Adventure advice

Whether you have a Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux or Mitsubishi Triton – or any ute really – your trusty workhorse will benefit from a high-quality set of ute drawers.

The VW Amarok, especially the V6, has an ever-growing group of fans but it still holds a peculiar spot in the Aussie market – it doesn't sell in massive numbers, as something like the Hilux does (then again what does?), but you see plenty of Amaroks around, being used as tool-hauling trucks or as recreational tourers, being driven and being enjoyed.The Amarok is a rather quiet success story – a real dark horse workhorse, if you will.But, as with any ute, it can benefit from having a canopy installed, thus turning its tray into a more versatile, lockable and secure, protected load space that can be accessorised to your heart’s content.There are myriad VW Amarok canopy styles and there’s a choice of materials used, including canvas, UV-stable ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, a thermoplastic polymer), fibreglass, steel or aluminium, and there’s also a wide array of add-ons from which to choose. For our tips on how to track down the best Amarok canopy for you, read on. Different types of Amarok canopiesSo, what’s the best Amarok canopy? The one that suits what you do with your Amarok, of course. Your lifestyle – and budget – will dictate the body style and configuration of, as well as the materials used in, your canopy. If your focus is work then a tool-lugging steel, ABS, or Amarok aluminium canopy will suit you; if you’re a keen outdoor sports fan then a canopy that can be fitted and accessorised to fit your chosen leisure activity is right for you; and if off-roading is your passion you’ll want to gear up your canopy with drawers, a fridge slide and more.Designs will vary but the focus on primary function will remain.Genuine canopies from vehicle manufacturers, such as the Volkswagen Amarok canopy, are fine but ute owners are increasingly chasing even more versatility in their canopies.Main materials used in an Amarok dual cab canopy include canvas, ABS plastic, fibreglass, aluminium or steel.Budget-friendly examples are available but, while designs may vary, a top-quality canopy – such as one available from Ironman 4x4, ARB, Norweld, Carryboy, Flexiglass, Opposite Lock, TJM etc – will benefit from features such as lockable side windows and rear-access window, canopy vent (to reduce dust ingress by positively pressurising the canopy’s interior), tinted safety glass (5mm tinted and tempered), central locking, push-button side opening windows, and more.Other features – such as keyless entry, high-spec adhesive, LED interior lights, stylish interior and an anti-entrapment dial (so people can get out of the canopy if inadvertently closed inside) – are all great additions.An easy-access ladder should also be part of a canopy set-up if you want to get to your rooftop tent or grab gear from your roof rack.If your dogs are an important part of your family, congratulations I now like you even more and you should think about getting a dog pod added to your Amarok’s canopy.Some want functionality in their canopy, such as an aforementioned drawer system, a fridge slide and more, while others are keen to fit out their canopy with an accomodation option, such as a rooftop tent*. (*Note: a rooftop tent will soak up at least 50kg of your ute’s payload, so that will affect how much other stuff you can legally carry in your Amarok.) Some people make full use of their canopy by installing their Redarc pure sine wave inverter or in-vehicle battery charger, onboard air compressors and more in it. What are your Amarok canopy options?Take your pick from used canopies, DIY jobs, ready-made off-the-shelf examples, through to a highly-personalised custom canopy. Beware: if a canopy is so cheap it seems too good to be true, chances are numerous corners have been cut in terms of workmanship and materials used. Apply brutal logic here: how good do you think a canopy is if short-cuts were taken during its design and manufacturing?Thankfully, Australian companies make some of the world’s best ute canopies because we Aussie off-roaders demand a lot from our canopies.In today’s aftermarket there’s a canopy for an Amarok double cab to suit every lifestyle and budget. As mentioned earlier, some ute canopies have interior lay-outs designed to incorporate tool boxes, or are purpose-built for camping, with roll-out drawers and more.The basic structure of ute canopies may not change a lot between models – each one has a roof, walls, and likely a flip/lift door at the rear, a fixed-shut window at the front, and