If I had a magic phone and could call 30-year-old me, I’d be yelling a few things down the line—because I learned them the expensive way. In this video I run through the 4WD tips I wish I knew earlier, starting with the big one: stop putting your vehicle in mud. Mud is the worst. It kills driveline bits, hoses, seals, brakes, throws your wheel balance out, and if you get stuck your whole rig stinks. I copped a mud-related bill on the Holland Track that was over five grand—so yeah, I’m done with it. I also talk about the stuff that quietly ruins trips: not checking your spare parts kit properly (like having bearings but no seals), and trusting dodgy workmanship. Accessories and wiring are where I’ve had the most grief, and it’s why I bang on about researching whoever touches your car—winch installs included. I’ve been caught more than once with a winch that didn’t work because something simple wasn’t hooked up, and I hadn’t checked it. Then there’s the practical survival stuff: do a “fire drill” in your vehicle so you actually know what you can grab fast, and make sure your fire extinguisher is mounted where you can reach it (not left at home in the workshop). I finish with trip reality—weather is unpredictable, so if the forecast is bad, don’t go; and if it’s light, plan for 50/50. Also: drive your stock vehicle first, find its limits, then spend money where it actually matters.