Our Blog provides All Four x 4 Spares with a channel to share information with their Customers and the 4wd Industry in general. Please check back on a regular basis as we explore a range of issues that are important to our industry.
Finally - a solution for the over revving 4.5L V8 turbo diesel engine fitted to VDJ 70 Series Landcruisers!
For those of you who have the pleasure of owning one of these beasts, driving down the highway can be an unpleasant experience
Listening to the engine screaming (well screaming for a diesel...) revving at around 2500rpm just to keep up with highway traffic
This can cause loud engine noise, high fluid temperatures, poor fuel economy and excessive engine wear
Combined these issues can significantly decrease engine life especially for those vehicles spending a lot of time at highway speeds
We now have listed in our store a modified countershaft / layshaft and 5th gear set for Toyota Landcruiser HDJ and VDJ 70 Series vehicles manufactured up to November 2016
This countershaft and gear combination has been designed in Australia by Terrain Tamer
The parts are manufactured in Japan by an original equipment manufacturer - just like Toyota!
This gearset has a taller ratio 5th gear which provides and approximate 20 percent reduction in RPM
This brings the original ratio of 0.881:1 down to 0.736:1
Both the countershaft and the 5th gear are constructed from 62 strength Rockwell hardened steel
Designed as direct replacement for part numbers 33421-60121 and 33036-60010
Our part number 33421-MOD79K
Click here to view product listing
Ironman 4x4 boasts a great range of suspension options for your vehicle’s next upgrade. Generally speaking, a suspension upgrade can greatly enhance the off – road capability of your vehicle, while increasing on – road stability and weight carrying limits. To know more about general lifts, click here
To start off, Ironman 4x4 offers three variations of shock absorbers for most vehicle brands and models. On sale now, are the NitroGas, FoamCell and FoamCell Pro variations of shock absorbers. This article will specifically discuss the newest offering from Ironman 4x4, the Foam Cell Pro!
The suspension offers a market leading 45mm bore, coupled with a 20mm diameter shaft. The large size of the bore enables greater heat distribution which enhances the performance of the shock absorber during high temperatures and extreme conditions. The overall diameter of the shock absorber, including the inner and outer tube, comes up to around 65mm. This results in a robust looking, high performance shock absorber, incorporating its very own protection plates!
All Ironman 4x4 suspensions are built with a twin tube design. The outer tube, which is 3mm thick, acts like a protection shield for the inner tube, which actually carries the vital components. This ensures protection against debris and rocks which may be flicked over at the shock absorbers while off the road.
The foam cell technology used in this shock absorber, is what sets it apart from many of its competitors. The foam cell sleeve is intricately placed in the reserve chamber of the shock absorber and has many small gas pockets in it. When the oil is displaced from the pressure tube, it is forced into the reserve chamber, which also has the foam cell in it. Upon contact, the foam cell unit enables the oil to be distributed over the full length of the shock absorber, enabling greater heat dispersion. This results in you being able to achieve higher performance from the shock absorber, even in extreme conditions.
The amount of lift that a vehicle may achieve by using these suspension kits depends on what sort of suspension set up your vehicle runs. Vehicles running a leaf spring set up, can be expected to attain a lift of 50mm, above the new vehicle height. Those vehicles running a coil spring set up, can expect to get a height raise of 40-50mm, above the new vehicle height. Vehicles running independent suspension set ups, get a smaller raise in height of 25-50mm, over the new vehicle height. This happens due to the vehicle suspension geometry restrictions that come with this set up.
To find out more about our range of Ironman products click here
- Sujay Vasist, - All Four x 4 Spares Researcher & Content Writer
Image Sources:
Equipment and Techniques
Driving in mud is one of the most fun things you can do behind the steering wheel! It’s all about maintaining the required momentum to get yourself across. Read on to know more about the do’s and dont’s of Mud Driving!
Tyres
The very first thing you should do, is to equip your vehicle with the correct kind of tyres. Although muddies are the way to go, you can get across just fine with All – Terrains as well, depending on the kind of mud you’re on! The deeper treads of these tyres help your vehicle in gaining much needed traction on muddy tracks. To know more about the advantages and disadvantages of these tyres click here
Underbody Protection
Pick your line correctly
Mud driving requires accurate picking of the line you wish to drive on. Try and pick a line with the least amount of ruts, where possible. If you’re unable to do so, walk to track ahead of you first, and then decide. Incorrect line choice may result in you getting bogged (which is pretty easy in this terrain) or worse, damage to your beloved 4x4!
