4-Wheel Freedom: The Art Of Off-Road Driving (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Whether you're thinking about buying a 4-wheel drive vehicle or are already an experienced 4WDer, there is something in this complete guide for you. Learn how to drive on snow, ice, rocks, mud and hills, plus how to choose and use off-road tires, winches and other specialty gear. Every 4WD owner should own this handy book.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Paladin Press (September 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0873648919
• ISBN-13: 978-0873648912
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #50,425 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good introduction, June 17, 2003

By	Kurt D. Fenstermacher (Westport, CT United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is a basic introduction to driving off-road. If you don't know what a locker is, how it works or why you might want one for off-road use, you'll find the answers in this book. On the other hand, if you've decided to save money on a locker by welding the spider gears together in your garage, this is not the book for you.

Having said that, I think it's a very good introduction and I knocked off one star for its only fault -- I found the organization a bit strange. If you read through the book cover-to-cover though, you'll know where to find what you need in the book. I'd give it four and a half stars if I could.

On Amazon's recommendation, I bought this book with The Off-Road 4-Wheel Drive Book by Jack Jackson, which is a very different animal. Jackson's book is for hard-core expeditions more than recreational off-roading. Many paragraphs start with sentences like, "As I forded a raging river during the rainy season in Pakistan, the engine suddenly stalled." If you're planning on crossing the Sahara, I'd recommend Jackson's book for you. Even if you're not, he does give good ideas for tough situations and you know you're getting advice that's been tested off-road in some of the worst conditions imaginable.

The bottom line: if you're just starting out, buy DeLong's book alone. If you find yourself venturing off-road more and more and you'd like to be more independent, buy Jackson's book as a follow-up.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stating the obvious that isn't so obvious to the user, October 14, 1999

By	Javier Prieto Huber (Madrid, Spain) - See all my reviews

Dr. De Long has made the perfect book for those of us who have to learn things the hard way, on our own. With 4-Wheel Freedom we are taken step by step not only through the basics, but through some advanced techniques as well. His advice is good no matter where you live or what rig you own. Read once for pleasure and then give it a careful second going over, extracting the nuggets of wisdom that only come to us after making lots of mistakes and asking lots of questions to so-called "experts" who don't always know what they are talking about.Don't let my beginner's gratefullness fool you, I have friends who know a lot about 4x4 and have had to take back their initial comments about the book. One piece of advice has saved me wear and tear on my rig and an expensive repair job. I hope the author writes more on the subject.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars necessary reading, August 8, 2000

By	david fedrick (camdenton, mo USA) - See all my reviews

This is the one book to read before leaving the asphalt!With the knowledge gleaned from 4-wheel freedom one can venture off road with confidence,knowing the limitations of his or her vehicle,and understanding the basics of keeping safe.This is not a book for radical off-roading only,this book should be required standard equipment for all 4-wheel drive vehicles sold.The enviormental issues covered are good practices that can help to keep off-roading an acceptable form of recreation.This is one that deserves more than 5 stars.