Off-Road Vehicle Maintenance Tips

You’ve always wanted an off-road vehicle. Now that you’re the new owner of one, you want to do everything possible to maintain it properly.

You may make you feel like you’re in over your head. Many people face these thoughts once they’ve bought their new off-road vehicle.

Now that you know you’re not alone, you should also know that you really aren’t in over your head either. You really can take great care of your new vehicle. Here are a few tips to help you do so.

Tips for Maintaining Your Off-Road Vehicle

With routine maintenance, you can enjoy a weekend off-road trip without worrying about breaking down on the trails. This maintenance will inform you of any repairs you’ll need before they become critical or cause damage to another part of your vehicle. 

Tip #1. Check Your Wheels, Tires, and Wells

Walk around your vehicle looking for any cracks or gouges. You should also look for any foreign objects that may be stuck in your tires. The most common problem here is that a tire may have a nail or other sharp object embedded in it, either from on- or off-road activities.

While you’re checking your tires, you should also check a few other things as well. Take a look at your lug nuts, making sure they’re tightened. Make sure that you also have an undamaged spare for emergencies. 

Tip #2. Maintain Your Gearbox

Your vehicle’s automatic gearbox may overheat while you’re off-roading. When this repeatedly occurs, it may break down the fluid, causing it to fail. Overheating isn’t as big a problem if you have a manual gearbox, since it uses heavier lubricant. Nevertheless, you should change the fluid inside regularly. If you have an automatic gearbox, make sure you also change the filter.

Drain the fluid through a filter paper (e.g., cheesecloth) so you can watch for any metal pieces. Although some fine shavings are acceptable, large pieces are of concern, as they could be a sign of impending failure.

Tip #3. Check Your Air Filter

You’ll encounter a lot of dirt and grime along the trails. Unfortunately, those contaminants will eventually start to block your air filter. When this happens, your engine’s functions may be compromised. To avoid this malfunction, you should change your air filter every 15,000 to 30,000 miles. However, if you spend a lot of time off-roading, you should change it more frequently.

Tip #4. Check Your Differential For Cracks

In certain terrain, the differential (a.k.a. diff) will take a lot of abuse. For this reason, many avid off-roaders will install heavy-duty covers that will protect them. However, your differential can get dented or cracked, thus, leaking fluid.

When you spend time in water that’s deep enough to cover your diff, you should check it right away. If there’s milky white fluid, you’ll need to change it right away since it’s been mixed with water.

Tip #5. Routinely Check Your Shocks and Mounts

It is crucial to check your shocks and mounts regularly to ensure your vehicle’s shocks are not damaged or overworn. When this happens, your alignment and steering will be off, your wheels won’t function properly, and you may risk further damage to your vehicle’s body. Look for dents or leaks in your shocks after each ride. Make sure you also check your shocks’ bushings and mounts to ensure their structural integrity.

Tip #6. Inspect Your Brakes Regularly  

Besides removing the muck and grime from your brakes when you wash your vehicle, you also want to check the brake pads, calipers, and lines. You don’t want to see any cracks in the calipers. Additionally, if you notice that the pads are growing thin, you should have them changed before your next off-road adventure.

Make sure you also inspect all of the lines leading to your brakes. This task is essential if you’ve lifted your vehicle without lengthening the brake lines, as this leaves them vulnerable to snapping or rupturing easily.

Tip #7. Respool Your Winch

It’s essential to take the time to re-spool your winch correctly. To do so, you’ll want to run the cable all the way out. Now is an excellent time to make sure that it’s not damaged before you respool it.

Get Help Maintaining Your Off-Road Vehicle

At Mach 1 Motorsports, we understand that there will be times when you’ll need some help from a professional. We want you to know that we’re here for you. Your needs are important, so we hire only the best professionals to work on your vehicle.

Our focus is on providing high-quality service and customer satisfaction, meeting and exceeding your expectations. Contact us today to learn what we can do to help while you are out on the highway, the trails, mudding, climbing, or just enjoying the fresh air while on a trail ride.