There are a couple of reasons why you might consider hiring a 4X4 over a car. You might need to tow something (trailer, horse float), you might be on holiday and want to do some off-roading
you might only get the urge to 4X4 once a year.

Whatever your reason for looking to hire a 4X4 there are a few things to look out for other than just the cost. Here are some of them.

• How new is the 4X4?

  For the inexperienced off-roader, the newer the fleet the better. New 4wd’s are less likely to have issues, come equipped with all the latest driver assist technology, and, in most cases, are nicer to drive.

• What type of 4X4 is it?

  These days there a so many cars claiming to be 4X4’s. If you’re hiring a 4X4 to do a trip across the dessert, make sure it’s equipped to do the job. If you’re unsure on a particular type of 4X4 ask here, or look to the stacks of great 4X4 forums.

• What gear does it come with?

  Hiring a 4X4 doesn’t necessarily come with all the gear you’ll need. If it’s not included in the package, you’ll need to provide it yourself, or worse, be stuck somewhere without it. You’ll need a recovery kit, first aid etc. Most hiring agents with include this as an added cost. Make sure you choose it. Check out our camping checklist for more ideas.

• What insurance does it include?

  4wd’s are expensive machines; you don’t want to be paying for damage out of your own pocket. If you owned the car would you go off-road without being insured? Don’t do the same with someone else’s. Check what you are covered for too. If you’re going off-road, it needs to be included in the policy.

• How far can you travel?

  Make sure you’re aware on if there are limits on the number of km’s or miles you can do with your hire car. If your needing a 4X4, it’s probably for a long trip and you don’t want to be surprised with a big bill for exceeding your distance limit or find out that you were not covered by insurance because you were to far from home.

These are some of the important questions to ask yourself and the company hiring out the 4X4. It’s 4X4 is a little more involved that hiring a car, so it’s important you make an informed choice. Don’t be afraid to ask silly questions or you’ll wind up putting a hire car into a scenario it can’t handle.

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