Ok, for the first time ever, I took my Patriot out to an official off-road event just half hour drive from me. It was an event in the woods, with heavily rutted muddy tracks and some deep deep mud pools (of which my Patriot certainly did NOT even attempt to cross!)
Leading up to the grass field and event marquee, was a pretty bumpy and slightly muddy gravel track. What am I letting myself in for, I thought! When I got to the field, it was basically one pretty heavily rutted, grassy mud pit. If anything, this was more slippery than anywhere else in the woods, as I was to discover later. I did lose traction slightly in the field, but generally my Patriot ticked along nicely and was in control 90% of the time.
I parked up and had a chat with the event organisers, they checked over my vehicle, and gave me the all clear. Appreciating I didn't have skid plates, tow hooks, proper mud tyres or the best clearance in the world, I still had a decent pair of semi off-road Michelin tyres with good tread, and a four wheel drive car. It was enough.
I had an initial drive round in this guy's modded old school Cherokee, which can handle pretty much anything. Most of the other 4x4s there were Land Rovers (as it's the UK), many of which were older discovery models, and defenders, which were heavily-lifted with huge mud tyres. There were numerous jeeps though too, nearly all of which being older Cherokees/Grand Cherokees with one Wrangler, and of course my lonely Patriot representing us! There were a couple of random pickups too.
Anyway, went round the site with an organiser as passenger. We stuck to easier tracks, but they were still heavily rutted, extremely bumpy, with some deep puddles. The Patriot barely slipped. He was surprised at how well it did, as was I. He also said it was the most comfortable 4x4 he's been in in a while!
Now, it was my turn to go it alone! After having a bite to eat, I got back in my Pat and took it into the woods. I hit some real thick muddy ruts, lost a bit of traction, but felt pretty safe most of the time. I then got to a dense bit of woodland which had some real bumpy root-plates to watch out for. My car started making a squeaking/scratching noise when turning sharply. I started to get concerned but carried on. Then I went to the dark-side!
I drove to another area of the woodland which was heavily rutted and had some mad deep mud pools (of which I didn't even contemplate driving through, as the Pat would not have succeeded, for a fact). I watched some modded land rovers and cherokees drive through though, mud everywhere and the odd vehicle having to be towed out. (I'm talking, 3, 4, 5 ft deep water probably!)
Anyway, I got to a loop in the circuit and stopped. I was a tad concerned. As I really set myself up to take it one of two tracks. The left one was far too dangerous for my Pat so I didn't think twice about attempting, there was a huge dip and probably about 2, 3 + ft or water. My Pat just doesn't have the clearance for this.
So I had to take the more gentle mud pool, which was 1 to 3 ft deep. (Well, it appears to seem that way on the front of my car!) I gave it a bit of gas and drove through the first pool, no problem! Although, a hellish sound on the underside of my Pat. Oh God! I panicked a touch and when I didn't have the momentum to get up the slope to the next mud pool, I rolled back, put the handbrake on and stopped in the water (which wasn't that deep here). I got out to look for someone to give me a hand as I'm not experienced in this driving, but my colleague showed up in his Cherokee luckily. I then asked if he'd be able to drive me out the pool, up the small slope, into the next pool and out back onto the rutted track. He initially failed the first time, but then gave it more gas and got up the slope and out the pool no problem. Awesome! The next bit was tricky, I had to follow the ruts between two trees and my Pat started to slide left (which was sloping downhill too!), and down that way was a deeper mud pool! The guy who drove me out got on the left side of the vehicle to push me right, while some other folks pushed from behind the car. Gave me the momentum to get up and within the two trees safely. I was then back on some heavily rutted tracks but took it slowly and the Patriot really handled pretty well.
Given the clearance on this car, and the fact I didn't have proper mud tyres, I am damn impressed! My Pat did better than I expected, to be frank.
I have some photos and my dash cam caught a lot of this on video, which is awesome. I'll upload some of the photos here soon, and perhaps make a YouTube.
No warning lights came on (apart from the traction one which is to be expected) while sliding, and I cannot see any visible damage to the underside. Nothing is hanging off, and it drove home with no problems. They said I should pressure-wash around the underside and brakes etc.
