[ { "post_id": "258", "post_category_id": "1", "post_title": "Choosing the Hydraulic Steering Assist Ram: How to Measure Steering Travel on Your 4x4", "post_content_short": "Measuring the steering travel of your 4x4 vehicle or Jeep Wrangler is a crucial step before adding an aftermarket hydraulic steering assist\nsystem. This measurement ensures that you choose the right hydraulic ram to get the steering assistance that you need. But, don't worry,\nmeasuring steering travel is a straightforward process and requires only basic tools.", "post_icon": "https:\/\/www.toughtoys.com.au\/media\/website_posts\/258\/336346063_768281998145330_4958548146949420689_n.jpg", "post_content_type": "page", "post_content_url": "https:\/\/www.toughtoys.com.au\/how-to-4x4\/choosing-the-hydraulic-steering-assist-ram-how-to-measure-steering-travel-on-your-4x4\/", "post_date": "2023-03-15 00:25:37" }, { "post_id": "257", "post_category_id": "1", "post_title": "Roll Center & Center Of Gravity – Fixing handling after a lift.", "post_content_short": "Most 4WD vehicles when they are shipped out from the factory drive really nicely with good on-road manners and handling, however... We all\n\tlike to lift our vehicles 2 or maybe 3 inches to get better ground clearance, get more flex and to fit bigger tyres.\n", "post_icon": "https:\/\/www.toughtoys.com.au\/media\/website_posts\/257\/roll-center-center-of-gravity-suspension-tech.jpg", "post_content_type": "page", "post_content_url": "https:\/\/www.toughtoys.com.au\/how-to-4x4\/roll-center-and-center-of-gravity-fixing-handling-after-a-lift\/", "post_date": "2023-02-17 04:42:08" }, { "post_id": "232", "post_category_id": "1", "post_title": "How to perform a safe recovery", "post_content_short": "Being able to recover your vehicle is an essential skill for anyone who plans to head off road, but it’s also a potentially dangerous thing to do. A recovery means being around heavy vehicles with powerful engines and uneven or unstable ground, and there will probably be highly tensioned snatch straps involved as well. This all adds up to a lot of potential for serious – even fatal – accidents.", "post_icon": "https:\/\/www.toughtoys.com.au\/media\/website_posts\/232\/safe-recovery.jpg", "post_content_type": "page", "post_content_url": "https:\/\/www.toughtoys.com.au\/how-to-4x4\/how-to-perform-a-safe-recovery\/", "post_date": "2018-08-01 04:24:30" }, { "post_id": "231", "post_category_id": "1", "post_title": "Installing lockers & re-gearing differentials", "post_content_short": "When it comes to differentials or "diffs" in your 4x4, there's a lot of mystery and as to how they are setup and wheather the job should be left up to a professional. In this article we intend to dispell some of the mystery behind your differentials and show you how you can install a locker or regear your diff in your home garage.  This guide is based on a Jeep JK Dana 30 front axle but a lot of what is discussed will apply to most 4x4 vehicle diffs out there.  Working on an axle is not rocket science, with the right tools and a lot of research, anyone with some mechanical ability can install gearing.", "post_icon": "https:\/\/www.toughtoys.com.au\/media\/website_posts\/231\/diff-regearing-lockers.fw.png", "post_content_type": "page", "post_content_url": "https:\/\/www.toughtoys.com.au\/how-to-4x4\/installing-lockers-and-re-gearing-differentials\/", "post_date": "2018-07-11 08:04:17" }, { "post_id": "230", "post_category_id": "1", "post_title": "Preventing Vehicle Roll Overs", "post_content_short": "Recovering a stuck vehicle is hard work at the best of times, but if you get it wrong during the recovery – or sometimes if it just isn’t your lucky day – things can end up much worse than they already were. About the worst that can happen is that, in your efforts to recover your wagon, you end up rolling it over. That’s not just an inconvenience that makes recovery a lot harder; it can be extremely dangerous. \r\n\r\n

