Offroad Class
An off-road vehicle is considered to be any type of vehicle which is capable of driving on and off paved or gravel surface. It is generally characterized by having large tires with deep, open treads and a flexible suspension. Off-road vehicles have an enthusiastic following because of their many uses and versatility. Several types of motorsports involve racing off-road vehicles. The three largest "4 wheel vehicle" off-road types of competitions are Rally, Desert Racing, and Rockcrawling. The most common use of these vehicles is for sight seeing in areas distant from pavement. The use of higher clearance and higher traction vehicles enables access on trails and forest roads that have rough and low traction surfaces. Most off-road vehicles are fitted with especially low gearing. This allows the operator to make the most of the engine's available power, while moving through challenging terrain slowly. A combustion engine coupled to a normal gearbox often has a too high output speed to be usable. The vehicle often has one of two things; either a very low ("granny") first gear (like the all wheel drive Volkswagen Transporter versions) or an additional gearbox in-line with the first, called a reduction drive. Many wheeled off road vehicles have all wheel drive, to keep traction on slippery surfaces, although in vehicles designed for use both on and off road, this may be switchable so that the vehicle has fewer driven wheels when on the road. SUVs are built with higher ground clearance for off-road use and have a higher center of gravity, therefore increasing the risk of rollover.
