Guide to Jeep Off-Roading in Virginia

Getting the Jeep of your dreams is the best place to start your off-roading life! While it's true that most 4x4 vehicles will come with some excellent off-road capability, there is nothing like getting behind the wheel of a Jeep and experiencing all it has to offer. Jeeps are also perfect vehicles for people just starting their off-roading life and who want to hit the beginner or intermediate trails. We highly recommend that if you are a beginner, you stay away from doing some steep crawls and water crossings, at least at first. You will need some more experience and the proper additions to your Jeep so that you can make it through the trail safely.

As you go about your off-roading activities, there are a few terms that you need to get aware of! One such term you might hear is approach angle. This is the maximum angle of a ramp onto which your Jeep can climb from a horizontal plane without any interference. The next term we have to tell you about is Crawl Ratio which is the lowest gear ratio in your Jeep and is found by multiplying the first gear ratio of the transmission by the low-range gear of the transfer case by the axle gear ratio. High-centered is when your Jeep is stuck firmly in the ground on an obstacle and can't move. Finally, Wheel Travel is the maximum distance your Jeep wheel can move up and down. The more intense the trail is, the more capable the suspension system and the better the off-road traction.

Off-roaders may have difficulty finding the perfect trail, and you may be restricted to what lands you can access. If you are a beginner, we recommend going to an off-road park or riding in group events. The good news is there are quite a few places to go here in Virginia to have fun off-roading. The first is the Chaos Off-Road Park, located just across the border into West Virginia. The park is privately owned and hosts various events throughout the year for riders during the summer and spring months. Another great park is Big Dogs OffRoad, located at Cove Campground in Gore, VA. You can organize large-scale rides and lots of events and do them here. This trail is closed to the public except for scheduled events, and most of those events include night runs, rollover Jeep Teeter-totter, and other fun activities. Finally, there is the George Washington National Forest which has a variety of trails that will help take your off-roading experience to the next level. Be sure to call beforehand and get your day pass permit, and you should also plan by checking out a map of the area.

Before you head out on the trails, you need to ensure that you take some essential items with you, such as a full tank of gas, a tow chain or rope, a spare tire, spare tanks of water and fuel, and a first aid kit. Also, before you head out, you must do your research and be comfortable with the trail you have picked. You should also ensure that you have prepared for all kinds of emergencies and are using the buddy system when you are riding so you will have someone else with you should something go wrong.

If you want to have a good time off-roading, we highly recommend getting the Jeep of your dreams by heading down to Pearson Auto Group and checking out our inventory! Here you will find new and pre-owned versions of the Wrangler, Grand Cherokee, Compass, and Renegade for you to see and test drive. Feel free to take a test drive of any of the Jeeps on our lot until you come across the best one for your needs. Then we have a complete finance department that will help get you the deal of a lifetime and even take your trade-in if you have one! You can also view our entire Jeep inventory here on our website!