There are a lot of things that can contribute to a vehicle rolling over, but the biggie is simple", "post_icon": "https:\/\/www.toughtoys.com.au\/media\/website_posts\/230\/4wd-rollover.jpg", "post_content_type": "page", "post_content_url": "https:\/\/www.toughtoys.com.au\/how-to-4x4\/preventing-vehicle-roll-overs\/", "post_date": "2018-04-16 04:25:20" }, { "post_id": "227", "post_category_id": "1", "post_title": "Driving In Bulldust", "post_content_short": "Nobody ever said Australia was short of challenging landscapes, and not many of them are more challenging than bulldust. This is very fine powdery dust, almost like talcum powder, that tends to form on dirt tracks. You’re most likely to find it in areas where tracks get boggy in the wet, then bake all summer – the north has plenty bulldust.\r\n

A lot of people enjoy driving on bulldust. If you like to spend time on a skid pan, you’ll love this kind of surface. For most of us, however, it’s a bit of a pain. Get it wrong on bulldust and you can end up with a messy recovery job, or even a serious accident.", "post_icon": "https:\/\/www.toughtoys.com.au\/media\/website_posts\/227\/driving-in-bulldust.jpg", "post_content_type": "page", "post_content_url": "https:\/\/www.toughtoys.com.au\/how-to-4x4\/driving-in-bulldust\/", "post_date": "2018-03-13 03:11:02" }, { "post_id": "226", "post_category_id": "1", "post_title": "Transmission Wind Up", "post_content_short": "So you’ve just pulled off the dirt onto a bitumen surface to drive on, but suddenly your 4wd refuses to go anywhere. You’ve played with the gears but the transmission is locked. Have you broken it? Well, maybe – but probably not. Most likely you’ve been caught by transmission wind-up.

Transmission wind-up is a pretty obscure problem, and not all vehicles are vulnerable to it. In fact it’s only going to affect you if you have a full-time 4wd vehicle with a diff lock.", "post_icon": "https:\/\/www.toughtoys.com.au\/media\/website_posts\/226\/axle-wind-up.jpg", "post_content_type": "page", "post_content_url": "https:\/\/www.toughtoys.com.au\/how-to-4x4\/transmission-wind-up\/", "post_date": "2018-01-24 05:56:06" }, { "post_id": "225", "post_category_id": "1", "post_title": "Changing Gears & Holding Gears When Offroad", "post_content_short": "A lot of modern 4wd vehicles come with an automatic gearbox, but the best of these also let you change gears manually – and there are still plenty of manual boxes out there, too. A lot of veteran off-roaders swear by a manual, because it gives you a lot more flexibility on really tough terrain. If you’re less experienced, though, you can get into a mess by choosing the wrong gear for the situation. Using a manual on the road is easy; in the bush it can be a bit more complicated.", "post_icon": "https:\/\/www.toughtoys.com.au\/media\/website_posts\/225\/off-road-gear-changes.jpg", "post_content_type": "page", "post_content_url": "https:\/\/www.toughtoys.com.au\/how-to-4x4\/changing-gears-and-holding-gears-when-offroad\/", "post_date": "2018-01-11 03:19:39" }, { "post_id": "210", "post_category_id": "1", "post_title": "How To Drive Washouts In Sand", "post_content_short": "Sand can be one of the trickiest surfaces to drive on. A lot of that is down to it being unpredictable and giving a lot of variation. Sand can be a firm surface that gives decent grip, or it can be a loose nightmare that will swallow you up to the axles the moment you make a mistake.\r\n

It also changes, often very quickly. Dry, loose sand can be firmed up by rain – but if it gets waterlogged, not just wet, it might drag you down even quicker than when it was dry. Wind can move sand surprisingly quickly, turning any dips in the ground into traps full of loose sand just waiting to catch you. But if there’s one thing that can shift the stuff faster than wind, it’s water.", "post_icon": "https:\/\/www.toughtoys.com.au\/media\/website_posts\/210\/4wd-sand-washout.jpg", "post_content_type": "page", "post_content_url": "https:\/\/www.toughtoys.com.au\/how-to-4x4\/how-to-drive-washouts-in-sand\/", "post_date": "2016-11-01 00:06:33" }, { "post_id": "209", "post_category_id": "1", "post_title": "How To Use 4WD Tyre Deflators", "post_content_short": "Most off road driving experts talk about tyre deflators a lot – we often recommend them ourselves. Any time you head for the bush you should have a set of deflators in your toolkit; they’ll make life much easier, and help you keep yourself mobile in Australia’s toughest terrain.\r\n

