Badlands Off Road Adventures

Damage Mitigation

Thu, 10/13/2011 - 23:00

Damage Mitigation Almost 1000 miles new - on the Rubicon Of all the concerns expressed by my newer students, #1 is damage to a new or expensive vehicle. Thats understandable. You buy this special vehicle, then decide to take it off road. The last thing you want to see are marks and scratches.

I understand how you feel. That first ouch really hurts. Usually its just some minor scratches or pinstriping. But youre bummed nonetheless. Over time youll come to accept those, because youre having so much fun. Even so, there are some ways to minimize the damage.

One problem with stock vehicles is that they dont offer enough clearance on the approach and departure angle. Youre going to have some scrapes and dings on the bumper. Youre also likely to lose the air dam early on.

If you want to go off road, theres no avoiding some abuse. You will have to accept a certain amount of bruising in order to enjoy the trails. But its worth it. How to minimize damage to your vehicle Theres one very easy way to avoid damage to a new car, which Ill get to later. Lets look at some steps you can take now. By the way, these suggestions apply to all vehicles and four-wheelers, not just new ones.

The best advice I can give to all drivers is: Keep all four wheels on the ground and go slowly. By driving slowly you can pick good lines, and feel your way through a rough patch. Ask one of your buddies to spot for you as you approach an obstacle. Realize that whats under and really close to you is out of sight. Most of the undercarriage is pretty strong. You can scrape it but not hurt the vehicle. Its when you go airborne and drop it on a rock or other hard surface that you experience big problems.

Another good tip is to watch the vehicle in front of you. Observe how that driver faced the obstacle; what did and did not work. It may also help to get out and study the obstacle. Your perspective from inside the vehicle is different.

Consider adding armor to your vehicle. Most off-road vehicles come with a skid plate over the gas tank and a small one over the transfer case. Add those if they are missing. Even if yours has a transfer case skid plate, you may consider swapping it for an after-market model. OEM pieces arent that strong.

A really important item, though, is rock rails. The bottoms of the rock rail protect you from the effect of sliding on rocks and other stuff. The rails stick out three or four inches, and allow you to pivot away from rocks on the sides. Rock rails are critical, because the side panels are really vulnerable.

If you have a new Jeep you might look into covering it with "Jeep Skins" to protect the paint. Check out http://www.jeepskins.com.

The best mitigating factor is driving experience. As you gain experience, you learn how to read a trail and how best to address or avoid an obstacle. Avoiding obstacles not always best idea You may wonder: Why not avoid obstacles all the time? Surprisingly, thats not always the best advice.

Every trail has some sort of hazard. You can start on a mild trail, and then find yourself facing an obstacle that you cant avoid. You may not be able to drive around it or back up. Perhaps conditions on the trail behind you have changed.

Other times a driver tries to drive around a rock and ends up off-camber. The vehicle is on a bit of a slope with its wheels spinning. The driver is stuck. Plus, the vehicle drifts when spinning the wheels and slides against the rock; now theres no way to avoid damage.

In this case the better path wouldve been to pick a good, clean sight line up and over the rock. The vehicle would have been level and had traction on all four wheels.

Its good for you to learn how to drive through these conditions. If you can go around something safely, thats fine. Sometimes, though, the safest route is up and over the obstacle. It takes experience to make that call. How to avoid damaging a new car Buy a used car. Yep, thats right. Keep the nice one at home, and take the other one off road.

However, I think by now you can see that even a new vehicle has its place on the back roads. Plus, you may not be able to afford another vehicle. Dont deny yourself the fun and excitement of four-wheeling just because your vehicle is in pristine shape.

Follow the suggestions Ive listed here, and you can enjoy the great outdoors.

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Related Articles from Badlands Off-road Adventures

Did you miss the previous article?

Four-Wheeling Good for Families, Easy on Environment

4 Wheel Drive Radio Shows There are 2 four wheel drive radio shows you can listen to on-line or download as a podcast.

Petersen's 4Wheel & Off Road Radio

http://ernlive.com/shows/4-wheel-and-off-road-radio.html
On the left find a drop down called SHOWTIMES to select the podcast you want to listen to or down load.

The 4x4 PodCast

http://www.the4x4podcast.com

########################## Barstow to Vegas Aka Mojave Road - October 28

STILL TIME TO GO ON THIS TRIP!

