Four-wheel-drive (4WD) roads are unmaintained roadways that might require driving over and around boulders, driving in deep, soft sand or deep gravel, driving on steep, loose hillsides, and driving in situations where large rocks or soft substrates require traction and power to all four wheels. It only takes one such spot to make an otherwise ordinary road into a 4WD road.
The value of a 4WD vehicle to a desert rat is not that you can push the limits of your vehicle, it is that you have the freedom to drive where you might get stuck in 2WD. Although some people say that a 4WD only gives you the opportunity to get stuck in a really remote place.
General Caution: When out driving, remember that as long as your vehicle keeps moving, everything will be fine. But the minute it stops because of flat tires, a busted oil pan, or just stuck in the sand, your life might be in danger. Be prepared with enough food and water. Stay with your vehicle because it is easier for rescue personnel to find a vehicle than it is to find a hiker. Lie on the ground under your vehicle for shade.
 Slowly maneuvering through sand and around rocks |
 Looks like a regular 2WD road? I buried a sedan in the gravel here. |
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 Extreme conditions require a spotter to guide the driver |
 Extreme conditions require a spotter to guide the driver |
Happy hiking! All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
; Last updated 220606
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