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The
Nuances of Off-Highway Driving
by Bill Burke
 You've
all heard me discuss the "finesse" of off-highway driving,
but this article is about the "nuance," which is a slightly
different thing!
(Finesse: refinement,
delicacy, subtlety. Nuance: implication, hint, symbol)
Ed Jennings called from
Texas to sign up for five days of advanced private
training in Moab
with me recently. In preparation, he read most of my
articles, viewed other web sites and scoured the media about
using a vehicle off-highway. It became apparent to me during
the first day that, even though I write about a variety of
situations when off the highway dealing with rocks, mud,
sand, dirt, winching, lockers, among other things, I have
failed to discuss the NUANCES of driving in difficult
situations.
Let's face it, driving
off-highway over difficult terrain is VERY energy-consuming.
It takes a lot of FOCUS. Now I am not writing about the
usual dirt roads and mild 4-wheeling we do most of the time.
I am talking about the 21 Road, Moab Rim, Helldorado Canyon
kind of intense 4-wheeling. Although the former does take
concentration and effort and does require calm thought and
practiced action, the more difficult types of terrain call
for very serious thinking.
There are times when the
idiom: GETYERDAMFOOTOFFDACLUTCH! does not apply. There are
times when USE NO BRAKES except the engine is nonsense.
There are even times when "Go as slow as possible but as
fast a necessary" isn't practical. And there are times when
an automatic transmission is better than a stick--I don't
care who the driver is!
The terrain will try to
drive your vehicle for you! Feeling the steering wheel get
pulled away from you can have dangerous repercussions. The
tire will drop (or raise) and the steering wheel will turn
with that suspension change. The normal reaction is to go
with that feeling. I advise that you RESIST that urge. You
must hold the steering wheel true to course, like a boat up
on plane. There must be some input by you and that is one of
the NUANCES of 4-wheeling.
Coming down some steep
steps, do you use the lockers? Do you use the brakes? The
vehicle lurches into a tire swallowing hole and you -
what???
Coming off a down slope
and the rig seems like it is going to dive into the terrain,
resist the urge to turn out of the turn. Turn INTO the
slope, keeping the rig aimed to the downhill fall line. This
is especially important when coming off an off-camber turn.
Keep the rig aimed down. Once on the level, straight part,
then correct the steering to make any turns, if needed. Use
small input steering, holding the wheel and not letting the
terrain steer you.
Coming off of steep steps,
sometimes my ring & pinion is not low enough to creep
over the edge. I will (YES) PUSH in the CLUTCH and use the
brakes to ease the rig over. The brakes will complain,
groan, moan, the rig moving only a MILLIMETER at a time.
Don't bounce the rig down with the brakes making the rig
rock and bounce. Just VERY, VERY, VERY SLOWLY ease over the
edge. SACRILEGE, you say! I say that is another NUANCE of
4-wheeling.
That big 35" tire drops
into a hole you didn't see or couldn't avoid. The back end
comes up precariously catching air with the possibility of
doing an endo! Most common mistake is to hit the brakes
thinking it will stop the movement. In actuality it
magnifies it immensely creating hazardous and dangerous
situations. Coming off that edge causes the front bumper to
hit, raising the rear end off the ground, dropping into that
hole causing the rear end to lose contact with the
ground.
ANTICIPATE the action the
rig will make. MOST times it is better to go into the hole
and feel the rear end come up, then give it a bit of
throttle to help drive the rig through. Right at the POINT
OF IMPACT, the NUANCE of 4-wheeling is to let it drive that
next foot or so with some strong steering wheel hold and
some accelerator power--just enough to keep that rear end
down on the ground.
Climbing up White Knuckle
or that big ledge, you just hit the gas and hold on. Just go
out and purchase the Rick Russell video on Moab for a good
show. Wheel standing is fun if you can pay for it or fix it
50 miles from town. Pick your line, discuss it with others,
be sensible. Will your rig actually have a chance to make
it? The NUANCE is to approach it slowly, nudge the steep
slope, use some steering finesse to get the front end up on
the rock, follow through with a little throttle to help with
some momentum. Let the tires bite a little as you start
climbing. Keep sitting back in the seat. Feel the rig as the
back tires begin the approach to the slope. A bit more
throttle... DO NOT OVERSPIN the tires here. Stay with the
line you have chosen. The rig will move around on the edges
a little. Be calm and sit in the seat (don't lean forward,
it doesn't help the rig). Use the throttle and steering
gently to "bump" the rig up.
Know when to say when!!!
Sometimes it is not in the cards to climb that slope, hill,
giant edge. Leave it for another day. It may just not be
possible in any rig this time. Rain, snow, too dry
conditions, worn tires, terrain chewed up by the first 25
rigs. There are times I climbed those giant edges and times
I haven't. Don't let your ego get the best of you. Enjoy the
time out there and come back later. Finish the rest of the
holiday in style not grumbling about the broken axle or
wheel or neck!! The nuance of hills and the nuance of
ego!!
The NUANCE of
Communication When on the Trail:
No, not with the CB, but
between driver, the navigator and the ground guide. Make
sure hand signals are understood. Don't use thumbs for
pointing. Keep the thumbs in and use the index finger to
point which direction the rig should go. Use a closed fist
with downward motion for describing coming off ledges or
steps. Let the driver know when they are down by using flat
palm wave like the umpire in baseball "safe"
signal.
With inside vehicle
signals and communication, DON'T use right and left. Use
DRIVER SIDE or PASSENGER SIDE verbal commands, or even YOUR
SIDE or MY SIDE, especially when backing up. It is very
confusing when looking back which is right or left. When
backing, use terms to give distance and count down. Like:
"Go back 6 feet, 4 feet, 2 feet, stop!" When the driver asks
the passenger "how close to the edge are we?" don't say
close!! Use feet or even inches or even " the tire is one
inch over!" It is not good communication to just say "Come
on back" or "Just a little more." Be clear in direction,
dimension and decision. This is the NUANCE of
communication.
See you in Moab!
If
you do see me,
please come over and introduce yourself. I will be happy to
answer any questions or discuss terrain techniques with you.
Don't be a stick in the mud!!
©Bill Burke’s 4-Wheeling America LLC
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Bill
Burke's 4-Wheeling America LLC
