However, the first time you do it can be quite disastrous if you're not properly prepared, both for your Triton and you. There's always the chance of your Triton sustaining significant damage. While the chances aren't too high if you aren't doing anything extreme, being cautious can help. That being said, there are a few things you need to do before venturing out on your first ever off-road adventure.
Make Sure Your Triton Is Well Protected
There are many different 4x4 car accessories you can modify your Triton with to ensure this, the most notable of which are bull bars and skid plates. These accessories are meant to provide your Triton with the bush-and-breach protection it requires to return back to the pavement damage-free.
Bullbar
Bullbars are some of the essential 4x4 car accessories for off-road use designed to protect the front end of your Triton. All of your Triton's important parts are located at the front, which is why it requires heavy-duty protection in the form of bull bars. Bullbars are made of either plastic, steel or aluminium. Plastic bull bars are mostly used as an aesthetic enhancer, as they provide little in terms of protection. Steel and aluminium bull bars, on the other hand, provide the protection you'll need to ensure your Mitsubishi Triton makes it back from the bush unscathed. The difference between steel and aluminium bull bars lies in the weight and the level of protection they offer. Steel bull bars are considered heavy-duty, as they provide the best protection, but they're much heavier than their aluminium counterparts. Both aluminium and steel bull bars can be powder-coated for extra rust protection and improved looks.
Skid Plates
Skid plates are Mitsubishi Triton accessories that protect the undercarriage from damage. Just like bull bars, they can be made of either aluminium and steel. The undercarriage is also a vital point to protect, as there are many important systems there as well, such as the sump, gearbox, fuel tank, differential, and many electronics. Most skid plates are made using steel in order to ensure optimum protection. Besides offering protection from impact, the skid plate can prevent dust and debris from getting into the engine and the gearbox, thus prolonging their lifespan.
Other Protective Accessories
There are many protective Mitsubishi Triton accessories that also offer a decent amount of protection, such as side steps, weather shields, bonnet protectors, headlight protectors, fender flares and so on.
protective Mitsubishi Triton accessories
Tyres Make All the Difference
The right set of tyres that are set at the right pressure level can make a huge difference in how successful your off-road trip is. They will ensure your Mitsubishi Triton performs safely over any type of terrain, and it won't get any extra wear and tear. There are a few different types of tyres for off-roading, such as all-terrain tyres and mud-terrain tyres. Other types of tyres include highway terrain tyres and light truck tyres, which are mostly reserved for pavement use but can come in handy when going across the outback.
Off-Road Suspension
But before you consider the ideal tyres for your Triton, you need to think ahead about whether or not you'll be lifting your Triton before heading off the road. Your Triton's stock suspension is meant for on-road use, but it can be modified to deal with the harsh off-road driving conditions. It doesn't help that you'll also have quite a fair amount of weight added due to all other aftermarket upgrades you perform. A suspension system designed for off-road use will improve your Triton's load-carrying capacity, make it more comfortable, stable and safer to drive on uneven terrain.
The suspension should be the last thing you sort out in order to ensure compatibility with everything you've modified so far. A suspension system meant for off-road use will include leaf springs, coil springs, shocks, and more can cost up to several thousand dollars, including installation. In return, your Triton can get a lift ranging from 30 to 50 millimetres.
Off-Road Training
Even if you consider yourself a skilled driver on paved roads, dirt trails, sand dunes and off-roading, in general, are a whole different beast. It's recommended that you go through an off-road driver training course with an instructor to reduce the risk of damage to your Triton. Furthermore, the courses can include recovery lessons in the event you get stuck or bogged down.
4x4 car accessories for off-road
Recovery Equipment
No matter how well-equipped and how good you get at driving over different types of terrain, chances are you'll find yourself bogged or stuck in a sticky situation. The off-road training course on how to recover yourself come in handy here. However, you can't perform a recovery without recovery equipment. Recovery equipment comes in different shapes and forms, the most common of which are winches, high-lift jacks and recovery tracks.
Winches are the least laborious piece of recovery equipment, and all you'll have to do is attach the chain they come with onto something and pull yourself out. The winch is typically mounted on the bullbar, which is why it's important to have a winch-compatible bullbar that comes with rated towing points.
High-lift jacks require more manual effort to pull your Triton out. They require rated high-lift jack points and other hi-lift jack accessories to safely recover your vehicle. These devices are completely mechanical and can be quite dangerous, which is why off-road experts suggest beginners stay away from them.
Recovery tracks are the most beginner-friendly option. They're simply placed under the tyres in order to provide traction so that your vehicle gains momentum and gets out. Some recovery tracks can double down as shovels, allowing you to dig around the tyres. Most feature a "nest" design, allowing you to pack them conveniently without them taking up too much space in your boot. The most popular manufacturer of recovery tracks is MAXTRAX, an Australian company that has put them through rigorous testing to ensure reliability.