Pre – Planning
So you come across a tempting looking bog hole ahead of you, and you’re almost certain you are going to give it a shot. Pre – attach one end of a snatch strap and keep the other end inside the vehicle. This way, if you get bogged, you won’t have to go digging in the mud trying to find the recovery points on your vehicle. There is also a possibility of there being an abundance of water in these situations, this way you will avoid opening the door and letting all the water in! Also make sure to try and check the depth of any mud hole with any near by sticks before entering any bog hole.
I'm Stuck, I don't know what to do!
General vehicle behaviour
Given the low traction available to your vehicle in this terrain, it will behave in a very unpredictable manner. Turning your steering to the left, may not necessarily mean your vehicle will go to the left. Similar rules apply to the braking of your vehicle. Your tyres may stop moving with your brakes, but there is a high possibility of your vehicle taking much longer to actually come to a complete stop! Know your surroundings, and try and understand the kind of situation your vehicle is in. This will enable you to think ahead and be safe!
Recovery Gear
Goes without saying, recovery gear is an important factor for any kind of off – road driving! Do not attempt to enter any bog holes without the correct recovery gear on board! In fact, always have at least two vehicles in your convoy. This way, if either one you gets stuck, you have another vehicle to pull you out! To see the latest deals on Ironman 4x4 recovery gear in our store click here
High Range or Low Range
Low range works best in these situations. By staying in low range, your vehicle will ensure a good amount of power is being sent to your tyres without really revving the engine too hard. Also, since your tyres will keep spinning at a consistent rate, mud will be cleaned out of them at the same time, resulting in higher traction.
Being kind to the tracks!
First things first, “take nothing but photos, leave nothing but foot prints!” (Or in our case, tyre marks!). These tracks are for everyone to enjoy, so please keep them clean! Also, try and avoid any unnecessary wheel spin in this terrain. The mud is normally very soft and you will get nowhere by doing so. Keep up a good momentum and it should be enough to get you across. Unnecessary wheel spin will cause damage to your vehicle and to the tracks! If the tracks gets too torn up, it’ll be that much harder for other vehicles to pass through!
Stay tuned for more!
- Sujay Vasist, - All Four x 4 Spares Researcher & Content Writer
Image sources
Front, Rear and Underneath
Off-road driving, when done correctly, can prove to be a lot of fun for us lot! While it is all fun and games, all efforts must be made to protect our vehicles, which we call our pride and joy! Following are a few pieces of off-road gear which will help you properly safeguard your 4X4s for the harsh outdoors.
Front Bull Bars
Front bull bars have proven to provide enormous gains when it comes to frontal protection for your vehicle. These bars, when installed, give your vehicle a much more solid front end. In addition to providing protection, these bars also provide your vehicle with additional benefits:
Better Approach Angle: Since the lowest point of these metal bull bars is much higher than the factory bumpers, the approach angle of your vehicle is increased. This means, your vehicle will be able to take on higher gradients without digging into the terrain. Even if the bar does hit the terrain below, it will be rigid enough to take the impact without any real damage (depending on the speed at which it hits the ground below).
Winch Mounts: Various companies, like Ironman 4x4, offer bull bars which have inbuilt mounts for winches. Even if you currently don’t have a winch, you should opt for the installation of a winch compatible front metal bumper. This will ensure, that when you are ready to install a winch, you do not have to go through the hassle of replacing your front bar all over again.
Other Accessories: These metal bars also give you a place to mount other accessories like driving lights, UHF antennas and brush bars.
Please note: If your vehicle comes with air bags, you must install an airbag compatible bull bar to maintain the roadworthiness of your vehicle.
Click on the following link to know more about the full range of bull bars offered by Ironman 4x4:
http://www.ironman4x4.com/product-categories/bullbars
Rock Sliders
Like the name suggests, these bad boys are installed along the sides of your vehicle and provide protection from any impact from the below and the sides mainly from rocks and boulders. These prove to be most beneficial when navigating tight tracks and you have to slide against a rock or a tree without the fear of damaging the sills. Instead of putting the weight of your vehicle on the body, these sliders take up the weight thus protecting your vehicle due to their rugged design and manufacture. Since they are fitted directly to the chassis of your vehicle, they are much stronger than the body of the vehicle. While providing a lot of protection, these sliders also double up as side steps for your vehicle, making it easier to get in and out of the vehicle.
