Toyota of North Charlotte’s guide to off-roading

With the holiday season ending its time to break in the new toys! If you happened to find a N Charlotte Toyota 4Runner, Tacoma, or Tundra under the tree this year, then it’s time to take it off the beaten path for an off-roading adventure. But, before you hit the trailhead, you need to make sure that you and your vehicle are ready to handle the rough terrain. You’ll need things like, the right vehicle, specific tires and suspension, and more for a successful off-roading adventure. Lucky for you, Toyota of N Charlotte is here with an easy guide to make sense of all the intricacies to off-roading.

Off-roading 101

Driving on unpaved roads through mud, dirt, and rock is truly exciting and thrilling. However, it can also be dangerous between all the rough terrain and unknown territory. At Toyota of N Charlotte, we recommend paying attention to these critical pieces to off-roading:

Vehicle Type

While a N Charlotte Toyota Camry is capable, it’s not built to withstand the conditions of going off-roading (at least not without sustaining heavy damage). Before heading off the beaten path, make sure you’re driving a vehicle like the Toyota 4Runner, Tundra, or Tacoma. These vehicles are often equipped with off-road specific features like Multi-Terrain Select, Hill Start Assist, and more. They also have the ideal clearance height to avoid running over rocks and logs.

 Consider Using After-Market Parts

While these off-roading N Charlotte Toyota vehicles are equipped with excellent features, some of them able to handle the rough terrain, they could benefit from using after-market parts. To give your vehicle more power and grip on the ever-changing terrain, consider using all-terrain tires. Lift kits are also useful to give your car optimal clearance height. They can also protect your vehicle’s undercarriage from being damaged by taller objects on the ground.

Adding after-market parts to your vehicle for off-roading sounds like a good idea and will definitely help your car, it entails more than just installing a part. Often-times, adding one after-market part typically means involves replacing an additional part to compensate for the first one. For example, adding a new suspension system to your N Charlotte Toyota vehicles should be followed by new tires to compensate for the height. Make sure to plan out your part replacements strategically.

Find Groups to go with

Trekking through uncharted territory is sure to be a good time, but it can be intimidating if taken on by yourself. Having others to go with makes the experience fun and safe in the event that an emergency occurs. To find groups to go off-roading with, make sure to check online forums and local off-roading clubs.

Go on an off-roading adventure with Toyota of N Charlotte

Before you take to the trails, make sure you have these essential tools and supplies:

• Jumper cables
• Flashlight
• GPS and a physical map
• Food and water
• First Aid kit
• Tire pressure gauge
• Shovel
• A full-size spare tire

If you still have questions about taking on the trails, come visit us at Toyota of N Charlotte! You can reach us at (704) 659 – 2025 seven days a week!