What’s the difference between SUVs made for driving on the road and real off-roaders? What features are required to make a good off-road SUV?
Not every vehicle is made to go on the trails, and some aren’t made to ever leave the paved roads, but some are. When you’re considering an SUV that you’ll want to drive on the trails, there are some features that you should look for. These features are the difference between an SUV that should be kept on the roads and a vehicle that can head out on the trails.
Here are some of the features required for a good off-road SUV.
Locking Differential
Vehicles come with open differentials, giving the wheels with the least traction the most power. Other vehicles have limited-slip differentials, which allows the wheel that has the smallest amount of traction spins. These types of differentials aren’t ideal for off-road driving. The best choice for driving on trails is a set of locking differentials that distributes power to all four wheels. This feature allows you to lock the two wheels on an axle together to give them even power and traction.
High Ground Clearance
One of the most important qualities of an off-road SUV is the ground clearance. This is the measurement from the ground to the lowest point under the vehicle. For the most part, if you have at least 8.5 inches of ground clearance, you’ll have the space required to drive over most obstacles. If you want to take on more challenging terrain, higher ground clearance can help you accomplish this. Some SUVs require lift kits to achieve the desired ground clearance.
Four-Wheel Drive
Some think that AWD and 4WD are the same thing, but they are not. AWD is good for driving in bad weather, but 4WD is necessary if you want to handle tough terrain and send power to all four wheels to get through mud and sand. The use of 4WD is an important part of driving through some of the toughest terrain that you’ll find in the forest, on beaches, and in riverbeds. Using 4WD, you can tackle nearly every obstacle in your path.
Low-End Torque
Low-end torque typically goes hand-in-hand with 4WD, giving you the power desired at lower rpms to push through the toughest terrain. A vehicle with good low-end torque is a much better off-road SUV than one without it. This torque allows you to have maximum control over the vehicle while driving at low speed on the trails. If you have to rev high to get the desired power to tackle the terrain in front of you, it’s easy to lose control when your wheels gain better traction on some surfaces.
Off-Road Tires
The tires required for off-roading have a lot to do with the success of your trip into the wilderness. Some tires are called all-terrain, which means they are made for most types of terrain and can be great when going through mud and muck. The most hardcore off-road tires have blocky and heavy-duty tread patterns to help make driving on the trails easier, especially considering the tires will be severely deflated while you’re on the trails. You’ll want to ditch your all-season tires for some off-road models before heading out into the wilderness.
Wheel Travel
The wheel articulation, or travel of your vehicle, is extremely important to tackling some of the toughest trails. If you want to take your off-road SUV over some rocks, downed trees, or on uneven terrain, you’ll need good wheel travel. Many off-roaders prefer a solid axle setup instead of an independent suspension because the solid axle provides much greater wheel articulation. These axles are best for rocky terrain and uneven trails where the wheels on one side of the vehicle will be higher than on the other.
Underbody Protection
The underbody of any vehicle has parts that can easily be damaged by punctures on the trails. One of the most important traits of a good off-road vehicle is underbody protection, provided by plates that are located in positions to protect items that could become damaged by rocks or branches. These skid plates should be made of steel and guard the underside of the vehicle. You can get sump guards, differential covers, and rock sliders to help protect various parts of your vehicle from becoming damaged during your off-road adventures.
If you want to drive an off-road SUV that will actually be used on the trails, look for all of these features in your next vehicle. Which SUV will you choose for your fun on the trails?
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Ava Rodriguez 
Daniel Malone