Top 10 tips for off-roading

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Ryan Emery
  • 48th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  As an avid off-road enthusiast with more than 15 years of experience, and as a key member of the Lakenheath Off-road Club, here's a list of the top 10 safety tips during the summer season:

1. Let someone know where you're going and when you'll be expected to return and, always have at least one additional vehicle with you. This ensures you'll have transportation if your vehicle becomes stuck or damaged to the point of being unrecoverable.

2. Everyone needs to wear a seatbelt. You and your passengers will get jostled and thrown around on most trails, and the possibility of a rollover exists at any time.

3. Ensure everyone in the vehicle is briefed to keep arms and legs inside the vehicle unless stopped on level terrain. In the event of landing the rig on its side or a roll-over, limbs don't stand a chance against a 4,000-6,000 pound rig.

4. Ensure at least one vehicle has a robust first aid kit. Be prepared for anything from deep cuts to broken limbs. It's best to follow the advice of the Boy Scouts, and be prepared.

5. Every vehicle should have a properly-inflated, full-sized spare tire. The small "donut" tires do no good when you're miles away from the nearest paved road.

6. Bring simple hand tools and small spare parts for common breaks. A cheap socket set and spare U-joints with some electrical connectors and electrical tape should suffice.

7. When pulling out a stuck vehicle, with either a tow strap or winch, ensure bystanders are not within a circle of the length of the strap or winch cable. If the tow device breaks, it can become a whip than can cause serious injury or damage to vehicles.

8. When using a jack to lift a rig off-road, ensure you have a stable surface under the jack as it can sink into the ground or shift, causing the rig to fall, potentially causing serious injury or death. A good idea is to carry either a purpose-built, off-road jack base or a 10"x10" wood block to use as a base.  

9. Have at least one fire extinguisher rated for electrical and oil fires easily accessible and safely mounted in a rig. The extra 10 seconds it takes to dig through your equipment to find the extinguisher could mean losing your expensive off-road rig.

10. And finally, familiarize yourself with all of your vehicles tow-points and the proper use and function of all your gear. Pull out your winch line and know how to hook it up and properly pull with it. Try jacking your rig up in your driveway and yard to see how it performs on different surfaces. Also, inspect your straps or winch cable for frays, cuts or tears prior to going out and also before and after each use.

Enjoy the trails this summer, and remember to stay safe!