Once you’re off the bitumen, hundreds of kilometres from the nearest roadhouse, and well outside phone range, everything changes.

Before you dive headlong into the deep end, there are a few things every beginner 4X4er should understand. Consider this your glovebox guide to getting started in the world of low-range and high-adventure.

You don’t need to be a jack of all trades on day one, but having a rough idea and the basics of each terrain will limit the shock factor on your off-road adventure.

After covering everything from bitumen to beach highways, rainforest tracks and water crossings, the Amarok's came away with nothing but respect from the Club 4X4 team.

Beach driving and coastal camping bring a special kind of magic… and a special kind of mess. Salt, sand, moisture, and mud can wreak havoc on everything from your underbody to your camp chairs if you don’t give things a proper clean-up and check-over post-trip.

A solid second-hand 4X4 will take you to places most people only ever dream of and with the right checks, it won’t leave you stranded halfway up a track with a detonated diff and an empty wallet.