4-WHEELING TIPS     

There's a lot more to driving off-road than just putting your rig into 4WD and heading into the desert. To do it right requires a certain amount of preparation, patience, technique and finesse.

• Pack appropriately. Pack supplies, tools and extra gear, just in case. Be sure the gear is secured inside the vehicle so it doesn't bounce around while you're off-road.



• If you have manual locking hubs, remember to lock them in, before you shift into 4wd! I have seen quite a few 4-wheelers forget to lock the hubs and get upset when their rig starts to spin out. When you air down, lock in.



• Know the underside of your vehicle. Look under your vehicle and learn where the lowest-hanging parts are located so you can avoid damaging them.



• Learn your angles. Study and know your approach, departure and breakover angles to avoid getting hung up, and/or damaging your vehicle.



• When in doubt, get out and scout! Don't hesitate to get out of the vehicle to examine, up close, the terrain and soil conditions. And be sure to scout out what's on the other side of a hill ahead of time so there are no surprises. We hear of vehicles dropping down into mines because the driver zoomed up a hill not knowing there was an open mine shaft at the top.



• Remember "finesse"! The finesse of 4-wheeling is to keep all 4 wheels on the ground and to go as slow as possible, but as fast as necessary. Remember to use the gears to control engine power, braking and torque.



• Don't wrap your thumbs around the steering wheel. Sudden steering wheel movements can result in painful injury.



• Drive with both feet. Having both feet on the pedals speeds up your response time for needed power and braking input.



• Scan the trail ahead. Look over your hood, 30-50 feet ahead, while moving to pick your line. Create a mental picture. The best lines are keeping your tires on the taller rocks, so the axles don't hit. Follow those lines.



• Avoid diagonal lines that put the vehicle in a situation where it might roll. If you find yourself off-camber, either back out, if you can, or accelerate through it. DO NOT STOP! Momentum is your frind. If you feel like you are starting to roll, steer into the roll (usually downhill) and hope for the best. "When in doubt, power out". It works.

HANDLING DIFFERENT TERRAINS     

It's important always to drive within your ability. There are times when in soft sand, like we see in dry washes, speed needs to be moderate. Usually taking your time on the trail will allow you to pick a smooth path and allow you time to react to the varieties of terrain you can encounter like moving rocks and logs under the tires. If you have a ground clearance deficiency, going slow helps here, in that, if you do hit a rock with the differential or other rock grabber, it will usually stop the vehicle on impact or you will lightly scrape over it. If you were going too fast and hit a rock or other obstacle, it could knock a hole in the oil pan, differential, or even knock off the oil filter.

• Travel straight up or down hills. Don't traverse the face of a hill; you may slip sideways or roll your vehicle.



• Cross large rocks and slowly, with one tire on the rock. If there's a rock on either side of you, try to drive up the middle of them. If they are close, you might have to put your tires on each rock. Watch you rocker panels!



• Cross ravines slowly at a 45-degree angle, one wheel at a time.



• Straddle ruts, gullies, and washouts even if they are wider than your vehicle.



• Try to cross streams and rivers only where others have crossed, or where the road crosses the stream. Always get out and walk the line you plan to run to check for obstacles the might be hidden under the water.



• Don't turn around on narrow roads, steep terrain, or unstable ground. Backup until you find a safe place to turn around.

A little common sense could mean the difference between life and DEATH!

There are a few things that people need to know, before they jump in their 4X4 and head out to conquer the trails in our area, or they could die! Yes, I said "die"!

1. Be Prepared! Make a travel plan and stick to it. Share that plan with someone else and let them know the time when you will return. If you are not back by a given time, the friend can notify the sheriff, or search and rescue. Carry lots of water, some tools, a spare tire and a working jack. Water is important. If you get dehydrated, you could become very ill and pass out. Vital organs can shut down and next thing... Your dead!
2. NEVER travel alone! Always travel with another vehicle, just in case... Or you could die.
3. When in doubt, get out and scout! If you don't know the area, get out of your 4X4 and look over the hill. You never know what is at the top, or on the other side. If you don't, you could spend 20 hours at the bottom of a mine shaft like the guys mentioned in this article. Or worse... You could die!
4. Stay out of mine shafts! Jesus Christ! What does it take to get this through people's heads? We hear the stories all the time. Some dummy went exploring in a mineshaft and never came back. Every year, dozens of people are injured or killed while exploring or playing in and around mines. It's simple... "Stay Out! Stay Alive!" For the facts on mineshaft hazards, click HERE.

