Petrol, petrol, and petrol (Camera Sony Alpha NEX-7)
Traveljunkieindonesia.com – Western Australia is huge and quite simply. Any trip to its fair shores requires planning, as you are likely to cover a great distance to reach the sights you hope to see.
If you are driving please ensure you take the correct precautionary measures to ensure your safety whilst out in the great outdoors.
So, here are 15 tips for 4 wheel driving in WA:
1. Plan your trip well.
2. Take a 4WD course before you depart.
3. Take maps, appropriate recovery and communications equipment, adequate spare parts, tool kit and service manual.
4. Have a fatigue management plan.
5. Reduse tyre pressure by +-10% when driving on formed dirt roads; +-20% on soft sand. When driving with deflated tyres, drive at slower speeds and keep turning circles large to reduce the possibility of rolling tyres off the rims or rolling your vehicle.
6. Don’t drive on vegetated sand dunes – this causes erosion.
7. When driving down a steep hill drive in a straight line (if possible), use the lowest gear possible and drives as slowly as you can.
8. If driving over a ditch or logs, cross at an angle to ensure that only one tyre goes over the obstacle at a time – the other three wheels will help get the vehicle over.
9. Before negotiating a steep descent or a water crossing in unfamiliar territory, get out of the vehicle and have a look. Better yet, walk the area first.
Australia’s Coral Coast Road (Camera Sony Alpha NEX-7)
10. Keep hands at ten-to-two position on the steering with thumbs outside the wheel. When going through washouts or over severe bumps, the steering wheel can swing back suddenly causing injury to hands.
11. Ensure all tyres are the same size, preferably the same make and tread pattern. If driving in mud, consider getting self-clearing tyres.
12. Ensure that everyone always wears seatbelts.
13. If braking when four-wheel-driving, apply light steady pressure. If the brakes lock up, ease off then reapply gentle pressure.
14. If performing a snatch strap or winch recovery, check that recovery points (not tie downs) are fitted on the front and rear of your vehicle and that they are attached to the chassis, NOT the bumper bar or bullbar.
15. For maximum fuel efficiency, try and maintain a steady speed as constant speeding up and slowing down uses more fuel.
A big thank you to Tourism Western Australia, Garuda Indonesia, and the others for the excellent #DiscoverWA trip.
So, free to comment and add some of your 4 wheel driving tips in Western Australia.
Happy Green Travels.
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