Guide To Off Roading in Your Jeep

Trail Rated Standards

From the original Willys MB to the 2010 Wrangler, the Jeep brand has been the leader in 4x4 innovation and off-road capability for over 66 years. They even have their own exclusive Trail Rated standard. The fact is, Jeep's can take whatever you dish out. The Trail Rated badge means that the Jeep 4x4 model has been designed to perform in five categories of off-road conditions: traction, ground clearance, maneuverability, articulation, and water fording.

Making Use of a 4x4

Most four wheel drive vehicles never use the feature, and even fewer ever take their vehicle off road. An estimated 80% of all four wheel drive owners NEVER engage low four wheel drive!  What is great about a Jeep is that it is perfect for both a busy family and the hardcore off road enthusiast. There is no other vehicle that has such a diverse user base. While many Jeep owners may be interested in off roading, it can be hard to know where to begin. The main reason most people don't go off road is that they don't know how to, or they simply don't want to risk damaging their vehicle. Read the following information and Jeep tech tips and you will be well on your way to venture into the great outdoors safely and with confidence.

What is Traction? Traction in 4x4 is equivalent to grip on Asphalt. Trail Rated traction helps you stay in control on untamed terrain, slippery (wet, mud, snow) conditions, and on steep grades.

 Navigating: Trail Rated Jeep 4x4s have the footwork to navigate narrow gaps, dodge emergency situations and avoid cosmetic damage to underbody sills thanks to precision steering and optimized wheelbases.  A Trail Rated suspension is designed to be limber as flexibility is the key to good articulation. The more a wheel can travel, or flex, the better it can maintain contact with terra firma and provide the traction needed to cross an array of obstacles.

Water Confidence: Trail Rated Jeep models feature additional electrical and body sealing, along with a high air intake location for optimum water fording capability. It is important to note that it is not safe to attempt water fording unless depth is known to be less than 19 inches.

Getting Started

A Factory Service Manual, although priced at around $100, will provide you with all the tech support you'll need. It will give you the ability to fix your Jeep while avoiding the mechanics high labor fee. It is important to have a basic understanding of the inner working and special off road. Even with rocks, snow, or mud, four wheeling just isn't the same if you are on flat land.  Mountains, dry waterfalls, and sheer cliffs add to the terrain.  Not all hills are created equal though.  Some are looser or steeper than others and may pose a problem for the unprepared. 

Tackling Steep Terrain

Gearing is Everything - The key to making it up (or down) excessively steep terrain is to pick the right gear.  Too high of a gear and you risk stalling; too low of a gear and you might not have the speed to keep your vehicle moving.  You want to have enough momentum to make it to the end of the climb without having to shift in the middle of the obstacle. This is generally easier in vehicles with more gearing options, such as dual transfer cases, or with automatics, since the torque converter provides a safe margin for error.  Note that some automatic transmissions can starve for fluid and slip on steep slopes when all of the fluid rushes to the rear of the case.  A deep pan that provides more capacity can help overcome the problem. 

Maintain Traction with Patience - The biggest mistake you can make is to mash the gas when attempting steep obstacles. Instead of stabbing the throttle, back down and analyze the obstacle.  Try a slightly different line or a little more speed.  Spinning tires don't provide nearly as much traction as tires that are stuck to the ground.

Use Brakes with Reserve - When descending a steep slope, the natural reaction is to hit the brakes.  Often times this causes the tires to lose traction and the vehicle to slide wherever gravity takes it.  With a manual transmission, it is easy to use compression braking to hold the vehicle back and keep it from going too fast.  With an automatic this is more difficult, but you can still shift the transmission manually into a lower gear.  If you do start sliding, point the front tires downhill and accelerate to straighten the vehicle out.  It might seem counter-intuitive to hit the gas when you are headed downhill out of control, but this is the best way to regain traction and control. 

Wheelbase Matters - A Jeep Wrangler and a Wrangler Unlimited (4 door) on the same climb will produce drastically different results.  The extra three feet of wheelbase on the Unlimited means that on many obstacles, the front tires are already up before the rear tires reach the ledge.  Similarly, on descents there is less chance the rear of the vehicle will try to pass the front.  The tradeoff is maneuverability.  The two door Wrangler will be superior in tight terrain and sharp objects that require a good breakover angle. 

Know What's Ahead - If you cannot see the other side of the hill or obstacle you are about to attempt, it is wise to get out and check ahead to make certain that it is safe.  Once you are belted in and behind the wheel it is too late to worry about what is on the other side or if there is traffic coming the other way down the trail.  Another reason to check ahead is to survey the terrain.  Once you start up the climb, it is likely that all you will see is hood and sky.   

Make Use of  Winch- If you think that there is a chance you might roll backwards off a steep ascent, or forwards off of a descent, hook up the winch to be safe.  It is better to have the winch attached and not need it than to have to fumble to find the controller and unspool the cable in a precarious situation.  Just remember not to run the cable over as you make forward progress.

Keep The Engine Running - While it is nearly impossible to kill the engine in a vehicle equipped with an automatic transmission, rigs fitted with manuals are much easier to stall.  When the engine shuts off, power brakes and power steering essentially become manual.  This can greatly reduce your ability to stop and turn just when you need it the most.  Attempt to keep the vehicle running at all times if possible.  If the engine does stall, attempt to restart it with the transmission in gear and the clutch out.  A hand throttle is another helpful modification to keep the engine running while your feet work the clutch and the brake pedals. 

Where to Begin

It may be best to find a terrain that is better suited for a beginner. Once you have the feel of handling your Jeep off road, through mud and across non-paved terrain you can move to steeper inclines and tighter trails. Just remember to always drive safe and 'Tread Lightly' - leave the area as clean as it was when you arrive. There are many off road Jeep clubs that hold events, as well as offering a way to learn more person to person. Check out local Jeep Clubs on our Florida Jeep Clubs page. Also check out Jeep's page on all of their 4WD technologies as well as which models get which systems at Jeep 4x4 Basics.