Taking your truck off-road usually means exposing your vehicle to more wear and tear. Cruising through mud, dirt, and even tall grass can wear down your vehicle faster than you might expect. Water, dirt, rocks, and other debris can damage some of the most important parts of your truck. If you’re not adamant about keeping your truck in good shape, you could take years off the life of your prized piece of machinery—but, as long as you keep up with regular truck maintenance, you can keep your off-road truck mud slingin’ for years to come.

 Maintain Your Tire Pressure 

All those bumps and harsh landings will deplete your tire pressure faster than normal. Make sure you check your tire pressure before and after you take a spin in the outdoors. Tire pressure also tends to fluctuate based on the temperature outside. If the temperature drops, your tire pressure might be less than you thought, so be sure to keep that in mind before you tear up another off-road trail. The rule of thumb is generally for every 10° Fahrenheit change in air temperature, tire pressures will change by about 2%.

Look for Tire Punctures and Uneven Wear

Your tires are bound to come into contact with all kinds of unusual surfaces as you plow through some uncharted territory. Rocks, tree roots, sticks, and just about anything else lying on the ground can puncture your tires. Keep an eye out for dents and holes in your tire before you head out in the morning, so you don’t get stranded with a flat in nature. If you have a spare, make sure it’s in good shape before you take off.

Depending on how and where you drive, your tires might get worn down in certain spots more than others. Be sure to have them rotated every so often and look out for missing or loose lugs that might put your tires at risk.

Axle Care

Axles can take a beating when you’re going off-road. Wipe off and inspect your axle components such as the knuckles, stub shafts, and ball joints. If anything looks cracked or bent, replace it immediately. If anything feels loose or wobbly, that’s a sign your axles could use some attention. You don’t want a wheel to fall off when you’re trying to land sweet jumps at the local ORV park.

Steering Inspection

Rocks, dirt, and debris can suck the life out of steering components, making it more difficult to control your vehicle. Spend some time inspecting the steering components to make sure everything is lubricated and turning smoothly. If you use a steering stabilizer, you’ll need to inspect that as well. Keep an eye out for any loose nuts and bolts. Tinker around with these components to make sure they’re not loose or scraping against each other.

Maintaining the Engine

The beating heart of your truck will need plenty of attention as well. Pop the hood and make sure everything is spick and span. Dust and dirt can seep through the hood, dirtying up the many belts, tubes, hoses, and clamps inside. If anything feels loose or looks cracked, tighten it or have it replaced.

Like all vehicles, make sure you have enough oil in the tank, as well as all the other essential ingredients that you need to power your truck, including antifreeze, power steering, and transmission fluid.

The air filter might also get dirty as you roam around the outdoors. Make sure it’s clear of dust and dirt, and keep it lubricated by Importance Of Motorcycle Horn to keep your truck going strong. The same goes for your radiator. Keep it clean and make sure it isn’t leaking fluid.

Inspect the Suspension Components

While you’re looking around the underbelly of your truck, take a moment to look over your suspension components, including the track bar, control arms, springs, and bushings, and ball joints. Everything should be clean, lubricated, and firmly attached to the rest of your truck. Some lift kit brands will hold up better than others.

If anything feels loose or out of place, you’ll need to have it straightened or realigned. Shocks and struts usually need to be replaced every 30,000 miles, but, since you’re a mudslinger, you might want to replace them more often.