On this trip we run the Mojave Road starting near Barstow and end up on the Colorado River about 95 miles south of Vegas. This is the way Miners traveling from LA made their way to the gold fields. Traveling the Mojave Road isn't a picnic but it is a great family style 4-Wheel drive trip / Expedition. It's a 3-day excursion, best made in convoy with other 4-wheelers. The Mojave Road was a main wagon trail for many years between the Beale wagon road in AZ and the West Coast. The terrain is mostly desert; some hills over the various mountain ranges; a dry lake; water crossings; canyons; and areas of soft sand. More Details

You can register at Barstow to Vegas Aka Mojave Road Registration

########################## T&T Rail Road Adventure in November

Our goal is to cross through Johnson Valley, enjoying what it has to offer, and making our way North along the old Tonopah & Tidewater (T&T) Rail Road bed to the Rasor OHV, Afton Canyon and the western edge of the Mojave Preserve. On the way we will skirt the Rodman Mountain Wilderness and cross I-40. This adventure is 2 days of scenic, historical, light wheeling and a night ( 2 if you prefer) of primitive camping under the stars. We can plan a Dutch Oven pot luck for our evening meal.
Check out the details and sign up on the website: http://www.4x4training.com/Adventures/TTRailroad.html

You can register directly at http://www.4x4training.com/calendar/calendar.php#TTRailroad

########################## Getting Started Off-road driving Clinic November12

The clinic is held in Hungry Valley State Vehicle Recreation Area near Gorman CA. This clinic is specifically designed to meet the needs of novice off-highway drivers or someone with a bit of experience who is looking for a more complete understanding. This is a one-day session. The session includes classroom and behind-the-wheel instruction. More Details...

You can register directly here

########################## Advanced Beginner Clinic November 13

The clinic is held in the El Paso Mountains near Mojave CA. The goal is to help you get a "better feel" for tire placement and to visualize the obstacles as they move into your blind zone. You will gain more behind the wheel experience combined with picking lines. The difficulty level is one step higher than the basic class and you can expect some pin striping. More Details...

You can register directly here

########################## Tread Trainer Clinic January 7, 2012

There is a Tread Lightly! Tread Trainer Clinic Jan 7, 2012. This year it will be held in Anaheim. You are encouraged to sign up for the Tread Lightly! Tread Trainer Certification Clinic. This is a one day course. There is a minimal fee of $25 to cover class materials and handouts. It requires a commitment to teaching and spreading the word about Tread Lightly! Principles and outdoor ethics.

You can find out more details on line at http://www.4x4training.com/TrainingClinics/Tread.html .

And register on line at http://4x4training.com/calendar/calendar.php#Tread.

##########################

I hope to see you on the trails!
Tom Severin, President
Badlands Off Road Adventures,Inc.
4-Wheel Drive School
310-374-8047
http://www.4x4training.com
Make it Fun. Keep it Safe.
#####
If you find this information valuable, please pass it on to a friend. You can forward them the email. If you received a forwarded copy of this newsletter and would like to subscribe for yourself, go to: www.4x4training.com/contacts.html and follow the instructions to join our mail list.
Want To Use This Article In Your Magazine, E-Zine, Club Newsletter Or Web Site? You are welcome to use it anytime, just be sure to include the following author/copyright information: Tom Severin, 4x4 Coach, teaches 4WD owners how to confidently and safely use their vehicles to the fullest extent in difficult terrain and adverse driving conditions. Visit www.4x4training.com to develop or improve your driving skill.

Copyright 2011, Badlands Off-Road Adventures, Inc.

Categories: Badlands Off Road Adventures

Four-Wheeling Good for Families, Easy on Environment

Wed, 09/14/2011 - 23:00

Four-Wheeling Good for Families,
Easy on Environment Saline Valley from Salt Tram Station When most laymen think of four-wheeling, their thoughts unfortunately are rarely positive. You know the criticism: We tear up the landscape. Scare away the wildlife. Pollute the environment. And burn through gas like theres no tomorrow.

How often have you heard those? How have you responded?

You know youre a responsible driver and a good steward of the land. Youre also quite proud of your hobby and your fellow drivers. So any criticism tends to cut to the bone. Youre inclined to lash out. Dont. The best way to respond to those claims is with the facts. A calm, thoughtful reply will quiet just about anybody. Keep in mind that many people you encounter are neutral on the subject. Use those opportunities to talk up the hobby, also.

Inform the person that four-wheeling is possible without harming the environment. Responsible drivers adhere to the Tread Lightly principles. You know what they are, so state them:

T Travel responsibly on designated roads or trails
R Respect the rights of others
E Educate yourself: plan and prepare before you go
A Avoid sensitive areas
D Do your part

You see, you can tell the person, we use our vehicles to help us explore places we could not otherwise. These can be exciting trails; exquisite views of nature, many in the mountains or other challenging places; ghost towns and abandoned mines; and wildlife like youve never seen.

