Parts Of Your 4x4 That You Need To Inspect Once You’re Back From Off-Roading

Driving to and from work is one thing, but if you’re a frequent weekend traveler that’s a whole different thing. When it comes to your everyday route, the road is a lot more stable which doesn’t cause as much impact to your vehicle. But as you know, off the beaten paths aren’t like that. When we say rough, it can really get rough. This means your car is being put through intense impact and a lot worse damages than any normal drive would have.

Therefore, it’s important that your 4x4 is being checked every after trip to see if there are any damages and to get it fixed as soon as possible. Because car issues caused by off-roading can be serious and is not good to continue driving it until fixed.

Breaks

When going on an off-roading, the rubber or steel lines where the brake fluid passes through could get damaged and lead to a leak. Although they’re normally tucked away from harm’s way, all the trail bashing can snag on rocks or brush all the retaining clips or tie-downs that keep it in place. The thing is, this damage could only lead to a slow leak which is why you need to check your brake lines as soon as you get home. Otherwise the slow leak will give you a false sense of security and may get you in trouble at the most inopportune time.

Engine Compartment

In the engine compartment, check for leaks from the power-steering pump and hoses (if your vehicle’s power steering is a hydraulic system). Look for slow leaks, too, in the cooling system—undetected, they may cause a catastrophic engine failure due to overheating.

If you have not installed a wading kit, it’s always best to inspect your engine and transmission oil for contaminants. If you’ve just done some really serious water crossing or if you’ve been driving through fine sand, have the differential axle lubricated as soon as you can to avoid bearing failure. Drain and replace fluids as soon as possible.

Electrical Wirings

If your 4x4 is fairly new, this may not be as much of a concern. Although, it wouldn’t hurt to play it safe and still check anyways. But for older cars that have been through a lot of off-roading, you really need to check electrical wiring regularly to see if their insulation coating has not been rubbing on steel body parts. Why? Because when that happens and electrical fire can break out which will not only cost you your vehicle but also could hold your next trip back.

Tires

Since off-roading is a lot rougher than your usual daily drive, the tires take in a lot of impact. So always check the sidewalls for possible lumps right away. If it’s there, then your carcass is already broken and will probably bursts in just a matter of time if you continue to drive it in that condition.

Since this isn’t your usual daily commute where I’m assuming you’re driving on concrete, you should invest in mud tires as well. You’ll be surprised how correct tires for off-roading can actually make the experience a whole lot better in terms of driving and longevity of the tires. Just imagine how much bruise, impact and cuts your regular tires will have to take which can prematurely damage the tires beyond repair. Buying new tires all the time can cost a lot compared to purchasing mud tires for your road trips. These mud tires are designed to improve clearance of both sand, dirt, and mud, for ultimate performance, no matter the conditions. Plus, the formula is made to deliver traction, specifically for off-road driving.

Unusual Vibration

Frequent off-roading can cause a lot of different damages to your car. It can cause broken engine or transmission supports, misaligned wheels (especially on vehicles with independent front suspension setups), damaged propeller shafts, or unbalanced tires due to balancing weights getting knocked off the wheels. One tell-tale sign of those damages is unusual vibrations. So if you noticed that after you’ve come back from your trip then make sure you take your car to your trusted car repair shop. This will keep any issues from going unattended and causing even bigger damages. Even mud buildup inside the wheels will definitely get your wheels and tires unbalanced, too, and cause some mild to serious wobbling when you’re back on the road. So make sure you check and get the problem taken care of while it’s still simple like that.

Rubber Components

Especially on high-mileage vehicles, inspect the rubber components used to insulate the undercarriage components to ensure there is no metal-to-metal rubbing.

Yes, all the mentioned potential problems are worrying. However, a 4x4 is still designed for such rough conditions so it would be pointless to try and baby your car too much or avoid off-roading all together. Sure, scratches and dents are heart breaking for any car owner but that’s given and the bare minimum damage a 4x4 gets when off-roading. No matter how careful you drive, you can only minimize them at best but not entirely avoid them.

If you really can’t stomach those risks then maybe it’s time to consider if off-roading is for you or you should look for a different hobby. Do understand that a lot of people subject their four-wheel-drive vehicles to this kind of use, not abuse, because it’s part of their job in fields like mining, surveying, and so on. If you do have to use your vehicle in difficult conditions and are concerned about the warranty, read your owner’s manual and understand the limitations of your vehicle’s warranty.

