Qualities of a Good Off-Roading Vehicle

When going off-roading, you’re not just putting your own skills to the test—you’re also testing the limits of your vehicle. Not every vehicle is up to the challenge of rugged terrain and challenging obstacles. To ensure your ride has what it takes out on the trails, keep an eye out for these qualities of a good off-roading vehicle the next time you go car shopping.

Four-Wheel Drive

Let’s start with the obvious. One of the most valuable vehicle capabilities to have while off-roading is four-wheel drive. Rather than just supplying power to the front or back two wheels, the transmission in a four-wheel-drive vehicle provides power to all four wheels. In doing so, vehicles with four-wheel drive capabilities generally have better control and traction, which makes traversing muddy, snowy, icy, or rocky terrain far easier.

All-Terrain Tires

Another quality of a good off-roading vehicle is a set of all-terrain tires. Large tires that have deep, open treads are ideal for providing traction on even the most rugged off-roading trails. While a standard set of tires will provide ample grip on pavement, a quality set of all-terrain or mud-terrain tires are specially designed to grip soft surfaces such as sand, mud, or snow. When traversing challenging terrain, you’ll be happy to have a pair of all-terrain tires to make the process of braking and cornering much easier.

Ample Ground Clearance

When climbing over large rocks, logs, and other obstacles, you’ll need a vehicle that has ample ground clearance. If the body of your vehicle is too low, you’ll likely end up scraping its undercarriage across various items throughout the duration of your off-roading excursion.

In worst-case scenarios, you may even end up puncturing an important vehicle component or bottoming out on particularly large obstacles or uneven terrain. To increase the ground clearance of your vehicle, consider installing larger tires or investing in a lift kit. 

Low-End Torque

Low-end torque is also an important feature of a quality off-roading vehicle. If a vehicle has low-end torque, it essentially means you’ll have access to more engine power when driving in lower gears. Such a capability proves highly useful for maintaining momentum over obstacles at lower speeds—aka off-roading.

A Removable Roof

While not necessarily essential, a removable roof is another admirable feature to look for in your next off-roading vehicle. In addition to providing a fun and immersive driving experience, removing your roof can reduce blind spots and make it easier to see the trail.

If you own a Jeep with a hardtop that you would like to remove, Top Lift Pros can help. Our innovative Jeep roof hoist makes it easy to remove and store your hardtop in just two minutes or less without any assistance. To learn more about our unique products, contact us or shop online today.