4WD Driving Skills & Rules

There is no simple rule for what gear you should use to negotiate any particular obstacle ie. water crossings, mud, sand, snow, rock steps. But here are a few tips:

Caused by driving in 4WD on bitumen or non-slip surfaces, the transmission locks and the vehicle will not move forward. It can also be caused by uneven rolling diameters of tyres. If you suspect transmission wind-up is starting, reverse and shift to high 4. You can also jack one wheel off the ground then shift to high 2. Always check that all four tyres either have the same pressures or at least even diameter (heavy loads in rear often bulge tyres) before engaging 4WD.

If you've never used a snatch-strap, winch, or dead-man-anchor and have no idea what these things are then its a good idea to get onto a 4WD Driver Training Course where you can get hands-on experience using recovery tools and increase your knowledge about what type/size/specification to buy for your vehicle.

On of the most common recovery situation in Australia is getting bogged in sand. Thankfully, its also one of the easiest to get out of.

Sand driving isn't particularly difficult as long as you obey some basic rules:

• Always carry a good quality air compressor. The cheaper variety ($70) from your regular car accessory shop is not adequate. These models usually run off the cigarette lighter plug and quickly burn out. Remember it takes about 30mins to inflate all 4 tyres after sand driving to acceptable levels for driving on bitumen. These compressors are only designed to inflate one tyre at a time (handy for a slow leak). The larger capacity air compressors enable tyres to be inflated continuously without overheating and usually in half the time.


• Don't be afraid to deflate your tyres (you can go down to 10psi without damage in soft sand if you absolutely have to)


• Never drive over 60km/hr on deflated tyres


• Inflate tyres as soon as you pass the soft sections to prolong the life of your tyres


• Avoid driving deflated tyres on bitumen (if you have to, keep speed to under 50km/hr).

If you get stuck in sand, firstly check that you have engaged your hubs and are in 4WD. Once stopped, first try reversing over your tracks. If you cannot get out of the bog in reverse in one try, get out and deflate tyres more. Check that the diff is clear - usually by now it is deep in the sand and you'll need to dig it out with a long-handled spade. If the sand is particularly soft it sometimes helps to clear 4 tracks - one for each tyre. This is also a good method for reversing out of a bog.

Select a gear that will get you out of the bog without digging yourself in further. Try H2. Give it some revs to get out of the bog and onto a firmer patch.

When driving on beaches never park on the wet section of sand. Vehicles have been known to sink into the sand and slip into the sea. Always park your vehicle with the nose pointing to the sea and if doing a u-turn always drive towards the waterline so that the turning tyres are in firmer sand than if you turned with the vehicle positioned nose uphill where the weight of the vehicle would weigh down the driving wheels in the soft sand. If you're having troubles driving along the beach (parallel to the water line) and find the vehicle is wanting to slip sideways (usually rear to the water), point your wheels to the sea slightly instead of away - its the rear of these heavy vehicles that wants to slip down the slope and doing so will give the vehicle a chance to get enough momentum up to get out of trouble.

ALWAYS carry a tide chart for the beach that you are travelling along and try to travel at low tide.

You should never enter a water crossing without knowing its depth and possibly the type of creek bed. Is it rocky, muddy or sandy? Most people get out and walk the crossing first, checking for dips and holes and finding the shallowest path. Central locking should be disengaged and all windows should be DOWN because if the car stalls or electrics short you don't want to be trapped inside.

Water crossings in northern Australia (Far North Qld, Kimberley, Top End) are often inhabited by crocodiles so its not advisable to walk these rivers. You can either follow a convoy or back track and find an alternative route.

If the water level is above tyre height or axle deep you should not cross unless you have prepared your vehicle. A 4WD club can show you how to extend your diff breathers or you can this task done by a 4WD Servicing Mechanic, plus you should use a radiator blind. Essentially, this is a ground sheet wrapped around the front of the car under the bonnet to prevent water flowing back around the radiator and drowning the engine.

You must not change gear whilst travelling through water. So always enter slowly in 4WD low range. Exits are often slippery and steep. Keep going until you are clear of the water and on higher ground. You should stop on your brakes to drain the car of excess water whilst it is still on a slope if possible.

If you do stall and cannot immediately restart you must not continue trying. You will have to be winched out. Check no water has entered the air intake, which will fill the cylinders. For more information see our Snorkel article.

Corrugations can be terrible for both the passenger's comfort and the vehicle. Nuts, bolts and screws, pipes etc can easily rattle loose in a short period of time. Many outback roads in Australia are heavily corrugated but there are two things that will ease the comfort factor.

