Where to start ...

The most important thing you need to know is where you can and cannot drive your new toy. What you are looking for are called B.O.A.T.s - ( Byways Open to All Traffic ) or R.U.P.P ( Roads Used as Public Paths ) - These can be hard to find, some maps do not show them all, and even if you know where one is it is not a sure thing that you have a right of way on this track - Confused ?   Not to worry as help is at hand. Have a look at our Green Lane article for a bit more information.

If you are a beginner, look at our article entitled off-road for beginners. This will explain the basics. If you are looking for lanes in your area, have a look at our page showing Green lane and Off-road sites around the Country. Your local council should be able to let you know which byways are open to all traffic and which are not.

Pay them a visit, as they can point you in the right direction and show you some great greenlanes where you can drive in your locality.

Another alternative is to look on a map of the local area. Maps are generally marked with a series of +-+-+- which denotes a BOAT. Some maps use +-+-+- (green), while others use +-+-+- (red). To find more information on local councils for the Berkshire area and BOATs, have a look on our 'links' page under the section 'Other useful sites'.

Follow the rules ...

Always follow the rules of the countryside when driving on Byways -

• Do your homework first; ensure you do have a right to be there.
• Keep your speed down.
• Stop to let walkers, bikers and horses pass.
• Close gates after you.
• Always be prepared to turn back if the route is blocked.
• Do not drop litter.
• If you find mud, do not treat it like a playground.
• Respect local residents - especially at night.
• Remember, a byway is a public road, so your vehicle must still be Mot'd Taxed and insured. It must be totally legal.
• If someone has a go at you, do not get angry - just explain to them that you do have a right to be there as it's a public right of way.

Also consider joining a local 4x4 club, there are hundreds of clubs that often go greenlaning and cater for everyone from novices to experts.

Those of you reading this either have got a Suzuki 4x4 or are thinking about getting one, so you must respect what this vehicle is designed to do, and perhaps more importantly, on the other end of the scale, what it is not designed to do.
The SJ is an all terrain vehicle - its not comfortable, its very bumpy. It's slow. It's got zero electrical gadgets to play with. But the Suzuki SJ series is tough, very tough. It will take you almost anywhere and almost nothing will stop it. But at the end of the day, while greenlaning, if you hit a tree the Suzuki will dent, if you plough through bushes and hedges the Suzuki will get scratched. If you drive sideways on along a slope, the Suzuki can topple - always drive with care and remember that you should only push the car to its extremes when the situation that you are in calls for it.

Do not EVER tempt fate.

Vehicle preparation ...

Yes, your SJ can handle these conditions and much more besides ( I like to look at my LWB SJ413 as a Land Rover Recovery Vehicle !! ), but the little car will need some other equipment before you go taking it to the rough. The first thing, the most important thing in my book, has got to be tyres. You will not get far on standard road tyres. A good set of mud tyres are reasonably cheap and will transform your SJ. If you do not like the noise of these knobbly tyres while driving on road a good simple way round this would be to invest in a second set of wheels, one for your road use tyres, and one for your play day tyres.

It is also worth taking recovery equipment. A Hi-lift jack is a great investment, as is a basic hand winch, tree straps and good winching gloves. Another few useful items are a spade, an axe and a saw. Useful extras would also be a set of traction ladders and good strong rope.

Depending on where you are greenlaning, you could be several miles from anywhere so it is also a good idea to take with you a small camping cooker, a kettle with beverages, a full fuel can, a spares kit (containing - fuses, bulbs, fan belt, etc), a can of Tyre weld, a fire extinguisher, a mobile phone (it is worth remembering that in a high percentage of the greenlanes of Britain your mobile phone will not have a signal), and if possible, a First Aid kit and training.

It is always better if you have someone to go with you and even better if they have a vehicle, as this will help recover you should you get stuck. Remember, if travelling in a convoy, to always ensure that you keep at least one other vehicle in sight. Never start to go through an obstacle such as a large descent, until you are 100% certain that the vehicle in front of you has cleared the obstacle and so your path is clear - you could lose control and slide down into the other vehicle leaving you all in a mess.

Driving through fords - great fun - but do so at a sensible speed. The SJ is very good at wading through water but not invincible. Take it easy and you should create a bow wave in front of you that will make your crossing easier and safer.

Interesting trails ...

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