Going Off Road

ATV Riding

The world is mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful. –e. e. cummings
Sometimes the best places to explore don’t have a road leading to them, and that makes them the most fun.

Whether you’re hooking up your lightbar to your truck or mudding with your four-wheeler, sometimes in order to find the best back roads, you need to get a little messy. What better way to see things that nobody has seen them by going away from the beaten trail and cutting your own path. Nothing says adventure like being able to say, “I did it my way.”

So make sure to strap on a helmet, and forego the map (except for as an emergency safeguard, of course), because it’s time for you to cut your own trail across wherever you find yourself. Off-roading presents its own set of challenges, and of course, it’s a little bit more unpredictable than any of the traditional types of exploration, but that’s what makes it the most fun.

Not having a destination in mind or discovering your way by yourself, can satiate that thirst for discovery unlike riding along the interstate. Strap the chains on your tires and rev your engine; things are about to get muddy.

Life Isn’t Just a Highway

Rocky road isn’t just a flavor of ice cream. The road less traveled by is the best way to travel, after all, as long as you’re not trying to get to work on time. Trucks and four-wheelers, as well as other all-terrain vehicles like rhinos and even golf carts in some situations, are suited for exploring the backroads without getting stuck in all the potholes on way. These vehicles are made to take the bumps and hits that come with the landscape, so you don’t have to worry about damaging the underside of your car.
A good set of shocks and a stronger set of ATV tires will make sure that you don’t end up going off road without meaning to. While off-roading vehicles and trucks can use a little bit of work to take to things off road, four-wheelers are already equipped to handle the roughness of an unpaved road. Whether you’re driving down a backwoods trail or looking to jump a dune buggy of the side of a sand dune, ATVs are a great way to get to where the sidewalk ends and see what’s on the other side.
Which all-terrain vehicle you intend to use all depends on what kind of adventure you’re looking for. For an all-terrain vehicle, four-wheelers are a good option for the casual off-roader. Perfect for mud, gravel, sand, woods trails, and almost any other mess you can find your way into, these small to mid-sized machines are a good choice for anyone who likes to find your own path. But if you’re looking to go on an adventure with a couple of your friends, and rhino or another larger all-terrain vehicle is a great way to get where you’re going without having to try out onto a less-than-comfortable chariot.
And who could forget dirt biking? Not only are they the best option for showing off for your friends and family, but they also are great for trails that might not fit your average four-wheelers.
So whether you’re looking to go exploring an old path, or make your own way through the wilderness, you want to make sure that you’re prepared for anything the road decides to throw at you.

Prepare, Prepare, Prepare

The first thing that you want to have is a good ATV helmet. You can’t really find a new path if your brain is unprotected, so make sure that your head is extra protected before traversing some of the wilder roads across the country. You want to make sure that your helmet fits correctly, and depending on the type of protection you’re looking for, you may want to choose one with a visor to protect your eyes. Nothing ends in adventure quite as fast as getting a mosquito in the corner of your eye at 40 MPH, after all.
You also want to make sure that you have any pads or gloves you might need to keep yourself safe. If you expect to be doing a lot of tricks or speeding past brambles, you’ll want to be well protected to avoid road rash along the way. And, of course, when you’re looking to outfit your truck to get ready to take on the byways instead of the highways, there are a few things that you need to make sure you don’t get stuck in the mud.
A light bar is a great investment for anyone who wants to explore the less populated areas of the world, and it’s a great way to set up for other activities that need a little illumination. Of course, you will need a good ATV battery to power any extra electrical accessories. You also want to invest in a good pair of tires, preferably those with plenty of deep treads, and having a set of backup chains can make mudding (and snow travel) much easier. You also want to invest in an ATV winch or trailer hitch for your vehicle to pull your stuck friends out of wherever they wedged their truck into.
There are also options for your four-wheeler or ATV to help make your adventure a little less risky, like additional padding for your seat, ATV ramps to safely ride into your truck, or storage containers for the back of your vehicle so that you don’t have to put everything in your pockets. As well, your all terrain vehicle can become useful if you install accessories such as an ATV snow plow.

Find Your Own Way

The beauty of off-roading is that the only limit is how many trees or rocks are in your way. So find somewhere that doesn’t have a road leading to it, and get out there and explore it. Whether you are looking to climb the side of a mountain or race across the wide-open wilderness without any civilization in sight, going off-road lets you see the undiscovered side of civilization.

And don’t let physical challenges stop you. Even if you have mobility issues, there are outdoor mobility scooters that can take you beyond where the pavement ends.

Before you head out, make sure that somebody knows where you’re going, or travel with a group of friends. Nothing is worse than reaching your destination only to realize you don’t know how to get home. You also want to make sure you bring a map with you, at least a general one, and a compass just in case.

So free yourself from the road, launch into the great unknown, and enjoy the wild-side of expiration. And of course, the best thing about off-roading is that nobody expects you to use your turn signal.