I was well into my second day of a four-day trip through Death Valley. Suddenly, after bumping over a rut, the left front spring broke in half. I looked at it in disbelief — the rut wasn’t that deep. (The spring may have been cracked prior to hitting the rut.)… Continue reading
On my way to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, my vehicle just plain died as I bottomed out from the entrance ramp to I-15. I had just fueled up in Vegas. As I coasted to the shoulder, I contemplated my options – see if I could find the… Continue reading
A student recently emailed asking for advice on how to perform certain repairs while off road. After responding, I realized that others could benefit from similar information. Handling breakdowns is one of the top fears expressed among my 4WD students. It’s impossible to cover every scenario in an article like… Continue reading
Back in June I discussed numerous safety issues related to four-wheeling. I wanted to offer a reminder, because many four-wheelers were getting back on the trails after being away for an extended period. (See Safety Off-Road Is No Accident.) Following up on that theme, I thought this is a good… Continue reading
This mouth’s article is in response to a request generated by last month’s article. I have a question about tools.” Josh wrote in an email. “I can’t quite figure out what kind of tool kit I should make for off-road. Not necessarily recovery. But wondering if you have a go-to… Continue reading
After nearly three months of living in near seclusion, many four-wheelers are anxious to get back on the trails. But this gap in 4WD activity may have caused more than just automobile parts to go rusty. It’s possible that various safety skills need to be jump started to bring the… Continue reading
For most of us, off-road travel requires electrical power for an ever-increasing number of electrical devices. There’s the fridge-freezer, of course. But also, a laptop (or two), GPS receiver, two-way radios, air compressors, air pump (for mattresses), power tools, and such. Power consumption isn’t an issue while the engine is… Continue reading
All this lounging around the house lately is getting to me. Too much slacking off, and I am developing bad habits. Getting up late, drinking coffee, doing nothing until 10:30 when someone makes breakfast. And then hanging around until lunchtime at 12:30 or 1:00. Sound familiar? (C’mon, admit it: You’re… Continue reading
To say these are unprecedented times would be an understatement. Some people are saying the U.S. hasn’t seen this type of crisis since the Great Depression. Businesses are closed, with the hospitality sector taking a real beating. Bars, restaurants, theaters, arenas and other venues are shuttered. Even churches have closed…. Continue reading
We were well into a four-day drive through Death Valley. Our trip had taken us across the Slate Range of the Iyno Mountains into Panamint Valley. From there, we traveled through Gohler wash, and up and over Mengle Pass into Death Valley. By this time our fuel tanks were about… Continue reading
There is a long tradition in this country of applying names to inanimate objects. Tin Lizzie, you may recall, was the nickname given to Ford’s Model T. Some people still use the term when referring to their car. During World War II, pilots and troops would regularly give a name… Continue reading
Time for a little short-but-sweet tough love. Four-wheeling involves near constant decision making. Numerous challenges face you along the trail. Whether you successfully navigate around or through those obstacles falls entirely on your shoulders. Sorry, my friend, but you can’t blame anyone else. Not your spotter. Not your mechanic. Not… Continue reading
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