The Dude Abides Posted March 28, 2010 Share Posted March 28, 2010 Ok so ive done a search and couldnt find anything. In a few weeks (bearing the car is ready) i will be going on my first real offroading experience. Now i dont know what we will come in contace, lots of mud for sure. But my questions are what types of preparations do i need to do to the car. I understand tires and lift but im talking about things like air pressure in the tires. OR weight distribution for the gear i have stored. How about what to avoid with certain lines to take. I know alot of things are learned out there but any tips of what you guys do would be helpfull. I have no doubt i will get stuck and probally break something but thats the nature of the beast. Any help or guidance would be appreciated. Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Numbchux Posted March 28, 2010 Share Posted March 28, 2010 You could start with the awesome list that was put together and posted in post #5 of the FAQ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dude Abides Posted March 28, 2010 Author Share Posted March 28, 2010 C darnit i knew there was something i just couldnt find it. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bheinen74 Posted March 28, 2010 Share Posted March 28, 2010 squegee window scrubber, and big spray bottle of water/windex to keep windows clear., good wipers too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dude Abides Posted March 28, 2010 Author Share Posted March 28, 2010 Yea i got alot of info on the page they directed me to. Alot of it i knew but some i didnt so it was most helpful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralDisorder Posted March 28, 2010 Share Posted March 28, 2010 One thing I think is essential is knowing what tire pressure you need to be at to acheive a proper off-road contact patch. It's much lower than you think. With the light weight of a Subaru you have to go pretty low to get decent contact. You can check it by spray painting the tread while the wheel is in the air and letting it down on a bit of butcher paper, etc. Test it at full pressure, then lower it to about 15 and check it again. You want about 4x to 5x the contact patch that you had when fully aired-up. Most likely that will mean about 7 to 10 lbs of air pressure per tire. Carry a full-sized spare of course. As well as at least a tire repair kit (the sticky string's and the tools), and an inflation pump. Both are cheap. GD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markus56 Posted March 28, 2010 Share Posted March 28, 2010 HA. you should see the stuff we run with. some of us dont even check our tire pressure regularly. or have a full size spare tire. or dont even have tools or spare parts so you have to trade you paintball gun for a stub shaft and use a borrowed zip tie to keep your pants from falling off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralDisorder Posted March 28, 2010 Share Posted March 28, 2010 Well - you offroad with what you can afford - I get that. But having some of these things allows more fun with less stress. Such as having a AAA membership in case it's just not going to drive home by itself. Without a doubt the most important peices of equipment I have is my cell phone/CB and my AAA card . Knowing what air pressure gives you a decent contact patch costs nothing. It's worth the few minutes it takes. GD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bheinen74 Posted March 28, 2010 Share Posted March 28, 2010 (edited) well, we are going mud offroading as in level B non maintained dirt roads, with a mix of gravel. I also wonder what tire pressure for my 205/75/15 Peerless Baja Widetrack AT's heck what is the normal daily driver tire pressures for that. What is the gravel, mud road pressure recommendation I just found out my driver window squirter is clogged- I have it soaking in CLR solvent bucket now. Once you hit a splash of puddle of mud, if you cant see out the window, you will go in the ditch, crash or worse. Clear windows are the most important in my book, or you might as well put a strip of duck tape over your eyeballs. flats are the next concern, but you can drive on a rim if needed. Good cooling, good clutch, and a gas tank that is full is also key. And dont get too goofed up as in the jeep guys will take a mud hole like it is cake, but we need to stay in the clear and not mess around, take a good line to get thru, not weave into the deep doo doo. When we did the Iowa Campout at ledges, the water hole was cake, drive thru and get out. Remember the road Subiemech took us on, well that was pretty rough, but only a couple miles. The roads we went on last year, were not near that bad for even a stretch of 25 feet. So, your car got thru that in 09, it should get thru this year. If the leaders go off path, dont follow.......or you may get stuck. Stay on the roads, keep your CB on, so i can chat and see how you are. Ben, i think i owe you a lunch or something, so you can get the dinner on me. Edited March 28, 2010 by bheinen74 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
one eye Posted March 29, 2010 Share Posted March 29, 2010 Tip number 1, expect to break everything, I show up to big runs with way more crap than I need, then Yohn uses it all................ if you are running on gravel roads, look for sharp rocks, trees (if there are any in Iowa) that have fallen and are looking to catch your wheel, if you do hit one just right it will take out a wheel, tire and Radius arm, I've seen it. Axle stubs, tools, radius arms, axles, front and rear, oil, water, food,wiring stuff, conectors and all, fuses and fuseable links, a book on your car (chiltons) , and let someone, who is not going on the trip, know the General Area where you are headed, if its in the middle of know where. Just my 2 cents to add for ya................... Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dude Abides Posted March 29, 2010 Author Share Posted March 29, 2010 Well theres going to be a pack of us going, lots of non subes so i expect if i do get stuck i can get pulled out with ease. As far as spare parts, i guess ill just wing it. Its actually not to far from my house. Ill have a cb installed buy then so all should be good as far as communication. I will bring tools and whatever else i can manage. And brent, if i cant try the ooey goey stuff then whats the point brother. I want the carnage, i want to get stuck. Im going to show these namby pambys what a underpowered 4wd wagon can actually do. And when ive given her all shes got captin. You can pull me out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbone Posted March 29, 2010 Share Posted March 29, 2010 HA. you should see the stuff we run with. some of us dont even check our tire pressure regularly. or have a full size spare tire. or dont even have tools or spare parts so you have to trade you paintball gun for a stub shaft and use a borrowed zip tie to keep your pants from falling off. Wow, that sounds just like a kid that went on our last HP meet at EC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88Subi4x4 Posted March 29, 2010 Share Posted March 29, 2010 bring a good JACK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoobieDoo Posted March 29, 2010 Share Posted March 29, 2010 Here's a good thread for tools and equip: http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=97663 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoahDL88 Posted March 29, 2010 Share Posted March 29, 2010 Bringing spare parts and tools is a good idea, however, minimizing the weight of those parts is more important. You're more likely to need the spare parts and tools if you have 1000 pounds of crap in the back of your car. Also direct from "the 4 wheelers bible" As slow as possible, as fast as necessary. If you charge stuff, you will break stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uberoo Posted March 29, 2010 Share Posted March 29, 2010 "when in doubt gas 'er hard" ok you might not want to do that,because that causes broken parts.However,sometimes going slow really isnt an option. Go into a hole at whatever throttle you like.when/if you feel the car getting stuck,GENTLY rock it back and forth.You do not want wheel spin here.Eventually you will make a big track to follow to help you get unstuck or you may get stuck altogether. Above all if you feel the car getting stuck don't just lose your mind and floor it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bheinen74 Posted March 29, 2010 Share Posted March 29, 2010 and don't go trying to win the award for "most stuck and need of recovery" award. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
one eye Posted March 30, 2010 Share Posted March 30, 2010 "when in doubt gas 'er hard" ok you might not want to do that,because that causes broken parts.However,sometimes going slow really isnt an option. Go into a hole at whatever throttle you like.when/if you feel the car getting stuck,GENTLY rock it back and forth.You do not want wheel spin here.Eventually you will make a big track to follow to help you get unstuck or you may get stuck altogether. Above all if you feel the car getting stuck don't just lose your mind and floor it. Or just dont go in the the big hole in the first place................. it well save axles, wheel bearings, and a big head ache, in case you have to work on it ever again, witch you will, from all the crap falling in your eyes or in my case, Eye.............. Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dude Abides Posted March 30, 2010 Author Share Posted March 30, 2010 "when in doubt gas 'er hard" ok you might not want to do that,because that causes broken parts.However,sometimes going slow really isnt an option. Go into a hole at whatever throttle you like.when/if you feel the car getting stuck,GENTLY rock it back and forth.You do not want wheel spin here.Eventually you will make a big track to follow to help you get unstuck or you may get stuck altogether. Above all if you feel the car getting stuck don't just lose your mind and floor it. Best quote of the thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uberoo Posted March 30, 2010 Share Posted March 30, 2010 (edited) Or just dont go in the the big hole in the first place................. it well save axles, wheel bearings, and a big head ache, in case you have to work on it ever again, witch you will, from all the crap falling in your eyes or in my case, Eye.............. Jeff you know thats why manuals recommend you wear safety glasses when working on cars...Not that I ever have the glasses around when I need to work on anything but yea... Edited March 30, 2010 by Uberoo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dude Abides Posted March 30, 2010 Author Share Posted March 30, 2010 I thought getting stuck was half the idea. Ok so dont get stuck and dont floor it if i do. Which makes no sence because how the heck are you suspost to get out of a sticky situation if you cant gas the bejesus out of the thing. Im not going anywhere unless the front of this lift cooperates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralDisorder Posted March 30, 2010 Share Posted March 30, 2010 Getting stuck is fine - you have to in order to find the limits of your machine. Just be sure you have a shovel, come-along, and some straps. Someone may pull you out, but you had better be prepared to climb out the window and hook up your own strap! Once you sink in and you are at a dead stop - you probably won't get going again if it's any kind of decent hole. Knowing when to give in and stop trying to power out is important as well. GD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dude Abides Posted March 30, 2010 Author Share Posted March 30, 2010 I just kinda figured when the car stoped trying to move that was time to give up. Im not going to try any dangerous lines, or huge holes, or drive full power into a stream:rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralDisorder Posted March 30, 2010 Share Posted March 30, 2010 you know thats why manuals recommend you wear safety glasses when working on cars...Not that I ever have the glasses around when I need to work on anything but yea... Safety glasses are a requirement in my shop - ask anyone that's been here. I hand them out to everyone and it's expected that you will wear them anytime an air/power tool is running. Under a car is also a good idea but crap falling off your own car into your eye is not my responsibility . I don't want to see someone lose an eye over a shattered socket or die grinder wheel though. Not on my watch! GD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralDisorder Posted March 30, 2010 Share Posted March 30, 2010 I just kinda figured when the car stoped trying to move that was time to give up. Im not going to try any dangerous lines, or huge holes, or drive full power into a stream:rolleyes: It's deceptive sometimes though - you can get into a hole that you can't get out of..... but it will feel like maybe you can because you can still move 5 feet in either direction - just not all the way out. But the more you rock back and forth - the deeper you get...... like a fly stuck in the cake batter...... And sometimes - occasionally - you will climb out of one after 10 minutes of working on it. But it's not typical. GD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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