Everybody needs an outlet to vent all their stress and frustrations, and it being the summertime season well-known for vacations and road trips, any other truck enthusiast would see this as the perfect chance to go on a weekend offroading. However, before you strap on your seatbelt and head for the outdoors, we want to remind all our offroad drivers to take a step back and consider upgrading their beasts before they plan out their destinations.
You see, we’ve spent the better half of both 2020 and 2021 just staying inside our homes, which means our trucks have also been idle and sitting inside the garage, only ever getting to see the sunlight when making a quick grocery trip. As a result, all that time spent in cool-down might’ve done more bad than good, so to guarantee your safety while driving offroad and prevent anything terrible from stopping your fun, it’s in your best interests to bring your truck up to speed with today’s standards.
#1 Think Shock And Impact Damage
Trucks are no stranger to shock and impact damage whenever they go offroading; in fact, each bump, bruise, and scratch the body receives has evolved into a rite of passage and proof of your love traveling on all terrain. However, no truck enthusiast would voluntarily subject their daily driver to any damage that can be stopped because we should also consider our rides’ longevity and useful life.
- Body And Undercarriage Protection: Whenever you’re traveling on rocky terrain with quite the uphill, it’s only natural for debris to launch left and right, hitting the truck’s body and undercarriage in the process. The last thing you’d want to happen is for these small pieces of debris to hit something vulnerable and essential, so install some proper armor to keep you safe from any trail hazards.
- For The Later Hours Of The Day: Shock and impact damage isn’t just about facing the debris head-on, but also maneuvering your truck in a way that results in the minor risks taken as much as possible. And because offroading can take quite some time off your schedule, you’ll often reach the later hours of the day, wherein visibility becomes a considerable problem. So, we suggest that you look for led light bars for trucks to keep everything clear and visible from the front and back.
#2 Better Traction And Grip
A massive chunk of your safety depends on how well traction and grip your truck can bring out, and while having the best condition won’t really matter as much just driving on the road, it can be hazardous when you’re facing different types of terrain. Not only would bad traction and grip leave your truck in a worse-off state, but you would also be endangering your well-being as well.
- Getting New Tires And Some Spare: Although tires can last way longer than usual when not used and stored correctly, your garage is still at the mercy of the summer heat, which could be fluctuating the tire pressure. And while it might not seem like a massive issue at face value, it can be life-threatening when left unaddressed. Of course, the story flips over if you still have a relatively new truck like the Toyota Tacoma, but we’d still suggest having some spares just in case.
- Installing New Brake Discs To Your Rear: Apart from having new tires, installing new brake discs to your rear will also give you better control when offroading. Especially on long descents, you’ll see the extra stopping power come in handy in case you need to make sudden shifts. Plus, brake discs are generally more precise with their stops and prevent any wheel lockup.
#3 A Full Diagnosis Of Everything Under The Hood
Last but not least, it never hurts to go through one complete diagnosis of everything under the hood to ensure that all is well and in good shape. Having the engine die in the middle of tricky terrain should be the least of your worries and shouldn’t be a problem, to begin with, if you had some proper planning. So, have your truck checked by the local mechanic or do it yourself if you’re confident in your skills.
- Transmission And Drivetrain: Offroading can do a number on the inner workings of your truck despite it being protected by the entire body, and when you introduce wet terrain and rainy weather, the risk increases twofold. Typically, the electrical wiring and engine itself should hold up well, for the most part, so double-check on your transmission and all the available drivetrain parts.
Summer Offroading Is Fun, But Safety Comes First.
Overall, summer offroading can be a lot of fun, but if General Motors can recall over 400,000 trucks for airbag issues, then you should take this as a sign to consider your safety first. So, take your time in preparing for the road trip and equipping your truck beforehand so that nothing can get in the way of your fun.
