What is off-roading? Well, although uneven and rocky roads might be some drivers’ worst nightmare, 4×4 adventurers revel in the humps and bumps of untamed paths. And for the die-hard adrenaline junkies we call ‘off-roaders,’ no road at all is often the treasure trove.
At Classic Overland, we thrive on putting you behind the wheel of a Defender that inspires you to travel to remote places. We have travelled far and wide, and we bring home our experiences in the wild and use them to inspire the custom Defenders we build.
Read below as we discuss the different types of off-roading and how you can embrace the art of getting lost.
What is Off-Roading: It’s All About the Journey
In simple terms, off-roading is the act of driving on anything that isn’t smooth or paved ground. And off-roaders take part in this activity for different reasons. Some enjoy the natural scenery that their off-road journeys graciously provide, while others want to put their 4×4 driving skills to the test.
Whatever the reason, one thing all off-roaders can agree on is that it’s all about the journey. There is as much bliss in following the open road to an unknown place as there is in taking the long, scenic route to your getaway destination.
However, what makes the journey even more exciting is taking on the beaten path with your custom Land Rover Defender. At Classic Overland, we build and restore your off-roadster according to your adventuring needs. So when you head off, everything you need to have the best off-roading experiencing is all inside your vehicle.
Discovering a New Lingo: Some Off-Roading Jargon You Need to Know
You’ve got to walk before you can run, or in this case, drive. Here are a few important off-roading terms to know (and understand) so you can be a part of the club:
1. Get a Grip: Traction
Traction is one of the most important factors contributing to your off-roading journeys’ success or failure. It essentially refers to the grip your tires have on the surface(s) you drive on.
Good traction is dependent on four things:
- The type of tires you use
- The size
- Air pressure
- Using four-wheel drive (4WD)
To put things in perspective, a tire with a bigger tread is ideal for getting through mud. And the lower your tire pressure, the easier it is for it to grab onto the surfaces you’re driving on.
2. Keep Going: Momentum
Your 4×4’s momentum is its mass multiplied by its speed (velocity). Although your Defender’s weight is more or less constant, you have control over its speed. Therefore, this is what determines things like how quickly you get to the top of a hill.
What kills momentum is friction between your tires and the surface and gravity.
3. Get Your Hands (and Wheels) Dirty: Mudding
Do you have a dream adventure that involves your caking your Defender in mud? Spinning your wheels as mud splashes everywhere? Well, then mudding may just be the thing for you.
Consider mudding a brilliant excuse to be a child again and to get down and dirty with your Defender. There’s so much fun in slipping and sliding through a muddy pit and making it out on the other side. However, you get different kinds of mud, and they each come with their own challenges too.
The main trick is to drive fast enough to avoid sinking and slow enough to avoid obstacles lurking underneath.
4. Smash the Sand: Dune Bashing
Most off-roaders consider a sand dune journey a bucket-list adventure for themselves and their 4×4. Dune bashing refers to getting your Defender over sand dunes, which takes a combination of the technique you use for mudding and getting over hills.
It’s important to know your off-roading angles when partaking in sand (or any other terrain) bashing. They are as follows:
- The approach angle (the max angle of an obstacle in front of your vehicle)
- The break-over angle (the max angle of an obstacle in the middle/bottom of your vehicle)
- The departure angle (the max angle of an obstacle at the rear of the vehicle)
Using the above angles, you can assess your obstacles ahead. You should avoid taking on obstacles that are steeper than your specific car’s approach, break-over and departure angles to avoid getting stuck or damaging your vehicle.
Maintaining momentum is also vital when driving on sand. You want to maintain enough speed to drive up the dune without stopping until you reach the top. Using wider tires will also prevent your vehicle from sinking.
Off-Road in a Defender From Classic Overland
There are so many adventures that await you, and there’s no better way than to take them on in a Defender you love. At Classic Overland, we live, eat and breathe off-roading. So, we know how important it is to have a 4×4 that makes your independent travel exciting and convenient.
We use our off-roading experiences to inspire the Land Rover Defenders that drive out of our shop. And we also personalise your vehicle according to what you need to make each adventure better than the last.
Contact us today, and we’ll get you onto the beaten path in a Defender made more adventure.