Deflators are a pretty simple concept. When you cross soft ground you want lower pressure in your tyres to keep them turning instead of digging in.", "post_icon": "https:\/\/www.toughtoys.com.au\/media\/website_posts\/209\/tough-tyre-deflators2.jpg", "post_content_type": "page", "post_content_url": "https:\/\/www.toughtoys.com.au\/how-to-4x4\/how-to-use-4wd-tyre-deflators\/", "post_date": "2016-10-04 06:32:45" }, { "post_id": "208", "post_category_id": "1", "post_title": "How Does A Manual Transmission In Your 4x4 Work?", "post_content_short": "A few years ago just about every off road vehicle in Australia had a manual gearbox. That’s changing now thanks to some big advances in automatics; most modern 4wds and Utes come with an automatic option, and in fact sometimes it’s the only option you get.\r\n

Manuals still have a lot of fans, though. Many experienced off road drivers won’t go near anything else. No matter how good an automatic is, a properly used manual transmission gives you more flexibility – and that can translate into more pulling power when the going gets really tough.", "post_icon": "https:\/\/www.toughtoys.com.au\/media\/website_posts\/208\/Manual-transmission.jpg", "post_content_type": "page", "post_content_url": "https:\/\/www.toughtoys.com.au\/how-to-4x4\/how-does-a-manual-transmission-in-your-4x4-work\/", "post_date": "2016-09-13 23:46:55" }, { "post_id": "203", "post_category_id": "1", "post_title": "How To Avoid Major Damage To Your Vehicle Offroad", "post_content_short": "You’re always going to get the odd bump and scratch if you spend a lot of time driving off road. It comes with the territory, and if your vehicle’s a big rugged touring machine a few minor battle scars are just going to give it more character anyway. Major damage is different, though. A bad smash can cost you a fortune, cause injuries or in the worst case leave you stranded miles from anywhere. And while collisions with other vehicles are the most common cause of major damage on roads, once you venture into the wilderness a much bigger problem is animal strikes.", "post_icon": "https:\/\/www.toughtoys.com.au\/media\/website_posts\/203\/kangaroo-on-road.jpg", "post_content_type": "page", "post_content_url": "https:\/\/www.toughtoys.com.au\/how-to-4x4\/how-to-avoid-major-damage-to-your-vehicle-offroad\/", "post_date": "2016-05-18 07:14:49" }, { "post_id": "187", "post_category_id": "1", "post_title": "Tips For Offroad Driving", "post_content_short": "The first tip we have for off road driving is get out there and do it. Nothing helps you get around the Outback like experience and the only way to get that is to earn it. At the same time it’s not the smartest idea to just head out without knowing a few handy dodges first, so here are a few top tips that will keep you moving while you build up that experience.
 ", "post_icon": "https:\/\/www.toughtoys.com.au\/media\/website_posts\/187\/tips-for-offroad-driving.jpg", "post_content_type": "page", "post_content_url": "https:\/\/www.toughtoys.com.au\/how-to-4x4\/tips-for-offroad-driving\/", "post_date": "2015-06-16 04:17:33" }, { "post_id": "184", "post_category_id": "1", "post_title": "Hand Signals For Spotting", "post_content_short": "So you should know by now just how useful a spotter can be when you’re trying to get across a rough patch, and it’s pretty hard to do without one for rock crawling. Having a mate on the ground to watch your wheels makes it a lot easier to keep moving and avoid getting stuck. At least it does if you can understand what they’re trying to tell you. When you’re sitting in the cab and they’re standing out front, with a big engine roaring away between you both, the chances of you understanding what they’re saying are pretty slim. You could always get some use out of your hands-free kit but who phones someone five metres away? Forget that; the way ahead is hand signals.", "post_icon": "https:\/\/www.toughtoys.com.au\/media\/website_posts\/184\/4x4-spotter.jpg", "post_content_type": "page", "post_content_url": "https:\/\/www.toughtoys.com.au\/how-to-4x4\/hand-signals-for-spotting\/", "post_date": "2015-01-05 02:43:58" }, { "post_id": "176", "post_category_id": "1", "post_title": "Coasting Down Hills - Off Road", "post_content_short": "

