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The great outdoors - environment - conservation - wildlife

Principal - Tim Neary

Compiled and written by Tim Neary

IMPORTANT POINTS ON YOUR VEHICLE

 Sketch of generic vehicle

The following are important points on your vehicle, which you should familiarise yourself with.

Angle of departure.(3)This is the angle between the rear of the point where the rear wheel touches the ground and the lowermost point behind the rear wheel, i.e. the tow-ball on a drop plate. This angle determines the angle at which a vehicle may leave an obstacle. The blunter the angle the better for negotiating ditches and obstacles

Angle of attack.(4)This is the angle between the front of the point where the front wheel touches the ground and the lower most point at the front of the vehicle. This has the same results entering an obstacle as the angle of departure has leaving an obstacle.

Ground clearance.(1)This is the distance measured to the lowermost point of the vehicle and the higher the ground clearance the better.

Wheel span.(2)This is the distance between the centre of the front and rear axles and determines whether a vehicle is either short-wheel or long-wheel base. In general short-wheel base vehicles negotiate obstacles better.

Wheel track.This is the distance between the left hand and right hand wheel on the same axle. It is important that both the trailer and vehicle has the same track for optimum ease of towing.

Recovery points.These are the strong points on both the front and rear of the vehicle to which a tow rope or snatch rope is attached.

Jacking points.These are the points used for lifting a vehicle when using a high-lift jack. Many of the modern vehicles require auxiliary-jacking points, as with plastic bumpers and mouldings, the factories do not take jacking points into consideration.

Part-time 4 x 4.This vehicle has both high and low range 4x4 capabilities, however the front axle has free wheelhubs, which have to be engaged for the front axle drive to become activated.

Permanent 4 x 4. This vehicle has all 4 wheels in permanent operation and the high or low range capability is independently selected.

All wheel drive vehicle.This vehicle has all 4 wheels in permanent operation but does not have a low range capability.

BEACH DRIVING

A beach is fragile eco-system and is home to a great verity of sea life, beach life, birds, turtles as well as their home environments and breeding colonies. Before driving on the beach study this beach and tide ecosystem and ask and answer yourself honestly do you really need to drive on the beach, or could you not walk and get a more rewarding experience.

• Contact the relative authorities and establish and familiarise yourself with their beach driving laws, policies and allowable areas.
• Always select the required 4x4 range and drive at less than 40 Kph remaining only on the hard wet inter-tidal area and avoid the dunes.
• Wider tyres allow for better floatation as you wish to drive with your tyre plaining over the sand and not pushing a wall of sand in front of the tyres. Always lower your tyre pressures to between 0.8 and 1.0 bar. When coming off the beach always re-inflate your tyres as not to cause overheating or having a tyre break from the rim seating.
• For optimum ease of driving over the sand you should try to balance momentum and power.
• When stopping on the sand always look for a hard place to park, drive forward then reverse in order that the sand under the wheels may be compacted. When pulling away you must never spin your wheels as this will result in your vehicle becoming stuck.
• If you do become stuck first dig trenches to your wheels from the direction in which you were travelling as in most cases it is easier to get out the way you entered rather than to proceed in the way in which you were travelling.
• Always ensure that your tyre valves and rim seal areas are free of sand after coming off of the beach.
• Do not drive from the recognised trails on estuaries and wetlands.
• Keep a good lookout for children, animals and fishermen.
• If you have to drive over a sand dune to exit the beach, stop at the bottom of the sand dune and walk up to the top of the dune. Inspect both the safety and terrain and then proceed to drive to the top of the dune, stopping at the crest before rolling over and descending the opposite side of the dune.
• On coming off the beach, wash the underside of your vehicle to remove the sand and corrosive beach salts.
• Again ask yourself do you really have to drive on the beach?  

MUD DRIVING

• Mud should not be approached with a rally driving high-speed attitude.
• Always walk the obstacle to check for hidden dangers e.g. rocks or deep ruts, which may entrap your vehicle.
• It is important to keep forward momentum in a selected gear that gives you sufficient speed without excessive wheel spin and to always select low range on your transfer gear-box as well as differential or transmission lock, if fitted to your vehicle.
• Follow existing tracks and not to alter the direction of travel, or speed with a sharp movement.
• If the vehicle starts to slow down its forward movement and the wheels start to spin, ease off the power to the engine and gently turn your steering wheel to the left and gently apply power to the engine. If the vehicle bogs down attempt to reverse from the mud.
• Should you become stuck and find that forward and backwards rocking of the vehicle fails to remove you from the obstacle then alternative recovery methods e.g. the tug strap, winching or lifting with a high-lift jack and placing rocks in the track and under the wheels should be attempted. Remember that it is usually easier to remove the vehicle in the direction from which it has entered the obstacle.
• On exiting the mud, stop and clean off the mud from both your tyres and from under your wheel arches.
• Always check that the radiator is clean of mud.
• Towing of trailers through muddy conditions is both stressful on the driver and the vehicle.
• Excessive mud driving may require the fitment of special tyres designed for muddy conditions.
• Exercise extreme care when crossing mud on a slope.
• Clean mud from your engine as a mud build-up will cause your engine to retain heat and not allow engine cooling by heat radiation which could cause engine damage.
• Always allow one vehicle to completely clear the obstacle before the second one enters the obstacle.
• It is environmentally damaging to make additional tracks around the obstacle. The best advice is to avoid mud if at all possible.