sliding or flip/lift windows on the sides – but each canopy’s capacity to be flexible, in terms of accessibility and storage, may vary widely.Options for features include extra tie-down points, central locking, climate control, in-built lighting, soft-close windows, built-in storage systems (such as slide-out drawer systems) and even a slide-out kitchen.Some canopies are bolted onto a ute's tray and can be removed without too much fuss.How much does a Amarok canopy cost?An Amarok canopy price can range from a couple of hundred dollars for a DIY canvas-and-steel-frame job (I’ve seen them), to more than $3000 (fitted).Prices of fibreglass or ABS plastic ute canopies start from around the mid-$2000s mark (including fitment). Prices range anywhere from $1500 for an aluminium ute half canopy you will have to fit yourself, to more than $2000 (fitted) for off-the-shelf canopies or even custom, build-your-own versions.The Flexiglass Sport canopy pictured at the top of this page cost around $3000 and that included installation. An ARB Amarok Canopy, the Classic (also pictured in this feature), costs from $2080 and from $300 extra for fitment.A Carryboy canopy for an Amarok will likely cost from $2500 (not including fitment), but that’s a guesstimate so contact Carryboy for a quote.Warranties for a ute canopy can range from one year, three years or a lifetime, depending on the materials used and the brand/manufacturer involved. Who are the leading brands & manufacturers? Best places to buy?Focus your shopping research on local well-respected aftermarket brands and manufacturers, including Ironman 4x4, ARB, Flexiglass, NorWeld, Carryboy Australia, Opposite Lock, and TJM.Contact any of these mobs for a canopy:Find your nearest ARB store here. Find your nearest Ironman 4x4 store here.Visit the Norweld website for your nearest stockist.Visit CarryBoy to find your nearest stockist.Visit Flexiglass (and go to 'Locate a Distributor') for your nearest stockist.Find your nearest Wolf 4x4 store here.Visti OppositeLock to find your nearest store.Find the nearest TJM store here. 

The Mitsubishi Triton is one of Australia's quiet achievers in terms of sales and popularity, and it remains one of the best value-for-money utes on offer.It's a highly functional ute but it can be improved with the installation of a lockable canopy. You could opt for a genuine Mitsubishi Triton canopy or a feature-packed canopy designed to suit your lifestyle.There are canopy styles to suit every kind of Triton and the canopies are made from a wide variety of materials, including canvas, UV-stable ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, a thermoplastic polymer), fibreglass, steel or aluminium. For our tips on how to track down the best canopy for your Triton, read on. Different types of Triton canopiesThe right canopy for your Triton depends largely on what you want to do with it – if work is your ute's focus, then a tradie set-up suited to storing and carrying tools is your best bet (i.e. tool boxes, deep drawers etc); for outdoor activities, such as mountain-biking or kayaking, the canopy will need to fit in with your chosen sport (i.e. bike carriers, drawers for bike spares, a kayak rack etc); and for keen 4WDers a canopy, purpose built to meet camping needs, will be required (i.e. fridge slide, cooker space, drawers for kitchen gear etc). Designs will vary but function-focus, specific to your Triton's main activity, will remain.(Note: Before you get stuck into your search for a Triton canopy there are a few other mods you might want to sort out, such as tyres, for instance, but don't worry, hit the 'Read More' link below and check out that yarn – that'll put you on the right track.)A genuine Mitsubishi Triton canopy is an adequate unit, but ute owners want their canopies to have even more versatility.Main materials used include canvas, ABS plastic, fibreglass, aluminium and steel and there are model-specific canopies: a single cab canopy, extra cab canopy, and a dual cab canopy. Budget-friendly examples are available but, while designs may vary, a top-quality canopy – such as one available from Ironman 4x4, ARB, Norweld, Carryboy, Flexiglass, Opposite Lock, TJM etc – will benefit from features such as lockable side windows and rear-access window, canopy vent (to reduce dust ingress by positively pressurising the canopy’s interior), tinted safety glass (5mm tinted and tempered), central locking, push-button side opening windows, and more.Other features – such as keyless entry, high-spec adhesive, LED interior lights, stylish interior and an anti-entrapment dial (so people can get out of the canopy if inadvertently