Off-road training books-recommendations?

HIPCHIP · Apr 16, 2008

I did a search through Borders and Amazon for off-road driving instruction and there were several, but none at my local stores that I could check. I've been riding and racing dirt-bikes for a LONG time, but haven't done a lot of wheelin, especially in the last 30+ years, so figure I definitely have a bunch to learn.

Just wondering if there are some good instructional books, or DVD's out there I should investigate? Border's had one that was like $80 used, which seems a little steep, so don't want to spend a small fortune only to find out it's just a bunch of photo's of $100K race rigs.
Thanks in advance,
Dan'o :}

mhughes165 · Apr 16, 2008

best way to learn to 4wheel a truck is to actually get out and do it, as each truck will behave slightly differently, its the difference between taking a stock ranger where multiple lifted fullsizes would get stuck....and getting stuck on a dirtroad in a mud puddle....

just take it easy, find guys taht do it, and u will pickup what u need to know along the way

HIPCHIP · Apr 16, 2008

mhughes165 said:
best way to learn to 4wheel a truck is to actually get out and do it, as each truck will behave slightly differently, its the difference between taking a stock ranger where multiple lifted fullsizes would get stuck....and getting stuck on a dirtroad in a mud puddle....

just take it easy, find guys taht do it, and u will pickup what u need to know along the way

I just found a club that is planning on doing more easy SUV type of runs to get more members, so I have access to that, just kind of chomping at the bit to learn some stuff and the old college student in me makes me want to look for books and DVD's. Figure I can't learn too much!

I've busted up my back pretty good from racing and riding over 40 years, so want to learn how to do it right before I tweak my back and truck doing it wrong.

Thanks for the advice,
Dan'o :}

KELLY88 · Apr 16, 2008

Nothing teaches like experience. Although the internet is decent for beginners off roading tips.

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/DriveOffroad.html
http://www.tennesseeoffroad.com/Page3390.aspx
http://4wheeldrive.about.com/od/offroad4x4atv4wd/Beginner_Tips_For_Your_First_Time_OffRoad.htm

Here's a few decent sites to get you started.

swynx · Apr 16, 2008

i say go to the tech forum of trs, and read the hot to off road, links, there interesting i did, and it helps alot, basically the way i understood it is, dont take ur foot of the gas lol

mhughes165 · Apr 16, 2008

HIPCHIP said:
I just found a club that is planning on doing more easy SUV type of runs to get more members, so I have access to that, just kind of chomping at the bit to learn some stuff and the old college student in me makes me want to look for books and DVD's. Figure I can't learn too much!

I've busted up my back pretty good from racing and riding over 40 years, so want to learn how to do it right before I tweak my back and truck doing it wrong.

Thanks for the advice,
Dan'o :}

just make sure u have some good recovery points (hitch in back, tow hooks up front) and u wont tweak a relativly stock ranger, and wheeling is only hard on the back if u do alot of rocks and high speed trail runnin

HIPCHIP · Apr 16, 2008

mhughes165 said:
just make sure u have some good recovery points (hitch in back, tow hooks up front) and u wont tweak a relativly stock ranger, and wheeling is only hard on the back if u do alot of rocks and high speed trail runnin

The recovery points have been pointed out to me. No hooks up front yet, and the hitch in the rear is just the one on the step bumper, so I guess a class III is in my future too.

I definitely won't go banzai out there, it's the little things! Like riding a bike, you don't sit, you stand in the middle and let the bike move under you and you bunny hop over obstacles, that's the kind of stuff I'm talking about.

HIPCHIP · Apr 16, 2008

KELLY88 said:
Nothing teaches like experience. Although the internet is decent for beginners off roading tips.

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/DriveOffroad.html
http://www.tennesseeoffroad.com/Page3390.aspx
http://4wheeldrive.about.com/od/offroad4x4atv4wd/Beginner_Tips_For_Your_First_Time_OffRoad.htm

Here's a few decent sites to get you started.

Great sites, this is exactly what I was talking about. The basic stuff!

JohnnyO · Apr 16, 2008

The Four Wheeler's Bible

A good book, plus I point this out because the author, Jim Allen, is very knowledgeable and has come with us on two TRS off-road runs and ridden in my truck.

HIPCHIP · Apr 16, 2008

JohnnyO said:
The Four Wheeler's Bible

A good book, plus I point this out because the author, Jim Allen, is very knowledgeable and has come with us on two TRS off-road runs and ridden in my truck.

That's one of the books I was looking at on-line and was wondering about. Thanks for the info.
Dan'o :}

MAKG · Apr 17, 2008

Well, you're in Woodland. If you don't mind a few hours' drive to Hollister, a Bay Area (Peninsula) 4x4 club runs clinics there twice a year. http://www.espritdefour.com . Their next one appears to be exactly a month from now.

85_Ranger4x4 · Apr 17, 2008

JohnnyO said:
The Four Wheeler's Bible

A good book, plus I point this out because the author, Jim Allen, is very knowledgeable and has come with us on two TRS off-road runs and ridden in my truck.

I picked that up at Barnes and Nobles a couple years ago, very interesting book to read. I would recomend it to anyone interested in wheeling.

HIPCHIP · Apr 17, 2008

MAKG said:
Well, you're in Woodland. If you don't mind a few hours' drive to Hollister, a Bay Area (Peninsula) 4x4 club runs clinics there twice a year. http://www.espritdefour.com . Their next one appears to be exactly a month from now.

Thanks for the info. Prairie City is closer to me though and there are clubs that run stuff there also. I have access to the clubs, just looking for something to put my hands on and check out prior to actually taking the leap and maybe hurting my truck.

This is all good info though. The main consensus does seem to just be seat time.
Dan'o :}

mhughes165 · Apr 17, 2008

since ur not a more experinced wheeler on trail rides ride near the back of the pack, that way u can watch the approach angles of everyone else, see what happens when thye go in the way they do and by the time all the other trucks go through u should have a good idea on hwo to approach a particular obsticle

86ford · Apr 17, 2008

HIPCHIP said:
Thanks for the info. Prairie City is closer to me though and there are clubs that run stuff there also. I have access to the clubs, just looking for something to put my hands on and check out prior to actually taking the leap and maybe hurting my truck.

This is all good info though. The main consensus does seem to just be seat time.
Dan'o :}

the whole thing with wheeling is every location has diffrent types of terrain so you cant really write a book about "wheeling" because the conditions are so diffrent. in ohio it mite be always best to have alot of wheel spin and momentum but thats not always the case in diffrent locations. take your time, along with find someone who is skilled at running the local terrain and take them in your rig whenever possible so you always have a skilled person to reffrence if it gets hairy.

86

Off-road training books-recommendations?

HIPCHIP

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mhughes165

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HIPCHIP

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KELLY88

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HIPCHIP

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85_Ranger4x4

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