How to Prep Your Vehicle for Gravel Roads, Mud, and Everything In Between

Once you purchase an off-road vehicle, you want to take it to the wilderness for some fun in the mud, but is it ready for the troublesome terrain?

Mud, gravel, sand, dirt, and any other terrain that isn’t the normal blacktop or cement you find on paved roads can be troublesome for most vehicles. Even if you have an off-road-ready vehicle, you might not be ready to tackle some off-road challenges. Do you have underbody protection? Is your vehicle lifted high enough? Do you have a travel buddy?

Here are some tips to help you prep your off-road vehicle for gravel roads, mud, sand, and any other terrain you might find in the wilderness.

Don’t go alone

This tip has very little to do with how your vehicle is prepared, but is probably the most important. Going into the wilderness alone can be a recipe for disaster. You never know when you might slip off the trail, get stuck, or break down. This can happen on simple trails that you’re familiar with as much as on more difficult trails. It’s a good idea to have a buddy with a compatible vehicle along for your time in the wilderness. You can work together to ensure both of you come out safely at the end of your adventure.

Tires are what make the adventure possible

You need heavy-duty tires that can handle the difficult terrain and potential obstacles that you’ll find while off-roading. This means setting up your off-road vehicle with tires that have deep treads, large sidewalls, and provide support to the rest of your vehicle. These wider and more capable tires are excellent on the trails, but tough on paved roads, so save them for the trails.

Note: You might spend time changing tires, hooking up winches, or navigating various switchbacks on the trails. Be patient and don’t get into a hurry.

Ground clearance matters

Lifting your off-road rig isn’t just about sitting higher and looking great, its also about getting more ground clearance between obstacles and the underside of your vehicle. This also means brining running boards, bumpers, and other low-hanging items up higher from the ground. The more ground clearance you can create, the easier it will be to travel over obstacles while on the trails.

Do you have armor?

Your off-road vehicle is only as tough and rugged as the protection you provide to it. Underneath the engine area are several components that can easily become damaged on tree limbs, rocks, and hard dirt. These items need to be protected with some tough undercarriage shields. It’s also a good idea to add some rock sliders, bumper bars, and body armor to protect some of the other areas during your time in the wilderness.

Coat your paint

Adding a vehicle coating to the original paint can help protect your vehicle and keep it looking clean and free of scratches. A deep scratch or patch of rust from off-roading can become a serious problem. Apply a ceramic or wax coating to your vehicle before heading into the wilderness. This can prevent damage while driving down a gravel road or in the wilderness. The coating won’t prevent all damage, but it can certainly help.

Keep things clean

It sounds strange to suggest you need to clean your off-road vehicle for the wilderness, but you should. Clean everything out that you don’t need before you head to the trails, and set aside some time to clean it again upon your return. Your messy truck is only attractive during your ride home, and cleaning your rig means you can see where any damage has occurred. This is important to ensure you can get it ready for your next adventure and keep things operating properly.

Lights matter

The lights on your vehicle give you the vision you need on an open road, but wilderness trails aren’t nearly as open. You could find yourself in low-visibility conditions that are difficult and dangerous in the middle of the day. Adding a light bar and other lighting accessories adds the tough and adventurous look to your vehicle while also giving you the visibility you need when you park on the trails for the night or face low-light situations that require you to turn on the auxiliary lights to see what’s going on.

Is your off-road vehicle ready for the trails? If you aren’t sure, let these tips guide you to being prepared for your time in the wilderness. Where will your adventures take you?