THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY OF BEADLOCKS

I DON’T actually know how to play chess, so bear with me for a minute here. Four-wheel driving is like chess. Well, maybe Risk, or snooker, or perhaps Cluedo. The point is, while the spinning tyres and flinging mud get all the Instagram likes, it’s much more of a strategic affair. Man vs machine, machine vs terrain; knowledge and skill vs practicality and good sense. It’s an ongoing struggle identifying the weak points of the vehicle’s abilities and strengths, addressing them to make things go farther and harder, and trying to keep the whole affair on the road long enough to actually go for the occasional four-wheeling trip with your mates.

And ultimately, it all comes down to one thing: traction.

Y’see, where bigger turbos send more power down the line, bar work armours your rig, and lockers ensure drive goes to all four wheels, continued progress in tricky terrain ultimately comes down to just a few square inches of rubber on the track propelling you forward