"ONCE YOU'VE CONSIDERED YOUR DRIVER
SKILLS, THEN THERE'S THE ISSUE OF
TECHNICAL NOUS TO THINK ABOUT"
You may have serviced your 4WD,
but what about your chainsaw,
first aid kit and other equipment?Kath negotiating a water crossing
under instructionIt’s in the way
that you use it
Simple things you can do between
scheduled services to keep your rig
in tip-top condition: Change your oil every
5 000km regardless of what your Service Manual advises.
Constant short-trip driving, poor quality oil, poor air flow and
contaminated oil, all contribute to the creation of ‘oil sludge’
that will affect your engine like cholesterol does your arteries.Check your water levels regularly:
The use of coolant, rather than water in the radiator, will delay
corrosion. Be aware that coolant comes in anti freeze/anti boil
(30-50 per cent glycol) (that includes anti corrosion inhibitors)
or it comes in corrosion inhibitor-only form. The anti-corrosion
properties break down over time which is why you need a
coolant change as recommended by your mechanic.Keep your tyres at recommended
pressures: This can help reduce your fuel consumption
by 10 per cent or more on the highway. But make sure you
appropriately adjust your pressures for the actual terrain that
you’re travelling on, to avoid punctures and improve your
ride. For instance, for our vehicle, tyre size and make, I work
on the rule of thumb: 20 Psi for sandy conditions, 30 Psi for
general offroad and 40Psi for the highway. And remember,
your tyres heat up through use so you may need to set a
lower tyre pressure when you begin the day to ensure an
appropriate pressure as temperature increases.Keep a constant speed: This will reduce tyre
wear and mechanical fatigue.Check your vehicle towing
specifications: Overloading your vehicle will place
undue stresses on your engine, gearbox and towbar/chassis.Keep an eye on your brakes: City driving,
driving in hilly areas and towing reduce their effectiveness
(and life span). When you need to replace them do so with
heavy duty 4WD rotors and pads.Spare tyre: Check its pressure and accessibility. Also
ensure that the side walls of spare tyres stored under the
vehicle body are not damaged. And remember, include a can
of inflating foam and/or tyre puncture plugs to help get you
back on the road. And when at the Cape make sure you have a
second spare with you.GEARING UP FOR AUSTRALIA'S NORTHERN FRONTIER