Steel Rear Bars
Like the front metal bull bars, these rear bars also provide your vehicle with increased protection. These are functional, both, on-road and off-road. Along with providing your vehicle with strong rear end protection, these can also be used as mounts for various other accessories:
Spare Tyre Mounts: Depending on the kind of rear bar you have opted for, you are able to select different accessories that you may require on it. Spare tyre swing arms are designed keeping in mind the extra weight of larger diameter tyres. Kaymar for example offers rear bars for various vehicles with many optional extras!
Jerry Cans: If you are someone who likes travelling to remote regions of Australia (which are not difficult to find!), this option should be a major consideration. Having a rear metal bar, you will have the freedom to mount jerry cans to carry extra fuel or water when you are kilometres from any township.
Other Accessories: Various other accessories can also be mounted on these rear bars, like, rear facing reversing lights, high lift jacks etc.
Underbody Protection
Last, but not the least! Underbody protection is an almost necessary item on your to do list if you wish to head off the road. These metal sheets, normally with a thickness of 2-4mm, provide protection to the sensitive components of your vehicle. Things like transfer case, gearbox and radiators are almost completely exposed under your vehicle. Thus, it is extremely important to invest in a good quality bash plate to ensure longevity of your vehicle, especially in remote areas.
Click on the following link to know about the full range of underbody protection offered by Ironman 4x4:
http://www.ironman4x4.com/category-products/underbody-protection
To know about the latest offers and availability of the above items in store, click on the following link and let All Four x 4 Spares make your vehicle more capable and safer for your next off-road adventure:
http://www.allfourx4.com.au/epages/shop.sf/en_AU/?ObjectPath=/Shops/allfourx4/Categories/Accessories
- Sujay Vasist, - All Four x 4 Spares Researcher & Content Writer
Image Sources:
http://www.ironman4x4.com/products/bullbars/deluxe-commercial/pxii-ranger-deluxe-commercial-bull-bar
http://www.rocky-road.com/tacoma-rock-sliders.html
http://www.kaymar.com.au/vehicles/nissan/gallery_nissan_gu4_gallery.php
http://www.allfourx4.com.au/Ironman-4x4-Underbody-Protection-Kit-For-Suzuki-IUP011K
Modifying your 4X4: Suspension Lift vs Body Lift
Installing a lift kit to your 4X4, is one of the most important modifications on the list. This has to be done very carefully, as installing the correct lift kit will ensure driver and passenger safety in long trips and general longevity of the vehicle. Before deciding on a lift kit, it is first crucial to understand the pros and cons of the two kinds of lift kits available in the market today.
Suspension Lift Kits:
This kind of lift kits involves replacing the factory fitted shock absorbers and springs to upgraded ones which are available from aftermarket shops. The process involved in installing a suspension lift kit is fairly straight forward and can be done at home using correct equipment and technique. This is the lift kit you should be opting for, if you wish to enhance the performance of your vehicle while adding height to it. Using this lift kit, will enable you to carry a greater weight in your vehicle, enable you to have a higher ride height, enable you to run larger diameter tyres and greatly enhance off-road performance!
Pros
- Better off-road performance: Since this procedure involves physically changing out the suspension components of your vehicle with better ones, the new product will give you a better ride over corrugations due to a higher absorption rate when compared to standard set ups. Also, due to the new suspensions being of a longer length, the articulation of the vehicle will greatly be enhanced, resulting in better off-road traction.
- Better Heat Distribution: Since the upgraded shock absorber has a much larger bore and higher grade of technology used in it, the heat distribution is much more efficient. This will result in extremely rare overheating instances while driving over rough surfaces for long periods of time.
- Stable Drive on the Road: Due to the stiff nature of the upgraded shock absorbers, the overall on-road ride will also be enhanced as your vehicle will sit more stable at high speeds and will not roll about as much around corners. (No, this does not give you permission to try and drift and lifted vehicle!)
- Better Weight Carrying Abilities: The stiffness of the shock absorbers results in better and increased weight carrying abilities. Your vehicle will tend to behave in a more efficient fashion when fully loaded up and the suspension will not sag as much as the factory equipment will under full load.
