General hints
Your 4x4 certainly has the torque to take you almost anywhere and get you over most terrain, but driver and machine have to work in unison. At the end of the day it is the driver who makes the difference, and this section contains a few hints for off-roaders to help them handle the rough stuff when they come to it.
As in all things in life, practice makes perfect and it may well be in your interest to practice a few difficult situations before you put yourself and your new 4x4 at risk in some remote part of the wilderness. The benefits of an off-road driving course cannot be dismissed!

Tip: Get to know your vehicle’s capabilities, angles, etc.

A lot of off-road driving is a matter of common sense. If you think the terrain you are approaching could not be covered by an ordinary vehicle, engage four-wheel drive before you take it on. It is no slight on your ability to stop before you take on the rough terrain and take a long hard look at the land. A few minutes could save you a few days in the workshop.
Remember, too, that in rough terrain, engaging four-wheel drive reduces wear on your drive train. If you have free-wheel hubs, lock them as you enter rough terrain as you can engage your front wheels (via your transfer lever, following the procedure applicable to your vehicle) from inside the cab when necessary. Don’t forget to wear your seatbelt. Also remember to let the steering wheel slip through your hands as you coax the vehicle on course, working in tandem as you guide your vehicle. If you try to fight it, you might injure a finger or thumb should the steering wheel kick back.

Driving hints
We’ve compiled a few hints for off-road obstacle-crossing that may come in handy.

Ascents and descents: The key rule here is not to tackle hills at an angle because that invites a roll or slide.

Ascents
Check out the slope carefully before any ascent. If it is rocky, attack it at a lower speed to prevent losing traction when your wheels lift because of rocks. If the ascent seems smooth, you can attack it at a higher speed.
Engage four-wheel drive, and lock free-wheel hubs. Then select your gear according to the terrain. Accelerate a bit more as you begin the climb, but if the wheels start spinning, decelerate gently and accelerate again the moment your wheels stop spinning, but use your foot softly.
Don’t be tempted to change gears during the climb and remember to ease off the accelerator as you reach the top — you never know what lies beyond the crest of the hill. Again common sense should always rule.

Tip: Learn cadence braking and practise this ‘tap, tap’ feathering on descents. This allows precise control and works in conjunction with compression braking.

Tip: The stall start. In case of a stall, which is common on a hill-climb, do not panic. First, gently engage your footbrake and handbrake to halt any backward slide. Then put the vehicle into reverse, hold the footbrake and remove your foot from the clutch. Next release the handbrake. The next step is to turn the ignition, start up the motor and release the footbrake at the same time. The engine will start and the vehicle should reverse safely down the hill against compression. Feather your brakes if necessary as you reverse.

Tip: Watch the front wheels as you restart. They should be in a straight line. Check your rearward route.

Tip: Learn the subtle difference between momentum and speed.

Descents
The idea is to let the engine act as your brake to prevent a forward slide. Engage four-wheel drive, lock free-wheel hubs and select the lowest gear possible. Release the handbrake, let out the clutch and let the motor do the talking; the engine will act as your brake throughout the descent. Dependent on the gradient, you may have to cadence-brake to control your speed (feathering brakes with a light ‘tap, tap’ motion).
If your vehicle starts to slide to the side, don’t use your brakes. Accelerate gently to regain control. Keep steering wheel straight at all times, and know the position of your front wheels. By the same token, don’t try to change gear during a descent. If you depress the clutch, the vehicle could speed out of control down the hill.

Tip: If you stall, follow the stall-start procedure, but check that no obstacles such as ruts or rocks in front of your vehicle caused the stall.

Driving on gravel roads: This is stock-in-trade for 4x4s, but driver concentration needs to be high to avoid certain dangers, especially as many of these roads are travelled at speed. Drive in 4x4 high range for better traction and control.
Chief among the dangers are soft sand on the verge of the road and gravel roads that slope downwards from the centre to the verges. In the case of the latter, vehicles must be driven at an angle and hard braking or violent movement of the steering wheel should be avoided, as they could cause the vehicle to roll. Another danger is stones and dust thrown up from oncoming or passing vehicles. The sensible driver will slow right down as will the courteous driver. Dust can be particularly deadly at speed because drivers’ vision is impaired and they are often oblivious to obstacles or sharp turns ahead. The wise driver always negotiates gravel roads with their headlights on. Surface change on gravel roads can also be dangerous and sensitivity to this is vital.
Ruts and deep holes are common on gravel roads and usually present problems. However, if you see a deep rut in the road while you are travelling at speed, hit the brakes without locking them. Just before you hit the rut, accelerate over it. This should lift the front and save your suspension from damage. Many gravel roads are badly corrugated, which can cause severe damage to a vehicle’s suspension if taken at speed.

Tip: Wheelspin under any conditions causes loss of traction — back off the accelerator to regain traction. Ultimately wheelspin damages the environment and digs you in!

Snow: In light snow tyres will grip through the top surface or crust. Keep a steady speed and brake carefully. When in deep snow accelerate judiciously to avoid wheelspin. Be careful of building a wall of snow in front of your vehicle and be aware of possible hidden obstacles.