Off-roading is one of America’s great pastimes and Jeeps have been the go-to off-roader for decades. Jeep drivers feel confident when they’re out in the hinterlands, cutting across water or climbing over boulders. They are especially confident when they’ve upgraded to true off-roading hardware, like a Jeep lift kit and skit plates.
Outfitting your vehicle for off-road scenarios is certainly one of the most appropriate steps to preparing for those exciting experiences. Another step to maintaining the health of a Jeep, especially one that takes a proverbial beating during off-road excursions, is investing in an effective recovery plan.
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Keep Emergency Tools on Hand
Winches are just one example of equipment that can turn a regular Jeep into an off-roading Jeep. Many off-roaders now sing the praises of the winch system after having experiences that left them stuck in a ditch or on the side of a hill. A winch is the difference between abandoning the vehicle only to come back with reinforcements and easily pulling the vehicle up to terra firma.
Go treads are another type of emergency tool for Jeeps, handy when attempting to gain traction on uncertain terrains like sand or mud. Jumper cables will serve drivers when they are off the beaten path in two scenarios: when there is another vehicle there to hook up to or when the Jeep owner also has a transportable power pack.
Prepare Beforehand
There are lots of things that a Jeep driver can do to ensure a happy off-road experience. Besides fueling up and checking all of the fluids, they can also check the weather as well as review the terrain that they’ll be driving on. Carrying extra equipment, such as a flashlight, recovery kit and extra windshield wipers and fluid can be the difference between success and getting stuck.
5 Tips for Off-road Recovery
- Check under the hood to make sure that fluids are stable and that the belts aren’t fraying. Watch the engine for a minute or two with the Jeep running so that your senses can pick up something that doesn’t see, smell or sound wrong.
- Check the tire pressure to see what effect, if any, the trip has had on the tires. If you had to release some air for climbing purposes, be sure to refill to the appropriate blacktop pressures.
- Recharge the things that need recharging. Whether it’s a battery pack or the flashlight, making sure that things are charged up mitigates the
- Investigate the undercarriage to make sure that nothing is punctured or leaking. If you feel something pulling, it may be a steering issue.
- Check your body to make sure that you didn’t get bounced around too much for your own good. A good stretch can be helpful.
Taking a Jeep off-roading can lead to adventures but it can be treacherous. Looking through a winch buying guide is just one of the many ways that Jeep owners can head off potential issues before they arise. Off-road recovery begins by outfitting the vehicle with the appropriate equipment and ends with an accounting of that equipment to make sure that nothing’s broken. Visit an auto parts store today to check out the inventory that can best ensure a safe and successful off-roading experience tomorrow.
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