Cons
- High Cost: Due to the complete replacement of suspension components in this method, the cost is generally high. But when weighing in the benefits of this set up, it turns out to be a well thought out investment which needs to be made!
- Actual Ground Clearance: It is a common misunderstanding that adding lift kits to your vehicle will increase the actual ground clearance. Your ground clearance is only as high as the lowest point on your vehicle. The lowest point in your vehicle is generally your differential housings which do not get lifted up by adding any kind of lift kit. Having said that, lifting up your vehicle, will enable you to install a larger diameter tyre, which will result in a higher ground clearance.
Body Lift Kits:
These are lift kits which only result in a higher ride height, enabling you to install larger diameter tyres. So if it is only installing bigger tyres you’re after, then this is your best bet. This method involved installing lift blocks between the body and the chassis of the vehicle. Normally, this would give you a height increase of 1 – 3 inches.
Pros
- Lower Cost: Since this method does not require much material to be used, the cost is generally much lower as compared to a suspension lift kit.
- Suspension Geometry: Given the fact that the factory suspension set up is not touched in this method, your vehicle will maintain its original geometry and no further wheel alignments or other adjustments will be required due to the lift kit.
Cons
- Higher Centre of Gravity: Since your vehicle will now be higher when compared to original setting, like suspension lifts, it will have a higher centre of gravity. The problem arises here as the factory suspension set up is not designed to keep your vehicle stable at heights higher than factory recommendations. Your vehicle will still roll in corners, resulting in dangerous situations arising as you will be higher off the ground and it will be more difficult for the factory suspension set up to deal with this. (Mother nature always wins!)
- No Real Performance Gains: Since the actual suspension set up does not even get touched in this method, your car’s off-road performance will remain same. You will get enhanced performance if you opt to fit in larger diameter tyres, but in terms of absorption rate and articulation, your vehicle will still be on factory standards.
- Check local regulations for legality of items
Click on the following link to see availability of lift kits in store!
http://www.allfourx4.com.au/epages/shop.sf/en_AU/?ObjectPath=/Shops/allfourx4/Categories/Accessories
Stay tuned to learn more about off-road modifications to your vehicle!
- Sujay Vasist, - All Four x 4 Spares Researcher & Content Writer
Modifying your SUV: Tyre Upgrades
Modifying vehicles for off-road usage can be an expensive activity, and it must be done correctly! One of the first few things people tend to change on their 4WDs, are the tyres. An upgrade to a decent set of tyres gives your 4WD an immediate boost in off-road capability. Having tyres that are able to effectively put down the power of the vehicle to the terrain are definitely a good investment. Before doing so there are a few questions you will need to ask yourself in order to purchase the correct product. Due to the abundance in tyre types, companies and sizes available out there, it is important to know exactly what you are after and what will fetch you the most value for your money.
What kind of tyre upgrade should I opt for?
Most SUVs today come with a set of HT (Highway Terrain) tyres, which are useless as soon as you leave the tarmac. Therefore, the first questions to answer would be, whether you want to upgrade to an All – Terrain tyre or a Mud – Terrain Tyre.
All – Terrain Tyre
An All – Terrain tyre is your best friend if your vehicle is being used as a daily drive, which turns into a weekend warrior every now and then, or, if you wish to have a good on-road and off-road balance. When compared to a Highway Terrain Tyre, an All – Terrain tyre has deeper treads, which allow it to dig into the terrain and pull you forward. An All – Terrain tyre is generally a mixture of 50% on-road and 50% off-road driving. Do keep in mind that various tyre manufacturers now offer different models of All – Terrain tyres, which vary on their ability to tackle off-road, and on-road terrains. Some tyres could be 20% off-road use and 80% on-road use, or even 40% off-road use and 60% on-road use, so make your decision wisely!
Pros:
- Good balance between on-road and off-road driving.
- Better traction when off-road.
- Better sidewall protection.
- Better self-cleaning abilities of the tyre, resulting in better off-road traction.
Cons:
- Marginally poor on-road performance when compared to Highway Terrain tyres, especially in wet conditions!
- Comparatively noisier than Highway Terrain tyres.