So your off-road wanderings have taken you into hilly country. That’s not a problem because you’re in a big, powerful, well-equipped 4wd. You’ve got the grip and grunt to haul you up steep slopes through sand or mud, or pick your way through the rocks all the way to the top. It can be an amazing feeling when you reach that crest and the land opens out in front of you. You can see the next place you’ll be exploring, or jump out and look back at how far you’ve come and the slope you juts climbed. Take a break, enjoy the view then get back behind the wheel. Then ease forward past the crest, push the clutch to the floor and just coast to the bottom.<\/p>Actually no, don’t do that.", "post_icon": "https:\/\/www.toughtoys.com.au\/media\/website_posts\/176\/4wd-down-hill.jpg", "post_content_type": "page", "post_content_url": "https:\/\/www.toughtoys.com.au\/how-to-4x4\/coasting-down-hills-off-road\/", "post_date": "2014-08-11 05:22:22" }, { "post_id": "163", "post_category_id": "1", "post_title": "Bush Survival - Techniques That Might Just Save You", "post_content_short": "The Outback’s a great place for off road adventures, but it’s not so great when something goes wrong. In fact it’s one of the harshest and most dangerous environments on the planet, so you really don’t want to get in trouble out there. The good news is that almost any problem can be handled if you know what you’re doing and have the right attitude. There are risks, but they shouldn’t stop you getting out there and enjoying yourself; just make sure you’re prepared. If something does go pear shaped here’s our guide to getting it sorted.", "post_icon": "https:\/\/www.toughtoys.com.au\/media\/website_posts\/163\/bush-survival.jpg", "post_content_type": "page", "post_content_url": "https:\/\/www.toughtoys.com.au\/how-to-4x4\/bush-survival-techniques-that-might-just-save-you\/", "post_date": "2014-02-27 05:13:37" }, { "post_id": "150", "post_category_id": "1", "post_title": "Driving On Corrogations", "post_content_short": "If you spend a lot of time exploring Australia you're going to get familiar with unfinished tracks. A good 4wd vehicle will handle most of these easily, letting you get around no problems. A lot of that depends on the condition of the track though. Bad drainage and lots of use by heavy vehicles can tear a surface up pretty quickly, and often this creates the dreaded corrugations. A heavily rutted track can be a real challenge, and worries about safety and what it's doing to their vehicle puts a lot of people off driving on them. It's actually not that big a problem though. Follow a few simple tips and you can cross corrugations safely and without too much discomfort.", "post_icon": "https:\/\/www.toughtoys.com.au\/media\/website_posts\/150\/driving-on-corrugations.jpg", "post_content_type": "page", "post_content_url": "https:\/\/www.toughtoys.com.au\/how-to-4x4\/driving-on-corrogations\/", "post_date": "2013-10-08 05:55:32" }, { "post_id": "149", "post_category_id": "1", "post_title": "Driving Rocky Terrain", "post_content_short": "Rocky terrain is one of the most challenging surfaces you can cross in a 4wd vehicle, but it can also be a lot of fun. Whether you just need to negotiate a patch of boulders or fancy trying a spot of rock crawling, getting across is satisfying. It's also not all that hard, and by following a few simple tips you'll be able to do it safely.", "post_icon": "https:\/\/www.toughtoys.com.au\/media\/website_posts\/149\/driving-on-rocks.jpg", "post_content_type": "page", "post_content_url": "https:\/\/www.toughtoys.com.au\/how-to-4x4\/driving-rocky-terrain\/", "post_date": "2013-10-08 05:53:52" }, { "post_id": "146", "post_category_id": "1", "post_title": "Common Mistakes Offroad: Thumbs In Steering", "post_content_short": "Driving offroad applies a lot more pressure and force on the steering wheel. When you’re bouncing over rocks or following the ruts in sand or mud, the steering wheel will often pull or jerk side to side. It’s important not to place your thumbs inside the steering