Staying on designated routes and traveling with one, or more vehicles in remote public land areas became an important lesson for a couple winter visitors (Suzuki Samurai owner and his passenger) who fell down a vertical mineshaft just off Ogilby Rd. in Imperial County, California.

03/12/06: What a surprise for the driver and passenger riding in a Suzuki Samurai in the California Desert, who ventured farther off-road than was good for them. Riding along, alone, in an unfamiliar area, they blasted over a ridge and plunged 30 feet straight down an abandoned mineshaft. "I can still hear that scraping as we were going down," said Gary Mertle, 62, of Sebastopol, Calif. Mertle broke his arm, reports the Yuma Sun, and his friend, Umberto Cheli, 67, of Santa Rosa, suffered a scraped head. The two spent an uncomfortable 20 hours at the bottom of the shaft before they were rescued. During the night, Cheli said that "some sort of animal" near the top of the shaft knocked rocks in on them. It took a crane to remove the vehicle, and you can see more photos of its extraction on the Bureau of Land Management's site for California, headlined: "Stay on Designated Routes," at www.tinyurl.com/muzms.

Here's an article about a winter vistor that comes to Yuma and goes on to the Barry M. Goldwater Bombing Range, breaks the rules, and nearly get's killed exploring the Betty Lee Mine. This is exactly how to close trails!

4-WHEEL DRIVE (4X4)     

DEFINITION: A 4-wheel drive is a vehicle equipped with a 2 speed transfer case capable of transferring power to a rear axle and a front axle.

TYPES OF OFF-ROADING     

Off-roading is like music. There are many different generes. There's duners, trail riders, rock crawlers, rock racers, and desert racers to name the ones in our area (Yuma, AZ).

• Duners - Duners like to drive over sand dunes as fast as they can. The dunes are frequently associated with tourism in our area. Glamis is the duners' paradise.



• Desert Racers - Desert racing is a high powered off-road competition where drivers go all out, crossing some harsh, desert terrain. Vehicles are highly modified or specially built using long travel suspension components that allow jumps and rough handling and long axle articulation, and a secure roll cage for the driver.



• Rock Crawlers - Rock crawling is a highly technical category of off-roading. 4X4's are typically modified with larger than stock tires, suspension components that allow greater axle articulation, and lowest gear ratio in order to provide the ideal high torque/low speed operation for rock crawling to traverse obstacles.



• Rock Racers - Rock Racing is very similar to rock crawling in the fact that the vehicles are driven over rocks, the difference is that rock racing also involves a degree of high-speed racing not seen in typical rock crawling.



• Trail Riders - Trail riding is one of the least extreme categories. It is generally suitable for any 4-wheel drive vehicle, even with factory tires and equipment. The term "trail ride" (or trail run) refers to the fact that the routes are predominantly along trails, dry washes, or unmaintained surveyor roads. For a lot of trails riders, the main emphasis is on enjoying the countryside, and accessing areas that may be seldom traveled by motor vehicles, rather than exploring the performance envelope of their vehicle.

4X4 MODIFICATIONS     

The following listings show the modifications that are done and why:

Vehicle lifts
A vehicle is usually lifted to increase the amount of clearance between the ground and the bottom of the frame of the vehicle.
There are numerous types of vehicle lifts:

• Body Lift A simple and cheap way to lift a vehicle that has a body on frame design such as a pickup truck or some SUVs. A body lift consists of larger spacers that replace the normal mounting points of the vehicle's body on its frame. These typically are between 1 - 3 inches. Any more than 4 inches will create a less sturdy set up. Body lifts are not possible on vehicles with a "Uni-body" construction. Uni-body vehicles have the frame formed into the body, such as on a Jeep Cherokee (XJ). Body lifts do not increase ground clearance. They are only good for additional clearance to prevent rubbing if you want bigger tires



• Suspension Lift A suspension lift is when modifications are done to the vehicle's springs, shocks, controlling arms and steering linkage. Common lifts are from 2 to 4 inches for smaller vehicles like , Jeeps and Toyotas. Larger vehicles run 4 to 8 inches of suspension lift.



