When you long for the wilderness, the steep hills, and crooked turns of an off-road adventure, it’s time to pack your bags and get back out there.
The only problem is that your car was meant for the roads and has no idea of the journey you’re planning; leave it in the dark, and you might end up with an exhausted vehicle by the time you’re back on. It means extra expenses, and a potential breakdown in the middle of your journey.
If you have more money to spend on preparing it than you have on repairing it, we suggest you make use of these excellent ideas. It may not turn your regular and reliable car into an off-road beast, but it will make it a lot more likely to manage a strenuous wilderness adventure.
Make the inside reliable
When heading out on an off-road journey with a regular car, you need to make sure it’s up to date on the inside. Take it in for a service unless you’re particularly experienced with this yourself, and have them change the battery, the engine fluid, as well as anything else the owner’s manual tells you it’s time to replace – you know the drill.
Throw in a pair of jumper cables while you’re at it, and you can begin to feel a lot more confident about your summer trip.
It’s a good idea to make a few investments, if you can afford it, to help the car out with the steep terrain it needs to handle. Look at some of the suspension solutions of Pro Comp, for example, to keep your vehicle grounded and support it with some of the load.
Depend on the tyres
First of all, treat your old friend to a good set of all-terrain tyres. It doesn’t matter if you have topped up and changed every fluid there is, the batteries are in perfect condition or if the brake pedals are up to date when the tyres are too worn to cope.
It’s the last thing you’d want to be rolling on when the terrain gets tricky as they can’t grip as easily. What’s more, they will be more prone to punctures and tears.
In case you’re not quite ready to change your tyres yet, make sure you carry a puncture kit and an air compressor in case something should happen. It’s even more important if you’re going to take your economy car off-road with old and worn tyres – not driving with this kit is just asking for trouble.
Sure, carry a spare tyre as well. It’s something you always should do, in any way. The problem is that your chances for a puncture when driving on uneven terrain are so high; leave the repair kit and air compressor at home, and prepare to wait for road assistance for a good couple of hours. Here is an excellent article on fixing tyres.
As a car lover, you’re going to want the best for your ride, and a lot of these ideas will make sure it gives you a smooth drive for years to come.
