How Do You Define Off-Roading?

[SUPAREE]

I think the essence of off-roading is leaving the paved roads behind and heading into places few people ever see. Starting from the city, then into the forests, the deserts, the hills, the snow... Getting stuck in mud, crossing streams, climbing over obstacles. The fun of off-roading is endless. For anyone who loves nature, it’s just amazing. You can get away from crowds, escape the noise, and feel completely immersed in the moment.

At the end of the day, it’s all about having fun. That’s it.

I’m curious how you define off-roading. What do you go off-roading for? This might seem like a broad question, but I’d love to hear different takes.

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[JPROCKS]

Driving down the Baja California Sur Peninsula where the potholes will really test your suspension... and dashboard phone mount

 

[Ear Responsible]

I think the essence of off-roading is leaving the paved roads behind and heading into places few people ever see. Starting from the city, then into the forests, the deserts, the hills, the snow... Getting stuck in mud, crossing streams, climbing over obstacles. The fun of off-roading is endless. For anyone who loves nature, it’s just amazing. You can get away from crowds, escape the noise, and feel completely immersed in the moment.

At the end of the day, it’s all about having fun. That’s it.

I’m curious how you define off-roading. What do you go off-roading for? This might seem like a broad question, but I’d love to hear different takes.

 

[yokramer]

 

[AmericanPatriot100]

Yes!

 

[Terrymo]

Bro that flex though

 

[JPROCKS]

Show off

 

[yokramer]

Yes!

Bro that flex though

I couldnt keep the soccer moms away.

 

[Terrymo]

Too adventurous and too close to the edge for me

 

[Twisted10]

i took mine off road once. cleaning the engine bay makes me want to kick babies

 

[AmericanPatriot100]

I couldnt keep the soccer moms away.

Soccer moms are flexy when they offroad!

 

[AmericanPatriot100]

Idk how the RTI score works with a fork lift but this measures out to a measly 269

 

[wibornz]

For insurance purposes, anything that is not on a road, is considered off road. Just like roadside assistance, mean you have to be roadside or assistance.

 

[C.Sco]

Well, there's "driving off-road", and then there's "off-roading". Two very different things.

Driving off-road could just mean any unpaved road. It could be just an incidental part of your journey, you weren't necessarily seeking to go off-road, perhaps there just happens to be an unpaved road along the way to where you're trying to go, but you would've gone anyways even if there wasn't. Maybe you didn't even want to drive off-pavement but you just didn't have a choice. It could be any sort of unpaved road, perhaps not even requiring high ground clearance or 4x4, even something that a Honda Accord could easily do, and still be considered driving "off-road" simply because it's not paved.

Off-roading, on the other hand, means that the unpaved road/trail is an intentional part of your adventure, and maybe even the only part of your adventure. It's on a road/trail that you need something more capable than the average car to drive on. You chose that route because you wanted the drive to be a challenge. You wanted to go somewhere that required a vehicle with above-average capability.

For insurance purposes, anything that is not on a road, is considered off road. Just like roadside assistance, mean you have to be roadside or assistance.

When it comes to insurance, they're often surprisingly flexible about what they consider a "road". Most insurance companies will cover driving on any county-maintained road, even unpaved. The "maintained" part is usually the key word. Rubicon Trail for example would be considered off-road by most insurance companies since, even though it is officially listed as Forest Road 14N34, it is not county-maintained and is officially listed as not being for normal passenger vehicle travel. But many other forest roads, that are county-maintained and listed for normal passenger vehicle travel, would be considered on-road.

AAA, on the other hand, considers everywhere that isn't paved to be "off road".

 

[3TV]

There is a huge range in what is considered "off road". The strictest definition would be driving where there isn't a road. So, in that case even Pritchet Canyon in Moab would still be considered on road. Blazing a new trail through the desert or forest is frowned upon these days, so is there really any true off roading anymore? The loosest definition would be anything off pavement is considered off road. I'm somewhere in the middle. Is a stock Subaru station wagon driving down a graded gravel road considered off road? The Subaru owner would think so, but I wouldn't.

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