Off Road 101

Tires

Posted on 9/28/10 1:47 AM in Off Road 101

Just as the right kind of tire is needed for snow, so is the right kind of tire needed for off-road performance. You want a tire that will grip onto slick rock and pull you through the most extreme obstacles. Choosing the right kind of tire and right size for your vehicle
is key to your off road performance.

Many factors play into tire size. The bigger the tire, the more ground clearance you have, but not without risking your center of gravity.

The center of gravity is the center position of balance for a vehicle, or the average location of a vehicle weight. A low center of gravity allows a vehicle to not only side hill well, but increases the angle that a vehicle can climb and descend.

Tire size is also affected by how high off the ground your vehicle is. When a lift kit is installed, you may choose to run a bigger tire size. Suspension also plays a role in which size tires will fit and which will hit. By understanding your whole vehicle- suspension, flex, body,etc.- you can make a good choice in tire size.

Tires

Suspension

Posted on 9/28/10 1:45 AM in Off Road 101

The suspension on your vehicle determines how well your vehicle flexes and moves when you are off-road. Suspensions can be soft or hard and can even lift your vehicle higher off the ground. A good suspension system will improve your off-road performance while maintaining a quality highway ride.

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Low Range

Posted on 9/28/10 1:44 AM in Off Road 101

When riding a mountain bike up a hill it is always easier to gear down, or you will run out of energy. This is the same concept with your vehicle. Low range is implemented to help you gear down and make good use of your engine power to help you over those steep hills, and to save your brakes when going downhill. Low range keeps your tires spinning at a slow pace with lots of power behind it. It can hold your engine back without constantly riding the brakes.

TeraFlex Low Range gear conversion products can increase your low range crawl ratio by as much as 50%, resulting in improved off road control and performance.

Rockcrawling with the TeraLow gives you the advantage of being able to start your engine on very steep inclines without using your clutch and with automatics compression braking is improved when coming down a hill.

The key benefit of TeraLow conversion kits is that they improve gearing for off-roading without sacrificing the high-range gearing for highway driving.

Because TeraLow transfer case conversions are designed to be used in the vehicle

Axles

Posted on 9/28/10 1:44 AM in Off Road 101

The completed assembly of differential, shafts, bearings and seals necessary to transfer power from the driveshaft to the wheels.

Axles are the closest component of your vehicle to the ground, therefore they take the most abuse. As you go through rough terrain and bounce on rocks, etc., your axle takes the heat. Breaking an axle is the last thing you want to do because it can leave you stranded with no power being transferred to your wheels. If you plan on having a dependable four wheel drive vehicle, that will take you where no stock vehicle can, it is important that you understand the functions of your vehicle and it