closed inside) – are all great additions.A sturdy easy-access ladder should also be part of a canopy set-up if you want to access your rooftop tent or grab some gear from your roof rack.If your dogs are an important part of the family like mine are, then a canopy with a dog pod might be the right thing for your ute.Some want functionality, such as a drawer system, a fridge slide and more, while others are keen to fit out their canopy with an accomodation option, such as a rooftop tent*. (*Note: a rooftop tent will soak up at least 50kg of your ute’s legal payload, so that will affect how much other stuff you can legally carry in your Triton.) Some people make full use of their canopy by installing their Redarc pure sine wave inverter or in-vehicle battery charger, onboard air compressors and more in it.A Triton ute canopy can also function as a great platform for a roof-top tent. What are your Mitsubishi Triton canopy options?If you're keen to put a canopy on your Triton then you're in luck because there are myriad options: second hand canopies, DIY jobs, ready-made off-the-shelf examples, through to a highly-personalised custom canopy. Remember though that the same rule applies here as should to any purchase: if a canopy is so cheap it seems too good to be true, then it probably is.Luckily for us, Australian companies make some of the world’s best ute canopies because we Aussie off-roaders demand a lot from our gear.In today’s aftermarket there’s a ute canopy to suit every lifestyle, vehicle and budget. There are variations to suit every kind of ute and tub or a tray canopy, and some ute canopies have interior lay-outs designed to incorporate tool boxes, or are purpose-built for camping, with roll-out drawers and more.The basic structure of ute canopies may not change a lot between models – each one has a roof, walls, and likely a flip/lift door at the rear, a fixed-shut window at the front, and sliding or flip/lift windows on the sides – but each canopy’s capacity to be flexible, in terms of accessibility and storage, may vary widely.Options for features include extra tie-down points, central locking, climate control, in-built lighting, soft-close windows, built-in storage systems (such as slide-out drawer systems) and even a slide-out kitchen.Some canopies are bolted onto a ute's tray and can be removed without too much fuss. How much does a Triton canopy cost?Canopy prices range from a couple of hundred dollars for a DIY canvas-and-steel-frame job, to more than $5000 (fitted) for an off-the-shelf canopy or even custom, build-your-own versions.A genuine Mitsubishi Triton canopy – made of ABS plastic, body coloured to match your Triton's paint and with a lockable, gas-lift rear window, sliding side windows and a front window – costs from about $3700 each.Prices of fibreglass or ABS plastic ute canopies start from around the mid-$2000s mark (including fitment).  Prices range anywhere from $1500 for an aluminium ute half canopy you will have to fit yourself, to more than $5000 (fitted) for off-the-shelf canopies or even custom, build-your-own versions.A Flexiglass FlexiSport canopy for your Triton MN dual cab – prices available from your preferred manufacturer or stockist on request, but expect to pay more than $3000.A Flexiglass FlexiEdge canopy for your Triton MQ and MR dual cab – prices available from your preferred manufacturer or stockist on request, but expect to pay more than $3000.Warranties for a ute canopy can range from one year, three years or a lifetime, depending on the materials used and the brand/manufacturer involved. Who are the leading brands & manufacturers? Best places to buy?Australia's well-respected aftermarket brands and manufacturers include Ironman 4x4, ARB, NorWeld, Carryboy Australia, Flexiglass, Opposite Lock, and TJM.Contact any of these mobs for a purpose-built canopy:Find your nearest ARB store here. Find your nearest Ironman 4x4 store here.Visit the Norweld website for your nearest stockist.Visit CarryBoy to find your nearest stockist.Visit Flexiglass (and go to 'Locate a Distributor') for your nearest stockist.Find your nearest Wolf 4x4 store here.Visti OppositeLock to find your nearest store.Find the nearest TJM store here. 

Toyota's HiLux is one of Australia's top-selling vehicles so it only follows that there is a massive variety of ute canopies available for it. The legendary workhorse's tray space, if covered with a lockable canopy, becomes secure, more versatile and a camping-friendly cargo area.

A ute is a supremely useful and versatile vehicle but, if its tray space is not covered and lockable, it could benefit greatly from the installation of a canopy.

