Mike Butler
Off-roading was once considered a testosterone-fuelled pastime practiced exclusively by burly men. These days the activity has become more inclusive, and is considered by many to be a completely normal family activity, if not a slightly extreme one.
My first taste of proper off-roading action was when my dad and I went to one of those man-made 4×4 courses to test drive an old Mitsubishi Pajero he had his eye on. I was absolutely terrified, and vowed to never put one of my loved ones through such an experience. I was about 12 years old.
As I got older and wiser, the appeal of owning a car that could take you anywhere coincided with a personal renaissance in the history of south Africa and its more obscure corners.It was at this stage that I traded my hot hatch in for a Suzuki Jimny, and I’ve never looked back.
“It was at this stage that i traded my hot hatch for a suzuki jimny, and i’ve never looked back.”
That is all fine and dandy, but the world of off-roading can still do with a bit of a public relations make-over, and I think a ‘reasons why’ style article is the perfect way for lazy writers – and people surfing the internet instead of working – to get excited about grabbing the keys to the truck, and heading for the nearest trail.
Below you’ll find a few reasons why off-roading can improve your life for the better.
It turns you into a better driver
All the skills acquired when driving on the road are intensified when driving off-road. The focus required to pilot a 4×4 vehicle over a technical incline or river crossing will sharpen all the reflexes required to keep a car on the road in normal driving situations.
“Off-roading can also help you to control your emotional state of mind faced with potentially dangerous situations on normal roads.”
Your confidence and approach to normal driving will change drastically after off-roading. Knowing what to do in certain situations, and believing in yourself, can help develop your confidence as a driver in a way that could help you become a better driver which not only benefits you, but society in general.
Off-roading can also help you to control your emotional state of mind faced with potentially dangerous situations on normal roads. Avoiding a panic attack or locking up, which is a common occurrence when a person is frightened, can be avoided by having some off-road experience.
You get to know yourself and your co-drivers better
Off-road driving places a very noticeable amount of added pressure on drivers and passengers alike. All occupants in the vehicle tend to be more focused at the task at hand, and we all know that people skills tend to dissipate when stress and pressure levels start to rise, but pressure creates diamonds!
From communicating the best line to take through an obstacle, to helping out with directions on a road trip, off-roading tends to bring out the best and the worst in people, and make us learn real people skills, instead of that bullshit workshop HR sent you on after you scolded Trisha for parking her Prius in your parking spot at work.
You get to expand your horizons
This is probably the best reason to get into off-roading; road trips take on a whole new meaning when you’ve got a car that can go almost anywhere. Places you never even dreamt of visiting all of a sudden become entirely possible. You’ll find yourself scanning google maps for the most far flung and interesting places your budget and time will allow you to see. Cue inspirational travel quote:
“Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind.” – Anthony Bourdain
You Spend more time in nature
If you live in a big city, there are no two ways about it; you need to immerse yourself in mother nature way more often than you’re currently doing. Guess what activity caters for that very need? Yup, off-roading!
90% of the off-road trails you’ll take on will be set outdoors, especially in South Africa; you’ll usually be surrounded by some decent nature whilst you tackle obstacles and damage your shiny rims on hard boulders.
The benefits of surrounding yourself with nature is as vast as the kalahari…
Stress reduction is one of the most well-known benefits of being in nature. Getting outdoors, or even viewing scenes of nature, reduces anger, fear, and stress and increases pleasant feelings. Consequently, it may also help reduce blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and the production of stress hormones. Even viewing nature out of the window of your Landy can lower stress and reduce mortality.
If you do it right, there are health benefits
If you’ve ever found yourself on a beach, trying to dig out a beached whale (I mean bakkie) you’ll attest to the physical benefits of going off the beaten track.
From pushing, pulling and digging, to walking, lifting and climbing, you’ll do at least half of these activities on the average day off-roading.
While this will never be an acceptable replacement for a gym contract, it will definitely keep you active. Just make sure that all the progress you made with those bulbar pull-ups don’t get wiped out by a double brandy and coke and boerie roll combo.
As you can see dear reader, the benefits outweigh any cons or concerns. Off-roading will make your life markedly better. It did mine.
While you’re hear, and inspired to buy a 4×4 capable vehicle, take a look at our ultimate second hand bakkie guide:
South Africa’s Best Second-Hand Bakkie Guide