All the while we are respectful of nature. Many times we are camping, hiking, fishing or hunting. We are exploring and experiencing the outdoors, but we do so in a responsible manner. Plus, we often have to buy a pass or license to drive on those lands. Those funds help maintain the property and wildlife.

Over 10,000 feet above sea level Go on to explain how four-wheeling is a family affair. Its a great time and healthy event that everyone can enjoy. These trips offer a chance to bond with spouse and kids, and teach them to appreciate and respect nature.

You can add that we use those trips to challenge ourselves and our vehicles. We are always careful and prepare properly before going off-road. By encountering and overcoming those challenges, we develop and hone our driving and survival skills, and build self-esteem in the process. These trips involve problem solving, team building, and other valuable skills. Camaraderie is strong during the excursions, and we develop friendships that last a lifetime.

Finally, we dont burn as much gas as people think. Sure, our off-road mileage isnt great, but were not driving every day. This is just a weekend hobby. And its usually only one weekend a month.

Occasionally during an expedition I will poll the group on what attracts them to this type of trip. Repeatedly I get responses like spend time with friends and family, the solitude, beauty and nature, and exploring history. Theres a lot more to going off road, but until you do, you really cant appreciate it. Or understand why we do. Thats where you, my fellow enthusiasts, come in. Our hobby needs you to be spokesmen for the cause.

Introduce others to four-wheeling. Take them out for a leisurely drive one afternoon. Show them that an off road driving experience is like none other. Let them learn for themselves the value of our hobby.

Incidentally, you notice that I refer to four-wheeling as a hobby. I do that on purpose. If you call it a sport, people immediately figure theres some competitive nature about it. That creates the image of cars recklessly tearing through the desert or some other sensitive area.

As you can see, there are a lot of positives to our hobby. Make a point to talk up four-wheeling whenever you can. You just may gain a new enthusiast.

# # # # #

##########################
Related Articles from Badlands Off-road Adventures

Did you miss the previous article?

Camp Cooking

##########################
October and 2012 Schedule It is almost time to get back to the Desert. We have a number of trips scheduled in October.

Death Valley
Mojave road
Barstow to Vegas

The 2012 schedule is now posted on the web site. There may be some fine tuning yet, but it seems "like a plan". When publishing a schedule so far in advance, some dates and events will predictably change - So check the web site or call as an event gets nearer. There will be a new weekend GPS adventure in January and a Wilderness Advanced First Aid Clinic in June. If you have other requests for training or adventures to consider next year, let us know. We might be able to work it in.

########################## Death Valley October 7

This is a 4 day trip on the back roads in Death Valley. We will drive the Panamint Mountains, drive past Badwater Basin (lowest spot in North America), visit Chloride Ghost town, Titus Canyon, check out Ubehebe Crater, Teakettle junction, The Race Track & Lippencott Mine Road, camp at the Warm Springs and leave via Steal Pass up to the high meadows, then take Dedeckera Canyon down to the Eureka Sand Dunes. All four days will see some light to moderate 4-wheeling. Much of the trip is quite remote with no cell service.
Check out the details and sign up on the website: Trip Details
You can register directly at Death Valley Registration

########################## Mojave Road October 15

We will follow the Old Mojave Road for 3 days. This was the earliest wagon road into California. We will visit tons of history and see some incredible views. The 4 Wheeling is quite mild. More Details

You can register at Mojave Road Registration

########################## T&T Rail Road Adventure in November

Our goal is to cross through Johnson Valley, enjoying what it has to offer, and making our way North along the old Tonopah & Tidewater (T&T) Rail Road bed to the Rasor OHV, Afton Canyon and the western edge of the Mojave Preserve. On the way we will skirt the Rodman Mountain Wilderness and cross I-40. This adventure is 2 days of scenic, historical, light wheeling and a night ( 2 if you prefer) of primitive camping under the stars. We can plan a Dutch Oven pot luck for our evening meal.
Check out the details and sign up on the website: http://www.4x4training.com/Adventures/TTRailroad.html

You can register directly at http://www.4x4training.com/calendar/calendar.php#TTRailroad

########################## Getting Started Off-road driving Clinic October 01

The clinic is held in Hungry Valley State Vehicle Recreation Area near Gorman CA. This clinic is specifically designed to meet the needs of novice off-highway drivers or someone with a bit of experience who is looking for a more complete understanding. This is a one-day session. The session includes classroom and behind-the-wheel instruction. More Details...