Ah, sweet Australia, our beloved sunburnt country: a land of footballs, meat pies ... and bouncing mongrel roos that can cause a catastrophic amount of damage if you’re unfortunate enough to hit one with your vehicle.What should you do if you hit a kangaroo (or any animal, for that matter) with your car? It boils down to this: pull over as soon as it’s safe to do so; approach an injured animal very carefully as it may lash and inadvertently hurt you (it’s happened before); if able to do so safely, check if the roo is alive (if it is dead, then check its pouch); call the relevant wildlife rescue service or police; and take the roo to the nearest vet, if possible and safe to do so, or wait for assistance. If your vehicle is not safe to drive because of any damage sustained in the collision, stay put.But, there’s a lot to more to consider than merely those salient points, so read on. You may see roos along the coastal regions, in the country and in the outback. Because of drought conditions, kangaroos are now even venturing into suburban areas more than ever. But, if you drive in rural areas, a collision with a kangaroo, or other native or even domestic animal, is a distinct possibility. (FYI: a vehicle-and-animal collision is also known as an animal strike.) According to an insurance company’s report, release in June 2019, more than 7000 drivers are involved in, and claim for, kangaroo collisions in Australia per year. The Huddle Insurance 'Roo Report'* states that kangaroo collisions cost Aussie drivers on average more than $6 million per year in excess on insurance claims; the average cost of damage to a vehicle in the event of a kangaroo collision is $4000; and 15% of vehicles (more than 1000) involved in kangaroo collisions are written off. Roo collisions occur mostly in the dawn or dusk hours, or in the full cool of the night, so it’s a good idea not to drive at those times. Roos are generally sleeping off a feed during the hotter times of the day. But that’s not to say that animal strikes never occur in daylight hours – they do – they’re just more likely to happen during those cooler times of the day when the mobs are moving around. Avoid driving at the times I just mentioned (above); besides, you should be at camp anyway, cooking brekky (if it’s dawn) or drinking a bottle of ice-cold happy water (if it’s dusk).Look a long way ahead and off to both sides of the road you’re driving on, in order to detect any animal movement a long time before you might have to react.If you see any roos or animals near the road slow down to 20km/h or even less to give you plenty of time to brake or manoeuvre around the animals. Animals, especially roos and emus, act erratically when they’re spooked by a vehicle and may dart across in front of your vehicle without any warning. Pull over as soon as it’s safe to do so.Approach an injured animal very carefully as it may lash out and inadvertently hurt you (it’s happened before). The Victorian government’s Department for Environment, Land, Water and Planning warns on its ‘Help for injured wildlife’ website: “Caution! This animal has a strong kick and sharp claws and may be dangerous. Do not approach the animal or attempt to catch it. Remember the animal is wild and may feel stressed or threatened by your presence - stay calm, speak softly, move slowly and keep any pets away to avoid stress to the animal. If the animal has been injured during a road collision, keep yourself safe and ensure you are not in danger of being hit by traffic.”If able to do so safely, check if the roo is alive; if it is dead, then check its pouch.Call the relevant wildlife rescue service or police.Take the roo to the nearest vet, if possible and safe to do so, or wait for assistance. If your vehicle is not safe to drive because of any damage sustained in the collision, stay put. Make sure you always report injured wildlife, whether it’s an injured kangaroo or a wombat hit by a car.The nationwide contact is Wildlife Rescue and the number is 1300 596 457, an injured wildlife hotline.For injured wildlife in and around Canberra, contact RSPCA ACT 02 6287 8100 (during business hours), or WIRES (NSW Wildlife Information and Rescue Education Service) on 1300 094 737. For injured kangaroos in the area, call 13 22 81.For injured wildlife in NSW: WIRES on 1300 094 737.For injured wildlife in Brisbane, call RSPCA Queensland on 1300 264 625.For injured wildlife in Victoria, call Wildlife Victoria on 03 8400 7300.For injured wildlife in Melbourne, call Warriors 4 Wildlife on 0401 811 937.For injured wildlife in Western Australia, call Wildcare on 08 9474 9055.For injured wildlife in Tasmania, call Wildlife Management Branch on 1300 827 727.For injured wildlife in South Australia, call RSPCA SA on 1300 477 722.For injured wildlife in the Northern Territory, call Wildcare on 08 89 886 121 or 0408 885 341. The process remains the same as the one detailed above: be safe, check the animal if it’s safe to do so, and contact a wildlife rescue service as soon as possible after the collision.If it's a domestic animal, such as livestock, then contact the nearest vet. No, but a comprehensive policy may cover you. However, beware, because if you claim on an animal collision, your premiums will likely go up as your insurer will pass the costs on to you. You’ll probably lose any no-claims bonus as well.Ask around, do your research and find a mob that will help you, more than hinder you (read: rip you off), in the aftermath of an animal strike.

