While entry level off-roading, the Chevy Colorado ZR2 is capable of handling 80% of the drive.
But this leaves 20% for user (me) error.
Just because I’m a truck owner doesn’t mean I know how to drive the truck off-road. I’ll be honest, Adam does majority of the driving. Nevertheless, as a strong independent female, I want to make sure I’ve educated myself to be able to step up with confidence and be a supportive member of the team. Since purchasing the truck I’ve made it a priority to take the necessary steps to feel comfortable and safe. If you’re thinking about getting into overlanding, see the below essentials to get you out there and safely start your journey into the backcountry.
CONTENTS
1. BASIC EDUCATION – WHAT IS OVERLANDING?
If you’ve ever been hiking, you already know what kind of obstacles to expect when driving off-road. Overlanding does not typically involve the extreme obstacles you see in Moab Utah, more an off-road journey to remote, uninhabited places. I think of overlanding similar to backpacking but in your vehicle.
Recently, Adam and I went on a day trip to a remote lake starting from Ashcroft Colorado and ending in Aspen Colorado, approximately a 20 mile trip. Before arriving to the designated trailhead and airing down the tires, we made sure we took the essential first steps before heading off on the trail.
2. GPS – WHAT WILL THE ROUTE LOOK LIKE?
There are many GPS options but I recommend Gaia GPS which offers a catalog of downloadable specific off-road and 4×4 maps. These specific off-road maps are similar to google maps but show you what kind of terrain you will encounter and how difficult your route will be. Gaia also gives you access to road conditions, closures and dispersed camping sites along the way. Studying this information before you head out on the trail will give you an idea what gear will be needed to get you through the trail. Other good recourses to check are, NatGeo Trails Illustrated maps, the USFS Roads and Trails Map and the MVUM (USFS) US forest Service Motor Vehicle Maps.
Whether we’re planning to head out backcountry skiing or an overlanding trip, Adam and I will take the time using these tools at home to get to know the trail before we go. Route planning is one of my favorite parts of any journey. We will map the route together (typically over a glass of rose) and download the necessary maps for when we do not have cell signal. It’s a fun way to get excited for the trip. For our recent day trip in Ashcroft, we studied the map and due to the various uphill loose rock sections, we knew we needed to bring the equipment to deflate and inflate the tires as well as safety and recovery gear.
3. KEY RESEARCHING ITEMS
What are the key things I look for while researching a trail?:
- Road Closures
- Includes seasonal forest service closures, weather or fire closures. This summer in Colorado we are having a lot of closures due to mudslides and wildfires.
- Private roads are sometimes unmarked on the trail and it’s important to respect private land.
- If there’s a difficult obstacle, is there a bypass route?
- Max Grade Slope Angle
- Based on experience, we know the truck’s slope angle we are comfortable driving. The truck is most likely capable of exceeding our comfort limits but out on the trail is not the place to find your limits.
- Road Material
- Will there be snow on the ground or mud on the trail?
- What equipment will we need if we get stuck?
- Are my tires durable enough for the trails obstacles?
- Ground Clearance
- Various trail obstacles such as rock gardens or drop-offs require more ground clearance.
- Remember, a Subaru Outback and Forester both have 8.7 inches of ground clearance and limited articulation to keep the wheels on the ground. The ground clearance is plenty for most situations but important to consider while researching the trail.
- Impacts of low ground clearance can be minimized with under body protection. Do you have skid plates protecting important engine components such as the oil pan?
4. PASSIBLE IN A PASSENGER VEHICLE?
Although your vehicle may be able to manage most off-road trails, it’s may quickly meet its match far from pavement. Adam’s frequently says:
“It may get you to the trailhead but what if you want to go beyond the trailhead?”
Let me break it down for you:
- Four-Wheel Drive:
- The vehicle has a transfer case that allows the driver to ‘transfer’ power to both the front and the rear wheels. This power is split evenly, 50/50.
- Overlanders prefer four-wheel drive because transferring more power to all the wheels helps you navigate steep terrain.
- Four-wheel drive trucks and SUVs allow you to select from a high to low range which increases torque, to get over rocks.
- All-Wheel Drive:
- When a tire starts to spin out, the vehicle will send power to whichever wheel has lost traction.
- This works best on icy or wet pavement but not ideal for overlanding. While driving through rocks and one tire is lifted off the ground, will sending power to that one wheel help?
Ultimately, a Subaru Crosstrek will get you down a dirt road but is it robust enough to get you through all the obstacles on the trail? I recommend checking the map before you go.
5. GETTING OUT THERE
Some of these items require a basic understanding of your vehicle’s limitations. Apart from reading the owner’s manual and watching YouTube, how are you supposed to safely test your vehicle’s limits? I recommend overlanding in a group with experienced drivers who have proper recovery gear. I recently joined Overland Bound which allowed Adam and I to follow in a group of experienced drivers to safely learn the trucks capabilities. We also learned about radio frequencies, safety and recovery gear, tire deflation and gained knowledge from others with years of experience.
Spending enough time around any overlanding crowd, you can quickly realize the appeal of outfitting your rig with accessories. There are so many things to make your vehicle more capable and comfortable off-road. But don’t stress about the gear, with the right crew and mindset your stock four-wheel drive vehicle is more than capable.
Adam and I safely made it to the lake for a secluded swim and lunch before heading back on our journey. It was a smooth trip with some last minute route adjustments and bypasses along the way.
Why not, the beauty of overlanding is about the journey.
Happy Trails!