Anyway, I think with more clearance and some proper mud tyres, this is one real capable "small SUV," and those who mock the Patriot don't know what they're talking about. This car can do a lot!
Leading up to the grass field and event marquee, was a pretty bumpy and slightly muddy gravel track. What am I letting myself in for, I thought! When I got to the field, it was basically one pretty heavily rutted, grassy mud pit. If anything, this was more slippery than anywhere else in the woods, as I was to discover later. I did lose traction slightly in the field, but generally my Patriot ticked along nicely and was in control 90% of the time.
I parked up and had a chat with the event organisers, they checked over my vehicle, and gave me the all clear. Appreciating I didn't have skid plates, tow hooks, proper mud tyres or the best clearance in the world, I still had a decent pair of semi off-road Michelin tyres with good tread, and a four wheel drive car. It was enough.
I had an initial drive round in this guy's modded old school Cherokee, which can handle pretty much anything. Most of the other 4x4s there were Land Rovers (as it's the UK), many of which were older discovery models, and defenders, which were heavily-lifted with huge mud tyres. There were numerous jeeps though too, nearly all of which being older Cherokees/Grand Cherokees with one Wrangler, and of course my lonely Patriot representing us! There were a couple of random pickups too.
Anyway, went round the site with an organiser as passenger. We stuck to easier tracks, but they were still heavily rutted, extremely bumpy, with some deep puddles. The Patriot barely slipped. He was surprised at how well it did, as was I. He also said it was the most comfortable 4x4 he's been in in a while!
Now, it was my turn to go it alone! After having a bite to eat, I got back in my Pat and took it into the woods. I hit some real thick muddy ruts, lost a bit of traction, but felt pretty safe most of the time. I then got to a dense bit of woodland which had some real bumpy root-plates to watch out for. My car started making a squeaking/scratching noise when turning sharply. I started to get concerned but carried on. Then I went to the dark-side!
I drove to another area of the woodland which was heavily rutted and had some mad deep mud pools (of which I didn't even contemplate driving through, as the Pat would not have succeeded, for a fact). I watched some modded land rovers and cherokees drive through though, mud everywhere and the odd vehicle having to be towed out. (I'm talking, 3, 4, 5 ft deep water probably!)
Anyway, I got to a loop in the circuit and stopped. I was a tad concerned. As I really set myself up to take it one of two tracks. The left one was far too dangerous for my Pat so I didn't think twice about attempting, there was a huge dip and probably about 2, 3 + ft or water. My Pat just doesn't have the clearance for this.
So I had to take the more gentle mud pool, which was 1 to 3 ft deep. (Well, it appears to seem that way on the front of my car!) I gave it a bit of gas and drove through the first pool, no problem! Although, a hellish sound on the underside of my Pat. Oh God! I panicked a touch and when I didn't have the momentum to get up the slope to the next mud pool, I rolled back, put the handbrake on and stopped in the water (which wasn't that deep here). I got out to look for someone to give me a hand as I'm not experienced in this driving, but my colleague showed up in his Cherokee luckily. I then asked if he'd be able to drive me out the pool, up the small slope, into the next pool and out back onto the rutted track. He initially failed the first time, but then gave it more gas and got up the slope and out the pool no problem. Awesome! The next bit was tricky, I had to follow the ruts between two trees and my Pat started to slide left (which was sloping downhill too!), and down that way was a deeper mud pool! The guy who drove me out got on the left side of the vehicle to push me right, while some other folks pushed from behind the car. Gave me the momentum to get up and within the two trees safely. I was then back on some heavily rutted tracks but took it slowly and the Patriot really handled pretty well.
Given the clearance on this car, and the fact I didn't have proper mud tyres, I am damn impressed! My Pat did better than I expected, to be frank.
I have some photos and my dash cam caught a lot of this on video, which is awesome. I'll upload some of the photos here soon, and perhaps make a YouTube.
No warning lights came on (apart from the traction one which is to be expected) while sliding, and I cannot see any visible damage to the underside. Nothing is hanging off, and it drove home with no problems. They said I should pressure-wash around the underside and brakes etc.
Anyway, I think with more clearance and some proper mud tyres, this is one real capable "small SUV," and those who mock the Patriot don't know what they're talking about. This car can do a lot!
