How to off-road | a beginner's guide | Autocar

Imagine, then, that you've got a 4x4, SUV or even a crossover and fancy putting some of its off-road potential to good use. Well, let Autocar bring you an essential guide.

We took a Suzuki Jimny and a For Ranger Raptor to our favourite quarry in the depths of last winter, for some essential messing around.

Off-roading can be, to our eyes, just as much fun as track or road driving - a good, gentle day out that challenges yourself and the car. Here are a few tips to get you started.

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Autocar, the world's leading motoring magazine and website, delivers industry-leading news, the most in-depth car reviews and opinion from our team of experts. Our presenters include some of the world's top motoring journalists who have unrivalled access to the world's fastest, rarest, most exotic and most exciting cars on some of the world's best roads and race tracks.

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[joesilver]

Yeah, having two people talk over each other definitely helps. Lesson learnt👍

[fraptor]

It's so annoying that all these off-road videos never put all terrains on the jimny and then complain that it struggles with traction 😔

[Rinifi]

I owned a Suzuki SX4 and loved it. If Suzuki hadn't abandoned the United States I would stand in line for a day to purchase a Jimny. So many vehicles from many manufacturers are not available here. What a shame.

[thgearouttahere]

Looking forward to the next installment!

[MrTomwinter]

The increased number of turns to the lock means that if the wheel kicks it spins really fast! It has the extra turns to make the steering unresponsive and to put less strain on the power steering. Believe me a steering system with alot of turns to the lock can really hurt.

[sheerwillsurvival]

In police pursuit driving we are taught to shuffle steering so your hands and arms don’t cross. Great video for the new bees out there

[JamieM]

As slow as possible but as fast as necessary

[boderick]

Although air intake is a crucial limit to wading for hydro-locking, on modern cars waterproofing of electrics and electronic modules is as important.

[vincentcornelius]

I was looking forward to watching this video as I am a newbie at off road and have a Range Rover I want to take off road. I don’t think the video’s helped at all, the content lacked structure and didn’t seem aimed at the beginner level. It’s a shame because there obviously has been a lot of effort put into making the video. Like off-roading, video making is a skill and not everyone on YouTube has it. It was a missed opportunity,

[sbomorse]

Where was this filmed? I recognise this place from Carwow's recent off road video.

[unclebob]

good video may i suggest that you get new recovery equipment the stuff you have is not safe to use for a recovery, you can get a local off road shop to sponsor you guys for this and its yours for free, looking forward to the next video in this group

[veefd]

having worked on nature reserves, you need much more equipment than that to go offroading! A spare tyre is essential, as is the equipment to change said tyre 😅 A hefty jack, toolkit with wrenches, etc! sigh

[murometz]

one thing i don't understand is why do many drivers like to use the same muddy water logged deeply sunken tracks left by other vehicles wheels that were also stuck before.
I mean the area around the 2 wheel tracks are not as muddy, less water and visibly more intact, why don't they use it ? surely the chances of getting stuck will be less, right ?

[cunawarit]

This is the most non-technical off-road conversation I've ever heard "that hop thing". It's like a couple of beginners chewing the fat, well... It would be if one didn't keep interrupting the other!

[karlfranks]

Can someone post details of this facility please?

[nhlakaniphozimu]

The older guy doesn't give the younger guy a chance to speak and finish his sentence, he just wants to talk and talk non-stop... He is talking sense by the way, the problem is that the other guy needs a chance to talk too

[veefd]

if this was a proper beginner's guide, they'd have explained at the start why it is that the driver can let go of the steering wheel completely while driving. Many newbies might be wondering why he does that, while the steering wheel carries on turning on its own. (It's because of the peculiarities of driving along ruts - the truck's wheels turning the steering wheel etc). Driving ruts is one the crucial things to teach newbies, that is hardest to get one's head round. If you want to learn off-roading, do a proper day course with a specialist centre...

[simonhutton]

The water container isn’t even full and a couple of halfords straps. As for that spade. Its embarrassing for us Brits. Honestly other country’s will think this is cute.

[gtrmac]

Please please for anyone planning to do some proper off roading do not listen to these numpties. They are excellent with road and race cars etc. If you want proper advice get some training with someone that knows what they are doing!

[richardedwards]

Using one hand on the steering wheel and thumbs inside steering wheel a disaster..steer properly