When you go off-piste, you know there are going to be lots of obstacles. That being said, you probably don’t know what they’re going to be. For this reason, you have to make sure that you choose a car that can tackle just about anything. If you don’t, then you may find that you end up compromising your adventures.
Dirt-Road Exploring
It doesn’t matter which roads you plan on navigating, because you probably need a motor that has a high ground clearance. You also want something that has a high centre crown so you can navigate the odd rocky stretch. A lot of SUVs can probably handle dirt roads, but ideally you need to try and choose one with all-wheel-drive capability. This will give you much better traction, and it’ll help you if you have any steep climbs or if you’re having to deal with slippery conditions.
Overlanding
Overlanding is when you drive to a remote location and you need to take enough gear to survive for a few days. For this, it’s recommended that you opt for a four-wheel-drive that includes low range. This will help you to climb steep slopes and it’ll give you the chance to plough through, and over, anything. You may also need to choose a car that comes with some nice shock absorbers so that you can handle the increased weight.
Cars Built for Off-roading
Even though a lot of manufacturers sell cars that are made for off-roading, some people like to buy used vehicles and then add modifications to them. This is a good way for you to get the car you want. It’s entirely possible for you to buy a used Range Rover and then upgrade it yourself. You can add modifications, such as bigger tyres and shock absorbers. But you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get the car you want; you might be surprised at how easy it is for you to get a great result without much trouble.
Before You Pay
Experts will often say you need to understand what you’re getting yourself into when you buy an off-road vehicle. You need to go through some forums and you need to put the time and effort in to learn the conditions that you’re going to be driving in. You can watch YouTube videos to find out more about the cars you should be thinking about as well. Buying a used vehicle with modifications can save you money sometimes, because the modifications probably won’t be included in the guideline pricing. With any used car purchase, it’s a good idea for you to try and get a vehicle history report so that you can take the car to your mechanic and know that it’s all good. Test-driving in some off-road conditions might not be possible, but at least drive it over some rough terrain to see how the suspension handles.
If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it!
