Have you ever crossed paths with a lifted station wagon or a mid-size SUV with large all-terrain tires and wondered, what is that? That is soft roading, well they are soft roaders technically. Cars or SUVs that are modified to go beyond paved roads.
So what is soft roading?
Soft roading is an increasingly popular form of adventure travel in stock or modified vehicle, usually with AWD, that allows you to go and explore lesser visited or harder to reach places that a standard vehicle doesn’t. These vehicles usually have more capability than a standard two-wheel drive car or SUV. While it’s still possible to use a 2WD vehicle, and many do, but you’ll probably need some modification and maybe even some recovery gear.
Now compared to off roading, which is normally done with 4WD/4×4 vehicles, soft roading can be done in most all-wheel drive vehicles such as cars and SUVs with proper preparation.
Perhaps you’re not quite ready to go full-on off roading, but you’ve got a hankering for an adventure. Maybe you’ve seen pictures of people driving through epic landscapes in their station wagons or SUVs and think,” That’s rad, I’d like to do that!”. If that’s the case, here are a bunch of things you should know about soft roading.
What are the characteristics of a soft roader vehicle?
Soft roaders are usually equipped with AWD, giving them enhanced capabilities beyond the standard ‘on-road’ vehicles.
A vehicle equipped for soft roading usually has features like higher ground clearance, upgraded all-terrain tires, and more rugged design features like more durable body panels around wheel arches.
Many soft roaders choose to modify their vehicles even further with lift kits, protective armor for the vehicles undercarriage, upgraded bumpers, and larger tires. This also includes other accessories like lightbars, roof racks, rooftop tents, winches, and other gear to fit their lifestyles.
What kind of terrain do you drive on in soft road vehicles?
Soft roading vehicles can handle a variety of terrain including dirt trails, gravel, mud, sand, snow, and even torturous paved roads! However, not all terrain is created equal and some terrain may be more challenging for your vehicle than others.
You should always use caution when driving on unfamiliar terrain and don’t attempt anything beyond your skill level or your vehicle’s capabilities.
The difference between off-roading and soft-roading
Off-roading is considerably more open ended in terms of specialized vehicles then that of soft roading. Most vehicles tend to be trucks or larger SUVs, compared to soft roading which are usually smaller like cars, SUVs, or crossovers. A hallmark for your standard off roading capable vehicle is having 4WD(4×4) with 4hi/4lo, and a locking front and/or rear differentials which enables these vehicles to go through much rougher terrain.
There are many different types of off-roaders with communities for each. These include rock crawlers, extreme overlanding/expedition vehicles, mudding, and desert racing to name some examples.
Soft roading is more like the ‘lite’ version of off roading, it’s much more casual and in general, the “rules” of soft roading are much more relaxed and liberal with a lower barrier to entry. You’ll see the soft roaders with mostly AWD vehicles, but with a few 2WD vehicles splashed in there. The most common modifications are lift kits, larger all-terrain tires, and body armor. Accessories like roof racks, rooftop tents, and awnings are also common additions to soft roaders.
The most popular soft road vehicle in the U.S. is the Subaru Outback or Crosstrek. Vehicles similar to this have AWD, substantial ground clearance, great traction, and ample space for gear such as camping and hiking activities. They also have large aftermarket support for parts and accessories.
What are the benefits of soft roading?
1. It’s more accessible
This is probably the biggest reason for soft roading becoming more popular.
With vehicle costs continuing to rise, soft roading is a much more accessible option for people to use vehicles they already own with often very little modification, allowing them to confidently explore lesser visited areas with a capable AWD or 2WD vehicle.
They can enjoy soft roading adventures close to home on camping trips, weekend adventures, or just hitting the trails for just a day.
2. Lower cost than off-roading
Soft roading vehicles are usually slightly smaller, cheaper to buy/maintain, and usually more fuel efficient than off roaders even with factoring in aftermarket modifications.
Off-roading vehicles are usually bigger, more expensive to purchase/maintain, have poorer gas mileage, and with the laundry list of modifications these numbers only increase.
3. Less modification required for vehicles you may already own
Many vehicles are capable soft roaders with only slight modifications to the vehicle you already own.
If you already have AWD and some decent ground clearance you might even be able to just slap on some decent tires and hit the trails. Now that being said, before you go ripping through dirt roads in your Honda fit, we suggest maybe a lift kit, all-terrain tires, and some recovery gear!