Sand driving

• Itis important to drive on top of the sand and not to push a wall of sand in front of your tyres. This requires a balance between gear selection, engine power, forward momentum and tyre pressure.
• Sand driving is very similar to driving a boat on the water. When the boat is “plaining” that is riding on the top of the water the boat moves easily and uses less fuel. The same applies to driving in sand, as you should “plain” over the sand.
• Always enter the sandy sections in 4x4 high range and only change the selected gear if the vehicle is bogging down as changing gears allows for a momentary slowing down which allows the vehicle to bog down.
• Remember that sand driving and 4x4 driving in high and low range gear selection increases your fuel consumption and this must be taken into account on your trip. An aircraft works on 100% fuel safety and you should work on as close to 50 % as possible.
• Excessive wheel-spin, braking and sharp changes in direction should be kept to a minimum and your tyre pressure should be lowered for floatation but not to lower than 1 bar. Always re-inflate your tyres to the recommended tyre pressure an reaching harder ground.
• Should your vehicle bog down, stop, access the situation and spend a short while clearing the sand with your spade from the rear of your tyres and reverse out, or use the required recovery method. Pack bush or rocks into the tracks and try again to drive through the obstacle. It is always better to walk the sand obstacle and spend a short while making repairs or accessing the obstacle than to charge through like a bull at a gate.
•  Remember that the best way out of an obstacle is the way you came in.Do not use a winch to force your way through the sandy section.
• Beware of sharp stones and sticks hidden on sandy tracks that may damage your tyres, in particular the sidewall sections.
• Excessive sand driving may cause your vehicle to overheat due to constant engine strain. Always stop frequently to allow the vehicle to cool down.
• Towing a trailer through sand is both stressful and demanding on the vehicle and driver.
• Vehicles with overloaded roof racks can be unstable on sand tracks if there is a sudden change in direction.
• Do not try to fight the steering wheel, as your vehicle will follow existing tracks with far less stress on both the driver and the vehicle.
• Always allow one vehicle to clear the obstacle before a second vehicle enters the obstacle.
• It is environmentally damaging to make additional tracks around the obstacle.
  

Mountain and rocky trail driving

Many of the aspects of mountain driving can be repeated during driving over other types of terrain.

• Always walk the obstacle and check for hidden rocks and holes. If the ground is loose and dangerous remove the passengers from the vehicle and wear a seat belt.
• Travel slowly in low range with a steady constant control over your accelerator. All actions are gentle and that includes your braking action.
• Allow one vehicle through the obstacle at a time.
• Always plan an escape route should your chosen route become dangerous.
• Traversing a slope is both dangerous and environmentally damaging as new waterways are opened which may allow for erosion to take place. Always check that your downhill wheels are on sure-footed ground. Look for an escape route and plan accordingly as should the vehicle start to slide you will steer downhill and drive away. Should you feel that the vehicle is tipping then take your escape route.
• Steep ascents should be walked first. Approach in low range second gear, where possible to prevent wheel spin, with a steady throttle. Always remain in the gear of choice as changing gears in an obstacle looses power as well as your concentration.
• Steep descents can be dangerous. After walking the route approach the descent in second gear low range. Allow the vehicle to descent under its own engine power. DO NOT use the foot brake or attempt to descent in neutral or change gears.
• Recovery after stalling on both the ascent and descent as well as reversing down a steep ascent after stalling requires skill and practice and MUST be taught to you by a recognised driving school.
• Obstacles such as a ditch or tree trunk are always crossed at an angle to allow at least three wheels to be on the ground at any given time. This is also less stressful on the vehicle.
• V-shaped gullies require careful planning as the wrong approach could result in your vehicle resting against the bank with body damage. Either attempt to straddle the obstacle or repair the obstacle before attempting to negotiate it.

