HOW TO DRIVE OFF-ROAD
ADVENTURE WITH CONFIDENCE AND COMPOSURE
Think rugged terrain and steep descents are just for the experts? Think again. With good preparation, legendary Land Rover off-road technology and a bit of practice, anyone can head off the beaten track with confidence and composure.
GET TO GRIPS WITH YOUR 4X4
Firstly, get a good mental picture of the underside of your vehicle. Know where the fragile parts are, such as the fuel tank, engine sump and gearbox. Understand your on-board technology and all its features; you’ll find everything you need to know in the manual.
Memorising some basic stats will also help you deal confidently with off-road obstacles. Get to know your vehicle’s height and width, its lowest point, wading depth and key angles.
AVOID RUTS WHERE POSSIBLE
A rut is a long deep track created by the repeated passage of vehicles. Try to straddle deep ruts, as this keeps your environmental impact to a minimum.
If muddy conditions force you to drive in ruts, make sure you know where your front wheels are pointing. Try to keep your lowest point clear of the ground at all times. Land Rover Terrain Response will automatically raise the vehicle to an optimum height.
MAINTAIN TRACTION ON HILLS
ASCENDING
When climbing muddy hills, remember that you’ll need more momentum to balance the decrease in traction. Always try to avoid wheel spin as it results in loss of momentum and can cause environmental damage. If the wheels start to spin or slide, ease off the accelerator until you feel the tyres regain grip. It’s important to keep the wheels rolling.
DESCENDING
On the way down, maintaining a steady speed is key. Hill Descent Control* takes the guesswork out of steep, slippery slopes by automatically braking to maintain a manageable speed.
APPROACH OBSTACLES DIAGONALLY
If you slide, steer downhill and gently apply the throttle. If you lose traction on your uphill wheels, stop immediately, reverse away and choose a more suitable route.
Keep an eye out for anything that could unbalance the vehicle, like rocks or potholes. Approach logs, rocky steps or ditches diagonally: you want three wheels on the ground at all times.
CARRY MOMENTUM THROUGH MUD
In deep mud, you need steady momentum to carry you through. In a Land Rover, engage Mud Ruts mode on Terrain Response, and use a low-range gear like 2nd or 3rd.
Your tyres will cut through mud to find traction on firmer ground below. All new Land Rovers have built-in Traction Control, which drives power to the wheels with the most traction. If your wheels do start to spin, ease off the throttle and slow the tyres to regain grip.
GO STEADY THROUGH SHIFTING SURFACES
SAND
To travel across sand, you need a low gear and steady momentum. Consider lowering your tyre pressure (15psi minimum) to create a greater surface area.
In your Land Rover, engage ‘Sand’ on Terrain Response. If your wheels spin, ease off the throttle and slow the tyres to regain traction. If you need to park in sand, do so on a downward slope. This will help you when you pull away.
Keep off wet sand as it can contain dangerous areas of 'floating' sand or quicksand.
GRAVEL
Gravel is a constantly changing, low-grip surface, so drive at a slow speed. This reduces the risk of losing traction when you stop, accelerate or take a corner.
Always leave a generous gap between you and other vehicles to minimise the risk of damage from flying gravel. In your Land Rover, select Grass/Gravel/Snow on Terrain Response and use the highest gear possible for the conditions.
*Available on selected models.