Dual cab utes are very popular in Australia and, as a natural progression of that, the dual cab ute canopy has experienced a massive surge in popularity in recent years – and that continues apace.

A mad cowboy driver once campaigned a high-powered two-wheel-drive Hummer in the Dakar Rally with amazing results, considering the mountainous sand dunes on the course.Closer to home, the photo board in the Birdsville camping ground canteen shows plenty of photographs of two-wheel-drive vehicles such as a Porsche 911 making it to the top of Australia's biggest sand dune, Big Red. But these achievements have been made at high speed, with lots of power and huge ground clearance.The shores and deserts of Australia beckon the adventurous motorist, but if you want to go driving on the beach or out in the Simpson Desert with a degree of safety, it is best to take a four-wheel drive.You don't necessarily need a hard-core 4WD machine. Almost any compact SUV will be able to manage a beach at low tide when the sand is hard. But to get to the hard and wet sand at low tide, often you have to cross dry, loose sand at the top of the beach, so you will need to do some preparation.Again, even part-time all-wheel-drive machines can make it through a short section of soft sand with the right preparation and driving skills. Of course, sand can be unpredictable and you are bound to get bogged at some stage, so a retrieval plan is necessary.Let's start with vehicle choice.VEHICLEClearance is the main consideration because a lack of clearance will mean the body drags in the sand and slows the vehicle. We would suggest a minimum clearance of 210mm, which includes most of the "soft roaders". However, remember that clearance is reduced if you have several passengers and cargo on board.All-wheel-drive vehicles which only operate in four-wheel drive when the vehicle senses slip at a wheel are ok for flat sand running. However, if you are going to be travelling long distances in soft sand or trying to scale dunes, you need a permanent four-wheel drive system. The steeper the inclines, the more likely you are going to need hill descent and a low ratio.Don't forget to turn off the traction control as it will only serve to get you bogged. Most supposed off-road vehicles these days come with highway tyres which are useless in the sand. A good set of sand tyres or even all-purpose/all-terrain tyres will make beach driving easier.While most experienced sand drivers prefer a manual gearbox, for novices and even some expert drivers, an automatic gearbox is almost foolproof in the sand as it keeps the revs and the gear matched to the conditions. The last thing you want to do is try to snatch a lower gear when you are running out of puff up a steep dune.PREPARATIONIf you are heading into the vast desert landscape, tell someone such as a national park ranger first and take an emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) in case you get stuck. If the beach is more your thing, grab the tide times from the newspaper and plan to drive at low tide. Many a vehicle has been lost to the sea by drivers who didn't check tide times. The most important equipment when sand driving is your tyres.Depending on how big your load, you can deflate the tyres to 18-20psi or even lower if tackling powdery red sand. Don't guess pressures. Use a gauge. Also, take a compressor to reinflate your tyres. Remember, gravel tracks can easily damage the sidewalls of deflated tyres. Sand driving puts strain on the engine and transmission, so carry extra fluids (water, oil etc). Deserts are hot, so take extra water for the passengers, too.Sand can be a trap and if you get stuck, you will need some form of retrieval gear such as a shovel, ropes, snatch straps and/or MaxTrax, a Brisbane invention which is basically a plastic "piece of road" you push under the bogged wheels and then simply drive out.DRIVING SKILLSPractise on a small area of sand before tackling the vast desert or a beach. Momentum is your friend, so keep the revs, not necessarily the speed, high. Sand tends to form into ruts and will push the vehicle around. Within reason, let the sand steer the vehicle and don't fight it too much.Keep your hands light on the steering wheel and your thumbs pointed out so they don't get caught if the wheel suddenly spins. Drive smoothly as sudden steering input doesn't work and stopping and starting will bog the vehicle.Always look way ahead for ruts, gullies and other obstacles, especially children if you're driving on the beach. Don't