Mud – Terrain Tyre
This is the tyre for when the going gets tough! This is one of the more aggressive tyres available in the market today. The tread pattern on these tyres is much deeper compared to All – Terrain tyres that results in much better traction when off-road. The deeper tread patterns also result in a much better self-cleaning ability of the tyre. Since the tyre cleans itself with every rotation, you almost never end up with a donut looking tyre in deep mud! This tyre is made of a much softer compound, when compared with All – Terrain and Highway Terrain tyres, which could result in a higher wear and tear rate. Like All- Terrain tyres, Mud Terrain tyres also come in various models, which can be differentiated by their ability to tackle on-road and off-road driving conditions. Some tyres have a split of 80% off-road and 20% on-road, where as others have a split of 100% off-road and 0% on-road driving. Make sure you choose the correct driving split to achieve maximum value for money.
Pros:
- Excellent off-road traction.
- Excellent self-cleaning abilities of the tyre.
- Much stronger sidewall, resulting in lesser punctures.
Cons:
- Poor traction in on-road conditions, especially when wet.
- Softer compound could lead to higher wear of the tyre when driven on tarmac.
- Significantly noisy on the road.
What tyre size should I upgrade to?
The tyre size you opt for will be decided by what kind of driving you wish to do, what sort of vehicle you drive and what sort of suspension setting you are running. On standard suspension set ups, you will only be able to go one or two sizes up! Do keep in mind, the bigger tyre you run, the more stress you cause on your drive train and drive shafts, which results in a higher rate of wear and tear. In addition, a bigger tyre would definitely be heavier when compared to the standard size, resulting in higher fuel consumption. Keeping the above in mind, running a bigger tyre will give you an instant lift of 1-2 inches (or more) resulting in better ground clearance!
Stay tuned to know more about modifying your suspension set up!
- Sujay Vasist, - All Four x 4 Spares Researcher & Content Writer
Image Sources
https://www.bfgoodrich.com.au/products/all-terrain-t-a-ko-2.html
http://www.1010tires.com/Tires/Reviews/Cooper/DISCOVERER+A-T3
http://www.productreview.com.au/p/bfgoodrich-mud-terrain-t-a-km2.html
http://www.offroaders.com/tech/AT-MT-Tires/Cooper-Discoverer-stt.htm
Pre – Flight Checks for your Vehicle
Heading out bush, driving through the outback or even hitting your local off-road trails is an exhilarating experience! In order to safely experience the vast outdoors, it is crucial to prepare and monitor your vehicle for obvious signs of wear and tear in an attempt to be as self-sufficient as possible. Following are a few things you can do to make sure your next adventure is safe and filled with tons of fun!
Checking your Battery - Age and Health
Car batteries play an integral role in your vehicle. From something as basic and easy as unlocking the doors of the vehicle in the morning to actually turning your vehicle’s engine in order to provide ignition. All vehicle electronics, including car stereo, driving lights etc. are also run by the battery. Keeping this in mind, it is essential to have a healthy battery before you start any trip, whether short or long. On a normal day, a fully charged battery should spit out around 12.6v – 12.7v of charge. This level of charge shows decent health of the battery. Anything lower than this would indicate an ageing or an unhealthy battery. Normally speaking, car batteries should be changed every two years, depending on your usage and load on the battery.
Spare Tyres
Goes without saying, at least one spare tyre for your vehicle is an absolute must. Depending on how remote you plan on traveling, this number could increase to two or even three spare tyres (if not more) in some cases. Having a flat tyre without any spares would grind you to a halt, completely stranded. While it is important to carry spare tyres, it is also essential to actually check the tyre pressure of these spares as well. No, it’s not fun to get a tyre punctured and reach out for your spare, only to realise that the spare is flat as well!
Underbody Inspection
Get under your vehicle, and inspect it! Doing so will enable you to know of any oil leaks that may have developed over time and give you a chance to give attention to these oil leaks before they actually start damaging your vehicle components. Look for oil leaks from your front/rear differentials, gear box and engine oil sump. While you’re down there, also inspect all the moving components. This would include things like the drive shafts, propeller shafts and suspensions. Doing so will enable you to pick up on any obvious damage or signs of wear and tear that may require urgent attention.
Carrying Spares
By doing the above mentioned steps, you will get an estimated idea of what spares you may need to carry with you. Some components may not be bad enough to be replaced, but may need replacement in the coming future. This way, anything you find suspicious during vehicle inspections that does not need urgent attention, can be added to your spares list.
