Your Ford Bronco™ has been designed and built to take on the outdoors. However, on the trail, as in life, things can take a turn for the worse in the blink of an eye.
As thrilling as off-roading is, carefully planning your route and moving with precision is a big part in safe adventures. Here are some basic off-roading tips:
*Always consult the owner's manual before off-road driving, know your terrain and trail difficulty, and use appropriate safety gear.
Before heading out on any off-road adventure, take a look under your Bronco and commit to memory the location of the fuel tank, engine sump, differentials, gearbox and any skid plates. Armed with this kind of knowledge, you'll be less likely to snag these components on any rocks or outcroppings.
You will also want to get a sense of your Bronco dimensions, like height, width and ground clearance, and familiarize yourself with your instrumentation.
It's always recommended that at least two vehicles be used while off-roading. The buddy system helps make sure that help is close should a vehicle become stuck or damaged. It is also wise to take supplies such as a first aid kit, water, tow straps and a cell or satellite phone with you anytime an off-road excursion is planned.
If you're tackling an off-road trail and the rear suspension is bottoming out and/or excessive contact with the skid plates (when equipped) is encountered, reduce vehicle speed to avoid potential damage to the vehicle. Always keep available ground clearance in mind and pick a route that minimizes the risk of catching the underside of the vehicle on an obstacle and getting high centered.
If you don't have spotter, you can use your front facing trail camera to see the trail in front of you. However, a spotter is always the best option.
Ford Bronco was made for mud, but be cautious — even 4x4 vehicles can lose traction in slick mud. If you do, steer your Bronco in the direction of the slide until you regain traction. Following a muddy adventure, clean off any residue stuck to the rotating driveshafts and tires.
When driving over sand, try to keep all four wheels on the most solid area of the trail and drive steadily through the terrain without varying vehicle speed. When accelerating, apply the accelerator slowly and avoid excessive wheelslip. When driving at slow speeds in deep sand and in high outside temperatures, use a low gear when possible.
You can use the vehicle's momentum to maintain forward motion in sand. You'll want to avoid coming to a stop on steep sand grades as the vehicle may not be able to continue forward motion after it has stopped.
When approaching large rocks, position the vehicle so that the tires will pass over the largest obstacle. Never attempt to straddle a rock that is large enough to strike your axles or undercarriage and never ever attempt to drive over a rock that is large enough to contact the door sills.
On gravel, driving at slow speeds reduces the risk of losing traction when you stop, accelerate or take a corner. Always leave a generous gap between you and other vehicles to minimize the risk of damage from flying gravel. Avoid dust clouds as they reduce visibility.
Before navigating uneven ground:
If equipped, your Ford Bronco is more than capable of tackling shallow bodies of water with ease.* Just remember to never attempt to cross a deep, fast-flowing body of water. For accurate data regarding your vehicle's water-fording capability, please see your owner's manual. In the meantime, here are some general water-fording facts and suggestions:
*Always determine the water depth before attempting a crossing and proceed slowly. Refer to your owner’s manual for detailed information regarding driving through water.
Four-wheel-drive vehicles have advantages over two-wheel-drive vehicles in snow and ice but can skid like any other vehicle. Should you start to slide while driving on snowy or icy roads, turn the steering wheel in the direction of the slide until you regain control. Other tips include:
Make sure you allow sufficient distance between you and other vehicles for stopping. Drive slower than usual and consider using one of the lower gears. In emergency stopping situations, apply the brake steadily. Do not pump the brake pedal.
WARNING: If you are driving in slippery conditions that require tire chains or cables, then it is critical that you drive cautiously. Keep speeds down, allow for longer stopping distances and avoid aggressive steering to reduce the chances of a loss of vehicle control, which can lead to serious injury or death. If the rear end of your vehicle slides while cornering, steer in the direction of the slide until you regain control of your vehicle. Excessive tire slippage can cause transmission damage.
When climbing a steep slope or hill, start in a lower gear rather than downshifting to a lower gear from a higher gear once the ascent has started. This reduces strain on the engine and the possibility of stalling.
If your vehicle stalls, do not try to turn around because this could cause vehicle rollover. It is better to reverse back to a safe location. Apply just enough power to the wheels to climb the hill. Too much power can cause the tires to slip, spin or lose traction, resulting in loss of vehicle control.
Descend a hill in the same gear you would use to climb up the hill to avoid excessive brake application and brake overheating. Do not descend in Neutral. Disengage overdrive or move the transmission selector lever to a lower gear. When descending a steep hill, avoid sudden hard braking as you could lose control. The front wheels have to be turning in order to steer your vehicle.
While descending a steep hill in a manual transmission vehicle, do NOT leave the vehicle in gear with the clutch depressed. This could cause damage to your driveline.
If you find yourself in a rut, ravine, gully, ditch or washout, approach them slowly and inch your Bronco over. Ditches and washouts should be crossed at a 45-degree angle. Always review your path and the terrain prior to attempting a crossing.
Approach obstacles slowly and inch the vehicle over, approaching at a 10–15-degree angle. This allows one front tire to be on top of the log while the other begins to climb over. If a large obstacle near the log, such as a rock, cannot be avoided, choose a path that places the rock directly under the tire rather than the undercarriage of the vehicle. This will help prevent damage to the vehicle. Always review your path and the terrain prior to attempting a crossing.
Another adventure in the books, but the day isn't over yet. Items to check include:
Before you go off road, go online or call your local government agencies to find out where the legal off-road and recreation areas are. You will also want to make sure you don't need any special permits/licenses.
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