You can register directly here

########################## Advanced Beginner Clinic October 02

The clinic is held in the El Paso Mountains near Mojave CA. The goal is to help you get a "better feel" for tire placement and to visualize the obstacles as they move into your blind zone. You will gain more behind the wheel experience combined with picking lines. The difficulty level is one step higher than the basic class and you can expect some pin striping. More Details...

You can register directly here

##########################

I hope to see you on the trails!
Tom Severin, President
Badlands Off Road Adventures,Inc.
4-Wheel Drive School
310-374-8047
http://www.4x4training.com
Make it Fun. Keep it Safe.
#####
If you find this information valuable, please pass it on to a friend. You can forward them the email. If you received a forwarded copy of this newsletter and would like to subscribe for yourself, go to: www.4x4training.com/contacts.html and follow the instructions to join our mail list.
Want To Use This Article In Your Magazine, E-Zine, Club Newsletter Or Web Site? You are welcome to use it anytime, just be sure to include the following author/copyright information: Tom Severin, 4x4 Coach, teaches 4WD owners how to confidently and safely use their vehicles to the fullest extent in difficult terrain and adverse driving conditions. Visit www.4x4training.com to develop or improve your driving skill.

Copyright 2011, Badlands Off-Road Adventures, Inc.

Categories: Badlands Off Road Adventures

Camp Cooking

Mon, 08/22/2011 - 23:00

Camp Cooking Relaxing before preparing dinner Sitting around a campfire enjoying a finely prepared meal with friends is one of the most pleasurable aspects of four-wheeling. A hearty meal tastes so good after a long day on the trail.

Two previous columns, Cook Anywhere, Anytime With A Campbox and Tickle The Tastebuds With A Dutch Oven, discuss particular aspects of off-road cooking. Well talk in more general terms here.

Cooking for an entire group is fun, but its also a fair amount of work. Rotate the cooking duties among the various families participating in your ride. Each family (or person) can showcase a favorite meal, thereby putting a distinctive flavor on the trip.

Each will bring what is necessary to cook the particular meal. But plan for contingencies. If, for example, one family has to leave camp early, perhaps they can transfer their food to other vehicles. Also, each family should bring extra food in case they get separated from the group.

Consider spreading some of the cooking gear among the vehicles. Some redundancy is good take along two stoves, for example, even if you plan to use only one. But its not necessary to duplicate every item. As the length and remoteness of the trip increases, the issue of limited space and weight makes a planned group distribution of gear more appealing.

Half the fun of a trip is in the planning and that includes the assignment of meals and distribution of gear. However, its also important that each family learn to be self-sufficient. Its a good skill to develop, and for the more demanding trips, its a necessity.

A view with breakfast Some other items to consider:

Its difficult to cook multiple dishes outdoors and make sure the food stays piping hot. Look for one-pot recipe ideas. A Dutch Oven or pressure cooker will keep your food nice and hot as it is served.
While shopping for items that require refrigeration after opening, look for smaller packages or jars and buy several of each. You may be able to consume an entire package or jar during one meal. If not, the smaller item will fit easier in the cooler.

Spread the extra condiments among the vehicles. If something happens to one vehicle, you will still have supplies for the group.

Avoid glass jars and bottles. Theres too great a risk of breakage while traveling on rough roads. (Plus, glass beverage bottles are prohibited on many public lands.) Look for products the come in plastic containers or squeeze bottles.

Consider ingredients that dont require refrigeration (at least until opened). These include evaporated milk, Velveeta cheese, and others. It may require some ingenuity in substituting ingredients in the recipe, but that can be fun, too!
See if you can eliminate extra preparation equipment like bowls, pans, and such. For example, can you mix the cake batter in the same pan you are going to cook it in? Can the noodles be boiled in the same pan you are going to use to prepare the final dish?
Re-package items at home to eliminate bulk and trash. Measure out and take only the amount of ingredients you need for the recipes. For example, the one cup of rice you need can be stored in a ZipLoc bag. Leave the box at home.

Another example: Measure three cups of Bisquick into a Ziploc bag, put one cup of sugar in another Ziploc bag with 1 and ½ teaspoons of cinnamon and put that Ziploc inside the Bisquick Ziploc bag along with a Ziploc bag containing 6 oz. of Crisco. Now you have all the dry ingredients for a peach cobbler in one package. You can reuse any of the Ziploc bags for trash after the meal.

For each item, we take along only whats needed during the trip. No need to pack the all the containers for each ingredient.