Toolbox and Recovery Equipment
This would be one of the most important things in your trunk. No matter how many spares you carry, or how much replaceable oil you have, it will be of no use unless you have decent toolbox with you. Carrying a good tool box will enable you to either change out complete parts if they break or even do small repairs if required.
It is also essential on carrying recovery equipment based on the kind of travelling you’re doing. If you’re headed off-road, then a complete recovery kit is almost necessary to be carried along!
Side note – Carry heaps of zip – ties, you’ll thank your good stars later!
Vehicle Service
Keep a note of when your vehicle was last serviced. It is recommended to service a diesel vehicle every 5,000kms and a petrol vehicle every 10,000kms. This number would fluctuate up or down depending on your usage and kind of driving you do. Having a well serviced vehicle will not only ensure good health of your engine but also give you better fuel economy (save you a few dollars!!).
Giving your vehicle a thorough look prior to your departure will enable your vehicle to be in good health while on your journey and also help you decide what to bring along and what to leave at home!
Now click those belts in and have a blast out there!
- Sujay Vasist, - All Four x 4 Spares Researcher & Content Writer
Image Sources
http://www.wisegeek.org/how-do-i-change-my-car-battery.htm
http://rijidijoffroad.bounce.com.au/
http://www.outbackcrossing.com.au/FourWheelDrive/4WD_Trip_Preparation.shtml
The Art of Sand Driving
Driving on sand is certainly one of the most exhilarating feelings one can achieve whilst behind the wheel. Gliding from one dune to the other while admiring a vast and empty scenery, oh what a feeling it is! Given the adrenalin rush one gets from this experience, a lot of us fail understand the technicalities and basic fundamentals of driving on sand. Although a lot of fun, driving on sand could turn very ugly, very quickly! The danger of driving on sand when compared to other terrains is the speed factor. Since speeds are usually between 40-50kph, we need to be certain of what is coming next by being able to ‘read’ the sand. Here are a few pointers to make your next sand driving adventure, a much safer one!
High Range or Low Range?
The answer to this really depends on the power output of your vehicle, your driving style and the kind of sand you’re driving on. Normally speaking, locked high range will get you through most obstacles in the sand. But sometimes, when the going gets tough, or while recovering another vehicle, it is alright to shift into low range. Staying in low range throughout will increase the risk of throwing too much torque onto the wheels resulting in you getting bogged.
Tyre Pressures
Tyre pressures play key roles in this terrain. Deflating your tyres to about 50% of its recommended pressure will give you increased traction due to the increased surface area coming in contact with the sand. The best way to know if you have deflated enough is to let go of the accelerator while driving and if you come to a gradual and gliding stop, your tyre pressures are fine. If you come to an abrupt stop, you need to deflate further! (To know more about tyre pressures, visit http://www.allfourx4.com.au/epages/shop.sf/?ObjectPath=/Shops/allfourx4/Categories/Blog/The_Go-To_Guide_for_Tyre_Pressures)
No Abrupt Manoeuvres
Sand is a very soft surface for your vehicle to cope with. Keeping this in mind, avoid any abrupt manoeuvres. When starting off, don’t burry the gas pedal to the metal. This will end in your tyres spinning out of control, resulting in you being dug inside the sand instead of moving forward. Hitting the brakes too hard will dig your front tyres into the sand which will make it extremely difficult to start again. While driving on sand, it is also important to take note of your turning radius. It is always better to take wider turns in order to keep the tyres from digging themselves into the sand from one side of the vehicle. This could result in rollovers if due care is not given!
Straight up & Straight Down
Climbing that freakishly tall dune is on all our bucket lists as it comes with a lot of bragging rights! Doing so is absolutely fine, keeping in mind one rule of thumb, straight up and straight down! Obviously there will be instances where going straight up or coming straight down may not be possible, but where possible, stick to heading up straight. This will minimise the risk of getting bogged at dangerous sideways angles or worse, rollovers.
What do I do if I start to lose traction?
If at any time while driving on sand, you feel you are losing traction, STOP! Accelerating harder will only bog you down. The sooner you stop, the easier the recovery will be. Or if you stop soon enough, there might not even be a need for a recovery. If you feel you’re losing traction on level ground, you may need to deflate your tyres further. If you lose traction while going up a dune, stop and reverse back in a straight line and try again.