• Bigger Tires Another way to gain ground clearance is to increase the size of the tires on a vehicle. One advantage over the lifts I mentioned above is that larger tires will improve ground clearance under all parts of the vehicle, including the axles and differentials (typically the lowest points on a 4X4). While some vehicles can have larger tires added without a lift kit, such as a Toyota pick-up truck, or 4Runner (they can usually take 32x11.50-15 size tires before lifting is required), most will require a lift kit in addition to larger tires, and in some cases bodywork modification (trimming fenders) may also be necessary.



• Traction control One of the challenges of off-roading is to be able to keep traction. Most 4X4's come from the dealer with "open" differentials. The problem with open differentials are that if one wheel (usually the front) gets off the ground, power goes to that wheel. The other wheel (usually the rear) just spins out in the dirt. This type of situation is generally caused by flexing the suspension beyond it's limits, or "over articulating". Articulation is usually increased if the anti-sway bars are disconnected.

"Airing Down" (lowering the air pressure in the tires) is the cheapest and best traction device on earth! Airing down actually does more than improve traction. Airing down softens the ride, making everyone more comfortable on bumpy roads and trails. Also, airing down saves your tires by making them more puncture resistant. All 4X4's weighing less than 9000 pounds can safely air down from 25 psi to as low as 12 psi (depending on the size of tires).

The following table can be used as an initial basis for airing down your tires. Rim width, tire construction, and weight distribution may necessitate the need for adjustments.The pressures (psi) in this table are applicable for most forms of 4-wheeling (up to 20 mph).

Tire Size Gross Vehicle Weight 2000 lbs. 3000 lbs. 4000 lbs. 5000 lbs. 6000 lbs. 7000 lbs. 8000 lbs. 215/75R15 11 13 15 N/R N/R N/R N/R 235/75R15 10 12 14 16 N/R N/R N/R 29x8.5R15 10.5 12.5 14.5 15.5 N/R N/R N/R 30x9.5xR15 9 10 12 14 16 N/R N/R 31x10.5R15 8 9 10 12 14 16 N/R 32x11.5R15 7.5 8.5 9.5 11 13 15 18 33x9.5R15 9 10 12 14 16 N/R N/R 33x12.5R15 7 8 9 10 12 14 16 35x12.5R15 6 7 8 9 10 12 14 36x14.5R15 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 38x15.5R15 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 225/75R16 11 13 15 N/R N/R N/R N/R 245/75R16 10 12 14 16 N/R N/R N/R 265/75R16 9 10 12 14 16 N/R N/R 285/75R16 8 9 10 12 14 16 N/R 295/75R16 7 8 9 10 12 14 16 N/R = Not Recommended

Some traction control devices used are:

• Automatic Locker - Detroit - Hooks up on a straight line, breaks loose on a turn, allowing tires to turn at different rates. If you apply power during a turn, the locker will continue to hook up through the turn.



• Selectable Locker - ARB, OX - These lockers can be turned on and off at the driver's will. These lockers hook up 100% when on.



• Lunch Box Locker - Lock Right, Aussie - These lockers are simple to install. They work much like the automatic lockers.



• Spool - Full 100% hook up. Bolts up to the ring gear, eliminating the spider and side gears.



• Lincoln Locker - Full 100% hook up. Weld spider and side gears to carrier.



• Limited Slip - Power goes to the wheel with the most traction.

BEFORE YOU HIT THE TRAIL     

It is always best to be prepared, and your 4X4 are no different. Here is a checklist of items to consider before you hit the trail.

Be Prepared!

• Maintain Your 4X4! Don't take your rig out if it's got problems. If the rig has been overheating, radiator is leaking, fuel lines are leaking, ect, or you have drivetrain problems like a slipping transmission, engine knocking, or clinking U-joints, the rough trails will only make the problems worse. Spend some time and a few dollras to fix the little problem before they become big problems. A fuel leak can lead to a fire. A fire is not a good thing no matter how far from home you go. I almost lost a rig to a fire when I was just down the street from my house.



