Know what you’re up against. You got into off-roading to explore what others avoid, to take the hard line, not the easy route. But with big rewards come real risks. That’s why it’s critical to be prepared for the kind of terrain you’re heading into.
Off-road trails are unpredictable. Terrain will shift, conditions can change fast, and no two rides are ever the same. Before you head off the beaten path, make sure both you and your vehicle are ready for what lies ahead. Even though the surfaces vary, your approach should always start with a solid plan.
Sections
Bring a friend: Never drive alone! If you get stuck out there, who’s going to pull you out? Always use the buddy system. At the very least, tell someone where you're going and when you plan to be back. Off-roading is better, and safer, with backup.
Environmental Considerations
Before your next off-road trip, take a minute to remember the basics of low-impact travel. You’ve heard it before, and here it is again: pack it in, pack it out. We only get one Earth, so treat it with the respect it deserves.
Plan ahead and know the terrain to avoid unnecessary trail damage.
Stick to marked trails.
Bring all trash back out with you.
Dig a hole 6 to 8 inches deep to bury human waste.
Keep campfires minimal and follow all fire restrictions.
Respect private land and posted boundaries.
BFGoodrich® Tires supports organizations that promote safe and sustainable off-roading, including Tread Lightly!, a non-profit that encourages outdoor ethics and protects access to public lands. Learn more at treadlightly.org.
Trail Ratings
Trail difficulty varies, and how hard a trail feels often depends on the driver’s experience. If you’re just starting out, don’t push beyond your skill level. It’s a fast way to damage your rig and ruin your day.
Be honest about your ability and your vehicle’s limits. And remember, weather can turn an easy trail into a serious challenge.
Many trails follow a rating system to help you choose routes that match your comfort level. Jeep Jamboree USA, for example, uses a system of numbers and colored symbols to show how difficult a trail may be.
Note: These ratings are based on general trail conditions. Rain, erosion, or even heavy use can change things fast. Assess the trail in real time and match your route to your skills.
Hills
You might expect the biggest challenges to be deep mud pits or giant boulders, but hills can be even more intimidating, especially when you're new to the trail. Be honest with yourself. If you're not confident that you and your rig can handle the climb, don't force it. Take your time and focus on one goal: keep the shiny side up and the rubber side down.
Preparing for the Ascent
Walk to the top and scout the hill’s crest before attempting the climb. Know what’s on the other side.
Lock your differentials to maximize traction.
Use the flat approach to build momentum before hitting the slope.
Pro Tip
This is where your knowledge of clearance angles pays off. Look ahead, will your bumper hit first? If so, approach at an angle, like any other obstacle: one tire first, then the other. Once you’re committed to the hill, straighten out and head straight up.
Scout the terrain. It won’t remove every surprise, but it gives you a better shot at making smart calls.
Rocks
Rock beats just about everything, and that includes your vehicle if you're not careful. It’s one of the most punishing surfaces you’ll face on a trail, which is why rock crawling requires patience and precision.
Low gear is your best friend here. Most crawling happens between 1 and 3 mph. It’s not about speed, it’s about torque.
Go slow. Throttle and braking should be smooth and measured. Momentum gets you in trouble.
Also, know your ground clearance. If your rig clears 8 inches, it’s not getting over a 10-inch boulder. That’s basic math.
Choose your line wisely. Keep your tires as level as possible, even if that means climbing the higher rock. Often, the best path through a rocky field is also the most unexpected.
Equipment Check
Rock protection: If you plan to spend serious time crawling over rocks or navigating tough trails, consider installing rock rails and skid plates under the most vulnerable parts of your vehicle. Aftermarket steel bumpers also offer added protection and durability on the trail.
Types of Rock
Trail conditions can range from loose rock to massive boulders.
Loose rock behaves like loose soil, momentum is your friend. Use a steady throttle to maintain forward motion, especially when climbing. Losing momentum means losing traction.
Boulders are a different story. These are for experienced off-roaders with purpose-built rigs. Stock vehicles aren’t usually equipped for this level of terrain. You’ll need a lift, oversized tires, lockers, and strong ground clearance to even have a shot.
Watch Your Differential
Avoid driving directly over rocks that come close to your vehicle’s lowest clearance point. One bad hit can damage your differential or leave you high-centered, stuck with all four tires off the ground.
Solid Front Axle
When running a solid front axle, place your tires directly on top of large obstacles. This helps protect critical components underneath by keeping them lifted out of harm’s way.
No Shame in a Spotter
From behind the wheel, it’s often hard to pick the perfect line. That’s where a good spotter makes all the difference. A reliable spotter can help prevent injuries and protect your vehicle from costly damage.
