| The 4 wheel drive SUV and Truck are very | | | | Look at it on the positive side, you have a whole |
| common vehicles on the road today, they are | | | | year to plan a trip and purchase your supplies. |
| everywhere. 4 wheel drive owners including | | | | You don't have to worry about spending a whole |
| myself tend to express our identity in the kind of | | | | lot of money in one shot. |
| 4 wheel drive we own. | | | | Here are some tips that will help you prepare for |
| You have your die hard eat dirt, drink mud 4 | | | | your next off road and camping experience:o |
| wheel drive enthusiasts. These guys and gals live | | | | Perform a complete maintenance inspection on |
| for the moment to put their 4X4 to the ultimate | | | | your 4X4. If you are not one of those |
| test. Their 4 wheel drives are most generally built | | | | automotive do-it-yourselfers, then inform the |
| to handle the most extreme off road conditions. | | | | automotive service manager at your favorite |
| They spend a lot of money on top quality | | | | shop of your intensions. Let him know your |
| performance parts that will handle these | | | | concern on how important it is that your vehicle |
| conditions. | | | | gets a quality inspection and service.o It is always |
| Then there are those 4X4 owners who have this | | | | a good idea to travel in groups. If this is not an |
| Jekyll & Hyde mentality about 4 wheeling. | | | | option for you then be sure to tell other family |
| They appear to have this calm and cool type | | | | members and friends where you are going and |
| personality with a touch of conservativeness | | | | when you will be back.o Preplan your trip. This will |
| about them; until they push the 4Hi button. | | | | not only prepare you for what's ahead but it is |
| At last you have those who own a 4X4 and just | | | | also fun to get the family involved. You all will feel |
| like the idea of owning a 4 wheel drive. Great idea | | | | a sense of excitement when planning this |
| you guys and gals! Personally, I would not own a | | | | adventure.o If this adventure takes place at a |
| SUV or pick-up unless it was a 4X4. It never | | | | national park then inform the park authorities |
| made much sense to me to spend money on a | | | | where you are going. Give them as much |
| 2WD pick-up or SUV; but that is just my own | | | | information about your plans and an idea of when |
| opinion. | | | | you will be leaving. Give and get contact |
| Okay, for those of you who fit the description | | | | information; this way if something goes wrong, |
| directly above; and who own that awesome piece | | | | they will be able to find you.o Cell phones and |
| of machinery called the 4X4. Maybe it's about | | | | GPS's are a good idea to have with you. If you |
| time to take that next step and take your 4X4 | | | | can't get cell phone reception where you are at |
| on an off road adventure. | | | | then the GPS will tell you your location. Don't |
| Spending a weekend or whole week enjoying the | | | | forget to enter and save plenty of waypoints on |
| off road trails can be an experience of a lifetime; | | | | your GPS; this will be easier to navigate back to |
| especially when the whole family is involved. You | | | | safety.o Be sure to have plenty of food and |
| get this sense of adventure and the ability to go | | | | water to last beyond your expected stay, I'd say |
| places where 2WD vehicles would not even | | | | at least three days. Keeping your body full of |
| fathom of going. | | | | carbohydrates and fluids during your outdoor fun |
| Camping and enjoying the outdoors while hitting | | | | is a must. |
| the trails; your family will tell stories about these | | | | Planning and preparing your 4X4 and the off road |
| off road adventures for years. | | | | adventure are the two foremost important steps |
| These kinds of vacations can be quite inexpensive | | | | towards a safe and fun trip. Ask any survival |
| (unless you break down) compared to a trip to | | | | instructor, I bet they will agree. |
| Disney Land. Look at it this way, you already own | | | | Owning a 4X4 not only provides family fun and |
| the 4WD. A tent is a lot cheaper than hotel | | | | excitement but it allows you to become one with |
| rooms. | | | | this awesome piece of machinery. You and the |
| Meals can be quite inexpensive also if you shop at | | | | 4X4 working together to overcome those |
| your local grocery store and fill the coolers full of | | | | obstacles that lies in front of you; like a sea |
| food and drinks. | | | | captain navigating his ship through a storm. The |
| It may be a good idea to take the 4X4 and your | | | | two of you together challenging Mother Nature |
| off road adventure for just one weekend and | | | | and what she has to offer. It's a sense of |
| see how you get along before tackling a week | | | | dominance; that genetic code hidden deep inside |
| trip. Test the waters by the shore before making | | | | of us waiting to be unleashed. |
| an ocean voyage. | | | | You own a 4X4, that vehicle does not know |
| For those of you who may be new to the whole | | | | what it is or what it was designed to do. Only you |
| off road and camping experience, you are in luck. | | | | have the capability to unleash the full potential of |
| You may not have the funds or supplies to tackle | | | | your 4X4. |
| this kind of trip this year but there is next year. | | | | |