Section 2: What is OHV
Different strokes for different folks
Off Roading (aka offroading, off-roading) is a broad term that covers a variety of vehicle types and driving styles.
The most common types of vehicles for offroading include motorcycles (dirt bikes), OHV’s, and 4x4 SUV’s. (There are probably a few more, but for now we are just categorizing the MOST COMMON.)
Types of OHVs
An off-highway vehicle (OHV) is generally defined on government sites as any motorized land vehicle predominantly used for recreational purposes on unimproved roads, trails, and other approved use areas not suitable for conventional two-wheel-drive vehicular travel. As the term suggests, OHVs are generally not designed to operate on publicly maintained roads and highways as they are not suited for highway speeds and increase the danger of an accident.
OHVs are designed specifically to be operated on unpaved surfaces. Their ability to navigate and traverse difficult and rough terrain makes OHVs a popular form of recreation as well as a tool for forestry rangers and some land management agencies.
OHV’s include all-terrain vehicles such as (banana seat) three-wheeler ATV’s, four-wheeler SxS (side by sides capable of seating 2 or 4 occupants), dirt bikes, motorcycles, trail bikes, and snowmobiles.
UTV’s (utility vehicles) are a form of OHV’s but are designed more so for hauling cargo than for zipping around just for fun.
The term OHV is not applied to offroad capable, but legally registered highway vehicles such as Jeep Wranglers, 4x4 SUV’s, and 4x4 pickup trucks. Instead, you may see the phrase “High Clearance 4x4”.
It is important to note that AWD sporty vehicles, such as Subaru’s, are NOT considered as “High clearance 4x4” by forestry Rangers. Yes, your Subie may have high clearance (8+ inches), but all-wheel-drive is not the same as four-wheel drive when it comes to offroad obstacles. They will ticket and fine you in some areas for disobeying their posted signs.
“Offroading.info is focused on 4x4 SUV’s”
A multi-day trip to Monument Valley with Desert Wranglers Jeep Club
General descriptive categories of runs (not to be confused with Trail Rating Difficulty Levels)
Within our offroad community, there are different interests and different difficulty levels in how people enjoy their 4x4 vehicles.
Scenic (easy)
There are thousands of miles of back country and (public accessible) service roads across the United States. Many of these byways are dirt/gravel and may even be maintained/plowed a few times per year by local agencies. These roads are usually just one lane wide and may include some rough washes or small rocky sections.
The roads head off through deserts, hills, mountain passes, ledge/shelf roads. The views are magnificent, and you truly get to experience what 99% of tourists never will on their asphalt interstate highways.
To be honest, many of these routes could be driven by the more rugged AWD SUV’s – and they can all be easily handled by stock Jeeps, 4-Runners, and other 4x4’s.
Many of these roads will eventually intersect with regular highways, or lead to ghost towns, abandoned mining camps, or small towns.
Although these routes are usually fairly tame in terms of obstacles to climb, you do not want to be on “street tires” that can easily puncture from a sharp stone or other hazard.
Upgrade your vehicle to bona fide All Terrain tires, with thick reinforced treads & sidewalls. Also, learn about “airing down” to 15-20psi in order to reduce bouncing, increase traction, and prevent puncture. We will cover airing down/up in coming later in this guide.
Intermediate (kinda scenic, but a little more rugged)
After you have been on a few trails and gained confidence in your driving abilities as well as your vehicle’s capabilities – it is time for a more challenging expedition. Flat roads can be scenic, but after getting comfortable behind the wheel of your extremely capable 4x4 — you will find yourself itching to use that 4wd-Low setting and to really drive where 2wd “city cars” have never ventured.
Steeper hill ascents and descents. Bigger stones and maybe even a few rocks. A couple “steps” or “waterfalls” to deal with. Things that would have frightened the heck out of you when you were a newbie, but now attract you -- knowing that your vehicle is more than capable.
Rock Crawling (difficult)
There is a saying amongst some of us in our jeep group: “We will go over obstacles to get there, but we don’t get there just to go over obstacles.” As you can assume, that mantra only applies to the Intermediate faction. We depend on our Jeeps for everyday transportation, and don’t want to risk breaking them over the weekend.
However, some people just live for a challenge. Their Jeeps are modified out with higher lifts, bigger tires, better gear ratios, undercarriage protection, and these drivers are skilled and confident.
It is not about the scenery nor the destination. For them, it is about putting machine and driver to the test.
You see a lot of this stuff on YouTube. Jeeps and other vehicles that identify as mountain goats.
That’s what’s great about offroading — you can be as daring (or not) as you want to!