Never Go Alone
Off-road driving in general should never be attempted in a single vehicle. Always have at least two vehicles going off-road together. This will ensure the presence of at least one recovery vehicle if things were to go south. This rule specially applies for sand driving because of the increased chances of getting bogged.
Sand Flags
Due to the nature of this terrain, it is impossible to see what is coming up the dune on the other side. Thus to avoid accidents, it is best to increase your visibility by installing bright sand flags. This way, if there is another person climbing the same dune from the other side, he/she will have a lot more time to react as you will be spotted earlier.
Recovery Equipment
Always carry your own recovery kit when you are off-road, whether it be in sand or any other terrain. If you are unable to find yourself a full recovery kit, at the bare minimum, you should have at least two shackles and a snatch strap. This is important because if one vehicle gets stuck without any recovery gear on board, it will be virtually impossible for anyone else to pull you out.
Keeping the above in mind, and practicing good driving behaviour will ensure that your next visit to the beach or the desert is a memorable one! (In a good way, of course!)
Stay tuned for more off-road learning!
- Sujay Vasist, - All Four x 4 Spares Researcher & Content Writer
Image Sources
https://au.pinterest.com/pin/542472717593437049/
http://desertchallenge.org/portfolio-view/driving-in-sand-inexperienced-drivers/
Given the importance of regulating tyre pressures, it is also important to understand when and how to reduce tyre pressures in order to get the most out of your off-road experience. Also, learning the importance of bead locks will take you a long way in a much safer fashion. Off-road driving is a vast field and can comprise of driving on various kinds of terrain. The correct tyre pressures are usually determined by the kind of terrain you are traversing on, the load in your vehicle and the size of your tyre.
Unpaved/Unsealed/Gravel Tracks
In Australia, it is not uncommon to find yourself on dirt roads. Although today’s vehicles are well equipped to deal with this kind of surface without doing much, it is still advisable to reduce tyre pressures to increase ride comfort and reduce wear and tear of your vehicle. More importantly, it is critical to understand the lower levels of traction that these surfaces offer. Thus, by reducing the tyre pressures in your vehicle, not only are you increasing the life of your vehicle, you could also be saving your own life by gaining access to added traction. It is advisable to reduce your tyre pressures by 5-7psi depending on size of the tyre and the load that is being carried on the vehicle. Over – reducing tyre pressures can also end up in dangerous driving environments due to the increased risk of stones or other sharp objects cutting through the side wall of the tyres.
Sand/Beach Driving
Sand driving is where tyre pressures will make an immense difference. No matter how powerful your 4x4 is, or how well you can drive, sand driving comes down to one thing, and one thing only, tyre pressures! Since there is very little traction offered by this surface and there is always a risk of getting bogged, it is advisable to reduce tyre pressures by as much as 50%! The actual figure will be determined by the amount of load being carried on the vehicle and what kind of sand you’re driving on. Normally, the sand on the beach is much firmer as compared to the sand in the desert. Hence, beach driving can be pulled off by reducing a common 31’ tyre from 35psi to 20psi, but desert driving will demand lower tyre pressures of 14-16psi. To be on the safe side, it is best to stick to reducing your tyre pressures by 50% when it comes to sand of any kind. Reducing more than this will put you at risk of pulling the rubber off the rim, resulting in a flat tyre or worse, a torn tyre bead! A lot of times, depending on the nature of sand you’re driving on, you may have to go lower than the recommended tyre pressures. Anything below 10psi would require the usage of bead locks to make sure of the longevity of the tyre itself.
Rock Driving
Driving over rocks can be one of the most challenging terrains to traverse, for yourself, as well as your vehicle. Rocks allow for a very small margin of error due to their hard built and unforgiving edges which could slice your brand new rubber up in seconds! It is important to understand the fine balance between traction and rigidity of your tyres. If you go too low on the pressures, you will, almost definitely end up with damaged tyres. On the other hand, if your tyre pressures are not low enough, you will not get enough traction, and that could lead to a whole new world of troubles! It is recommended to keep your tyre pressures anywhere from 22-28psi, again, keeping in mind the load and tyre size of your vehicle. If you plan to go full on rock crawling, investing in bead lock rims will go a long way! When you run low tyre pressures, the side walls collapse to a large extent, leaving your tyre bead exposed to being pulled off and the air from inside the tyre escaping rapidly, resulting in a flat tyre! To make sure that the tyre is not pulled off the rim even while running low pressures, bead locks can be used. This will give peace of mind to the user when they are running extremely low tyre pressures to suit the terrain they’re on!
