For a rookie off-road enthusiast who is concerned about damaging their vehicle, pointing your 44 up a technical rocky route and rockcrawling for the first time can be a terrifying experience. Between the 300-million-year-old granite and the glossy painted sheetmetal body panels, there appears to be little space for error. Don't worry, if you know the basics, which we can help you with, the learning curve for successfully rockcrawling can be swift and painless. The foundations are generally the same whether you're just getting started or have a long list of extreme rock crawling trails under your belt. In no time, you'll be crawling rocks in your 4x4 with confidence.

Low-Range is a good idea

In most circumstances, you'll want to take your time and take it easy on tough rocky trails. Using the lower gears in your transmission and the low range transfer case gear is the best way to do this. To maintain a predictable speed, you can put both manual and automatic transmissions in first gear. Automatic transmissions will also operate cooler and more reliable if you use the lower gearing. Attacking a difficult rough trail at high speeds can result in a lack of grip and vehicle control, which can result in a smashed undercarriage, powertrain failure, and body damage. Take your time and allow the axles' low gearing and traction-enhancing gadgets do the heavy lifting.

Take Notes of the Trail

Picking the smoothest course that maintains the vehicle level with the tires on the ground where they can establish traction is usually the most effective way to rock crawl in a 44. Knowing where your tires are and memorizing the path in front of you as it fades under the hood line are the first steps. You should be able to get lined up again without having to completely reverse out of the obstacle to take another look if your original line choice doesn't work out or you slip off of it. Also, don't get too far behind the 4 in front of you. You aren't looking at the path if all you see is the back end of a 4x4. Examine the 44 in front of you's tire location and decide which line will work for you and which won't. Although a spotter may assist you in navigating more difficult portions, you can't always rely on someone who is familiar with your 44's capabilities and driving skills. Make a cautious selection of your scouts. They don't know what they're doing just because they can see the trail better than you. Don't be scared to step out of your 4x4 and look at the trail in front of you if all else fails.

Straddle Ruts

You should straddle the trail's ruts and holes as much as possible. The majority of off-road tires have thick sides with tread on them. When crossing difficult path sections, this area of the tread can be used. It's true that having stretched suspension and tires dangling in the air makes for great shots, but if there's a smoother, safer path through a rocky area, it can be dangerous. If you lift one of your four tires off the ground, you could lose up to 25% of your traction potential. Also, don't let your tires get stuck in ruts or holes. When you fall into a hole, your body and undercarriage are closer to the rough terrain, which might cause injury. It makes it simpler to become engrossed and locked in a rut.

Place Tires On Rocks

You should look to set your tires on top of rocks along the trail, rather than in the low spots around the rocks, in the same manner you want to straddle ruts. This practice keeps your body and powertrain from becoming hooked up on or harmed by stone. If you can't climb or cross a huge protruding rock, look for lines that chain a path over the top of it and around the larger protruding rocks that cannot be crossed. The goal is to maintain the Jeep's body as level as feasible and all of the tires on the ground as much as possible. This provides the maximum traction and stability, allowing you to keep progressing up the trail.

Learn Threshold Traction

When it comes to rock crawling, tire spin isn't always a good idea. When stopping on pavement, racers utilize threshold braking to improve forward momentum, which is analogous to using threshold traction to improve forward momentum. The point at which your tires lose traction due to too much throttle input on a given surface is known as threshold traction. To avoid tire spin, learn to feel for threshold traction on various terrains. You'll get better at this skill if you spend more time mastering it. You'll eventually be able to adjust the throttle to keep the tractive wheel speed steady and predictable while avoiding tire spin. This will allow the cooled tires to slowly conform to the rocks and provide better traction.

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