[Rockhounds] Vehicle driving tips

[Jim Daly]

Good advice. The part about crossing a ditch in particular. I often scrape the hitch when crossing a ditch.
  Jim Daly

Peter Sparks <zebulon at isr.umich.edu> wrote:
  I've been enjoying the discussion on which vehicle features to get. I
think it's equally important to know how to drive to that collecting
site and out again. To get started ...

Driving across ditches and embankments: I drive a slight diagonal to
them so that at one point I'm balanced on two wheels and pivot across
the span. Going straight across means I will scrape and hang up on the
frame. A short wheel based helps negate this problem. It's a little
scary the first time it's tried.

Distributing weight: I generally pack towards the front and work back,
and it's nicer if I can secure the load so it doesn't shift. Because I
max out the truck I'm careful about keeping the weight even
side-to-side. Too much weight over the axel means my front starts
getting light.

Off roading: If I'm in the desert I don't off road since there's too
great a chance of sinking to my axel. I carry a shovel, extra boards,
jack, water, ...

Steep hills: Downshift. Going down I avoid using the brake and then
only for short periods.

GPS and compass and maps: need I say more?

Background
I drive a 1997 Ford F-150, 8' bed, regular cab, 2 wheel drive, 5-speed
manual, Astro cap, sprayed-in liner. I like in Michigan and have taken
it over the Rockies four times, around Lake Superior once, to Winnipeg
and parts north and west, to Kentucky, Maryland, Virginia, ...

-- Peter Sparks

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