Overlanding (intermediate)
RV’s allow you to camp overnite, but they are not the most road worthy contraptions to take deep offroad and away from the crowded path.
Some people equip their Jeeps, Gladiators (aka Jeep pickup trucks), and other 4x4’s with roof tents, camping gear, supplies, etc – and then head out into remote Mother Nature.
They explore the trails during the day, and then setup camp for the night.
Multi-day Excursions (easy to intermediate)
Kind of like Overlanding, but we stay in motels.
We will Jeep our way to a scenic destination, national park, or landmark; explore the trails during the day, but view the forests at night from the patio of our rooms. We forego the campfires for a good Bar & Grill tavern.
Other kinds of runs
Training Runs
When people hear “Training Run”, they often assume that these are the easiest runs being offered by a club. That is false. Scenic runs tend to be the easiest (but not always).
Training Runs are chosen to give the participants a variety of trail conditions and basic obstacles so that they may gain self-confidence in themselves and their vehicles.
Trail Leaders want to push Beginners and newbies a bit out of their comfort zone. Nothing really difficult or dangerous, and within the offroad capabilities of stock 4x4’s.
Unlike regular club runs, the Trail Leaders will provide continuous coaching over the radios. Roadside obstacles and washouts will be called out. Drivers will be advised when to shift into low transfer gears or semi-manual sportsmode (M1, M2). Participants are encouraged to ask questions over the radios, or to ask for spotters to guide them through obstacles.
Training runs are populated with experienced club members in addition to the Trail Leaders, so that there are plenty of watchful eyes on either side of the newbies and to demonstrate the best “lines” to place your tires.
New people will be shown how to air down and air up; and provided with deflators or compressed air if they are lacking. Need a radio? Someone will loan you one. Other than being equipped with a good spare tire, you don’t have to bring any specialized equipment.
Parade Runs
P2P Club is ready for Christmas
In the olde days, spectators lined the sidewalks to ogle the Hot Rods. Speed laws, road safety, and exorbitant insurance rates have squashed street racing; and modern society no longer embraces that pastime. Muscle cars are out; soccer mom mini-vans and station wagons (calling themselves SUV’s) are in.
However, fill the street with dozens (sometimes hundreds) of offroad Jeeps, Toys, and buggies – decorate them with patriotic flags or colorful holiday lights – and the crowds become envious.
Local clubs often organize these events, or participate in local festivities to show off, have fun, and as fundraisers supporting local charities.
For example, here in Vegas there is a traditional Christmas Eve jeep run down the Las Vegas strip, attended by hundreds of jeeps and 4x4’s. Vehicles are adorned with Christmas lights and seasonal decorations, turning them into mini floats. Entry fees go to charity; and local vendors donate lots of door prizes.
July 4 also sees lots of jeeps decked out in patriotic themes.
Poker Runs
Kinda a cross between a Trail Run and a rally. Follow the route, and receive a token or a playing card at checkpoints. Back at the finish line, the best poker hands win prizes. Proceeds go to charity.
Search and Rescue
It is not unusual for local emergency services to call on some members of the offroad community to assist with Search and Rescue efforts. The more advanced drivers are experienced, know the trails, are radio equipped, and have high clearance 4x4s. We are often teamed up with certified SAR personnel to provide rugged transportation into remote regions.
Mall Crawls, Poseurs, and Car Shows
Let’s face it. Some of us actually do take our Jeeps and 4x4’s offroad. Some of you are interested in getting off the asphalt and want to learn more about getting started… Congratulations, you are on the right website!
Then, there are those individuals who only like talking about offroading, trolling on Facebook, and tech’ing out their Jeeps or Toys to impress people into believing that they are offroaders. What can we say, “Imitation is the best flattery”.
Their vehicles are very pretty, very shiny, scratch-free, and often showcase the ultimate in aftermarket upgrades. Some of these cars are literally rolling showrooms. Owners take pride in winning prizes at car shows and impressing pedestrians at the local mall or outside of the night spots.
One of the pastimes that some of us enjoy is to spot a good looking Jeep or 4x4 some distance from where we may have parked, and to guess whether or not they are poseurs or wheelers. Then we will walk up to their vehicle for a closer inspection to check for tell tale signs of offroad “scarring”.
Lest we forget to mention the yuppies who drive around Beverly Hills in their attention getting G-wagons, Range Rovers, Hummers, Lexus Land Cruisers, and other fancy status symbols that cost well into six digits – yet the closest any of these vehicles have come to dirt was when they accidentally swerved off their driveways onto the lawn.
Who knows? Maybe these pretenders will eventually stone up and join us on the trails.
