4×4 Tips for Beginners Part III

December 1st, 2008 by Justin

Besides plenty of mud and obstacles you will find on the trail, there will be times that your vehicle either stalls or is stuck in the mud and needs assistance. Here are some tips that can help in these situations.

Stalling in Deep Water
If you find yourself and your vehicle practically underwater and your engine has stalled, you probably (more than probably) got water in the engine. Tow your vehicle out of the mud or water and take out the spark plugs before you start the vehicle up again. Let the engine dry out for a few minutes and then try turning over the engine with the spark plugs out. This strategy should force and eject any excess water out of the engine. Finally put in your dry spark plugs and start her up.

Tips on Winching
Before you find yourself in a jam, go to an auto parts store and buy some heavy duty tow straps. The last thing you want to use is a chain. Chains are dangerous because if they break and they do, you are sending a projectile or several projectiles through the air which can do a lot of damage.

In addition, even when you a winch, put a towel over the cable line, this way if the cable breaks, it won’t whip saw anyone with the broken edge. Finally, even if you use a strap make sure you don’t use one that has hooks on it, these hooks can become projectiles as well.

Most of these tips are common sense, but in the heat of the moment, many 4×4 enthusiasts sometimes throw caution to the wind. However, you can still have a great time out on the trails and still be safe.

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