Practice Makes Perfect: 
Preparing For Your Next Off-highway Adventure

By Mark Filonowich
Contributing Writer

Technology is an amazing thing. I hit my high trajectory golf balls with my graphite shafted, titanium-faced driver further than I ever could have with my old woods. Unfortunately, I now have to go deeper into the woods to find the ball that I sliced out of bounds. Of course, instead of spending my money on these fancy widgets, I realize now that I would have best been served if I had spent time on the practice tee, perfecting my technique.

 

Off-highway travel has not been overlooked by the technology explosion. Today you can purchase a capable, selectable locked vehicle with upgraded axles and a creepy-low transfer case that comes with special tires and a factory warranty. The Rubicon is an amazing Jeep, and has more features at the showroom floor than many vehicles (including my own) which have undergone expensive transformations.

 

Advertisement

The focus of this issue’s column is not technology, but practice. Good technique means being able to put a tire on a particular rock almost unconsciously. It means having the right amount of momentum to get over a steep hill easily. And it means knowing how to get through that mud hole with minimal impact and maximum grace.

 

Practice is something you can do most of the time you are on the trail. Focus on taking good lines through (or over) obstacles. Position yourself to put smaller, single rocks on the trail under your passenger side tire. If you are really good, roll over the rock with your passenger side rear tire only. Knowing exactly where your tires are is critical to ‘wheeling’ advanced trails. Using a spotter is quite often required, but easier sections of the trail can be easily traversed by a skilled driver who pays attention to taking proper lines. Teach yourself to be that skilled driver.

 

For hill climbing, practice momentum with small hills and work up towards bigger climbs. The key is to make it to the top (and over) without “catching air”, or stalling before the crest. Our classes cover hill climbs very early on the first day because “gravity thrills and gravity kills”. You can roll your vehicle over and hurt yourself (or others) on a hill much easier than on most flat trails. If you don’t have enough momentum and stall before reaching the top, the technique is to quickly shift into reverse, and carefully drive backward down the hill. Because you are going backward, steering is reversed (and very twitchy). Stay off the brakes (feather them, do not stomp) or you will lock up and skid out of control. When you get to the bottom, review what just happened. Do you need to be in a different gear? Do you need more speed at the base of the hill? What can you do differently to crest the hill gracefully? Is it time to pull out a winch cable or find an alternate route altogether?

 

For mud holes, practice mud techniques by carefully entering the hole and making steady progress. I do not recommend “blasting” into mud because you do not know what lies beneath the surface. A large rock or stump can quickly put a damper on your day if you break something that is critical, and it’s no fun fixing broken parts in the middle of the mud. As your forward progress slows, try sawing your steering wheel back and forth. Sometimes the sidewall of the tire can grab new traction and keep you moving. If that doesn’t work, try backing directly out through your existing tracks. Worst case, you’ll need a tow strap and a bit of help from a buddy.

 

After your technique is smooth enough to negotiate most trail obstacles, reach down and touch that button for the selectable lockers. There’s nothing wrong with using the best technology available to make your trip enjoyable. But don’t count on replacing good technique with high tech…or you might find yourself slicing out of bounds instead of staying on the fairway!

Freek Technique

Countdown

JPF Gear