Is it really that important to
inspect your vehicle each day? We think it is… especially if you’re off-road on
a 4WD trip or camping.
Let’s make this a simple
equation:
5-minute
inspection = 5 minutes of your entire day – that’s all
OR
“Save” 5 minutes
now, and risk major delays and costs in the future
Furthermore, a quick
inspection shouldn’t take you as long as 5 minutes, yet it has the potential to
save you a lot of headaches, time and money. We cannot stress enough the
importance of daily vehicle inspections to give you peace of mind. This is one
of the most underestimated 4WD tips in the book.
Clearly, not all breakdowns will be detected by a
daily inspection, however, there are some avoidable issues that can be
debilitating to your travels. So why not take a few minutes to ensure there are
no lurking gremlins waiting to manifest themselves into a costly, and
potentially dangerous problem off-road?
1. The
Inspection
Let’s have a look at some of
the basic things that could go wrong, but with a small amount of time and the effort, a simple daily inspection may save your bacon and allow you, and your
precious cargo (we mean your family or mates), to continue on your camping
trip:
· Engine
breakdown due to oil loss or overheating
· Check
oil and water/coolant levels
· Check
around the engine and engine bay for leaks
· Check
hoses for breakages and clamps are tight
· Check
fan belts are intact and at the right tension
· Check the fan is entire and no damage to inside or radiator
· Other
mechanical failures due to fluid loss
· Check
all levels such as brake fluid, power steering fluid, automatic transmission
fluid and any others your vehicle may have
· Tyre
rupture due to damage or wear
· Inspect
your tyres (especially sidewalls) and check pressure
· Drivetrain
failure due to object incursion (such as wire picked up from a track) or wear
· Inspect
universal joints and main hardware such as differentials
· Wheel
hub failure due to excessive jarring or wear
· Wobble
each wheel to check for too much play
· Suspension
Failure due to damage or wear
· Inspect
suspension parts for damage or lost items
If you’re a visual learner
like me, there are a number of YouTube channels that have a lot of 4WD tips, as
well as detailed inspection and safety information such as OffroadAdventureShow and 4X4 Australia.
2. Still Not Convinced?
Still not convinced of the
importance of daily vehicle checks on your trusty 4WD?
If the risk of expensive
repairs and delays aren’t enough to make you sacrifice that little bit of time,
consider your safety and those of your in-car guests and others on the road. A
tyre blowout at high speed that could have been avoided with a 5-minute
inspection is not fun and potentially dangerous, especially if you’re off-road
on a serious camping trip.
Seriously, the list of items
above will literally take 5 minutes or less and will uncover most avoidable
problems where breakages, damage or significant wear are a causal factor.
And, you don’t have to be a 4WD expert or mechanic to do this.
We do suggest getting to know
your 4WD by doing these inspections a number of times before you travel and if
you’re unsure, get a mate or your mechanic to give you a rundown of what to
look for.
As always, we want your ideas
and thoughts so that we can all safely enjoy our 4WD adventures, so, please
leave your advice on what to check as part of your quick daily inspection on
tour.