Hand signals are better than shouting. Engines are loud, and words can get lost or misheard. Set up clear, agreed-upon signals before you get into position. And ignore everyone else, the spotter is the only voice that matters.
If you’re spotting, keep a safe distance. Standing too close to a moving rig is dangerous. One slip of the throttle or unexpected shift could put you in harm’s way.
Sand
A beach might look relaxing, but sand is one of the trickiest surfaces to drive on. Beneath that soft top layer is more loose sand, and not much to grip.
Traction and flotation are the biggest challenges. If your tires start to dig, you’re in trouble fast.
Sure, cruising the coast is the dream. But if you get stuck, that dream turns into a nightmare, especially if the tide rolls in and turns your rig into viral content.
Don’t be that person. Know your limits. Plan your exit.
Preparing for Sand
The key to driving on sand is flotation. The more surface area your tires have in contact with the sand, the better your chances of staying on top instead of sinking in. That’s why airing down your tires is essential, it increases the footprint, helping your rig float across loose terrain.
How much air you let out depends on your vehicle, your tires, and the kind of sand you’re facing.
All-terrain tires tend to handle sand well, but wide mud-terrains can also be effective, even acting like paddle tires when deflated to the right pressure. While the right rubber makes a difference, success in sand is mostly about three things: air pressure, throttle control, and momentum.
Pro tip: Always scout the sand first. If your boots sink deep, your truck will too.
Trail Tips
Airing down helps spread your tire's contact patch to improve flotation.
Soft, loose sand eats up power and traction, steady forward momentum is critical.
Ride in the highest comfortable gear to maintain momentum once you're moving.
Park in areas that allow for easy takeoff, like a gentle downhill slope.
Avoid sharp turns, they’ll dig your tires in fast.
If you stop moving, don’t hit the gas. That only makes the tires dig deeper.
If momentum is lost, ease back slowly. If tires spin, stop and grab a shovel.
No shovel? Use your hub caps, a Frisbee, or even your spotter’s hat.
Wetting the sand in front of the tires can help. So can slipping floor mats under the wheels for traction.
Equipment Check
Dune Flag: When driving in dunes, always equip your vehicle with a flag or whip light. It helps other drivers spot you before you crest a hill, and can prevent serious collisions.
Mud
There’s an old trail saying: “mud maketh man.” But let’s be honest, mud mostly makes a mess. It’s sticky, fun, and proof you’ve been doing the real stuff. That said, mud brings serious challenges to the trail. Before you turn your truck into a rolling mud sculpture, take a minute to prepare.
Preparing for Mud
It’s not about showing off, it’s about getting through. Pause and assess the situation. Ask yourself: do I really need to cross this section? If yes, do your homework before diving in.
Look for tracks. Are there entry and exit marks? If you only see tracks going in, someone didn’t make it. That could be you.
Check the depth. You won’t know how deep the mud is until you test it. Use a stick, shovel, or anything handy to probe ahead.
Equipment Check
Mud-Terrain Tires: The right tires matter. Wide mud-terrain tires with self-cleaning tread are built for this stuff. Standard all-terrains can clog quickly and lose grip, turning into slick, spinning blobs. Make sure your tread is ready for battle before you charge in.
Getting to the Other Side
So here it is. You’ve done the prep, checked your gear, and now it’s time to send it through the mud. If you want to make it out the other side, and avoid being the punchline at the trailhead, keep these tips in mind:
Lock your differentials and engage 4WD before you enter the mud.
Avoid deep ruts when possible. They reduce your ground clearance and increase the chance of getting hung up.
Enter with solid momentum, then use light throttle to stay moving without spinning out.
Pick a line and stick with it. Commit to your path, hesitation leads to trouble.
Don’t brake. It kills momentum and increases the chance of bogging down.
If traction starts to drop, quickly turn the steering wheel left and right. This helps the tire’s sidewalls dig in, adding extra grip like paddles pushing against the sides of the rut.
Post-Mud Bath
If you’ve made a mess, clean it up right. Check your differentials, transmission, transfer case, and brakes to make sure nothing was dislodged or damaged.
After any muddy run, wash your wheels, brakes, and undercarriage with a pressure hose. Dried mud can throw off balance, create vibration, and impact braking once you’re back on pavement.
Pro Tip
Spray your undercarriage with nonstick cooking spray (yep, like Pam®) before hitting the trail. It helps prevent mud from caking and makes cleanup faster later.
Crossing Streams
It’s not a matter of if you’ll need to cross water, it’s when. The key is preparation. Know your vehicle’s fording limits before you head out. Stock specs are usually listed in your manual, but upgrades like lifts or snorkels will change that. Always know what your setup can handle.