Responsible recreational and outdoor etiquette

• TAKE ONLY MEMORIES AND PHOTOGRAPHS AND LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINTS AND TACKS.
• Drive slowly through puddles as puddles are also waterhole for animals.
• Ensure that you have the required permission to enter the area that you are in and that you know and abide by all the laws and rules that are in place, also, ask the local folk and other travellers about the road ahead.
• Ensure you know the health rules of the region and this includes the requirements of meat and fowl allowances as you cross the boarders .
• Stay on the designated trail and do not venture off on your own routes. A no-entry sign means just that, “NO ENTRY”.
• Do not drive through sensitive areas i.e. wetlands .
• Always plan your trip in all ways including route and food requirements. Proper planning makes for an enjoyable trip.
• Always travel with your lights on dusty gravel roads to improve your visibility to other road users.
• Avoid driving at night, as you do not know the terrain and animals are unpredictable and hard to see at night.
• Engage 4-wheel drive before you get into trouble, as prevention is better than cure.
• Always walk an obstacle even a steep decline or incline, you never knows what is around the corner.
• Take your rubbish away with you from your camp-site as the wildlife has an excellent sense of smell and will dig up your litter that you may have buried.
• Do not feel wildlife from either your vehicle of campsite. Do not encourage them to becoming scavengers or dependent on man as this is usually a death sentence for them.
• To drive alone is to die alone. It is preferable to travel in a group of at least one more vehicle.
• Do not chop down trees or use dead wood lying in the veld as a fuel source as dead and decaying matter is the home of many different important insect and food groups. Obtain wood fuel from the local population to assist their economy.
• Do not leave a fire unattended. Ensure that your fire is extinguished and not just covered up.
• Ensure all soap and shampoos are biodegradable and do not wash in the river, someone downstream has to drink the water. It may be you!.
• Do not make excessive noise. It is unpleasant for man and the animals alikeBeware of leaving fruit and food out as animals have a keen smell and you may have visiting elephants etc at your campsite.
• Inform someone of your planned route, destination and dates of travel and do not deviate unless forced to by extreme circumstances.
• In the event of a breakdown, remain with your vehicle as you are easier to find and you have a form of shelter. This is particularly important in big game territory. Always include warm clothing and a box of matches regardless of the anticipated weather conditions.
• Know both your and your vehicles capabilities.
• Always anticipate the worst conditions and plan accordingly.
• Drive at a reasonable speed, you are not in an off-road race.
• Ensure all travel documents are in order as well as your vehicle clearances.
• Always secure all loads in your vehicle.

Tyres and jacking

• Tyres are the only item holding your vehicle on the road. Think of your bunched fist as the average amount of contact your vehicle has with the road.
• Tyre pressure and wheel alignment should be checked regularly, as they are both critical to both your safety and the long life of your tyres. Do not inflate your tyres until they appear correct to your eye for the load that you have placed in your vehicle. Check that your tyres are rated for both your vehicle and its designed carrying weight.
• Tyre pressure is an important criterion when off-road. Tyre pressures should be adjusted to suite the terrain; i.e. sand, rocks, mud etc. Remember that soft tyres mould around obstacles and are less likely to puncture.
• Certain tyres are better suited for certain conditions, i.e. mud or sand driving. Discuss your tyre requirements with your tyre dealer to obtain the optimum tyre selection for your average type of driving.
• For off-road use a tyre will generally start to loose its effectiveness after a loss of 50 % of its tread depth.
• Always check the sidewalls of tyres for signs of impact and cuts.
• Check tyre pressures on a cold tyre before you commence your journey.
• Always ensure that your tyres have valve caps on all wheels including your spare wheel. Always carry your own tyre pressure gauge.
• Never mix either tyre size, make or design on your vehicle.
• Check your spare wheel condition, size and tyre pressure regularly. If your spare wheel is mounted under your vehicle, consider to place the wheel on a roof rack or external mounting for the duration of your journey as the spare is then easier to access and does not stand the chance of been lost or hard to reach if required.
• Include a tyre repair kit to your tool kit for small penetration punctures.
• Include your own tyre inflator in your vehicle, either a hand pump or a 12v electrical pump.
• Tyre pressures can effect your tyre life by up to 40 % by either over or under inflation.
• When leaving the beach, under-inflated tyres build up excessive heat as well as the possibility of coming off the rim when cornering. The greatest tyre failure rate that results in accidents is as a result of beach driving at popular diving and boating sites around South Africa.
• Always insist that your trailer tyres are the same size and wheel hubs as your vehicle as this gives you additional spares if needed.
• Always insure that your tyres are speed rated and load rated for your vehicle. This is also an important factor for your vehicle insurance.
• Always ensure that the lifting jack’s footing is secure when jacking up your vehicle. Do not lie under a jacked up vehicle.
• Check that you have the correct wheel spanner for your vehicle as often the upgraded “mag” styled rims do not retain the original wheel-nuts.

