OFFROADING is a learned process....

I don't know if this is a topic of debate but its something to consider anyway , every person that offroads started as rookies, me, you & them, that said, your first experience may have been in an old truck on a relatives ranch,farm(as was mine when I was 10 years old) etc; I guess what I'm getting at is that its no crime to get stuck, getting stuck trying that hill you always wanted to climb or that muddy bog is something you have to try, to gain experience,confidence in yourself & your vehicle. Getting stuck is embarrassing but not shameful & definintely educational & the next time you encounter that situation hopefully you'll either have acquired the skill necessary to negotiate the terrain that you were stuck in before or you'll have the knowledge to know that the terrain that stopped you before is too aggressive to be climbed,slogged thru etc; Which brings me to this belief & I believe that successful offroading is a percentage thing & I think that its about 35 %-40% vehicle & at least 60 % driver if not more, don't get me wrong ,a properly outfitted 4x with a reasonable lift & suspension does wonders for the trail but NO MOD, NO LIFT& NO AMOUNT of tricked out suspension is a subsitute for common sense & thinking the situation thru, some situations call for balls to the wall acceleration & driving, others call for much less throttle & much more thinking, I'm almost 52 & bought my first 4x in 1974 & the first thing I did when I got it was to hang up both front & rear bumpers in a short narrow,steep dip, you could literally walk underneath my truck without ducking your head, point is that its ok to get stuck as long as you learn something about it, I've been stuck before & no doubt will again but I learn something everytime & to those who say "I never get stuck" I can only conclude that the trails you frequent are 2x friendly & offer no real challenge at all, & thats fine if thats all you want to do but for me I have a 4x because I like to challenge myself & my truck once in awhile..

Don't you ???....

 

Well said Doug!

 

Getting stuck FTMFW!!!

 

amen to that!

 

x2

 

Like my sticker on the back window of my truck says... "If you aint stuck, you aint tryin!" Also the reason I own a winch

 

Whiches are for women and children, I use a shovel and a few hours

 

I did that... but after enough times, you'll break down and fork out the cash for a winch too(especially when you're stuck in 3ft of snow at 12am on the side of a mountain 25 miles from the nearest town)!

 

Amen to that! I went mudding for the first time last week and got stuck 3 times..or was it 4. Anyway, I'm thankful thekidcatcher has a winch!

 

Its happened I set up shop for a camp fire made a snow cave and called it a night

 

nice! thats hardcore! To be fair, there were 4 guys and 2 trucks that night. After I got stuck, my friend came to get me in his Tacoma but didnt even make it as far as I did despite having a locker and 12.50's compared to my narrow 10" wide tires and limited slip diff. I had a small shovel, come-a-long, and several tow straps. Took us about an hr to get mine out and then 5 minutes for me to get my friends pulled out. Fun times

 

We'll see you in the doctors office trying to remedy your aching back.

While you're digging, the rest of us (who use a winch) will be enjoying the rest of the trails without you. Adios!!

 

Nice post!!

After 9 years of offroading, i've learned that Offroading is kinda like - 'ANYTHING GOES'

**Offroading is different things to different people.
**The terrain & experiences are different no matter how many years you've wheeled.
**There's no score keeping & no competition although some people like to 'prove themselves' above & beyond their fellow wheelers (and there are professional offroading competitions out there).
**You can wheel in just about anything you want, even a 2WD car if you dare to do it.
**You can wheel your daily driver or build just about anything you want.
**You don't need any special equipment, just a vehicle.
**You can build an offroad rig on the smallest of budgets or the biggest of budgets
**You can do the work yourself, or you can pay someone else to do it.
**You can go with traditional suspensions/build processes or you can build your own crazy contraptions
** and the list goes on....

I think....of everything that is OFFROADING.... the most important part that everyone needs to agree to and be religious about - is SAFETY & RESPECTING THE LAND.

1) Never Offroad alone!!! There might be cases or situations where you might think its OK to go alone - but everyone should think twice about what could happen if you're out there alone and nobody can find you.
2) Always wear your seatbelts!! On or offroad...wear your seatbelts!! PERIOD.
3) Tread Lightly!! If you want to prevent the trails from closing, you must respect the land, the land owners, and the laws. Only offroad where its legal to do so and/or you get permission.
4) Respect for All!! Have respect for everyone who's on the trails regardless of what vehicles they drive, what experiences they have, and their actions. Give & get help where needed.
5) THINK!! Use your brain and think before you act. Offroading is about making a lot of decisions as you tackle the terrain. Take time to make your driving skills SAFE. SAFE on you, SAFE on your vehicle, and SAFE for the other people around you. It's OK to make a mistake and get stuck, but its not OK when you hurt someone in the process.

Sorry, just yacking.......
Offroading is addicting. I started in 99 with my 96 tacoma. Had some awesome times over the years. I don't offroad anymore....it's something that comes & goes in life. I've seen lots of poeple come & go, but the memories last forever.

 

Ten Commandments of offroading.

1. If you haven't been stuck, you haven't been offroading.

2. Winches are worth their weight in gold.

3. Carry more than one shovel. Passengers are good for something, right?

4. Always fill up at the last available chance before hitting the trail

5. Communication should be redundant. Cell phone, FRS/MMRS, CB, etc. The more, the better.

6. Dig more than you think you need to. It means getting out the first time instead of the third, and each attempt ruins all your digging efforts. Also reduces your chance of damaging your vehicle.

7. Four wheel drive does not equal four wheel stop.

8. Wheel placement, wheel placement, wheel placement. Think about all four wheels. Think about your differential(s). Take it slow and get creative, and you can get up/through a lot more than you think possible.

9. Stay legal - that way when you get stuck, you don't have to worry about things going from bad to worse. Plus, most insurance companies will still cover you if you're on a forest road or fire road, not if you're trespassing.

10. Armor saves - the same way body armor saves lives, armor (bumpers, sliders, etc.) saves paint/body panels. Sliders are cheaper than doors - a lot cheaper.

 

you arent wheeling till you get stuck!!!! good post!!!

 

x2. I got stuck last week in mud. And I got stuck today. I really dont get embarassed at all because I have the balls to at least try it, compared to many others who rather sit back and "play it safe".

 

Don't go there. I got a thread closed wth talk of that.

 

Getting stuck is part of wheeling.

It doesn't truly get fun until you are going through or over something and you ain't sure if you are gonna make it all the way across until you get there.(or don't)