Things I have learned off-roading: The Sequel

Welcome back, off-roaders, and those in need of some mildly informative entertainment. I’m going to continue sharing more bits of information that you may or may not find useful. Even if you already know this, it’s good to have a reminder from time to time so you don’t get complacent.

In my previous blog, I mentioned radios, air compressors, food, water, clothing, knowing your ride, and some upgrades, mods, and accessories. I’m going to expand on some of those topics a little more and discuss what you can do personally as the lead vehicle, spotter, or ‘Tail Gunner.’

Now, I have only really been the lead vehicle once since I started off-roading, and I will admit that it was awesome, exhausting, nerve-wracking, and fun all at the same time. Allow me to explain: as the lead dog, you’re the first to see EVERYTHING, and you have to think about the other vehicles in your group. If you’ve already done a recon on the trail, then you know where the bypasses are, which is great. But if it’s your first time in the area, hopefully, you’re doing a recon for a future route, or someone allowed you to take the lead because they trust that your judgment won’t be outmatched by your ability. You still have a responsibility to those following you. If you get too far ahead, you could lose the group; go too slow, and you could also lose the group, but at a later time or on a future trail. So if there are just a few vehicles in the group, cool—being lead isn’t too bad. But if there are many (if you were fortunate enough to join us on Tecolote during our first run through the trail, there were 41 vehicles at first count), then you have the responsibility to keep the line moving, try to prevent people from clearing an obstacle and parking one vehicle length from it, and getting out to watch the vehicles behind them negotiate it themselves. After two vehicles make it through, there is no room for anyone else. So tighten up that line and let people watch. But you also have to find the right balance to keep things moving.

Spotting involves talking or using hand and arm signals to guide a person over, up, and/or around an obstacle. As a spotter, you have the responsibility to maintain the trust of the driver. You can’t be hesitant with directions, especially if there’s a safety concern. If you’re spotting by yourself, make sure you’re looking at both sides of the vehicle. This may take a little longer, but it protects the vehicle from any serious damage. If you have another person with you, the spotter on the DRIVER'S SIDE is the main person calling out directions to the driver, UNLESS it’s a matter of preventing severe damage or bodily harm. Now, something I learned and am reminded of is that words have meaning. Saying ‘Turn this way’ or ‘Go that way’ is as vague as saying ‘They said…’ which way is ‘this’ way or ‘that’ way? Just like asking, “Who is this ‘they’ you speak of?” So something I picked up from observing other spotters is to use the words ‘Driver’ and ‘Passenger’ instead of saying ‘Left’ or ‘Right.’ Saying left or right is fine to a degree, but when you’re standing in front of the vehicle you’re guiding and spotting for, your left is their right and vice versa. So say ‘Driver’—the driver of the vehicle is always turning the steering wheel toward the driver’s side, regardless of whether it’s going forward or backward; the vehicle will move toward the driver’s side. Another important aspect for a spotter is your voice. You cannot be timid; you have to project your voice in a way that the driver can hear you over their engine and possibly their music. If their music is too loud, tell them to turn it down or off.

The Tail Gunner position is probably one of my favorites. Yes, you are last in line, and by the time you get to the obstacles that have slowed down your group, it could be totally torn up and impassable, or you might have no one waiting to guide you through. But then again, you just watched the few vehicles in front of you negotiate it, so you should have a pretty good idea of what path to take. You are also responsible for straggler control, which means you NEED to have a radio with you to communicate with the others in the group if there is a serious problem. Sometimes, as Tail Gunner, you are called forward to assist in negotiating an obstacle, so when the vehicle you have been following clears it, you can get in your vehicle and continue on.

I’m going to touch on some other equipment that wouldn’t hurt to have, although not in any particular order of priority. An ‘Ouch Pouch’ or a decent First Aid Kit is essential. You’re not going to be performing open-heart surgery or an amputation (we hope), but there may come a time (hopefully not, if everything goes well) when someone in your group could be in a serious accident. If you do get an Ouch Pouch, you should familiarize yourself with its contents, know where they are, and how to use them. If you don’t do that, it’s as worthless as trying to bail water out of a boat with a bucket that has no bottom. Keep it accessible in case you’re not by your ride, but you can’t leave the injured behind. Don’t keep medications in there because they expire, and you don’t know who is allergic to what. The same goes for IV bags; they expire as well.

Let’s briefly discuss lifted vehicles. Do you have a jack capable of lifting your ride if you have to change a tire while on the trail? I realized while changing my oil and rotating my tires that the tiny stock jack that came with my Jeep is not adequate to raise it enough to change a tire without a lot of bracing under the jack. I was fortunate to be working on my Jeep, which had a lift, but I noticed that there was another 6-8 inches (maybe 10-12 inches) of rise before the tires came off the ground. So, with a 4-inch lift, you would need another 10-16 inches before you could even get the tire off and swap it.

That’s what I have for now, but there is more that I have learned. I haven’t forgotten; I just can’t really remember everything because it has become so natural for me while on the trail that I just automatically do it. However, I am sure that I will have more thoughts about things in the future. Until next time!

Alaska.