II - D U R I N G  T H E  J 0 U R N E Y

 

1 - Driving over difficult terrain

 

A special driving technique is often necessary when driving over terrain without made-up roads.  We should therefore like to make the following recommendations.

 

a - Dusty roads

 

In principle, do not follow other vehicles for any length of time on dusty roads or tracks.  When driving in convoy the sequence of the vehicles should be altered so that the air cleaners do not get dirty too quickly. This applies also to vehicles fitted with cyclone filters.

 

b - Washboard surfaces

 

If it Is necessary to drive over long “washboard surfaces” adjust your mode of driving as follows:

 

-   Do not drive in the “critical speed” range i.e. the unevenness of the road should be noticeable only acoustically in the vehicle itself. The critical range depends on the length of the corrugations.  It is better always to drive at a speed above the critical range.  When you get to the critical speed range you will notice it through the movement of the body.  If the washboard effect suddenly stops, brake immediately; experience has shown that a deep pothole or similar follows.

 

-   To protect the shock absorbers it is advisable to stop now and again to allow them to cool off.  If the track In not very wide It is also possible to drive with only the left-hand or right-hand wheels alternately on the “washboard”.

 

c - Tracks lending across firm, smooth sand mostly covered with gravel

 

-   This type of surface is not usually found on the track but over broad areas beside it, while the track itself has a washboard surface.  Make sure that you do not suddenly drive into loose, shifting sand.  Firm ground can be recognized by the fact that the tracks of other vehicles can scarcely be seen as the wheels did not sink far into the sand.