Do you enjoy driving offroad or do you just do it occasionally? Driving off-road is possible and quite enjoyable depending on the vehicle you use. Trucks are great because they are made for off-road conditions. They have larger front bumpers, more rugged tires, and improved suspension.
However, did you know that those aren’t the only exposed parts when it comes to off-roading? The undercarriage is another part that should also be well protected. Like a beast’s belly, the undercarriage is the soft side of the vehicle especially when it is exposed.
If you are usually driving through off-road conditions, it is best to provide protection for your undercarriage even before damage hits any of the components underneath. This preventive measure can save you a ton of money on repairs, replacements, or even offroad recovery fees.
The Basics
Most people who buy trucks don’t really intend to drive them off-road. While that is perfectly fine and would definitely help prevent damages due to offroading, there could be an instance when you need to. When that happens, is your truck’s undercarriage protected? What kind of preparation do you do on your car’s undercarriage?
Well, if you are only after basic protection, using a fluid film to coat the undercarriage can do the trick. You see, with off-road conditions, you don’t just have to protect the undercarriage from stones or sticks that you run over. It is also exposed to moisture, salts, and other harsh environments that can deteriorate various parts of the vehicle. Using a coating on the undercarriage is the most basic protection you can provide. This can even be beneficial to your car even if you are not going through off-roading.
The fluid film coating makes hinders moisture and salt from having contact with your vehicle’s underside. This film is usually soft and non-drying so it won’t’ crack and leave spaces for moisture and slats to seep in. However, this fluid will eventually need reapplication.
Level It Up
Undercoating is a great way to protect the undercarriage but it can only help protect the vehicle from a few harsh substances. If you tend to head off-road regularly, you should definitely increase your undercarriage’s level of protection by using skid plates or rock sliders. You can also improve your differential cover, depending on the trail you are going through.
Such protection will help with shock absorption. They are usually readily available, affordable, and can be easily installed. You may do it as a weekend project or just take your car to the shop to let professionals work on it.
With these attached, you prevent your oil pans, rocker panels, driveshafts, and all other parts accessible underneath from being snagged by the obstacles you go through. In that way, you’d be more confident in going through the various obstacles because you know it won’t pull out the guts of your vehicle.
Steel Braided Brake Lines
If you try to find your brake lines, you may find them usually tucked in and out of the way. They won’t usually be easily damaged as it may not be easy to reach them. However, they are still a weak point in your vehicle. The more often you go for off-roading, the more likely you should be thinking of upgrading to steel braided lines.
This upgrade will help protect your brake lines from stumps or protruding rocks. This will help make sure you have a safer ride because the brake lines could respond better even with abrasions and impacts. Additionally, most of those who had them also describe a firmer feeling in the pedal when they are installed.
Even if you don’t really speed up that much while off-roading, the stopping power of the vehicle is still as important. It should not be overlooked. A deep decline or a tight turn can become tragic rather than fun if there is something wrong with your brake lines. Don’t skimp on the quality of your brake lines because they are also as important as the other parts of your off-road rig.
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