Green Laning
Green laning is typically the mildest , least technical type of offroading . It involves driving anywhere without a paved road -- usually forest trails , the countryside or on roads that have fallen into disrepair . The name green laning comes from the fact that the path you ' re driving on is likely to have lots of natural ( green ) vegetation . Many people enjoy green laning because of the adventure and scenery involved in taking a trip off the beaten path , but without risking too much damage to their vehicle .
Green laning does have a reputation for causing another type of damage : damage to the environment . If the driver isn ' t careful , driving in the wilderness can harm plant life , tear up paths used for horseback riding and cycling , erode the ground and scare or harm wildlife . For these reasons , it ' s important to know the laws where you go off-roading , as well as take care not to cause unnecessary damage to the natural environment . You can minimize your impact by driving slowly and always being aware of where your tires are falling .
Off-roading enthusiasts like green laning because it usually requires few or no vehicle modifications in order to enjoy it . In most cases , no special tires are needed . You ' ll still want a higher-riding car , however , because there ' s a good chance of encountering small rocks and hills that a lower car might not be able to clear . Green laning is also great for four-wheelers and dirt bikes .
Holes and ditches pose the biggest threats in this type of offroading . When approaching a ditch , you want to approach at an angle , not head-on . That way , one tire at a time will cross it , while the other three remain on a surface where they have traction . Approaching any obstacle head-on could mean that both of your front tires will lose traction at the same time , which could cause you to slip . The same is true for any obstacles you might come across , including logs and rocks .
If green laning seems too mild , read on to learn about rock crawling , arguably the most challenging type of off-roading there is .
Rock Crawling
One of the most challenging forms of off-roading is rock crawling , or driving over rocks : small rocks , big rocks , boulders and even mountainsides . The activity requires precision , planning and prior knowledge of your vehicle .
The key to rock crawling is the speed at which you slowly pass over the rocks ; thus , the " crawling ." Some recommend crawling at no more than 3 miles per hour ( 4.8 kilometers per hour ) [ source : DeLong ]. Unlike mudding , speeding over rocks can get you stuck or damage your car . With rock crawling , you have to maneuver your car precisely ; you need to know exactly where your tires will fall at all times .
Off-roading involves a lot of picking your line , or planning out the path you are going to take before you start driving it . This level of forethought is especially important in rock crawling , since you need to make sure your path , or line , can be managed by your vehicle . Sometimes you might want to get out and walk the line first to get a better idea of the terrain . Some off-roaders also use a spotter , a person who stands nearby and guides the driver in getting over the rocks .
A lot can go wrong when you ' re rock crawling . First , rocks can be sharp and jagged . The sidewalls of your tires are the weakest part , so you need to be careful where they come into contact with rocks to avoid puncturing them . Second , if you ' re moving too fast , the side-to-side rocking motion of your car as the tires move over rocks can build up and cause your vehicle to tip .
Knowing the angles on your car is very important in rock crawling . For each rock you encounter , you have to be able to judge whether your vehicle can clear it . This is yet another reason why speed isn ' t on your side when rock crawling : If you go too fast , you might not be able to accurately judge the obstacles in front of you . You also want to avoid straddling large rocks because there ' s always a chance they could damage the underside of your vehicle . The best option is to take a rock on with your tires instead of trying to pass over it . In other words , line up your tires with the rock so you ' ll drive over it . Don ' t expect the middle of your car to be able to clear it .
63