• Do a thorough check of your rig before and after each trail run. Check fluid levels (fuel, oil, coolant, brake, clutch, transmisstion, window washer) and look underneath for any new leaks. Fuel, oil and transmission leaks are harmful to the environment, but also can lead to vehicle fires.



• Check the Tires Check the condition of your tires, including the spare. Be sure they are all inflated to the proper highway speed pressures. Take note of your tread and think about the terrain you will be traveling on. Are you ready for the extreme summer heat and rocks with that tread?



• Check the belts and hoses. Check all your belts and hoses, and carry spares. The lower radiator hose is the one that usually gets damaged while off-roading, so ensure that you have a spare. Alternator/water-pump belts are the most important. Newer vehicles often use serpentine belts. While much less prone to failure, they can be difficult to change. The are also expensive, but carry one. Replacing an old serpentine belt and saving the original as a spare is a good idea.



• Roll-over Protection You need a factory hard top, or roll bar. Custom roll cages and roll bars are good too. A potential roll over is always just around the bend. It really does not matter how easy the trail is. All you need to do is take your eyes off the trail for a second, and next thing you know, you wheel went into a washed out spot in the trail and over you go!



• Seatbelts Seatbelts should be in good working order. One set for each passenger. You never know when you will need them. Again, a potential roll over is always just around the bend!



• Spare Tire & Jack It does not make any sense to travel over rugged, rocky desert terrain without a good spare tire and a jack that will lift your rig. Bottle jacks are excellent. I recomend the 10 ton, or bigger.

TIP: An old cutting board works great for a base if working in soft sand. If the bottle jack won't fit under the axle when the tire is flat, find a piece of wood, or a big rock (about 10 inches high), and place it by the flat tire, and drive up on it. Once the tire is on top, set the parking brake, put the rig in park, or in gear if you have a manual transmission, and have someone chock the wheels so the rig doesn't roll. Now you have plenty of room for the jack to go under the axle.

• Properly Secured Battery (No bungee cords, or bailing wire) Batteries need to be held down to their battery trays. This is not because there is any danger of them blowing away, but vibration would inevitably cause them to shift around if they were just sitting there. Also, hitting a bump, or rock could cause them to fly about if they were not properly sucured. If the positive post (+) was to touch any metal ground, your electrical system could short out, or worse, an electrical fire could erupt.



• CB Radio A good CB radio and antenna will keep you in the loop when we are running the trails. We discuss trail related and un-related topics over the CB radio while driving.

TIP: Get a decent set up. If you go cheap, you will only be disapointed. If you purchase that cheap $35.00 Cobra and the $10.00 antenna at WalMart, and you pay some one $20.00 to install it, chances will be that the set up you spent $65.00 on will fail to work and you will be without communication and you will either pay more for another cheap set up, or just say "screw it" and do without. If you are short on cash (like we all are), hit the pawn shops, swap meets and yard sales. You should be able to pick up a nice CB for around $50.00. I recommend a Cobra 25 LTD Classic ($80.00, new), or if you are lacking space, go with the Cobra 75 WX ST Compact/Remote Mount CB Radio ($120.00, new). The best off-road antenna (just my opinion) is the Wilson "Silver Load" FLEX, or magnet mouted Wilson "Little Wil". Both are about $30.00 and are super durable for off-road. Amazon.com has some really good deals on new CB's, antennas and GPS! Go to www.amazon.com




• Basic First-Aid Kit Everything in the desert either bites, pokes, or stings. Then there's the rocks that we have fallen on. You will never know when you will need an antiseptic, or a band-aid.



• ABC Fire Extinguisher This is the multipurpose dry chemical extinguisher.



• Basic Tool Kit Phillips screwdrivers (small, and medium), Slotted screwdrivers, (small, medium and large), Adjustable wrench, Basic set of wrenches, Locking pliers, Pliers with wire cutters, hammer, Pocket Knife, Jumper cables or battery jump starter, Battery terminal brush, Spare fuses, 1 quart of automotive oil, Duct tape, Can of penetrating lubricant, Flashlight, Gloves, Handiwipes and some shop rags, Flares or reflective triangles, Blanket, or patch of carpet to lay on.



