Top three tips for drivers tackling the toughest of terrain

Experienced Isuzu I-Venture Club driver trainer David Wilson delivers timely advice for those stepping off the bitumen.

The 2022 model Isuzu D-Max LS-U Crew Cab Ute.

Utes have become the new weapon of choice for revheads and adventurers alike.

With the days of SS Commodores and XR8 Falcons confined to the history books, kitted-out dual-cabs are the new black.

The popularity of off-roaders since the pandemic hit has also surged. Overseas holidays went on the backburner and exploring Down Under was the only option.

Most manufacturers of capable off-roaders know that despite all the ability of their machines, most buyers rarely step off the bitumen. Climbing kerbs and dump runs are often as tough as it gets.

Covid has changed that for many four-wheel drive owners which has led to many getting into trouble.

Training drivers in the art of off-roading for more than three decades, David Wilson has seen the number of recreational customers double over the past two years.

He’s also one of the lead trainers of Isuzu’s I-Venture Club.

Isuzu launched the group to teach novice owners about the joys of off-roading and showcase the capability of what their vehicles can do. Our family has just got behind the wheel of a D-Max LS-U Crew Cab, and got some expert insights before tackling the toughest terrain.

Training with the Isuzu I-Venture Club.

DON’T GET TOO PUMPED

One of the biggest mistakes the experts see is over-inflated tyres.

All vehicles have a tyre placard which sets out the pressures – follow them and forget the advice from mates or uneducated know-alls.

Mr Wilson regularly finds drivers running tyre pressures up to 25-50 per cent higher than recommended.

“If you were to run 25 per cent over inflation you are going to wind up with a bunch of stuff going wrong,” he said.

“Instead of the full tread face being directly in contact with the road, the middle of the tyre is in contact and the outsides aren’t.

“That not only wears out the centre of the tyres prematurely, but because we have less footprint on the road, in an emergency situation, you can guarantee you will be extending your braking distance. We have put this to the test and with a tyre that is 25-50 per cent over inflated at 80km/h it will take 5m longer to stop.”

Carry that extra inflation into an off-road setting and they become a puncture-magnet.

When it comes to gravel roads, it’s best to drop the pressure by 20 per cent. Sandy environments should see a 50 per cent reduction – between 15-20 PSI is regarded as the “magic number”, depending on surface moisture. The drier the conditions, the lower the pressure.

Inside the model year 2022 Isuzu D-MAX 4x4 LS-U.

DON’T BELIEVE THE HYPE

One of the latest innovations which has Mr Wilson worried are “gross vehicle mass upgrades” which go above manufacturer recommendations.

The changes see shock absorbers designed for heavy loads combined with far greater spring rates.

“I think that’s crazy,” he said. “The ride is compromised completely.”

A better option is to look at the towing and carrying load, and plan accordingly.

“When you are thinking about buying the caravan or the camper trailer, get something that is lighter. Don’t go wanting to take everything and the kitchen sink.

“We all need to take a chill pill and look to buy caravans that are no heavier than about 2.5-tonne. And then live with a more compact space.”

Learning the tricks of off-roading with Isuzu’s I-Venture Club.

BLACK AND ROUND CHOICES

Those wanting to undertake hardcore off-roading should look at tyre choice.

Most manufacturers fit tyres designed primarily for bitumen driving.

“The tyres are of a passenger car construction so they are not ideally suited to carrying heavy loads nor are they particularly good on gravel roads,” Mr Wilson said.

“Aim for something of a light truck construction and one that has an all-terrain pattern.

Larger tyres can cause issues when pressures are dropped for off-roading.

Anyone keen to face the really tough stuff should consider another set of wheels. Among the better choices are 17-inch for price, quality and availability in remote locations.

The LS-U runs 18-inch wheels, which are fine for most applications, but Mr Wilson gets concerned about some off-roaders he sees with 20-inch tyres and above.

“Because of the bigger diameter of the wheel you end up with a shallower depth of the sidewall … it makes for a more rigid tyre that is less flexible,” he said.

“If you have aired them down to stretch the footprint, particularly on sand, you don’t get the same footprint length because there is not the same volume of air in the tyre. You end up compromising your ability to gain that advantage with increased footprint.

“To get a commensurate footprint to a 16 or 17-inch wheel you have got to go down really low (PSI) and as soon as you hook a hard left or right you run a great risk of uncoupling the tyre from the rim.”

Tackling the tough stuff in Isuzu’s D-Max.

ISUZU D-MAX LS-U CREW CAB UTE

PRICE $68,042 drive-away

WARRANTY/SERVICING 6 year/150,000km warranty; 7 services $3223

ENGINE 3.0-litre turbo-diesel 140kW/450Nm 4WD

SAFETY 8 airbags, auto emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, lane departure prevention and warning, turn assist with AEB, emergency stop signal, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, blind spot monitor, rear camera, rear cross traffic alert

THIRST 8.0L/100km

SPARE Full-size

TOWING 3500kg (350 towball), GCM 6000kg