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Off-roading is always an exciting adventure. It involves the thrill of getting off the beaten path, challenging your driving skills, and testing your vehicle’s limits. If that sounds like something you enjoy, then off-roading is for you.
If you’re new to off-roading, start with something easy like green-laning, work up to multi-day cross-country adventures or mudding, and slowly ease yourself into dune bashing. Rock crawling tests your driving skills but requires vehicle modifications. For those who like to go on extended adventures, try overlanding, but pack enough gear to be self-sufficient.
Now, let’s dive in and get dirty.
Green Laning
Green laning is the most accessible form of off-roading, making it the best activity for beginners. It involves driving on unpaved roads or trails designated for off-roading. It’s called green-laning since you follow routes even though they’re typically covered in grass or weeds.
The style also requires the least preparation and can be done as a leisurely day trip. Depending on the route conditions, you can use an all-wheel drive and camp in your SUV.
Even though the trips are often short, you should bring a power supply to recharge devices, play music, or run lights while cooking dinner. The EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max + 160W Solar Panel is perfect for short trips and even weekend campouts since you can recharge it during the day with the portable solar panel.
Mudding
Mudding is a lot of fun. It’s all about driving through the mud and getting dirty. It’s safer than dune bashing or rock crawling since you’re unlikely to roll your vehicle, but you will get stuck, and that’s all part of the fun.
Ensure you have a tow rope and a mate to pull you out. If you’re alone, a winch can be used instead.
Dune Bashing
Dune bashing is just what it sounds like: having fun in dunes. There are no routes to follow; you simply drive up and down the dunes, trying not to get stuck or rollover. Since you’re likely to do one or both of those, it’s not recommended for beginners or those travelling alone since you may need a mate to help you out of a tricky situation.
Before you try it, consider investing in all-terrain tyres for better traction on loose sand. You can also deflate the tyres below the recommended air pressure, increasing their surface area on the sand and making you less likely to get stuck.
Bring a friend in a separate vehicle, and take it slow. If you get really serious, invest in a roll cage since dune-bashing significantly increases the likelihood of rolling over.
Finally, given that dunes have no shade, be sure to pack a cooler with ice, plenty of water, and an EcoFlow Wave 2 Portable AC for the ultimate cool comfort.
Rock Crawling
As the name suggests, rock crawling is when you use your 4WD to crawl over rocky terrain that may or may not have established routes. It’s only for offroaders who have had plenty of experience with other forms of off-roading since it requires skills in maneuvering over rocks and often steep terrain.
It also typically involves vehicle modifications like lift kits, larger tyres, tough bumpers, a roll cage, and winches. Having a spotter outside the vehicle is a good idea since they can get a better view of challenging terrain and help direct you over and around obstacles.
Cross-Country
Cross-country requires overnight stays, so plan for 4WD camping and bring all your necessary gear. The nice thing about this is that you can combine it with all other off-roading types for the ultimate long weekend or multi-day adventure.
Ensure you’re prepared for different conditions and have repair tools in case you break down on one of your adventures.
Another thing to remember is to bring some extra power with you to charge your phones and tablets and run LED lights or music at night in camp. The EcoFlow Smart Generator is a good choice since it can be charged with solar panels, petrol, or propane gas.
Overlanding
Overlanding is a term used to describe travelling cross-country over considerable distances where the journey matters, not the destination. It means lots of off-roading but less focus on things like dune bashing or rock crawling since it is about distance rather than 4WD skills.
If you go overlanding, ensuring you have your essential accessories is critical since you will be far from help or supplies. You should also bring a generator like the EcoFlow DELTA 2 MAX since it has plenty of power for extended trips to the outback.
If you don’t plan to stop long enough to charge it with solar panels, bring an EcoFlow 800w Alternator Charger to recharge it while you drive for the ultimate convenience and efficiency. Also, be sure to pack plenty of extra petrol since it will take some time before solar 4WD vehicles are available in the marketplace.
Frequently Asked Questions
The main categories of offroading are green laning, dune bashing, mudding, cross country, rock crawling, and overlanding. Green laning is best for beginners who can venture into cross-country, mudding and dune bashing. Rock crawling and overlanding are for more serious off-roaders and require more skills, planning, or preparation.
Final Thoughts
Off-roading is always an exciting adventure, from beginners trying their hand at green laning to a bit more experienced adventurers trying mudding or cross country. With some extra vehicle improvements like better tyres and a roll cage, you can try dune bashing or rock crawling, but never go alone; if you roll over, you will want a mate to help get you out.
Finally, for those who see the journey as an adventure, overlanding on multi-day to even months-long adventures is extra challenging but requires careful planning and self-sufficiency. No matter what adventure you choose, an EcoFlow 800w Alternator Charger is a good idea for charging spare batteries, power stations, or devices on the go.