How to drive on rocks: Offroad driving techniques

Driving on rocky tracks requires patience and attention. Here are our top tips to get you through the rough stuff unscathed.

Rocky terrain can take many forms from boulder-strewn bush tracks and uneven bedrock to slopes and steep ledges. Ruts and washouts are common in such areas, due to the way that soft dirt erodes around large rocks with sharp edges. Driving on these loose surfaces requires a good understanding of your vehicle’s dimensions and angles, and the ability to consider what each individual wheel is doing at any one time. Slow and considered driving is the go.

Be on the lookout for any potentially hazardous rocks, ruts or drop-offs, which can inflict punctures and under-body damage. Small rocks can be kicked up by tyres and cause damage to other vehicles or injure bystanders.

A wide safety margin is advisable. Having front mudflaps is also a good way to prevent stones kicked up by the front wheels from striking the rear wheels and causing punctures.

Your set-up

Vehicles with high clearance and low range gears are the best for extremely rugged rocky terrain.

Those vehicles with less clearance and rock driving pre-sets will do well when driven correctly. By reducing tyre pressures into the low- to mid-20s, you’ll increase the amount of rubber on the rock for greater traction, while also enabling the tyres to conform to uneven surfaces, which will reduce the likelihood of a puncture.

If you’re likely to encounter sudden drops and bouncy sections, removing large items from your roof rack to lower your centre of gravity and reduce the stress on your roof is a good strategy. Items inside the vehicle should be secured, so they cannot bounce around freely and cause damage or injury.

Negotiating tricky terrain

Before you start your rocky roll, it's a good idea to walk the terrain, looking for any holes, hang-ups or sharp rocks, and pick a nice line.

Check for any low-hanging components under your vehicle that may be damaged or ripped off by boulders and consider their vulnerability, especially diffs and other underbody elements.

Slowly navigate a careful line in four-wheel, low-range first or second gear – lower speeds will yield far better results than planting your right foot and hoping for the best; plus it’ll be much more comfortable for you and your passengers.

Try to remain balanced so you don’t suddenly drop into a hole and bottom out. If such holes or ruts are unavoidable, consider filling them with rocks and other debris; but be sure to leave the track as you found it when you’re done.

Keeping four wheels in contact with the ground is great and will obviously give you better traction, but on dramatically rocky terrain it may be more realistic to hope for three — diff lockers will come in handy.

Generally, a loss of traction on your front wheels is a sign you’re on a bad line, at which point you may be best served by backing off and reconsidering.

Rocky terrain can be challenging, rewarding and nerve-wracking; you can do costly damage if you’re not paying attention especially if you're an inexperienced driver. If you think a track is beyond your abilities, it’s better to leave it for another day than to end up with a smashed diff.

Top tips

• Be mindful of what all four wheels are doing as you feel your way along the track
• Don’t be afraid to back off and reconsider your line
• Stay balanced and try to avoid major suspension travel where possible
• Approach sudden inclines or drop-offs at an angle, rather than straight on
• Consider how shifts in weight will affect your line as you move from rock to rock

THE NEXT STEP

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