What is four-wheel drive?

I got into 4×4 several years ago and currently own a 1997 Toyota Hilux. 4×4 is done in cars that are designed to drive on rocky, wet, soft, bumpy or unforgiving surfaces. Normal cars are two wheel drive only whereas a 4wd car is four wheel drive (hence 4×4 or 4wd) giving you more traction for driving on rough terrain. They also have more clearance, more storage space, and the ability to tow an RV, boat, or trailer with ease. Four-wheel driving is a huge sport around the world, and is also popular with countries that are traveling or just going away for the weekend. Owning a four-wheel drive vehicle means you can drive to the beach, drive up a steep hill, and even take your family to a remote location for the weekend.

types of 4×4

There is a wide range of four-wheel drive available, starting with the most common brands; Toyota, Nissan, Jeep, Range Rover, Land Rover, Suzuki, Ford, Holden and even Mercedes. Every car brand has a different way of building their cars, which explains why they each have different strengths and weaknesses. 4wd’s are becoming much more safety conscious these days which means they are often not as good off-roaders as some of the older 4×4’s in standard condition. Also, with more electronics and other complicated gadgets, they tend to not be as strong and reliable off-road (more things can go wrong). Saying this, you can modify a new vehicle today with the right parts to make it extremely capable and reliable.

Where can I drive?

This question can be answered largely based on where you live and the restrictions imposed by law. In Australia, you can drive on a large number of beaches, sand dunes (such as Lancelin) and tracks that cut through the bush. Of course, there are areas where driving is not allowed, but just do some research and find a way around them! Keep in mind that some tracks will be considerably more difficult than others, and if you take a track that is too hard for your vehicle, you can cause very expensive damage to the car or even to people. A good four-wheel drive can drive on sand, mud, rocks, snow, and combinations thereof. Being able to take tracks that a normal car couldn’t open up a whole range of new options; beach fishing, camping and touring the country.

How to drive (and how not to)

Like other sports, 4×4 is something that can only be learned by practicing or watching. Unlike other sports, if you make mistakes, they can be very costly, so it’s important to take it slow and learn at a pace you’re comfortable with. Different terrains require a different driving style, which is learned over time. The best advice I can give you is to only take routes that you are comfortable with. There are a number of four-wheel drive courses you can take if you wish, and these will give you a good understanding of what to do. There is quite a bit of skill in off-road driving, which is learned over time. There’s also quite a bit to know about vehicle recovery, where to drive, and what to avoid. I will go into more detail in future posts.

What 4×4 suits you best?

Buying a four-wheel drive car can be quite a big decision, so it’s a smart move to do some serious research first. The 4×4 that is best for you is determined by what you want it to do. One resource I highly recommend is the monthly 4wd forum. This will give you a great guide from the basics to full pro mods, ways to drive and more. The general theory behind buying the right four-wheel drive vehicle is to make a list of what you want it to be able to do, and then find a vehicle that can comfortably do those things over and over again.

I bought my 1997 Toyota Hilux almost a year ago, for several reasons. I have listed my car requirements below, and the Hilux has met each and every one of these:

• Must be robust, off-road capable and easy to modify without breaking the wallet

• Must look good

• It must be reliable and cheap to repair if something goes wrong.

• It must be economical (I’ve converted it to gas, which means that an already cheap vehicle is now cheaper than most small gas-powered cars)

• Must be easy to clean (vinyl floors and seats are amazing)

• Must be able to throw equipment for the job (wood, tools and anything else)

I have to say that I have not been disappointed at all, but I carefully planned what I wanted in my 4×4 and then made my decision. Perhaps you want a car that is average off-road but will cruise Australia with ease while carrying the family gear? Maybe you need the towing capacity for a large boat or a car that’s basically indestructible? Of course, it’s unlikely that you’ll find the perfect vehicle, but with the right thought and modifications, you can create a car that will do just about anything you want. The only small issue I have with the Hilux is that it’s not very powerful (but that’s the tradeoff for good fuel economy). This makes it difficult to tow a trailer or boat and drive long distances on the highway. Saying this, I am more than happy with the car!

amendments

When you buy a new four-wheel drive vehicle from the factory, they are usually pretty poor in the most severe off-road situations. They have cheap road tires that offer poor traction, very little clearance, little bar work, engines that aren’t as powerful as they could be, and generally lack many 4×4 accessories that are necessary. You can change the suspension, lift the body, put on side steps, fenders and rear bars, add spotlights and a roof rack, tire racks on the rear of the car, convert the engine to run on two fuels, fit more tires big and different tires, change the exhaust and lots more. Because four-wheel driving is so popular, there are a plethora of modifications you can do to your car, regardless of make. The most important thing to remember is to modify within what is legal in your area and to do so to suit what you want out of your car!

This blog covers a wide variety of topics, but I plan to go over various techniques for driving on different terrains, basic tips and guidelines, ways to modify your car and what works and places you can take your car for a day or even have a week! Hope you enjoy. Some 4×4 posts I’ve already covered are Lancelin, Wedge Island, Honeymoon Pool, and Dunsborough.