7 Things That Trigger Road Rage Among Drivers

Owning a vehicle and being able to drive yourself anywhere you need to be is no doubt convenient for anyone. However, it’s also no secret that being on the road on a regular basis can pose a lot of stressors that leads to road rage sometimes. This is why aside from ensuring that your car is reliable and in good all-around condition, you should also be aware of safe and defensive driving as well as proper disposition and state if mind before going behind the wheel.

To be more prepared, dig in and learn about the factors that upsets anyone’s’ equilibrium on the road

1. Poor Road Design

When it comes to road rage triggers, you’re probably already thinking of driving skills and drivers themselves. But before any of that affects you, the road design, depending on your location, alone can already make your blood boil. Not being familiar with the road can also aggravate that. A road can go from four lanes to just two, becoming chaotic when everyone starts jostling for position, while lane restrictions can cause traffic to pile up at your exit. And then there’s the hidden or unclear signs or stoplight that create even more chaos that will give even the most calm person road rage.

2. Hunger

I think we can all agree that being hungry alone can put anyone in a bad mood. Now combine imagine that while driving. You would even notice how you get ticked off by the smallest thing when hungry right? Well that’s because when your stomach is empty, your body releases cortisol and other hormones that makes you feel irritable and aggressive. So it’s really not a good idea to go on the road on an empty stomach. Doing so can not only be a bit dangerous since being hungry can make you feel light headed too which is not good when driving, but it may also make you snap at anyone for the tiniest mistake or delay.

It’s always good to have snacks and drinks on hand in case you feel hungry while driving. If you don’t have them and your stomach is already growling, don’t try to push through it. Stop by the next gas station or rest stops you can find and grab something to eat. This should help calm you and your stomach down plus you get to take a break from the stress of traffic even for a little while.

3. Your Car Condition

Driving an old beat-up car can be really irritating. A dirty and weak air conditioner can make you sweat a bucket especially when stuck in heavy traffic. A dirty interior can make you sick, a dark or peeling tint can obscure visibility on the road and poor mechanical condition can make you feel like you’re fighting with your own can when it’s supposed to make commuting easier for you.

Sure those are some of the worst car conditions that can no doubt test your patience. But even noisy and old tires can be annoying. If you don’t drive much these things may not bother you, but an everyday drive with these conditions can push anyone at their wits end. So, if your job or day to day living requires you to drive a lot, it pays to maintain a clean vehicle that is also in good running condition. Be sure to take your car to the car repair shop when it needs it as well as for its regular maintenance.

4. Being Late

You’ve probably heard this before but it bears repeating. Leaving even 10 minutes early than planned could save you from the rush hour. Aside from that, it may help you arrive at work early or at least on time (if you’re usually late due to traffic) which then saves you the stress over being stuck in traffic and being late in the first place. This then makes your commute so much more stress-free because you’re not worried throughout the ride. Plus if you know that you can still make it to work on time, the irritation at being delayed by other motorists is much less.

5. Erratic Driving

Driving mistakes happens even to the best of us. While that’s true, it shouldn't be an excuse for you to be too complacent either, especially if you’re just starting out on driving. Know that everything you do while on the road can affect other motorists. Like mentioned, driving on its own is already stressful, add speeding, distracted driving, tailgating, not knowing how to properly drive on expressways and even something seemingly as simple as taking too long to move when traffic starts moving can irritate other motorists and heighten the tension on the road. Be mindful of your driving. Keep it smooth, and stick to one lane.

6. The Act Of Driving Itself

Daily driving commute can really sap the energy out of you. Even if you’re fairly close to everything, it doesn’t ensure that your drive will be smooth sailing every day because the road always presents a lot of unexpected events that can test anyone’s patience. There are drunk drivers, road rage, traffic, sudden accidents or road work that can all stall you on the road when you’re actually trying to get somewhere early. If you don't want to feel like you’re going to explode every time you’re driving, you need to learn how to prepare for such things and accept things that are out of your control. Driving can be stressful but it’s also a huge convenience in a lot of ways, so try to see the good in that and you’d realize that it’s not all that bad.

7. Being Too Assertive

It’s obvious that being a jerk causes road rage. But playing the white knight and actively fighting back can also be counterproductive. Blocking an aggressive driver or blaring your horn at them in irritation can increase their hostility, causing them to drive even worse. Aggression and counter-aggression can and will eventually lead to a fight. Know when it’s safe to assert your rights and when you need to back down.

Calm driving doesn’t just help prevent road rage, it also helps keep your car in good shape. Smooth, calm driving is gentle on the engine, the brakes, and the tires. It ensures you've got enough grip and traction in reserve for any emergency that might arise—which definitely boosts confidence and peace of mind on the road. Having reliable and trusted tires like Bridgestone helps contribute to that peace of mind, keeping you centered in even the worst traffic situations.