Tyre Pressure

To ease the comfort of the ride and to aid in traction on particularly bad corrugations such as the Gibb River Road it is best to reduce tyre pressures about 4 to 6 psi lower than what you run on the bitumen. Very rough and stony country such as the Birdsville Track can handle even softer tyre pressures. This may not seem to make sense at first, but if you consider that your tyre is just like a balloon being bounced over sharp objects then you can see how the higher pressure would make it more prone to "popping".

Speed

It is also far preferable to keep speed constant and if you feel confident to handle your vehicle in prevailing conditions then try to aim around 85km/hr. You will find that you can "ride" over the worst of the corrugations at this pace. Any faster can be dangerous, slower and the corrugations may shake you and your vehicle to pieces. There is no perfect tyre or tyre pressure and a combination of luck, speed and driver skill will be the secret to minimising flat tyres and maximising tyre wear.

Suspension

One of the main reasons you would consider altering the suspension on your 4WD vehicle is improved ride. For many people the standard vehicle suspension is just not suitable for the heavy load put upon it when fully geared up for touring - fuel, water and supplies can add up to about a tonne and that's usually directly over the rear suspension.

Of course, if you've already bottomed out your suspension with the load when the vehicle is stationary, imagine what's going to happened when you hit the corrugations! Adding a few inches of suspension will not only feel more comfortable to the driver and passengers, but it will improve general handling of the vehicle which is a valid safety consideration. For a more detailed discussion on the need for suspension adjustment, see our Suspension article.

Bulldust is a fine talcum powder-like dust that is very common on outback Australian tracks. It often occurs in areas where the track gets wet then dries and breaks up into fine dust. It is particularly prevalent in areas in the far north where it is boggy in the wet season and bone dry in the dry when the majority of traffic breaks up the track.

Bulldust is very deceptive. Looking out your front windscreen it looks like smooth hard patches but in fact it usually is a fine covering of dust over a deep hole. Driving through bulldust at speed is very dangerous - try to avoid bulldust at all times. It can cause damage if sucked into engines too, so in very dusty areas you should have a filter on your air intake and check it regularly. For more information, see our Snorkel article.

In regard to safety, tyres play a more important part on a vehicle and trailer than any other single component.

If the tyres are not inflated correctly, or are the wrong type, the stability and ride of the car and trailer combination can be severely effected. Tyre pressures are best checked when cool, hot tyres give an incorrect reading. And don't forget that tyres on an off-road trailer can be inflated and deflated to suit conditions as you would your 4WD, especially in very soft, hot sand. See related trailers articles:
Travelling with Trailers & Campers and Choosing a Camper Trailer.

4WD clubs and organisations are abundant in Australia, which is a comforting thought when first starting out. Most, but not all, clubs offer driver training courses. Driver training is designed to give you confidence in both your vehicle and your own capabilities and limitations. Most courses will also teach you recovery skills such as winching, using a snatch strap, sand driving techniques and can provide opportunities to gain experience in small trips organised by other club members. Look out for driver training offerings prior to joining.

Knowing what you can and can't do with your 4WD requires a certain amount of skill, loads of practise off-road in all conditions and terrains, and most importantly - confidence. Clubs are designed to provide this kind of confidence. See our list of active 4WD clubs Australiawide.

We highly recommend that all people who own a 4WD vehicle take a specific 4WD training course.

Driver Training courses are often structured by skill type, beginning with an introductory course which should cover theoretical concepts such as the mechanics of 4WD transmission, driving techniques for various terrains, plus recovery techniques, and an overview of various equipment and tools that you should have in your vehicle at all times when travelling offroad.

Your introductory course should include some some driving practise on bush tracks so that you can attempt your first river crossing, hill climb, steep descent, and rock steps in the company of an experienced trainer. You should then be able to select additional course modules such as Sand Driving, Mud Driving, Vehicle Recovery, Bush Maintenance/Servicing etc to further increase your knowledge and skills.

The advantage of watching other vehicles on course is enormous. There is much to be learned about 4WDing techniques through observance. You will find it fascinating to see how various makes and models handle obstacles quite differently and being out of your vehicle whilst another is driving past gives you a great vantage point to clearly see things likes the importance of wheel placement which you cannot appreciate when sitting behind your own steering wheel.

Recently there has been a swing towards these courses being accredited. This benefits you because it ensures a consistent standard is taught to drivers including terminology, concepts and actual driving techniques. So make sure that if you are paying for a course, you get an an accredited one! See our Driver Training article to understand what you need to know before choosing a 4WD Trainer.