wheel.", "post_icon": "https:\/\/www.toughtoys.com.au\/media\/website_posts\/146\/common-mistakes-offroad-thumbs-in-steering.jpg", "post_content_type": "page", "post_content_url": "https:\/\/www.toughtoys.com.au\/how-to-4x4\/common-mistakes-offroad-thumbs-in-steering\/", "post_date": "2013-10-02 00:54:03" }, { "post_id": "145", "post_category_id": "1", "post_title": "Common Mistakes Offroad: Overspeed On An Obstacle", "post_content_short": "We’ve seen many people attempt obstacles at higher speeds than what they should be doing. It often ends in disaster. Sometimes the ego kicks in, other times it’s adrenaline. When heading offroad, especially with others around, it’s not a race.", "post_icon": "https:\/\/www.toughtoys.com.au\/media\/website_posts\/145\/common-mistakes-offroad-overspeed-obstacle.jpg", "post_content_type": "page", "post_content_url": "https:\/\/www.toughtoys.com.au\/how-to-4x4\/common-mistakes-offroad-overspeed-on-an-obstacle\/", "post_date": "2013-10-02 00:49:52" }, { "post_id": "143", "post_category_id": "1", "post_title": "Common Mistakes Offroad: Attempting A Hill Sideways", "post_content_short": "Whether you’re attempting to climb or descend a hill, you might be tempted to try it at an angle. Never do this! Always make sure you’re always attempting the obstacle straight on.", "post_icon": "https:\/\/www.toughtoys.com.au\/media\/website_posts\/143\/common-mistakes-offroad-hill-sideways.jpg", "post_content_type": "page", "post_content_url": "https:\/\/www.toughtoys.com.au\/how-to-4x4\/common-mistakes-offroad-attempting-a-hill-sideways\/", "post_date": "2013-10-02 00:46:18" }, { "post_id": "142", "post_category_id": "1", "post_title": "Common Mistakes Offroad: Failed Hillclimb \/ Ascent Recovery", "post_content_short": "It’s not that likely you’re going to make it up every hill you attempt to ascend in your 4wd vehicle. In this circumstance, you’re going to want a way to get back down the hill to try again.", "post_icon": "https:\/\/www.toughtoys.com.au\/media\/website_posts\/142\/common-mistakes-offroad-hillclimb.jpg", "post_content_type": "page", "post_content_url": "https:\/\/www.toughtoys.com.au\/how-to-4x4\/common-mistakes-offroad-failed-hillclimb-ascent-recovery\/", "post_date": "2013-10-02 00:43:48" }, { "post_id": "141", "post_category_id": "1", "post_title": "Common Mistakes Offroad: Carrying The Wrong Gear", "post_content_short": "This is a difficult subject as the “gear” you carry is reliant upon the area you’re travelling in and the number of days you plan on travelling. However, there are a few things you should always carry. We’ve highlighted them in this article.", "post_icon": "https:\/\/www.toughtoys.com.au\/media\/website_posts\/141\/carry-wrong-gear.jpg", "post_content_type": "page", "post_content_url": "https:\/\/www.toughtoys.com.au\/how-to-4x4\/common-mistakes-offroad-carrying-the-wrong-gear\/", "post_date": "2013-09-29 22:25:46" }, { "post_id": "140", "post_category_id": "1", "post_title": "Common Mistakes Offroad: Not Knowing Where You're Steering", "post_content_short": "When driving offroad, often the feeling of steering can be greatly reduced, sometimes to the point of not knowing where your wheels are pointed until you’ve started sliding in the wrong direction!", "post_icon": "https:\/\/www.toughtoys.com.au\/media\/website_posts\/140\/steering-the-wrong-way.jpg", "post_content_type": "page", "post_content_url": "https:\/\/www.toughtoys.com.au\/how-to-4x4\/common-mistakes-offroad-not-knowing-where-youre-steering\/", "post_date": "2013-09-24 22:05:42" }, { "post_id": "139", "post_category_id": "1", "post_title": "Common Mistakes Offroad: Not Listening To Your Spotter", "post_content_short": "

One of the best things you can do when going 4wding is to have a trustworthy spotter giving direction on what way your wheels are pointing and where you should be pointing them to get yourself through the obstacle.<\/p>", "post_icon": "https:\/\/www.toughtoys.com.au\/media\/website_posts\/139\/4x4-4wd-spotter-lookout-cb-radio.JPG", "post_content_type": "page", "post_content_url": "https:\/\/www.toughtoys.com.au\/how-to-4x4\/common-mistakes-offroad-not-listening-to-your-spotter\/", "post_date": "2013-09-24 21:56:10" } ]