OFFROAD DRIVING

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OFF-ROAD DRIVING

• Pennsylvania Army National Guard
• Fort Indiantown Gap
• State Safety Office

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Know Your Vehicle

• Solid axle
• Independent suspension
• Skid plates

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Suspension Systems

• Straight Axle Dodge Ram Ford 350
• Independent Suspension Ford 150

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Know Your Capabilities

• Looks are deceiving when looking at the vehicle.
• The differential is only 9 from the ground.
• Steering stabilizer is 15

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Know Your ResponsibilitiesAR 385-55

• Wearing of seatbelts is mandatory.
• Senior occupant is responsible for everyone
  wearing seatbelts.
• Driver may not move vehicle until everyone is
  belted.
• Smoking or eating is not permitted in vehicles.

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Keep An Eye On The Gauges

• Fuel Punctured gas tank or gas line.
• Oil Punctured oil pan or oil cooler hoses.
• Temp Loss of water or oil. Leaves or dirt in
  the radiator.
• Amp Water shorts alternator.
• Trans Temp Runs hot when off-road.

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PMCS

• Tires Plenty of tread.
• Brakes Check before leaving parking lot.
• Windshield wipers.
• Windshield washer fluid.
• Radio check.
• Chock blocks.
• Check gauges.
• Air cleaner.

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Snow

• Dont know what is under the snow.
• Bumps in snow are objects.
• Low areas could be frozen water you could brake
  through.
• When stuck turn wheel lock to lock to clear snow.
• When you bottom out you need a shovel.
• Packed snow is dangerous up or down hills.

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Trees Rocks Stumps

• ----- AVOID THEM !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• Trees - Always take on an angle in low range.
• What is the height of the axle?
• What is the height of the frame?
• Use a spotter to guide you.

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Running Over Branches

• Medium branches can break and strike the vehicle.

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Backing Into Trees
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Brush And Vehicle Damage

• Driving through brush can cause paint damage.
• Ensure your windows are closed.
• Keep lights on. Can see other vehicles better.

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Driving Through Brush

• GO SLOW!!!!
• Stop, get out and stand on the bed and look for
  obstacles.
• Stumps and rocks can cause damage to the
  undercarriage.

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Steep Terrain

• ALWAYS travel head on, NEVER sideways.
• Need to keep momentum.
• When possible check top out (bottom out).
• Ruts might make your front end bounce (Back
  heavy).
• Watch for pot holes (Go sideways)
• Short hills (3 to 4 feet high) take on an angle
  (Low Range so tires dont spin)
• Rear bumper can get caught on trees if you slide.

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Steep Terrain

• If you get a traction wheel off the ground do a
  brake torque.
• Never try to take hills over 30 degrees. This
  will decrease on loose dirt, mud or snow.

? 45 Degrees
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Take Gullies On An Angle
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Rollovers

• Never travel parallel with slopes.
• If you must travel extremely slow.
• Do not allow the front end to bounce, this
  creates an extremely dangerous situation leading
  to rollover.

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Driving Through Mud

• Sometimes hard on top but soft on bottom.
• Roll up windows.
• Make sure you have windshield washer fluid.
• Turn on windshield wipers.
• Should have mud/snow tires. Tires can turn into
  slicks.
• You need lots of momentum to get through.
• Hard to steer, tires will follow ruts.
• If vehicle stalls, tailpipe might be clogged.

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Driving Through Mud

• When stuck, chock blocks work good under back
  tires.
• Use low range to get out if stuck, avoid spinning
  tires.
• Can over steer easily, vehicle tends to go only
  straight because of momentum.
• Check the terrain before entering (how deep,
  obstacles at turns).
• Larger wheeled vehicles may have made hidden ruts
  deep.

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Limitations

• Getting in mud over your axles is not a good
  thing.

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Driving Through Water

• ALWAYS check the depth.
• Have windows up and windshield wipers on.
• Have lots of windshield washer fluid.
• Enter steady but not fast.
• You can drive through water up to the air
  cleaner. (Info only, DONT DO IT !)
• In deep water, front end goes down, rear of
  vehicle floats, you lose control.

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Dangerous Maneuver

• Driving through deep water will cause the front
  end to sink and back end to float, resulting in
  loss of control.

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Getting Stuck While Driving Through Water

• Turn steering wheel lock to lock to clear debris.
• Try brake torque.
• DO NOT TURN THE ENGINE OFF!!! Water will go up
  the tail pipe.
• DO NOT START ENGINE after being pulled out of
  water.
• Can pop tires from rocks.

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Good Rules To Follow when in Water

• Going over the bumper is risky.
• Never stop the engine in the red zone.
• Never start the engine from a retrieved vehicle
  that was in the red zone.

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Fast Moving Water Is Dangerous

• Moving water exerts a tremendous force on a
  vehicle. Never attempt this maneuver.

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Retrieving Stuck Vehicles

• Chains work better than straps.
• Straps and chains may break, stay far away from
  them or get inside the vehicle.
• Back of Vehicle Tow bar, frame or bumper. Never
  on axle or springs.
• Front of Vehicle Tow hooks or frame. Never on
  bumper, axle or steering parts.

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Be Careful When You Tow

• 4 places to tow from are tow hooks, hitch, frame
  and rear bumper
• Use the rear bumper last.

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Know Your Terrain

• Snow can cause hidden dangers.

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Rain May Cause Terrain Changes

• After a heavy rain be careful of steep terrain
  roads. SLOW DOWN.

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Accident Reporting

• Damage to GSA Vehicle Only(Reports go to SSMO,
  ATTN GSA Vehicle Manager) ? SF 91 (Operators
  Report Of Motor Vehicle Accident. ? SF 90
  (Witness Statement) ? Estimate of Damage

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Accident Reporting

• Property damage other than GSA Vehicle. (Reports
  go to MILPO, ATTN Motor Vehicle Accidents) See
  PMR 385-3 ? SF 91 (Operators Report Of Motor
  Vehicle Accident. ? SF 90 (Witness
  Statement) ? MA-MP Form 50 (Scope of
  Employment, Supv/Cmdr completes) ? MA-MP Form
  51 (Operators Report of Motor Vehicle
  Accident). ?DA Form 518 (Accident
  Identification Card) Given to civilian whos
  property was damaged.

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Accident Investigation and Reporting

• Accident investigation and reporting. Less than
  2,000 property damage to GSA and/or civilian
  property. Report goes to TAGPA, ATTN SSO ?SSO
  Form 27 (PAARNG Accident Investigation Report
  SHORT REPORT)

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Accident Investigation and Reporting

• Accident investigation and reporting. More than
  2,000 property damage to GSA and/or civilian
  property or lost workday. Report goes to TAGPA,
  ATTN SSO ?DA Form 285-AB-R (U.S. Army
  Abbreviated Ground Accident Report) Completed by
  supervisor

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Report of Survey

• GSA accident reports go to the Accident Control
  Center in Georgia.
• If GSA determines the accident was caused by
  driver negligence, the state is billed for
  damages.
• If the state is billed, a Report Of Survey will
  determine if the driver was not in the scope of
  employment or negligent. Therefore the driver
  may be liable for damages. Payment through their
  insurance carrier or cash.