Preparing a home-cooked meal outdoors is fun and very satisfying. With each family contributing a recipe, your group can look forward to feasting on a variety of great meals.

# # # # #

##########################
Related Articles from Badlands Off-road Adventures

Did you miss the previous article?

Keep Your Kids Safe While 4 Wheeling

##########################
September & October Schedule It is almost time to get back to the Desert. We have a number of trips scheduled in October.

Death Valley
Mojave road
Barstow to Vegas

And a cadre of training clinics in September to get ready for the adventures.

Getting Started
Advanced Beginner
Rocks
Sand
Winch

We are close to posting the entire 2012 schedule. It should be available on the web site in September. There will be a new weekend GPS adventure in January and a the Wilderness Advanced First Aid Clinic in June. If you have other requests for training or adventures to consider for next year, let us know.

########################## Getting Started Off-road driving Clinic September 10

The clinic is held in Hungry Valley State Vehicle Recreation Area near Gorman CA. This clinic is specifically designed to meet the needs of novice off-highway drivers or someone with a bit of experience who is looking for a more complete understanding. This is a one-day session. The session includes classroom and behind-the-wheel instruction. More Details...

You can register directly here

########################## Advanced Beginner Clinic September 11

The clinic is held in the El Paso Mountains near Mojave CA. The goal is to help you get a "better feel" for tire placement and to visualize the obstacles as they move into your blind zone. You will gain more behind the wheel experience combined with picking lines. The difficulty level is one step higher than the basic class and you can expect some pin striping. More Details...

You can register directly here

########################## Rocks Clinic September 17

The Class will be in Johnson Valley. This is an introduction to Rock crawling but it is not on "baby" rocks. We take out time and stress careful wheel placement. We use spotters for difficult sections. You learn by inspecting the obstacle and predicting the line; by watching others try their line; by experiencing it yourself; and by the coaching. We recommend you repeat the training several times. You will be much more relaxed the second time over the same obstacles and you will pick up on little details missed the first time. More Details...

Register here.
##########################
Sand Clinic September 24 A number of you could not make the last Sand Driving Clinic, so we have scheduled another one for September 24th. Put it on your calendar and sign up now. This day-long clinic will expose you to a variety of driving conditions and levels of difficulty. Driving on sand is challenging and different than dirt, so well progress slowly as you learn the proper techniques. As your confidence grows, you will master increasingly more challenging dunes. Along the way you will be exposed to the beauty of SVRA and the thrill of the windswept dunes. This is a rare opportunity to cruise the only beach in California open to vehicles.
More details...
Register for the Sand Clinic using this link.

########################## Winch Clinic September 25

This one day clinic starts with the basics. By the end of the day you will be safely rigging some complex recoveries. Let me know if you are interested. More Details...

You can register directly at Winch Registration.

########################## Death Valley October 7

This is a 4 day trip on the back roads in Death Valley. We will drive the Panamint Mountains, drive past Badwater Basin (lowest spot in North America), visit Chloride Ghost town, Titus Canyon, check out Ubehebe Crater, Teakettle junction, The Race Track & Lippencott Mine Road, camp at the Warm Springs and leave via Steal Pass up to the high meadows, then take Dedeckera Canyon down to the Eureka Sand Dunes. All four days will see some light to moderate 4-wheeling. Much of the trip is quite remote with no cell service.
Check out the details and sign up on the website: Trip Details
You can register directly at Death Valley Registration

########################## Mojave Road October 15

We will follow the Old Mojave Road for 3 days. This was the earliest wagon road into California. We will visit tons of history and see some incredible views. The 4 Wheeling is quite mild. More Details

You can register at Mojave Road Registration

##########################

I hope to see you on the trails!
Tom Severin, President
Badlands Off Road Adventures,Inc.
4-Wheel Drive School
310-374-8047
http://www.4x4training.com
Make it Fun. Keep it Safe.
#####
If you find this information valuable, please pass it on to a friend. You can forward them the email. If you received a forwarded copy of this newsletter and would like to subscribe for yourself, go to: www.4x4training.com/contacts.html and follow the instructions to join our mail list.
Want To Use This Article In Your Magazine, E-Zine, Club Newsletter Or Web Site? You are welcome to use it anytime, just be sure to include the following author/copyright information: Tom Severin, 4x4 Coach, teaches 4WD owners how to confidently and safely use their vehicles to the fullest extent in difficult terrain and adverse driving conditions. Visit www.4x4training.com to develop or improve your driving skill.

Copyright 2011, Badlands Off-Road Adventures, Inc.

Categories: Badlands Off Road Adventures

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