Having an off-road vehicle is a dream for many.
It’s the ultimate partner to total freedom and unlimited adventures.
However, most people still don’t know the real deal when they talk of off-road vehicles.
Some end up having one without even knowing basic important aspects to consider.
Off-road vehicles are basically the same when it comes to common features.
However, there are ultimate factors that one should always consider when planning to own one.
To help our readers, this post will offer a comprehensive take on important matters to consider when it comes to off-road vehicles.
After reading this, you’d have a fairly easier time looking for the perfect off-road vehicle for your next adventure.
Off-road Car 101
Most people only have a vague idea of what an off-road car is.
Most don’t even know what it even fundamentally stands for.
So for a clear understanding, we’d begin with defining it.
An off-road vehicle is different from a standard car.
A standard car can only be driven on the ground and on paved roads.
An off-road vehicle on the other hand can do more; it can be driven on and off ground and can even conquer off-paved roads.
Off-road vehicles are also known as four-wheel drive cars or 4x4s.
This is because off-road vehicles have all their wheels powered.
Compared to standard cars that only have either their front or back wheels powered, off-road vehicles can totally do more.
Off-road vehicles have robust stability and power that can withstand rough roads and tough terrains.
Some even come with a boosted body structure that allows for supreme protection from wild grounds.
Top 4 Features You Should Take Note of When Buying an Off-road Vehicle
As all 4x4s are basically the same, how can you possibly figure out the best one for you?
Well, it’s pretty easy. You just need to take note of four important factors.
Once you’ve fully understood their importance, it would be easy for you to go from one 4×4 to another while effectively evaluating which one is better.
It’s very simple as you just have to consider torque output, clearance, locking differential, and transfer case.
1. Torque Output
When car experts talk of torque, when they simply refer to is the engine’s twisting power.
If horsepower is your engine’s capacity to considering distance and time, torque is your engine’s power to twist.
When looking for an off-road vehicle, you should look for one with a high torque power.
The higher the torque, the more powerful one’s engine would be in dealing with mud holes, rough terrains, or mountain climbs.
However, do take note that regardless of your off-road vehicle’s high torque power, the ground’s roughness and your tires’ grip would affect its output.
2. Clearance
You should opt for a vehicle with high ground clearance.
This is something that is easily visible and observable. The higher the ground clearance, the better.
When an off-road vehicle’s ground clearance is high, it can easily conquer rough roads and terrains with no damage whatsoever.
Some off-road vehicles with high ground clearance are Jeep’s Wrangler, Toyota’s 4Runner, and Chevrolet’s Tahoe.
Models that can be customized and comes adjustable suspension are Jeep’s Grand Cherokee, and Land Rover’s LR4 and Range Rover.
Adjustable suspensions are great for they allow for adjustable height.
3. Locking Differential
Look for an off-road vehicle with a locking differential.
A locking differential will ensure that your off-road vehicle will perform at its best in when in rough roads and terrains.
As most off-road vehicles have a limited-slip differential, a locking differential will ensure that your wheels will rotate at the same time.
Wheels that boost at the same time have more power and can easily conquer any challenging terrain.
Off-road vehicles with locking differential ensure all-out power at all times.
Most brands are not clear when it comes to the presence of a locking differential mechanism in their models.
If you’re not sure if your preferred off-road vehicle has one, use a VIN decoder.
It will easily offer you a comprehensive take on all the necessary information regarding any model.
With a unique identifier, you can easily investigate on the year of production, type of engine, and manufacturer of any vehicle.
It can even determine if a vehicle is damaged, modified, or stolen.
4. Transfer Case
This factor is important as off-road vehicles need to have solid power when dealing with steep hills.
Having a low range transfer case will help you conquer steep hills. So much so that you won’t even need to press the brakes.
With a low range transfer case, you can easily stabilize the direction and speed of your car in any rough condition.
Standard cars have tall gears that help when it comes to saving on fuel.
To ensure that you’re fully in control whenever you go on off-road trips, your 4×4 should have a low range transfer case.
In Summary
Always remember that you always have to check out four important factors first: torque, clearance, locking differential, and transfer case.
To ensure that you have a supreme off-road partner in your vehicle, you should prioritize the following factors:
1. High torque power
2. High ground clearance
3. Robust locking differential
4. Low range transfer case
If your off-road vehicle has built-in specifications that cater to all four factors, you can be sure that you’d have a grand time dominating the wild road.
All four factors ensure that you’re still fully in control and in power even when facing the toughest and roughest terrains and conditions.