It's a great time of year to take your 4-wheeler off-road. But before you pull out of your Johnsburg driveway, give some thought to getting your ride ready for the experience.

Some folks in Johnsburg get their kicks taking a hike in the woods. You don’t mind the woods, either. But when you go to the woods, you do so with something else in mind. When you go to the woods, you do so with the distinct intention of ‘tearing it up.’

You don’t just drive from your Johnsburg home to some remote spot in the woods so you can stroll; you go there to drive some more. You want to challenge the woods. You want to challenge yourself. And you want to challenge that 4-wheel beast you’re driving through that off-road torture track.

It’s fun. It gets your adrenaline running. It makes it so you can sleep soundly at night. 4-wheeling off road is a thrill you have to know to love. And once you have this thrill running through your veins, there’s no going back.

Of course, it helps if you and your vehicle are up to that challenge. You require the requisite skills to handle whatever the off-road trail throws your way. Your ability, of course, also depends on your 4-wheeler’s durability.

If your vehicle is durable enough, you’ll hit the trail with confidence. But if you’re not sure of the condition of things under the driver’s seat, your doubts may interfere with your experience. You could actually find yourself in trouble because you didn’t know when to floor it, trusting those 4-knobby meats to pull you through, and when to back off and look for another path.

Here are some things you’ll want to check before you hit the off-road trails:

• Check for anything that is loose or damaged. If it’s loose or damaged now, the off-road experience will finish the job.
• Inspect your tires for wear, damage and air pressure.
• Check all your fluids – engine coolant, engine oil, transmission, differential, power steering, washer resevoir, brake fluid.
• Check your filters – air filter, oil filter, engine filters
• Check the battery, alternator and starter – are they all operating at peak performance? If not, you could find yourself stranded out in the woods.
• Inspect the suspension and steering. As you know, these are critical components for the off-road experience.
• Check the lights and indicators. You want headlights that will shine visibility on your path when you need it.
• Check that you have tools and emergency kit to meet any contingency: first aid kit, water, food, blankets, a lighter, flashlight, fully charged cell phone, flares; spare tire, tire chains, tire repair kit, hand tools, jumper cables, extra fluids, duct tape

As you know, it’s hard to compete with the thrill of going off road with a monster that can crawl through anything. But it isn’t as much fun when you’re stuck somewhere, far from your Johnsburg home, trying to get your 4 wheeler back in the game. A little preparation can make a world of difference.