Driving down trails with rugged terrain and traversing over challenging obstacles can make for a fun and exciting activity. Unfortunately, it can also do a number on your vehicle. If you have developed a love for off-roading, you should protect your vehicle properly and exercise caution to avoid shortening the lifespan of your car. Here are some of the most common types of vehicle damage caused by off-roading against which you should protect tour vehicle.

Transmission Issues

Transmission issues are among the most common types of vehicle damage that avid off-roaders experience. When off-roading, you will likely make a significant amount of low gear shifts at high RPMs. Such shifts can put a lot of wear and tear on your vehicle’s transmission.

You need to keep an eye out for symptoms of transmission problems, such as gear slipping, trouble changing gears, and strange noises, so that you can address any issues immediately before they get worse. After all, your transmission is one of the most complex and expensive components of your vehicle. For the sake of your wallet, you will likely want to avoid a complete replacement at all costs.

Body Damage

Unsurprisingly, body damage also occurs frequently when driving through forests and unpaved pathways. Branches, rocks, and other outside forces often will leave dents and scrapes on the sides of a vehicle. It’s all part of the experience, and such cosmetic flaws are basically a rite of passage on any hardcore off-roader’s vehicle. However, you can decrease the amount of body damage your vehicle experiences by installing body armor.

Wheel Misalignment

Driving over uneven trails with deep ruts, holes, logs, and rock formations can put a lot of stress on your vehicle’s suspension and often cause its wheels to become misaligned. If you notice that your vehicle is pulling to one side when you are trying to drive straight, your wheels have likely become misaligned. To avoid placing excessive wear and tear on your vehicle, you should get your wheels realigned as soon as possible.

Undercarriage Damage

Another common type of vehicle damage caused by off-roading is undercarriage damage. Rigid vegetation on overgrown trails, rocks, and logs can all scrape against the bottom of your vehicle while off-roading and cause damage. One of the best ways to enjoy the trails while preventing undercarriage damage is by investing in skid plates, which are installed on the underside of a vehicle and shield its weak spots. Even if you have skid plates, however, you should always check the underside of your vehicle after an off-roading excursion to ensure that none of the vital components have been damaged.