4WD trips are inherently dangerous.
Before you leave home and head out on any trip, you should complete a vehicle 360. Because Proper Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance.
Look at everything from every angle. Look at your wiring. Look at your suspension, drivelines, and steering components.
Take note of any peculiar smells as well - your nose can give early warning for issues with brakes, clutches and even electrical.
Do your control arms and CV axles feel sloppy when you grab them?
Brake lines. Look at them from one end to the other, and check hose connections Any leakage from calipers or lines?
Power steering pump making noise? Time to check fluids or consider replacing it.
Tie rods or drag links loose? Don’t take any chances here.
Do you see bare, cracked, broken or oil stained metal? It should look weathered like everything else under there. If it looks different, ask yourself why.
Do you have a full size spare tire? Is it serviceable?
Do you have a the means to change a flat tire? HiLift? Bottle jack? Tire iron? Spare lug nuts? Do you carry a torque wrench?
Do you have the means to repair a flat tire? Tire repair kit. Tire plugs. Patches. Spare valve stems (Colby valve!).
Is your winch working? Clutch lever operating smoothly? Is the wiring intact and ready to go? How is your winch line? Got recovery gear and winch controller?
Check everything from windshield wipers and seat belts and light bulbs all the way down to tire pressure and lug nuts. And everything else.
Do you have tools? Jumper cables? A way to reinflate tires?
Did you take care of yourself? Are you well rested and ready to drive off-road?
Do you have water, provisions and personal survival gear on board in case you get stranded?
Did you tell someone where you are going?
Frequent vehicle 360's are a great way to increase safety and avoid failures in the field.
Take the time to do them daily, and never assume that everything is in order, even on a new vehicle. Complacency kills.
Pro Tip: The last thing you worked on is the first thing to check when something seems wrong. Did you torque things to spec with a torque wrench, or not? Maybe consider deferment of last minute modifactions or installs for when you have more time, and can re-check and verify operation when you're not hundreds of miles from home.
Before you leave home and head out on any trip, you should complete a vehicle 360. Because Proper Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance.
Look at everything from every angle. Look at your wiring. Look at your suspension, drivelines, and steering components.
Take note of any peculiar smells as well - your nose can give early warning for issues with brakes, clutches and even electrical.
Do your control arms and CV axles feel sloppy when you grab them?
Brake lines. Look at them from one end to the other, and check hose connections Any leakage from calipers or lines?
Power steering pump making noise? Time to check fluids or consider replacing it.
Tie rods or drag links loose? Don’t take any chances here.
Do you see bare, cracked, broken or oil stained metal? It should look weathered like everything else under there. If it looks different, ask yourself why.
Do you have a full size spare tire? Is it serviceable?
Do you have a the means to change a flat tire? HiLift? Bottle jack? Tire iron? Spare lug nuts? Do you carry a torque wrench?
Do you have the means to repair a flat tire? Tire repair kit. Tire plugs. Patches. Spare valve stems (Colby valve!).
Is your winch working? Clutch lever operating smoothly? Is the wiring intact and ready to go? How is your winch line? Got recovery gear and winch controller?
Check everything from windshield wipers and seat belts and light bulbs all the way down to tire pressure and lug nuts. And everything else.
Do you have tools? Jumper cables? A way to reinflate tires?
Did you take care of yourself? Are you well rested and ready to drive off-road?
Do you have water, provisions and personal survival gear on board in case you get stranded?
Did you tell someone where you are going?
Frequent vehicle 360's are a great way to increase safety and avoid failures in the field.
Take the time to do them daily, and never assume that everything is in order, even on a new vehicle. Complacency kills.
Pro Tip: The last thing you worked on is the first thing to check when something seems wrong. Did you torque things to spec with a torque wrench, or not? Maybe consider deferment of last minute modifactions or installs for when you have more time, and can re-check and verify operation when you're not hundreds of miles from home.
