DIRT roads are part and parcel of four-wheel driving. After all, more than 60 per cent of all gazetted roads in Australia are still unsealed. That means there are hundreds of thousands of kilometres of unsealed roads and tracks on which you can drive, ranging from well-formed gravel roads through to rough bush tracks and everything in-between.
Driving on dirt roads is very different to driving on sealed roads and, when doing so, you need to take in to account all sorts of variables including differing levels of grip, obstacles, uneven surfaces, dust and, when it starts to rain, mud. Not only is it important to adapt your driving style to suit the different conditions you’re likely to encounter when driving on dirt, but also to tailor your vehicle to suit the conditions. Oh, and you’ll also need some special equipment ...
GETTING READY
IF you’re going to be regularly driving on dirt or you have a big outback trip planned, you’ll want to flick those standard Passenger (P) construction tyres fitted to your vehicle in favour of some Light Truck (LT) tyres. Dirt roads can be hell on tyres, with sharp stones being flicked up from the front tyres and fired into the tread faces of the rear tyres like a shotgun blast; while surface irregularities such as corrugations, cattle grids and sharp-edged causeways are all potential problems for tyre sidewalls.
This story is from the November 2021 edition of 4x4 Magazine Australia.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the November 2021 edition of 4x4 Magazine Australia.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
TRAVEL BULLETIN
ALL THE LATEST 4X4 NEWS AND EVENTS. Now is the time to get out and about to enjoy this great land and support the communities. Experienced adventurer Ron Moon has listed a few upcoming highlights, as well as essential track info. As always, check with event organisers before locking in your plans.
MICK GRAHAM
OLD MORISSET MENTAL HOME, NSW CENTRAL COAST
REAR VIEW
4X4 AUSTRALIA LOOKS BACK AT THE CHANGES IN THE INDUSTRY, THE RISE IN . OUTBACK TOURING, THE EVOLUTIONARY SOPHISTICATION OF 4X4S, AND MORE
READERS RIGS
WANT TO SEE YOUR 4x4 PUBLISHED IN THE MAG? SEND US A PIC VIA OUR FACEBOOK PAGE!
FIRST-CLASS TRAVEL
A HOLIDAY TRIP WITH THE FORD RANGER PLATINUM RAISED A FEW EYEBROWS WHEN COMPARING IT TO OUR RANGER SPORT
ENGINE CHECK
THE ULTRAGAUGE PROVIDES YOUR VEHICLE'S VITAL STATS AND WARNINGS IN A TAILORABLE PACKAGE
RAZR RUBBER
AFTER A 50,000KM TRIP THROUGH WESTERN AUSTRALIA, THESE MAXXIS RAZR ATS HAVE PROVIDED RELIABLE PERFORMANCE ON AND OFF THE ROAD
PORTABLE POWER
FOR THOSE WHO DON'T WANT TO FIT A DEDICATED DUAL-BATTERY SYSTEM TO THEIR VEHICLE, THE PORTABLE BLUETTI AC200L POWER STATION COULD BE JUST THE TICKET
A BETTER BRAKE
EVERYONE KNOWS HOW DODGY LANDCRUISER HANDBRAKES CAN BE. TERRAIN TAMER HAS THE FIX …
GOING FOR GOLD
THE FOUR-WHEEL DRIVING MIGHT NOT MATCH THE NEARBY HIGH COUNTRY, BUT THANKS TO ITS GOLD MINING HISTORY THERE IS PLENTY TO SEE AND DO AROUND THE WIDER CASTLEMAINE AREA AND YOU MAY EVEN STRIKE IT RICH!