Be it braving the urban jungle or the tempestuous off-road conditions, make sure you gear up your ride for every environment.
Wheels and tires do all the dirty work in every adventure. As such, optimizing them for the type of terrain you intend to conquer is important to achieve a smooth and exhilarating ride.
The US-brand Mastercraft Tire has built a solid reputation for manufacturing sturdy and safety-ready tires since 1909. Locally, it offers All Terrain (AXT), Mud Terrain (MXT), and CXT Hybrid variants for city driving, off-road, and dual use respectively. Another US brand Fuel Tires offers the Gripper A/T and Gripper M/T options for your ride.
The bumpy, jagged terrain of an off-road adventure calls for a stable suspension system that can absorb motion and impact. Make sure to equip your rig with high-quality springs and shocks to achieve a comfortable ride.
Springs negate excessive shake from reaching the chassis. A notable line includes the Australian-brand Lovells crafted from micro alloy steel. Locally, the brand offers coil spring and leaf spring sets. The Lovells spring is best paired with the Ridemax Suspension Technology, innovative shock absorbers engineered with a super twintube design consisting of a large piston and shaft engineered for heavy duty performance.
Leading its line is a 4-way adjustable model sporting a technology exclusive for Ridemax Philippines and crafted perfectly for city driving. Other shock options include the premium 10-way supreme model and Monotube Long Travel for long drives.
Rollbar, meanwhile, can shield your hood from crashing in the event of a roll over. It also allows you to integrate LED lights on top of your vehicle for more style and flexibility during off-road trips.
Taking your family on a weekend trip? Having a ready roof rack allows you to load more equipment including luggage, bicycles, surfboards, kayaks, and other active gear. It can also free up space in the interior to pack in more guests and riders.
Don’t fear shelling out extra bucks if it means protecting you, your fellow riders, and your family members. Having a tow hitch, like the one offered by Hamer, ensures that your truck can be towed or used to assist other vehicles in the event of an emergency. Always consider packing recovery kits to get yourself or fellow drivers out in the event that they get stuck.
Don’t forget to think about your truck’s ground clearance, either. Will you be driving on even terrain or sharp, bumpy roads, floods, and endless muddy puddles? As a rule of thumb, an elevated truck is more suited for obstacle-filled terrains, while vehicles with low ground clearance are more apt for driving control, better aerodynamics, and fuel efficiency.
Additionally, the former is widely used for off-roading while the latter, for city driving and long, smooth road trips. Check out Option 4WD’s lift and drop kits to achieve the optimum height for your truck.