• Recovery Hooks You really should have a place on the front and rear to attatch a recovery strap to. A clevice hitch, or hook for a 2" reciever can be purchased. It's a quick and easy installation that requires a reciver hitch.



• Recovery Strap You will never know when you might need to be pulled out of a situation, or pull someone else's rig.

TIP: There are many different types of straps out there. A proper "recovery starp" is one that has loops at both ends. NO METAL HOOKS! Also, I recommend a strap with a pull rating two (2) times the weight of your rig. For you Samurai owners (and other light weights), get a minimum of 6000 pounds.

• Hy-Lift Jack It can be used for a ton of things, besides jacking, or sliding a 4X4.

TIP: How many times have you seen a vehicle lifted near the maximum height of the jack just to get the tire off the ground? This is incredibly dangerous! It puts the vehicle in an unstable position and anyone around the vehicle at risk.

If you are going to use a hy-lift jack to change a tire, or raise an axle off the ground, before you start jacking, wrap a chain around the frame and axle. As you start jacking the rig up, the axle will droop a little until the chain runs out of slack and tightens. Watchout for brake lines and other vulnerable components when routing your chain. Alternatives to a chain are, a rope, strap, or anything with strength to hold the axle up.

• Tire Plug Kit Sometimes a tire just needs a plug to fix it permanently. Sometimes a tire gets slashed beyond any repair.

TIP: Here's a nice writeup on "How To Use A Tire Plug Kit".

• Wear appropriate clothing. Wear loose fitting, light colored cloths in the desert. Hats will keep the sun off your head and face. Wear comfortable shoes, or boots on the trail. Remember, everything in the desert either bites, pokes, or stings, so wearing open toed footwear, like sandles and flip-flops, is just asking for trouble!

1. How should we deal with an unprofessional Border Patrol agent?
   If an agent is rude, or abusive,do not be confrontational. Be polite as you can and take down the truck's "Kilo" number, and call the Border Patrol with your complaint. The Kilo number is the I.D. number starting with "K" located on the front and rear of every Border Patrol vehicle. (Click HERE to see an example)
2. What do we do if we discover a dead body?
   If you come across a dead body, or human remains, leave it alone. Keep children and pets away from the area. If someone in the group has GPS, get a GPS location and call the sheriff's office that has jurisdiction in that county. No need to call 911 since the person is already deceased.
3. What should we do if we find drugs, or abandoned vehicles in the desert?
   Do not hang around the area. The drug runners may be hiding somewhere in the outlying area, with guns, guarding their payload until their accomplices arrive. Try not to distrub the foot prints that are in the area. If someone in the group has GPS, get a GPS location, get away and call the Border Patrol ASAP.
4. What should we do if we come into view os some illegals?
   If you come across any illegals, call Border Patrol.

Heat Stroke - Heat Exhaustion - Heat Sickness - Signs and Symptoms:
• Severe headache
• Nausea
• Hot, dry skin without sweat
• High pulse rate
• High body temperature
• Unconsciousness
• Fatigue
• Slurred speech or hallucinations

First Aid:
• Get the person out of the sun and into a shady or air-conditioned location.
• Lay the person down and elevate the legs and feet slightly.
• Loosen or remove the person's clothing.
• Have the person drink cool (but not too cold) water or other nonalcoholic beverage without caffeine, if he or she is able.
• Cool the person by spraying or sponging him or her with cool (but not too cold) water and fanning.

Emergency Contact Numbers:

• In an emergency call 911.
• Report all suspicious activity: 1-800-BE-ALERT

In Arizona:
• Yuma Sector Border Patrol: 928-341-2890
• Welton Border Patrol Station: 928-785-9364
• Yuma County Sheriff's Office: 928-782-4427
• Pima County Sheriff's Office: (520) 351-4600

In California:
• El Centro Sector Border Patrol: (760) 335-5700
• Imperial County Sheriff's Office: (760) 572-0229