4. Less mud! (maybe!)
This might not be important to you, but if you’re new to soft roading or you’re perhaps interested in family friendly soft road trips, then you’ll be pleased to know that soft roading is generally less intense, less muddy, and involves less water compared to off roading!
The big benefit of soft roading is that you can make it what you want, whether that’s dirt tracks, beach driving, cross country or snowy destinations, soft roading allows you to confidently explore a variety of terrains.
How to Start Soft Roading
If you are interested in soft roading, here are the things you need to get started:
- A soft roader vehicle
- Places to start soft roading
- Know the rules and regulations in your area for soft roading
- Pack appropriately for the conditions
Let’s break these down:
- A soft roader vehicle
Most AWD vehicles are suitable for soft roading, however the main thing to consider is the ground clearance – does your vehicle have enough clearance for dirt tracks or rocky roads without damaging the underside of the car? Also, think about tires – while AWD is a great benefit, poor tires will definitely affect how your trip might go. Do you need all-terrain tires? Do you have suitable tread? Is the tire pressure correct?
You may own a vehicle that is two-wheel drive but has high ground clearance and well-equipped tires. It’s very possible to go soft roading in a 2WD vehicle, it just depends on the terrain you’re planning to tackle – do your research and know your vehicle specifications.
- Places to start soft roading
There are loads of websites/apps to help you find suitable places for soft roading such as On X Maps, Trails off Road and Gaia GPS but they might have subscription fees.
However, it’s a good idea to find local off road groups and do some of your own research if you’re planning to go soft roading closer to home. Check out:
- Local soft road or off road Facebook groups
- Specialized vehicle forums
- Look up OHV areas near you
- Google maps satellite view can help you identify trails and gravel roads
- Know the rules and regulations in your area for soft roading
Some counties, states, or even countries prohibit off roading/soft roading in certain areas. Make sure to check your local laws and regulations before you head out on the trails
Also, be aware of private land. While an outdoor wilderness area might seem like a great spot for soft roading, check whether it’s actually privately owned or protected as this could make off roading activities illegal.
- Pack appropriately for the conditions
In the same way you would prepare for a hiking or camping trip, make sure you’re bringing food and water supplies, and clothing for all weather conditions. Soft roading can mean you find yourself in more remote areas which are harder to reach with little to no passing traffic so should something go wrong – be prepared!
Also, make sure you have the appropriate emergency gear for your vehicles, consider some of the following:
- Jumper cables/Jump starter box
- Recovery gear
- Snow chains
- Extra fuel
What is the Soft Road community like?
You can be as much or as little involved in the soft road community as you like.
Some areas of the U.S. such as the Pacific Northwest have dedicated groups and clubs for soft roading who regularly meet or plan trips together. You might find there isn’t much of an established community for it in your area yet, however there is a large and growing community of soft roaders online which is very friendly and welcoming. You might even find yourself joining an off roading group on some lighter trails.
There are plenty of websites and forums where you can meet and interact with other soft roaders. Many share tips and advice on everything from where to find good places to start soft roading to what kind of modifications and vehicles are best for soft roading.
Here are some tips and a few online community resources to get started:
- Look up the Reddit forum for your soft roader – Like for instance if you have a Subaru there are large subreddits for each vehicle model.
- https://www.reddit.com/r/battlewagon/ and https://www.reddit.com/r/Battlecars/ are fun subreddits with soft roaders
- As Soft Roading is still growing some of the best resources overlap with Overlanding and 4wd forums/communities
- https://www.facebook.com/groups/1371946772981777/ is one of the largest soft roading communities on FB. It’s based in BC, but still a great community. https://www.facebook.com/groups/softroaders is also a good group.
- There are many Soft Roading Instagram accounts with many users posting their rigs, builds, and adventures. Instagram is usually the best place to find meetups and events.
Thanks to the low barrier to entry, more accessible vehicle types and lower costs, anyone with a sense of adventure can take part in this growing community.
Summary: What is soft roading – A guide
Soft roading is a great way to explore the outdoors and take your vehicle off the beaten path. It’s great for those who want to take their AWD or 2WD car or SUV off road, but without the higher costs of larger proposed built off road vehicles.
Follow some of our tips and get started soft roading, there’s a whole world out there just waiting to be explored!
Leave a Reply