How to Prepare Your Off-road Vehicle for Any Terrain

How do you prepare your off-road vehicle for any terrain?

1. Use proper tires
2. Off-road suspension
3. Underbody protection

Going off-road is not simple. Logs, rocks, large boulders, and other road obstacles are abundant in the Philippines. This is why u-bolts, suspension, and proper tires need to be strengthened and upgraded in order for your off-road vehicle to be prepared to handle any type of trail — even terrain that is most difficult to conquer. Let’s take an in-depth look at what you’ll need to upgrade to prepare your vehicle for off-roading and why they need to be changed.

Proper Tires

For any car, this is the most important part you should pay attention to. It’s the only thing that your car relies on to make contact with the ground. Every other component that your powers your vehicle will only be as effective as the tires you have. There are many types of tires for different uses. For this specific case, what you’ll need are off-road tires.

Proper off-road tires are made to grip loose surfaces. They are made of compounds that are tougher than standard road tires which can resist punctures. You’ll also need to get the right tire size for the set of wheels you have. Generally, you would want your tires to be somewhere within the range of 29 inches and 35 inches in size. If you have smaller wheels, you’ll need larger tires and vice-versa; if you have larger wheels, you’ll need shorter tires.

It’s not just about equipping your vehicle with decent off-road tires, either. You’ll also have to decrease your tire pressure by around 75% off of your standard road tire pressure. This would result in tire pressures as low as 5 to 15 psi! This may seem staggeringly low, but it is essential for going off-road. When driving on loose soil, mud, and rocky terrain, low tire pressures will provide you with more traction and tire flexibility. It will also make your tires more difficult to puncture.

Off-Road Suspension

Most modern-day vehicles that are built with off-road capabilities may be able to take on the rough, off-road trails in the Philippines, but car manufacturers don’t usually make them strong enough to handle harsher conditions. One more thing you may want to consider is to raise your off-road vehicle’s ground clearance to allow your vehicle to overcome uneven roads. This way, you avoid damaging your undercarriage. Also, your shocks aren’t the only things you should pay attention to. Upgrading the mounts and brackets that hold your axles are important as well. There are tons of aftermarket u-bolts in the Philippines that will ensure that your car’s under chassis is formidable.

Underbody Protection

You’ll need to consider the probability of your vehicle’s underside making contact with sharp rocks or other obstacles when taking an off-road path. You can only lift your vehicle so much while still maintaining an acceptable center of gravity and practicality. There may be times when obstacles could potentially damage your engine or transmission from under your vehicle. That’s why it’s also important to provide your under chassis with some protection. Installing a skid plate will prevent the underside of your vehicle from being damaged by deflecting any contact with important under chassis components.

Key Takeaway

Taking on challenging off-road paths requires proper preparation and a reinforced vehicle with the right parts. Car manufacturers in the Philippines may not have specifically designed their vehicles for extreme uses. Upgrading a vehicle for the specific purpose of handling extreme off-road paths requires you to get the right parts in order for you to maintain reliability even when going off-road.