If you live in the South, or just out in the country, you are no stranger to the hobby of off-road driving; or as we in the South call it, “muddin’.� But for every jacked-up Chevy that you see, there is a 90% chance that its owner either never gets it dirty, or has at least once had it stuck in a small puddle because he did not know what he was doing. Mudding can provide endless hours of fun on your weekends, but it is not a hobby to take up without preparation. Here are some must-haves and a few tips from a well-seasoned passenger that will keep you running, and help you get out when you stop!

First and foremost, your vehicle must be reliable before you ever consider taking it off-road. If your 4x4 tends to have battery problems, leaks oil, or overheats on occasion, don’t even consider taking it into the mud. Mudding puts unusual stress on a vehicle, and these “small� problems will leave you walking all the way back home.

Even with a reliable 4x4 truck, you need to do a full inspection before going into the mud. Make sure that every place that holds fluid has absolutely no leaks; particularly oil, fuel, transmission, and brake lines, as well as your radiator. Leaks can become an enormous problem, because anywhere you have a hole where something can leak out, mud can get in. Shocks and battery connections should also be fully checked to avoid the two absolute quickest ways to get stuck â€" bad steering and killing out. Here is a complete list of items to check before going out.

Your best friends in mudding are a sufficient lift kit and good mud tires. The lift kit helps get the truck far enough off the ground to clear hilly areas and deep holes, but the tires truly make the difference. Not only are these tires made to grip well, but they are designed to sling mud out of the treads to allow smooth movement without sliding. And remember when purchasing these that bigger tires let you go into bigger holes, but they will make your truck drive completely differently, typically making it somewhat harder to handle. Here are some great reviews on mud tires to help you make the initial purchase based on what is best for you. And for additional items for the true enthusiast, check this site for what others chose to make their truck perfect for the mud.

Once you are prepared to take the truck off-road, you need to scout out a good place to go. Mudding on normal-use dirt roads is a very bad idea. Despite the fact that they may contain muddy areas, it takes years for those roads to recover from such damage, not to mention the associated noise and issues caused for the people who frequent such roads. Check around for a good area. Popular places often include old logging trails, hunting club land, or private areas where friends don’t mind you playing in their mud. Check this site for some great areas across the country.

As for how to drive, this should really go without saying, but it will always be much to your benefit to know how deep a hole is before driving into it. After all, winches were not invented until mudding went from driving in the backyard to driving in unknown territory. General rule - if no one has driven through the hole, it’s deeper than you think. Get out and check.

Lowering your tire pressure is a typical trick to help improve grip, but don’t lower it below 20 â€" 25 PSI. Otherwise you may risk serious damage to your rims and everything else. However using this trick can be dangerous if you are driving in an unfamiliar area, as limp tires are much easier to puncture if there is something sharp or hard hiding under the mud.

And as a general rule, slowing down while in a hole is bad idea and a quick way to sink. Momentum is your friend, as is learning what angle at which to drive into the mud. This is learned with experience and by preferably driving with a friend who knows the terrain.

If you get stuck (and you will at some point), there are a few items that can make the difference between getting out and walking home. Must-haves include: a tire plug kit, air pump, bungee cords, oil and water, flashlight, hydraulic jack, rubber-weld tape and panty hose, sealant putty, WD-40, and some rags. Adding extra weight in the bed of the truck can also help improve traction in a pinch. And for that day when you really can’t get out, your best friend will be a cell phone or CB and a friend with a winch. Always be aware that getting pulled out of a hole is a very dangerous process. This procedure places enormous stress on the cables, enough for them to cut through the truck of a small tree if they break. If the cables snap or come loose, the last place you want to be is standing next to the vehicle.

The most over-looked item of importance is clean-up. Once mud hardens it can be extremely difficult to remove, and can easily corrode brakes and throw wheel balance off significantly. As a general rule, the underside of your vehicle should be washed 3 times as long as the body, but try to not do this with a high-pressure hose as that can push mud further into crevices instead of washing it out. Ensure that mud is completely removed from areas near seals, hoses, and gears as this can act as an abrasive and cause damage very quickly.

And don’t forget before you go out, to say your “Off-Roader’s Prayer.�

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