| KEYS to Successful Offroading | ||
| Personal Preparation | Vehicle Preparation | Trip Preparation |
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Right
Thinking
- stay loose! stay focused! and let
COMMON SENSE rule! Right Attitude
- you're not the only one using the trail and its environs - courtesy &
'right-thinking' are utmost - Tread lightly and take out EVERYTHING you take
in. Right Actions - Know & do the RIGHT THING, even if its inconvenient - Read & Follow Trail Etiquette Guidelines
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Know Your Vehicle
- the best way to learn about
your vehicle is to
do your own maintenance! Maintain Your Vehicle - Offroading requires a much more in-depth & accelerated maintenance program. Vehicles should have a complete check before & after each offroad trip. If your offroading trip is more than just a couple of days or in bad weather or rough country, a complete check should be taken each day or two. Prepare Your Vehicle There is no substitute for proper maintenance. No matter what aftermarket stuff you install, if you don't properly maintain your vehicle - you will have nothing but problems while offroading, also severely reducing the life of your vehicle. Don't get cheap here! Use brand-name parts & materials, they cost more but they pay you back in the long run by better performance and durability. |
Know WHERE you're going
(and be sure to let
some RESPONSIBLE person, who's not going, know where you'll be & when) Know HOW to Get There - learn to use a map and map aids (GPS, Compass, etc.) Know WHAT to Expect -it's a really good idea to talk to someone who's actually been there (good guidebooks can be indispensable Know WHAT to take -prepare for the worst conditions - REMEMBER! Murphy's Law always prevails offroad! "the indestructible always breaks' ,'the unthinkable always happens', 'what you know you brought - you didn't' etc. etc. etc. |
| ►Vehicle Maintenance | ►Trip Checklist | |
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| 1 to 2 Weeks
Before Trip performing these checks early will give you enough time to make repairs &/or find and order parts. |
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| U | OK |
U
= when
item is inspected or checked
OK = when item is present, fully operational or completed |
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Make a list of important phone numbers in the Trip Area (such as hospitals, clinics, local law enforcement, BLM, Forest Service offices, local dealers & parts stores and a tow services that will go offroad . If using a cell phone start collecting and programming important phone numbers |
Links to Associated Pages |
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Make out trip checklist and start checking items | ►Trip Checklist |
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Perform maintenance & inspections on Vehicle Checklist | ► Vehicle Checklist |
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check First Aid Kit for completeness | ► First Aid Kit |
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check Recovery Kit for completeness | ► Recovery Kit |
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check toolbox for completeness | ► Tool List |
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check Spares List for completeness |
► Spares List |
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perform winch maintenance & inspection |
► Winch Maintenance |
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| Just before trip - day of or day before trip | |||
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notify a responsible person not going on trip of all pertinent information |
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Final check of Trip Checklist as items are loaded into vehicle | |
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check all fluid levels - look for any significant changes | |
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tire pressure - any significant changes since the first check |
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| After trip | |||
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let the person notified before the trip that you have returned | |
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be sure to wash vehicle as soon as possible after each offroad trip - this prevents carrying seeds, spores, insects, etc. out of their natural domain - also helps protect against excess wear on shocks & body rustout | |
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lube vehicle | |
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oil & filter change, change immediately after offroading on dusty trails | ||
| make a complete vehicle inspection for damage | |||