follow other vehicles too closely. If the vehicle in front gets stuck, so will you.If you're travelling over dunes, put a high flag on the front of your vehicle to alert vehicles coming the opposite way. Slow down at the top of a dune to look for approaching vehicles.RETRIEVALYou will get stuck at some stage. But don't worry, that's all part of the adventure and if you have the correct gear, you will get out. There are many ways to escape a sand trap. You can use your winch, but only if there is something to attach it to.Snatch straps are good, but you need another vehicle and they can be dangerous if they let go. Shovels are a must to clear sand from in front of and behind the bogged wheels. Then throw branches or rocks under the tyres so you can drive out. MaxTrax are even better and you don't have to rely on other vehicles or anchor points.TOP 10 SAND DRIVING TIPS Check tide times and drive at low tide.Momentum is your friend, so keep revs high.Deflate the tyres to about 18-20psi, depending on load.Use a tyre pressure gauge. Do not guess the pressure.Be smooth with steering, acceleration and braking.Keep your thumbs pointing out from the steering wheel.Look ahead for gullies, obstacles and children.Don't follow other vehicles too closely.Obey all normal road rules.Don't forget retrieval gear.

It can be quite challenging with plenty of traps for the unwary.  Yet it is one of the few off-road challenges suitable for just about any SUV or 4x4 ute, including those luxury softroaders that soccer mums use to ferry their children to school.Softroaders are not really off-roaders. They have low clearance, the air intakes are too low for river crossings, they don't have low range and their monocoque construction (integrated body and frame) makes them unsuitable for rugged punishment.  Yet they can be quite capable on the beach.I recently took two unlikely SUVs for a romp on the Noosa north shore and attracted a lot of bewildered looks from the holidaymakers who were mainly in Toyota, Mitsubishi and Nissan SUVs and utes. A few even smirked, thinking they would be called on to pull us out when we eventually got stuck.But with a little preparation and a bit of education, most people can take their SUV or ute on the beach.DESTINATIONThe first thing you should do is check whether vehicles are allowed on the beach.  There are many beaches around Australia where they are permitted and usually there is a sign on the access road to the beach.Be aware that all road rules still apply on the beach such as wearing a seat belt, not drink driving and not speeding.  Beach speeds are usually 80km/h, unless otherwise posted.In peak holiday times police heavily patrol beaches where 4WDs are permitted.  These beaches can be quite dangerous for swimmers and anglers; it's like playing beside the highway.It's also dangerous for drivers as there have been several fatal accidents in vehicle rollovers.  Another important aspect of choosing your venue is the time of day to drive on the beach.  This is governed by the tides.At high tide, there is sometimes no beach to drive on or there may only be a small section left which will be deep, soft sand.  An incoming high tide can also cut you off from your exit point and leave you stranded.Make it easy on yourself and go a couple of hours before peak low tide when you can run on the firm, flat and wet sand.  Isolated beaches may be desirable, but if you run into trouble there is no help.Busy beaches mean there are plenty of vehicles to help tow you out if you get bogged. However, heavy beach traffic can also churn up the sand and make the ruts deeper.VEHICLEWhile just about any SUV or ute with part-time all-wheel drive or permanent four-wheel drive will perform on the beach, some are better than others.If you have blinged your SUV with big wheels and low-ratio tyres, you may have given it more street cred, but you will also have decreased its beach ability because you can't drop the tyre pressures to gain the benefit of a wider contact patch. Yet BMW SUVs with low-profile run-flat tyres perform quite well on sand because they are wide tyres.  Usually, the tyre profile should be at least 50 per cent so you can effectively deflate them.Driving on sand is all about momentum. Keeping the vehicle moving swiftly will keep it on top of the sand and prevent it from sinking. Soft sand instantly saps power from the vehicle, which can then lead to bogging.For this reason automatic diesels are the best sand performers. They have the grunt to handle the sudden slowing effect of soft sand and they will quickly change down a gear without losing momentum.  