The off-road checklist: What do we need to be Safe?
To some, a lazy Sunday drive down a sun-dappled road is pure heaven. And to others, it’s a complete snooze fest. If you’re 1 of the latter, then there’s probably nothing better to you than a good bundu trail to show off the potential of your off-road car. In fact, you probably plan frequent trips to put your off-road machine through its paces. Apart from plotting the route, a big part of planning these trips includes making sure that you’re fully prepared for the different risks and challenges that off-roading presents.
Use this quick checklist to ensure that you’re safe and able to get the most out of your adventure! We’ve even included a bit of insurance advice to help make sure that you and your car are sorted before the ride. No really, we’ve thought of everything.
The ultimate off-road adventure checklist
Safety basics
You might be a lone wolf, but can we suggest that it’s far safer and far more fun to hit the trail in groups of at least 2 cars? If you’re stuck or had an accident that’s a bit more serious, then the other party can assist or go for help. We’d even go so far as to advise you to tell family and friends where you’re going and roughly how long you’ll be gone for.
Obviously you want to experience the thrill of the adventure, but there’s no need to push it to the point of being alone and in trouble. If the movie 127 Hours, taught us anything, it’s that a lot of trauma can be avoided if you go with friends and tell a few people about your plans.
The car check
It’s absolutely essential to maintain your off-road car. Things like checking your oil, brake fluid, radiator coolant, seat belts, tyre pressure and spare wheel, steering, shocks and electric systems all go towards keeping you safe while you put your car through some serious wear-and-tear.
Also, it’s better to discover any existing damage before your trip, as opposed to, you know, during your trip. On a hill. Out of cellphone range.
A proper medical kit
You don’t want to skimp in this area. The type of terrain that off-road cars enjoy is usually located in areas where you’re probably not very close to medical facilities. So, you need to be prepared.
An off-road medical kit should contain:
- Flashlight.
- A variety of dressings and bandages (including triangular bandages).
- Wipes, cellophane bags, and plaster tape.
- Rescue sheet.
- Clothes scissors.
- Glove set.
- Ice pack.
- Hand cleaning set.
- Splinter forceps.
- Safety pins.
- Extra food and water (just in case you have to wait for help overnight).
Insurance
Off-road cars are built to be strong, but even so, they take quite a beating. The intensity of trail driving causes your off-road car to encounter more damage and repair charges than normal cars. And eventually, off-roading will cause long-term mechanical issues and bodywork faults.
You can imagine how expensive it is to repair or fix damage after a bit of a rough ride. It’s just far better to invest in insurance. Ask your insurance company whether they provide an off-road policy or get a super cheap insurance quote for off-road cars today. After all, that adventure trail might be worth the risk for the rewarding thrill, but driving without insurance certainly isn’t.
25 Tips on what to do before going Offroad https://t.co/fxQzdWTnbf #ArriveAlive #4X4 pic.twitter.com/8DenZYbP6T
— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) April 13, 2019