Preparing to Cross
Crossing streams isn’t a question of if, but when. So take every precaution ahead of time. The most important thing to know is your vehicle’s fording limit. For stock setups, this should be listed in your owner’s manual. If your vehicle is lifted or modified, that limit will change, and you need to account for it.
One rule above all:
If you wouldn’t cross it on foot, don’t try it in your vehicle.
Murky water hides depth, and muddy bottoms can trap your tires. Always check the depth first. The surface beneath the water is just as important as how deep it goes.
Fast-moving water tends to have rocky bottoms, which might offer better traction but can also damage your tires with unseen edges.
Slow, stagnant water usually means deep mud. It’s harder to get traction and easier to get stuck.
Remember: Water is deepest where it looks calmest.
Driving Across
Once you've confirmed it's safe to cross, follow these key steps:
Enter slowly to avoid creating a bow wave that could flood your intake.
Use low range and low gear. Do not shift while midstream.
Approach at a slight angle to the current.
Maintain steady momentum, but stay alert for submerged obstacles.
If the engine stalls, especially from water exposure, do not restart it.
If you lose traction, turn the wheels quickly left and right to help the tires regain grip.
Safety Tip:
Crossing deep water is the one time you should unfasten your seat belt. Keep your window down and belt unbuckled to allow for a faster exit in case of an emergency.
Post-Cross
After you make it through the water, take a few minutes to check your rig. Inspect the undercarriage for any signs of damage or loose components. Once you’re back on dry ground, test your brakes, they’ll likely be wet. A few sharp brake applications can help heat them up and dry them out more quickly.
Snow and Ice
Driving in snow is a lot like mud or sand, just colder, deeper, and harder to predict. Keeping your momentum is key. Lose it, and you’re stuck. But spinning your tires will only dig you deeper and make things worse.
Snow can hide everything, rocks, holes, ruts, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the trail. If you know the area, steer clear of known trouble spots. If you don’t, slow down and be cautious.
If snow is deep enough to contact your undercarriage, you’re close to being high-centered. Once that happens, movement becomes nearly impossible.
Never slam the brakes. If you skid, ease off the pedal and turn into the slide. Stay calm and avoid overcorrecting, that’s what sends you spinning.
Are Your Tires Winter-Rated?
All-terrain tires tend to perform well on snowy roads thanks to their tighter tread and increased siping. But in deep snow, mud-terrain tires can shine, especially when aired down properly.
For true winter confidence, look for the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) symbol on BFGoodrich tires. This means the tire meets or exceeds the minimum requirements to be classified as winter-rated.
Ruts and Gullies
Let’s face it, if you were looking for smooth roads, you wouldn’t be out here. No matter where you wheel, ruts and gullies are guaranteed. They’re part of the challenge and part of the fun, but only if you know how to handle them. Stay focused, pick your line carefully, and don’t take them lightly.
Limited Clearance
How you handle a rut or gully depends on your ground clearance.
If your vehicle has enough clearance, approach the obstacle straight on, this gives you the best traction.
If clearance is tight, try approaching at an angle. A diagonal line reduces the clearance needed but can also reduce grip.
Know your vehicle’s specs and choose the method that fits the situation best.
Straddling
If your vehicle’s track width allows, straddling ruts or gullies is often the safest approach.
Take it slow and steady. Avoid letting one side slip into the crevice.
Straddling improves visibility, keeps your rig upright, and usually results in a smoother ride.
3-Point Turn
Every off-roader eventually faces a trail they just can’t finish, maybe due to a washout, fallen boulder, or a snowdrift too deep to pass. When that time comes, a clean 3-point turn could save your rig, or your life.
Learn how to execute one safely and with control, even on narrow trails with steep drop-offs. Practice it in open space before you ever need it for real.
Obstacles
The scenic route is full of jaw-dropping views, and trail-blocking surprises. In wooded areas, a fallen log or boulder can suddenly cut off your path.
Your ability to get over it depends on clearance. But even if your rig can’t climb it, you might not need to turn back.
Look for ways to clear a path instead.
Use a winch to move a downed tree or large debris.
See the Recovery Techniques section for proper winch use.
Off-roading is about persistence, and knowing when to work smarter, not just harder.
Cross the log at an angle, one tire at a time. This will decrease the clearance needed to cross.
If that’s not enough, build a makeshift ramp using what’s available, small logs, rocks, or a mound of dirt. A few minutes of setup could save hours of recovery work.
Still stuck? Clear a path. Use your winch to move the obstacle out of the way.
Tip: See the Recovery Techniques section for safe winch operation. Done right, it’s one of the most valuable tools on the trail.
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