Each came in handy at different points in the trip, but I wouldn’t have known how to use them without doing some research beforehand.
The rear differential lock ensured that the rear wheels turned at the same speed, which was useful in difficult situations with one wheel in the air.
Choosing the right four-wheel drive setup is also key. Some off-roaders can be driven in 4A mode on compacted surfaces, but the D-Max and MU-X must be driven in 2H (or rear-wheel drive) on the road before switching to 4H (high-range 4WD) on loose surfaces.
4L (Low Range 4WD) is again for tougher conditions. It multiplies the engine’s torque, allowing you to climb steeper terrain and maintain momentum where you otherwise couldn’t in 4H. It can also be used to control the vehicle’s momentum going down steep hills.
The importance of tire pressure cannot be understated.
Asphalt pressure is usually too high for off-roading and makes the tire susceptible to flats.
By dropping our pressure to 20 PSI for our sand dune session, we widened our tire’s contact patch to maximize traction. If you intend to deflate your tires, make sure you have the tools to re-inflate them when you get back on the road.
Select a line
Once you’re at the center of things, judgment becomes a crucial skill.
Almost anything can trip you up and stop you moving, from sharp sticks and rocks to steep inclines and invisible surface changes.
As such, off-roading requires concentration and active decision-making when it comes to choosing the route in front of you.
Marked trails facilitate this process, but even then, 4WD tracks are often deeply rutted or eroded by the elements. In general, the goal is to avoid dangerous bumps while avoiding ruts and potholes.
Grade changes must be negotiated in a manner that does not expose the nose or tail of the vehicle to the ground.
It’s all about thinking ahead and taking as few risks as possible.
Slow and steady
Before the trip, I thought that off-roading was all about crashing and bumping, with little finesse or caution.
This couldn’t be further from the truth.
A significant percentage of the expedition was spent at 10 km/h or less, trying to negotiate the hazards without damaging the cars or risking our health. It tiptoed around jagged rocks, slowly tipped into steep ditches, and crawled up steep slopes rather than harassing the landscape Mad Max-style.
While four-wheel drive is durable, the worst thing you can do is get a flat tire in the middle of nowhere as a result of careless driving.
Opting for slow, steady progress gives you time to assess hazards as a driver, which in turn gives you more time to avoid them. At worst, there is more time to enjoy the scenery.
By taking this approach, we were able to avoid tire-smashing rocks, save paint from brutal spines, and avoid bottoming out while traversing deep gullies.
It also helps you control the car when things get steep downhill. Fortunately, hill descent control standard in most modern drivetrains is available to make this process easier as well.
HDC is designed to keep the car under control on steep descents, using traction control and ABS sensors to control its speed downhill. It gradually pulses the brake on each individual wheel to limit descent speed, allowing me to slide the car down fearsome slopes without turning into a slalom skier.
After all, smoothing also extends the longevity of the four-wheel drive by reducing stress on key components such as the suspension and brakes.
That means more time to enjoy the outdoors and fewer visits to your mechanic.
Measure your moves
It goes without saying that off-road driving is different from your standard commute.
There were a lot of driving habits I had to correct during my time in the bush, and perhaps the most challenging involved the positioning of the car when cornering.
As a regular commuter, you get used to cornering on smooth surfaces at speeds between 20 km/h and 100 km/h, which requires a certain set of inputs.
This completely changes when traversing hilly, rocky terrain at walking speed.
During the early stages of the trip, I was sometimes caught turning the wheel too soon due to force of habit, resulting in brushes with the local flora.
Over time, I learned to slow down my entries, pushing right into the corners before turning, which kept my entire D-Max within the marked track.
Instead of aiming to trim the tops, it’s best to keep your car centered when the route is clearly marked.
Take a friend
A fancy 4WD and driver training can only take you so far, especially in harsh and unpredictable environments like the Flinders Ranges.
Even for the most seasoned adventurer, things can go wrong, and it’s often out of your control. Having a trusted ally by your side can make a huge difference for several reasons.
First, they can provide an extra set of eyes to spot obstacles on the road ahead. Our guide, I-Venture Club lead trainer David Wilson, spent most of his time standing in the sun with a two-way radio in hand, telling us about the challenges ahead.
He had the best view of all kinds of potholes, deep ruts and nasty rocks.
Because drivers have an inherently limited range of vision, it was often the difference between stranded cars and making it safely back to camp.
That’s not to say the week was always smooth sailing.
But when the proverbial sounds good, it’s always nice to have a friend close at hand.
As pictured, one member of the Isuzu convoy suffered a crack during our trip and the repair was a group effort. Many hands make light work, and failure would have been compounded if he had traveled alone.
Passengers can also provide other services such as navigational assistance and, most importantly, good company.
Occasionally “send it”
Slow and steady is the way to go in off-road situations most of the time…
This goes against the image people have of overconfident bullies slinking through the bushes with their friends shouting “send it!” from the sidelines.
But sometimes slow and steady wins the race. The natural environment is also preserved for future use, as reckless driving can harm the local ecosystem by breaking up surfaces and damaging vegetation.
But – and it’s a big ‘but’ – some circumstances call for speed, vigor and wheel-spinning. Namely driving on loose surfaces such as sand dunes.
We encountered this in the Nilpena Ediacara National Park, where red sand took over the barren rock fields.
Constant momentum is key here, which means more throttle and less hesitation. In other words, the fun stuff.
Carrying the extra gear made it easy to move steadily through the dunes despite the lack of traction on offer, although even the most enthusiastic drivers occasionally broke away.
Several of the customers, especially those with manual steering, were stopped by the sand and forced to retrace their steps at David’s request.
However, there’s time for everything, including attacking soft hills at full blast.
MORE ▼: All Isuzu D-MaxMORE ▼: All Isuzu MU-X
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