Five tips to make sure your 4x4 is ready to take on your next adventure

Getting your 4x4 ready for a holiday adventure isn’t hard, but it’s important to prepare your vehicle for the trip and know how to use its features so you can make the most of a safe, relaxed break. There are other plenty of other things to consider, but here are some basics to keep you out of trouble if getting ready to go away in your 4x4.

Tyre pressures are critical on a trip, but especially a 4x4 used off-road. Check that the tyre pressures are as per the tyre placard on your 4x4 before heading for the highway. Also inspect the sidewalls and tread area for damage or excessive wear.

Some 4x4s like the Isuzu D-MAX in LS-U, LS-U+ and X-Terrain models, have a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) that warns of tyre pressures out of range, displayed on the Multi-Information Display screen. The Isuzu even has a TPMS load selector switch, which changes the set values of tyre pressure to that required for a loaded vehicle.

When you’re driving off-road, you are often required to let down the tyres, and of course re-inflate them before getting back onto paved high speed roads. The Isuzu D-MAX has a unique and very useful tyre refill assist function, where the vehicle will emit a beep and flash the hazard lights to let you know when pressures have reached the ideal road-driving level as you inflate them.

For any trip make sure that the active safety settings are correctly engaged for your needs. Whether you’ve loaded up your ute tray or are towing a caravan, you’ll want the peace of mind of having safety systems all set to go.

If you are loading up your 4x4, aside from making sure everything is safely tied-down, any load is covered and tyre pressure are adjusted for the load, you’re good to go. You can keep all the active safety system on; with the Isuzu Intelligent Driver Assistance System you have a safety net always on.

If you’re towing, you’ll want to disable some systems, such as lane departure warning and prevention, lane keep assist and emergency lane keeping.

These are not as useful with a heavy trailer behind. Isuzu has thought about this, and with D-MAX, you can easily disable all these systems with the Lane Support System (LSS) switch on the steering wheel.

While many vehicles have blind-spot monitoring, you don’t want these setting off when towing. In the Isuzu D-MAX, blind-spot monitoring (and rear cross-traffic alert and braking) is automatically disabled when the Isuzu genuine tow bar wiring harness is connected to a trailer.

What you do want when towing is trailer sway control. TSC will apply brakes to individual vehicle wheels to help bring the trailer safely back under control if it begins to sway.

When off-roading you sometimes need all the traction help possible, and the knowledge of how to use it. If you’ve never driven off-road before, Isuzu has an off-road training program called I-Adventure Club specially for Isuzu owners.

Doing a course like this will allow you the background to know how to engage 4WD and when, including the various traction assistance systems like the D-MAX’s standard locking rear diff and Rough Terrain Mode (RTM)

With the Isuzu D-MAX’s new RTM feature, you get improved low-speed response from the Traction Control System (TCS), which alleviates wheel spin and ensures torque is sent to the wheels with the highest amount of traction on offer. It a very clever system, only offered by Isuzu.

If you’re going to do a lot of dirt road driving and off-roading including water crossings, a snorkel is a good idea, drawing cooler and cleaner air from roof level to the engine. During water crossings, a snorkel also reduces the risk of water getting into the engine.

With the D-MAX ute, the dealer can supply and fit a snorkel designed specifically for the vehicle.

Check all fluids are at the correct level, and that drive belts are in good condition before you head off. Even better, get a pre-emptive service done before you go. If the worst should happen and you run out of fuel or breakdown on the road, the D-MAX also has a free roadside assistance package for 13 months from new, then topped up for 13 months up to seven years when you get your vehicle serviced at Isuzu. Isuzu UTE Roadside Assistance will help out for lockouts, flat battery or even running out of diesel. The service also is able to tow your vehicle from the roadside to the nearest Isuzu UTE Authorised Dealer or Service Provider facility, where necessary.

It’s easy enough to be delayed when getting away on your trip and having to drive at night. You want the assurance of good standard lighting when heading down unlit country roads. The advantage of the Isuzu D-MAX from the Crew Cab Chassis model and up is crystal clear Bi-LED headlights with auto-levelling function, and LED accessory driving lights are available in the Isuzu accessories catalogue too, for extra peace of mind.

You can also choose from a range of accessory nudge bars and bullbars, in alloy or steel, to avoid wildlife strike damage that is more likely when driving at night.