However, good drivers can still use manual and petrol vehicles effectively.Another issue is clearance.  Your vehicle should have at least 185mm of clearance. The more clearance the better.  While sand is unlikely to damage the vehicle's undercarriage, it will cause the vehicle to plough, slow down and lose precious momentum.PREPARATIONBefore leaving home, take out everything from the vehicle that you don't need.  The lighter the vehicle, the more chance it has of staying on top of the sand, rather than burying itself.  A lighter vehicle also has better clearance.However, it is wise to pack a shovel, snatch strap or, better still, a set of MaxTrax recovery gear which is a Brisbane invention. They are basically a piece of portable road that you shove in front of bogged tyres, then you simply drive out of the bog.Make sure your vehicle is fuelled up before hitting the beach. There are no servos on the beach and sand will substantially reduce fuel economy, so you can run dry much sooner than expected.Just before your vehicle hits sand, stop the car and deflate the tyres. Don't do it when you leave home as deflated tyres badly affect handling, wear quicker and brake longer.You can deflate the tyres at a service station near the beach and use the air pump to gauge the pressures, or you can buy yourself a cheap tyre pressure gauge. Simple manual gauges are often more accurate than impressive looking digital gauges.Never guess the pressures based on tyre bulge as some have stiff sidewalls that prevent bulging.  Tyre pressures will depend on the terrain and load, but 18-20psi is fairly standard. If there is some rock on the beach and you have a heavy load on board, keep the pressures up a bit.Don't forget to re-inflate the tyres as soon as possible after leaving the beach. Meanwhile, drive very slowly and leave plenty of braking distance.Turn off any traction or stability controls on your vehicle.  These controls either take power away from a slipping wheel or apply brakes. That's the last thing you want when you are trying to keep momentum going.DRIVING TECHNIQUESThere are many words of advice for driving on sand such as "use the highest gear in the lowest range".  However, softroaders don't have low range. In which case, simply choose a lower gear.  If your vehicle is automatic and has sports mode, then use that.Keep the engine revving so it has power on tap for when you hit soft sand.  Be aware that an automatic gearbox can heat up in these conditions, so it's a good idea to rest the vehicle periodically.  The smoother you drive, the better.Don't make sharp turns because the vehicle won't respond. Instead, you will plough straight ahead, like understeering on a wet road.  If this happens, unwind the steering and wind it on again. You may have to repeat this maneuvre several times and slow down a little.Turn in long slow arcs a good distance before you need to avoid an obstacle.  Place your hands gently at 3 and 9 o'clock on the wheel and keep your thumbs pointing out. The steering wheel can get flicked around by wiggly ruts and can dislocate your thumb.Don't fight the steering. Let it go where it wants.  In deep hard ruts you may need to "row" the steering wheel to gain traction on the sides of the ruts.  Also, be smooth on the brakes. Sudden braking will lead to slides and can bog your vehicle.  If there are dunes on the beach, drive up swiftly but pause at the top in case there is traffic coming the other way.Fit a tall flag on the front of your car so people can see you approaching from the other side of the dune.  Never turn on a dune. You can easily get bogged or roll.Don't follow too closely. If the vehicle in front becomes bogged, then you won't have time to steer around them or brake safely.  If you follow a slow-moving vehicle too closely you also run the risk of losing momentum and getting bogged.When you stop on the beach, park on hard sand. When taking off again, move slowly to avoid wheel spin then pick up speed as quickly and smoothly as possible.  On beach tracks always give way to vehicles travelling uphill as they need to keep up momentum.WARNINGSWhile beach driving is fun, you must be alert to the many lurking dangers.  Watch out for gullies, especially at low tide and at noon when there are no shadows to alert you. On north-south beaches there won't be any shadows even when the sun is low.Watch out for children on the beach. They are having fun and oblivious to traffic.  