Crossing waterways

• Always walk a water crossing to check for obstacles, but beware of animal dangers in wilderness reserves especially Hippo and Crocodiles. It is a good idea to wade using a stick.
• Check if your vehicle requires wading plugs and do not wade through water that is deeper than 500 mm. Always consult owners handbook for wading deapth.
• Drive through without wearing your seat belt in case you have to get out of the vehicle in a hurry.
• Drive through with a slight bow wave to force the water away from the engine. Ensure that you keep the water away from the intake manifold, as a drowned vehicle will almost always result in extreme engine damage that will spoil your journey.
• Removing a fan-belt will stop the water been thrashed about under the bonnet and splashing onto the electrical components of the engine.
• Exercise extreme care when towing a trailer through water as the trailer may float and drag the vehicle downstream and off of the track.
• Ensure that small children are taken care of at a water crossing. Water is a most powerful part of nature.
• During the rainy season be extremely cautious when crossing dry riverbeds due the speed at which “flash-floods” can approach.
• If the vehicle stalls in the crossing and the engine stops, do not attempt to start the engine until you have been towed or pushed from the water crossing, as water may have entered the engine via the exhaust or air intake.
• The fitting of a snorkel extension to the engine air-intake is a recommendation.
• Fast moving water has incredible power and should be avoided.
• If water is seen to be moving quickly through rapids and narrow sections and you then notice a calm fat-water section the flat section could be extremely deep.
• After the water crossing always check all oil compartments for contamination. If you have to change contaminated oil do not drain the oil onto the ground, collect the oil in a container and remove the oil with you.
• After the water crossing “dry” off the brakes, including the hand brake by applying light braking pressure for some 50m. Remember that brakefluid is hydroscopic and mixed with water.
• If you suspect that you may require tow assistance, pre-attach the towrope before entering the water crossing.
• Always allow only one vehicle through the crossing at one time.

Basic navigation, navigation aids and maps

• Navigation is an understanding of where you are going in relation to where you are and the plan of how you are going to get to your destination as well as the time you will take to reach your destination.
• This is a form of planning that will assist you in route selection, fuel and water requirements and food and equipment requirements.
• Stars form an integral part of navigation, but for the most this is a dying art and celestial information is for your enjoyment due to the clarity of the stars when you are away from the city and light pollution.
• Basic requirements for navigation is as follows, pencil, rubber, scale ruler, mathematical dividers, compass, parallel ruler and a scale map of the region.
• A global positioning system (GPS) is an excellent addition to your equipment list. The basis of operation is that there are GPS satellite orbiting the earth. When you ask your GPS for your position, the unit will take a signal from 3 of the satellite and will then cross-reference them and give you your position. The Super Powers, whom from time to time, may remove the civilian use during military intervention e.g. the Gulf War, control these satellites. The modern GPS has incredible accuracy to within a few centimetres as well as many useful facilities to allow you to both retrace your route and give you the direction of travel to your next reference point as well your estimated time of arrival and ground speed. If your GPS unit does not supply you a position when asked, walk a few paces to one side and try again after a few minutes
• Always take note of your surroundings for landmarks if you are in unfamiliar territory.
• Use your vehicle odometer when performing basic navigation to find your destination or a turn-off. Allow a reasonable error to reach your destination and retrace your steps to a known point if you do not find your destination. Do not simply hope that your destination is over the next hill and keep driving, as this is a sure way to get lost. If on foot then work on a time factor. Example, if you believe that your destination is an hour away and you have not found it after an hour and a quarter, stop and reassess, do not go blindly on.
• If you become lost, stop and reassess your plight. You should be able to retrace your route. Do not leave your vehicle and do not attempt to retrace your steps after dusk as everything looks different and you will become lost
• .Always purchase good quality scale and surveyed maps. Mark your intended route before you commence your journey, noting any landmarks on the map. Make sure you understand to key to the maps and the scale of the map, i.e. one centimetre is equal to ten kilometres etc.
• Always mark any landmarks on your map for later reference.  
• Marking your route to allow you to retrace your tracks can be as simple as using the material on the ground, i.e. draw in the sand, make beacons with rocks, break off a peace of bush.
• Always ask the local folk for advice and heed what they tell you. They are experts in their region.