Tyre pressures can be reduced using various equipment which are offered in the market today. Some are inexpensive and some cost a fortune. Do note that these pressure gauges could save you a lot of money by reducing your damage costs, so spending a little extra on these things will definitely be worth it! Ironman 4x4 offers a speedy tyre deflator called the ‘ISPEEDY’. It is simple to use and is mostly faster than other kinds of tyre deflators.
Next article on sand driving, stay tuned!
- Sujay Vasist, - All Four x 4 Spares Researcher & Content Writer
Image Sources
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Australia_kangaroo_island_unsealed_road.jpg
https://terrylynnhughes2011.wordpress.com/
http://www.drivingline.com/articles/mastering-the-art-of-rock-crawling-beginners-course/
http://www.ironman4x4.com/products/tyre-accessories-tools/recovery-equipment/speedy-tyre-deflator
We all love to drive, we all love to go off-road, we all love to tour and we all love our cars! But many of us forget the importance of regulating our tyre pressures. It is crucial to regulate and maintain tyre pressures in our vehicle to increase the longevity of various vehicle components and most importantly, safety! Driving with over or under inflated tyres could result in serious damage to our vehicles and even deadly accidents. In order to grasp this phenomenon better, it is essential to first understand the need for letting out air from your tyres.
Added Traction
Yes, contrary to a lot of individuals believing otherwise, airing down your tyres will give you a lot of extra traction when compared to a fully inflated tyre in off-road and difficult driving situations! So how does this happen? Airing down your tyres increases the surface area which comes in contact with the tyre, resulting in added traction. Many might think that the increased surface area of the tyre is a result of a wider tyre mark when deflated (as shown in the picture to the left). This is a common misconception which many of us have fallen for. In fact, it is the lengthening of the tire foot print which results in a bigger surface area in contact with the ground below. Looking at the image on the right, it clearly shows that when any given tyre’s pressure is reduced from 100psi to 43psi, the surface of the tyre touching the ground increases from 8 inches to 13 inches.
Lesser Damage to Engine and Transmission Components
Since the vehicle will now have added traction when off-road, the engine and transmission will not have to rev at higher speeds to enable the vehicle to power through obstacles. This will result in lesser wear and tear of the engine and transmission components.
Better for the Tracks – ‘Tread Lightly’
This, in my opinion, is the most important reason to lower our tyre pressures. Our all-terrain and mud-terrain tyres are designed to bite into the terrain to pull the vehicle forward. When these tyres lose traction and dig up the terrain, it actually causes a lot of damage to the tracks, which would normally take a lot of years to repair itself naturally. When the tyre pressures are lower, the vehicle achieves access to added traction which would curtail free spinning of tyres. In the spirit of keeping our tracks open and accessible to everyone else, Tread Lightly!
Better Management of Unsprung Weight
Unsprung weight of any vehicle refers to the weight of all the components which are not supported by the suspension. This includes components like the tyre itself, the wheel and axles, amongst other things. Adding up, the weight from these components is significant! By airing down, the tyre starts absorbing more bumps and corrugations on the road, turning into a suspension system for all the unsprung weight. This will put lesser strain on the suspension system and lesser vibrations travelling through the all the unsprung components of the vehicle, resulting in longevity of the vehicle in general.
Better Ride Quality
If nothing else motivates you to air down, this one will! In addition to all the above points, airing down also results in a more comfortable ride quality. Since airing down will result in the tyres also working as a suspension system in addition to the vehicle’s suspension system, the ride will be much smoother and way more comfortable!
It is important to note that airing down your tyre, if not done correctly, has its disadvantages as well! They could include damaging the bead, damaging the rubber or even damaging the wheel.
Stay tuned to learn about how to correctly deflate your tyres, what equipment to use and the advantages of using bead locks!
- Sujay Vasist, - All Four x 4 Spares Researcher & Content Writer
Image Sources
- https://shop.bfgoodrichtires.com/tire/bf-goodrich/all-terrain-t-a-ko2
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17Rq-T5_XRg
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/variable-tire-inflation-pressure-log-trucks-bob-rutherford
- http://mjsoomro.blogspot.sg/2015/05/sprung-and-unsprung-weightwhat-is-it.html