Stay off any beach vegetation. It is very fragile and even driving slowly over it can destroy roots.There are no line markings on the beach, so when approaching another vehicle, stay left. If you can't, then slow down and put on your right indicator to show the approaching traffic you are going to pass on their left.If you become bogged, you most likely will be approached by people eager to help tow your vehicle out.  Be careful that the helpers don't damage your vehicle by attaching a tow line or snatch strap to the wrong part of your car.  Check your manual first for the correct anchor point.FINAL WORDWhen you leave the beach you wash the sand off your feet and body.  The same goes for your car. Give it a thorough clean that includes a vigorous hosing underneath.  A lot of popular beach driving venues have underbody wash facilities nearby.TOP 10 SAND DRIVING TIPS1 Check tide times and drive at low tide.2 Momentum is your friend, so keep revs high.3 Deflate the tyres to about 18-20psi depending on load.4 Use a tyre pressure gauge. Never guess the pressures.5 Be smooth with steering, acceleration and braking.6 Keep your thumbs pointing out from the steering wheel.7 Look ahead for gullies and other obstacles.8 Don't follow other vehicles too closely.9 Obey all normal road rules.10 Watch out for children.SAND DRIVING TESTOur test involved two vehicles not normally associated with beach driving. The Audi Q7's natural environment is the leafy suburbs around private schools.Yet it was launched in Australia a couple of years ago with a gruelling trans-continental drive that included a trip over our biggest sand dune, Big Red, near Birdsville.  As capable as it may be, this stylish luxury SUV attracted some interested looks from holidaymakers and police alike.Those looks turned to sheer bewilderment as the big seven-seater 3.0 TDI model easily ambled through the deepest soft sand, even with a full complement of passengers _ all 500kg of them.That torquey diesel engine is just the sort of beast you need with a full load on board as you hit the soft stuff.  Audi has also helped by fitting decent tyres to this model.The Goodyear Eagle F1 tyres have "SUV 4x4" printed on the sidewalls which means they are made for this sort of terrain.  They are also 235mm wide and have a high 60 per cent profile which means you can drop the tyre pressures from the recommended 44/49psi to the low 20s and make the tyre contact patch even wider. It makes a nice big footprint on the sand.Fuel economy is rated at 9.1L/10km (combined) but with beach driving and seven seats occupied this blew out closer to the official city figures of about 11L/100km.  We also took a Jeep Patriot on the beach.While, Jeeps are not an uncommon sight on the beach, it's usually the Wrangler, Cherokee and Grand Cherokee.  The Patriot is light and skips across the top of the sand, but it's compromised by 203mm of clearance. Lowering the tyre pressures drops that a little bit further.However, the sturdy steel underbody with no plastic bits or fragile protrusions mean it can slide along on its belly without any damage.  It is also shod with sensible rubber for this sort of driving.  The Continental ContiPremiumContact tyres have a 215mm tread width and a 60 per cent profile.And of course, it's a Jeep, so its drive system is dependable.  This comes with the Freedom-Drive active on-demand all-wheel-drive system with a selectable lock-in 4WD mode so you can plough through the softest sand.Another virtue is that the design means the steep windscreen doesn't leave you baking in the sun, so you can turn your airconditioning down or off and use maximum engine power.While torque is not as good as a diesel, the CVT box keeps the revs stirring high, plus the selector mode allows you to quickly chose a lower gear as soon as the soft sand starts draining momentum.Jeep Patriot LimitedPRICE: $36,490ENGINE: 2.4L 4-cylinder petrolPOWER: 125kW @ 6000rpmTORQUE: 220Nm @ 4500rpmTRANSMISSION: CVT with Auto Stick manual shift mode, Freedom-Drive active on-demand with selectable lock 4WD modeTYRES: Continental ContiPremiumContact 215/60 R17ECONOMY: 9.1L/100km (official), 10.5 (tested on sand)Audi Q7 3.0 quattroPRICE: $88,542ENGINE: 2967cc V6 turbo dieselPOWER: 176kW @ 4400rpmTORQUE: 550Nm @ 2000-2250rpmTRANSMISSION: 6-speed automatic with select shiftTYRES: Goodyear Eagle F1 SUV 4x4 235/60 R18ECONOMY: 9.1L/100km (official), 11 (tested on sand)

A great way to increase the fun factor in your off-roading trips is to build confidence in your driving skills.