Winch,winch safety and recovery equipment

• If there is any reason to attend a 4x4 driving course the recovery techniques are the reason, due to the extreme importance of safety during these procedures.
• Equipment may include winches, high-lift jack, tree protectors, snatch ropes, tow ropes, airbag jacks, spades, bow-shackles, ground anchors, winch cable extension straps and gloves. Always ensure that recovery equipment has international safety ratings and work well within those ratings.
• Always ensure that all non-essential people are well clear of the recovery working area.
• Always work with good quality hand protection.
• The front or rear mounted winch requires a great amount of practice. Know your hand signals, know the capacity of the winch, always work with gloves, never stand between the two working vehicles and place a blanket or sack over the cable in case the cable should break. When winching, the vehicle that is stuck should engage into gear and slowly spin its wheels to assist in the recovery. The vehicle that is the winch platform should be stationary and well anchored. Always clear the path for the stuck vehicle to minimise the strain on the winching equipment. If you are winching against a tree ensure that you have used a tree protector for environmental protection. Always clean all your equipment after use and inspect the winch cable for damage.
• Never use a winch cable as a tow rope and do not “jerk or snatch” a winch cable.
• On installation or replacement of a winch cable the cable should be “stretched” by winching against a fixed object to “run in” the cable.
• The tug strap is an extremely useful piece of equipment that works to extract the stuck vehicle by stretching and returning to its original length and supplying kinetic energy. Lay the tug strap to one side so that both drivers can see it. Overlap the tug strap by approximately half a meter in the centre. After clearing the path for the wheels of the stuck vehicle, the stuck vehicle should engage gear and apply power to slowly spin its wheels. A signal is given and the recovery vehicle drives off, the tug strap will stretch and the kinetic energy should release the stuck vehicle. Do not barge back and forth as this will damage the strap. Tug straps have a live span of some 10 recoveries and should be inspected regularly for damage.
• The hi-lift jack has many uses including that as a short-pull winch. Always ensure that you are lifting the vehicle on a secure lifting point and do not go under a vehicle supported on a jack. The hi-lift jack can be used to raise the vehicle from a stuck position and allow rocks to be packed under the wheels to raise the axles from the ground, thus allowing the vehicle to drive from the obstacle.
• The way the vehicle entered the obstacle and then became stuck is usually the way the vehicle should be removed. If at all possible do not drag the vehicle through the obstacle.
•  Remember that the hydraulic operated winch will not work without the vehicles engine running, whereas the electric winch will work provided the battery still has sufficient power.
• Always inspect recovery equipment after use, clean and replace for the next use.

Packing your vehicle.

Packing your vehicle correctly can mean the difference between having an enjoyable holiday, fondly remembering your footprints and tire tracks or having a holiday from hell. The following are a few important factors that are worth considering.

• Talk to experienced travellers and develop a list of items that should be included in your vehicle itinerary, suited to your particular needs. Always pack using your checklist and mark off each item as you pack. This will save many a headache later.
• Lay out all the items that you intend taking on your journey and do at least two dummy packing runs prior to your journey. If you cannot pack all your selected items comfortably into your vehicle stop and assess the need of the item and repack again.
• Use your roof rack as a last resort. Consult the vehicle manufacture or your vehicle handbook and establish the correct permissible carrying capacity of the vehicle’s roof, and remember that the capacity quoted includes the weight of the roof rack.
• Pack your items into plastic containers and make a list of the contents of each container for ease of reference and for ease of locating the required article. Always pack in last what you will need first when you stop at your destination.
• Ensure that when you load the vehicle, all the heavy items are placed as low as possible to keep the centre of gravity as low as possible for safety as a vehicle with a low centre of gravity is more stable. Ensure that your weight distribution is spread evenly through the vehicle and remain well within the load capacity of the vehicle.
• If you are to carry full Jerry cans on your roof for additional fuel, ensure that the cans are rated for fuel usage and that they are carried in front of the rear axle. Top up your main fuel tank daily to improve the vehicle’s centre of gravity.
• Include a chair for each member of your party for comfort as well as at least one table.
• Additional items that should be considered include a torch per person and a spare set of batteries, binoculars, Swiss army knife or multi-tool, good sunglasses, leather gloves, fly swatter, paraffin lamp, anti bug candle and roll on, spade, axle as well as a few games to offer alternative entertainment.
• Always secure all items in your vehicle, as loose items are extremely dangerous and can cause injury if they are thrown around.
• Beware when packing items that may be damaged by heat and direct sun light. Keep a basic first-aid kit in an easy accessible place.
• A radiator screen is an advisable addition to prevent grass blocking the radiator fins and causing the vehicle to overheat.

• After your journey unpack and clean up all your camping equipment, make repairs and replacements as required, remove batteries from torches and appliances and fill gas bottles in preparation for your next journey.
  

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