A great adventure off-road starts by piling your friends into your truck and then shoving off of your equipment into the back, right? Wrong. While this is one way to go about it, it certainly isn’t the best. Before You head off, there are a few things which are worth knowing that can not only help to prevent problems but help you get out of sticky situations.

Don't Get Stranded Before You've Left the City Limits!

Below is a post with some great tips from Ace Hi Oil on the subject which should be taken into account before leaving for adventure!

Start with Your Heavy Items

When it comes a list, the best place to start is always, well, the start! And this one is no different. To start, take a look at all of the items you plan to pack into your truck before you head out and identify the heaviest items you have. Once you have done this, these are the items which you should consider packing into your 4X4 first. Why? To keep your vehicle’s center of gravity at its lowest, it’s best to pack your heavy items first to keep them on the floor of your vehicle. While some of these items are likely to be used when you first arrive to your destination, the benefits of keeping them low is that it also keeps your truck stable as you manoeuvre it into seemingly impossible angels. Of course, it also has the added advantage of helping even out your suspension and, in turn, the smoothness of your ride and ease of maneuverability.

What’s on Top?

If you don’t have a cargo rack for your roof, now is the time to go out and get one. Why? Not only is your roof a great place to store your gear and equipment, but without a cargo rack, it isn’t secure and can cause serious balance problems. As an example, if you are using your roof to store tall and flexible items, they can tend to lean over your roof, outside of the footprint of your vehicle, which does only one thing - tip your ride over. However, with a properly packed and secured cargo rack, your items can stay put and actually work for you when it comes time to reach angles you are sure isn’t possible. Click here to buy Signature Series 0W-20 Synthetic Motor Oil and keep your engine in good shape and ready for off-road adventure. If you aren’t sure if this is the right product for you, check out the online store for more options or speak with an expert at Ace Hi Oil by calling (888) 459-9958.

How Is Your Engine Health?

Now that you have a better idea of how to pack your truck, it’s time to make sure that the vehicle itself is up to the task. That means either taking it to your local mechanic and telling them the adventure you’re in for, so that they can give it an appropriate level of service, or, even better, doing it yourself! Be sure to pay attention to crucial off-road items such as your suspension, your brakes (including any power assisted brakes on your trailer), your tire quality, and your gearbox. If you know of any other part of your vehicle which is going to get a beating during your adventures, now is the time to check it out.

Stay in a Group

If you love taking your vehicle off-road then you likely want to find the most remote and serene places you can so that you and your passengers can enjoy peace and quiet. And as great as this goal is, it isn’t the smartest idea to look for isolated areas alone. With this in mind, consider joining a driving club or even inviting some of your like-minded friends who also have trucks to accompany you and share in your adventures. In addition to being able to spend time off-roading with your friends, it’s also a great way to help you get out of trouble should you become stuck. Of course, be sure that both yours and your friends’ vehicles include sufficient towing mechanisms and cables.

Speaking of Getting Stuck

Imagine that you (and your friends) are enjoying the scenery and, when it comes time to start your trucks back up, they won’t start. Maybe somebody left the lights on and the battery is drained or maybe there has been a malfunction in your gearbox. Whatever the reason, you’re stuck without a cell signal. For this reason, be sure that you either have a phone which is capable of accessing a satellite network to call for help or you can even rely on the tried-and-true method of UHF or a similar radio service. While you might not like to think that you can get stuck, the truth of the situation is that it can happen to any driver and any vehicle.

Give Your Truck a Synthetic Oil Change in Southlake, Tx

Before you head out, make sure that your vehicle is up to the task and isn’t going to leave you stranded before you have even had a chance to get out of the city. To learn more, speak with an expert at Ace Hi Oil by calling (888) 459-9958 to not only find the right product for your vehicle but any other vehicle you may be towing, such as a boat or even an ATV. ;