Things I have learned off-roading
Hello everyone. My name is Todd, but most call me Alaska. I am the owner/driver/care taker of Silver Beast. A 2018 Jeep Wrangler JLU Rubicon. What I’m trying to do with this blog is to provide some things that I learned through my journey as an off-roader with a entirely different ride. My first Jeep was a 2018 Wrangler JKU Limited Edition Golden Eagle named Skid Plate (RIP). She wasn’t lifted, standard size tires though they had an aggressive tread on them. But she was my first and she and I would go places that we probably shouldn’t have gone, but we did and survived. Most of my off-roading experience comes from Skid Plate and observing other drivers and the lines they took when they approached obstacles. Being that Skid Plate wasn’t lifted, I bottomed out a lot. So that was my first major purchase, hence the name.
Now, by absolutely no meansdto I claim to be an expert at off-roading. Hell, I didn’t off road until I came to Texas a year ago and learned through trial and error. I am proud of the fact that I have never had to be recovered when I had Skid Plate but there were concerns at times. There is satisfaction in self-recovery. So let me start with a saying a wise man has told me and we remind each other whenever we go out wheeling together: “Don’t let my stupidity dictate your ability”. What does that mean? Well, to put simply, if you see the Silver Beast, who has a 4in lift riding on 37in tires climbing or going down a step that is higher than your bumper, you probably shouldn’t follow her.
Leave your pride at home when you go off-roading. The idea is to have fun, challenge yourself a little and make it back WITHOUT having done major damage or bodily harm to your ride, yourself, or anyone else. Areas where we have been, they’re going to send in a life flight to get you out and nobody wants that.
Another thing I have learned is “Never wheel alone”. Especially in an unfamiliar area. Now if you’ve been to the are before and feel comfortable with it (Black Gap trail in Big Bend Nat park), then at least let someone know where you are going and when you’ll be back, and LET THEM KNOW WHEN YOU GET BACK! Knowing Twin Cities the way I do, we will come looking for you and bring friends. I mention Black Gap because we went down as a group in Skid Plate and took the trail. I returned several months later with Silver Beast and took the trail again. Solo vehicle. Skid plate had very little difficulty, I knew Silver Beast wouldn’t have any problem but the heat.
Know your ride. Know the functions of the controls. Skid Plate didn’t have a sway bar disconnect or lockers. Silver Beast does. Have thertight tools for the trail. Deflator, portable air compressor, tow strap, winch, flag, lights, tool box, spare fluids (PS, wiper, oil, blinker fluid), pioneer tools (shovel, pick, axe), fuel (if need be), fire extinguishes, etc. Know HOW to use your equipment. It does you absolutely no good to have any of the fore mentioned items if you don’t know how to use it. Hell, if you have it and don’t know how to you it, ask (remember leave your pride at home) there will be people to help you. Also you have the University of Google and YouTube at your disposal.
When it comes to upgrades, for me, it was about protecting Skid Plate. So my first major purchase in protection was an engine/oil pan skid plate. Now, changing an oil pan is pretty straight forward. Drain the oil, remove few bolts (12),clean off the gasket residues from mating surface, a new gasket and your ready to change it out. Well, on Skid Plate that’s what it was. HOWEVER, the cost of that oil pan was $400+. If I took it to a dealer ship, triple that. Notice I didn’t include the gasket, oil, or your time. Now with a skid plate, the savings just made sense, $350 for the plate, 2hrs of my time. Saved myself a lot of heartache in the future with that purchase. I already had the tow strap, and I have used it. But protecting the underside of your ride, to me, is number 1 priority.
Next was a deflator and portable air compressor. The deflator is a no brainer for sand, mud and rocks. The air compressor, well, you can either go inexpensive or full send right out the gate. I went inexpensive at first and picked up an air compressor that looked like a cordless drill. At 15-20 minutes PER tire, going from 15-20psi to 35p, you learn really quick that the hand held is NOT the wisest choice long term. It was a year before I upgraded. Now I’m at 20min for all four tires.
You have to decide which way you want to go, performance, protection, both? Neither is right or wrong for the first major purchase.
Radios, get a pair. This makes riding in a group so much better. You have to remember, you’re going out to have fun, challenge yourself a little, and WITHOUT breaking something or someone. If you’re in a group and get separated, call on the radio. Get stuck, radio. Hungry and another vehicle has the good food/snacks. Yep, radio.
Carry some water, snacks, gatorade, toilet paper, rain gear and whatever else you think you might need/want. Think of going camping but you’re not staying out over night.
That’s just a small part of what I have learned. I don’t want to throw it at you all at once. My thought process on this is to go into details about trails we’ve scouted, had done, options for approaching certain types of obstacles and anything else that comes to my dark, little twisted and sarcastic mind. Until next time.
Alaska.