Types Of Off Road Vehicles

There are many types of off-road vehicles, from two-wheeled to two-wheel-drive. But what are they good for, and what sets these off-road vehicles apart?

The main types of off-road vehicles are mountain bikes, dirt bikes, 4-wheelers or ATVs, Jeeps and Jeep-like vehicles, off-road cars, trucks, SUVs, and track-based vehicles like tanks and snowmobiles.

In this article, we'll cover the most common kinds of off-road vehicles, along with a few examples. Additionally, we will describe the benefits of each type and give examples of the ideal terrain for their use.

We sourced the information used in this article from vehicle engineering guides and from our off-roading experience.

‍Mountain Bikes

A mountain bike is technically an off-road vehicle, even though it usually doesn't have an engine. Some kinds of mountain bikes have aftermarket motor kits installed (usually 2-stroke engines), which sometimes qualify as motorcycles or mopeds depending on the jurisdiction.

But plain old mountain bikes are the simplest form of off-road vehicle. Unlike road bikes, mountain bikes have suspension and larger tires with more grip. Most mountain bikes are made of aluminum and have shocks in the front, but some have multiple shocks and carbon fiber frames.

Mountain bikes cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to several thousand depending on the derailleur, suspension, frame type, brand, and overall quality. Ultralight carbon fiber mountain bikes are the priciest and sometimes cost upwards of $5,000 or more.

What Terrain Can Mountain Bikes Ride On?

Mountain bikes are ideal for dry dirt tracks of varying intensity. They run great down or uphill, and handle dirt and gravel well. However, mountain bikes don’t do well on sand, mud, snow, or ice. Here are some terrain types that mountain bikes love.

• Pavement
• Gravel
• Rocks
• Dirt

Dirt Bikes

Dirt bikes are motorcycles that are designed to run on dirt. These vehicles are lighter than road motorcycles and usually have less power—but the power is more than enough for off-road use.

They operate the same way motorcycles do, with a manual transmission and usually a chain drive. There are two-stroke gas dirt bikes, 4-stroke gas dirt bikes, and smaller gas-powered dirt bikes called pit bikes.

Dirt bikes have a lot of suspension travel for absorbing bumps and jumps. They also usually lack features such as headlights and turn signals, as these are not required off-road. Dirt bikes have taller and thinner tires than motorcycles and significantly more tread.

Some dirt bikes are street-legal, but the majority don't come from the factory with all the required equipment. You can make virtually any gas-powered dirt bike street legal with the correct lights, insurance, and a license plate.

Dirt bikes are the simplest and most affordable types of off-road vehicles that actually have a motor. They can be extremely powerful (with one or two cylinders), and they're often used for racing and stunts.

What Terrain Can Dirt Bikes Drive On?

Dirt bikes are robust vehicles that can travel on almost any solid or semi-solid surface, including steep rock faces. They don't do as well as other vehicles on surfaces such as sand, mud, snow, and ice. Here's a list of terrain that dirt bikes excel on:

• Pavement
• Gravel
• Rocks
• Dirt
• Sand

4-Wheelers (ATVs)

ATVs (all-terrain vehicles), or 4-wheelers, are four-wheeled off-road vehicles that work much like dirt bikes. These vehicles have advantages over dirt bikes, namely that they're more stable and easier to drive. ATVs are usually uncovered, but some larger versions have small truck beds, back seats, and even doors and windows.

ATVs are thought to be safer off-road vehicles, as they don't require a whole lot of skill to drive on rough terrain (unlike mountain bikes and dirt bikes). That said, many ATVs have large engines and high top speeds, sometimes in excess of 60 mph.

Most ATVs are 4-wheel drive, and some have a low-range gearbox for traveling up steep surfaces or getting out of a rut. The 4-wheel drive capabilities of ATVs make them the perfect short-range vehicle for challenging areas, such as mountainsides, farms, and ranches.

ATVs usually have four-stroke gasoline engines. Some utility ATV-type vehicles run on diesel, though these are used more for work than recreation. ATVs have a lot of suspension travel and short, wide off-road tires for good grip and stability. However, they roll quite easily.

ATVs can be made street legal the same way dirt bikes are. You need to add items such as a headlight and a tail light, register it, and keep it insured in most states. But ATVs are a common sight on the road in many parts of the country.

What Terrain Can ATVs And 4-Wheelers Drive On?

ATVs are some of the most capable off-road vehicles, thanks to their 4-wheel stability and narrow footprint. They can traverse almost any surface except for ice, where studded tires are usually required for reliable traction. Here's a list of terrain that ATVs handle well.

• Pavement
• Gravel
• Rocks
• Dirt
• Sand
• Snow
• Mud

Jeeps

Jeep is a brand of automobile, but it's also a completely separate class of vehicle. The Jeep has been produced by several companies since its inception in World War Two. The original Jeep, produced by Willys-Overland in the early 1940s, got its name from the military designation "GP" or "General Purpose" vehicle.

Jeeps are 4-wheel drive cars with a short wheelbase, solid front and rear axles, a high and low-range transfer case, and recognizable cosmetic features. Many other vehicles have been referred to as 'Jeeps,' though the name only applies to the real Jeep.

Today, modern Jeep Wranglers come in two and four-door models. They retain many original design features, such as a high and low-range 4-wheel-drive transfer case and solid axles. Due to their boxy design and suspension travel, Jeeps are some of the best factory-made off-road vehicles available.

What Terrain Can Jeeps Drive On?

Jeeps and Jeep-like vehicles are some of the most capable automobiles ever developed. They can traverse mountains through mud, rocks, and even rivers. Here are some of the terrains where Jeeps shine through.

• Pavement
• Gravel
• Rocks
• Dirt
• Sand
• Snow
• Mud
• Water

Jeep-Like Vehicles

The claim that Jeep is the original small 4x4 is true for the United States, and it's certainly the first recognizable and highly practical 4x4. However, other countries have similar vehicles (namely the United Kingdom, Germany, and Japan) with legendary statuses of their own.

But what is a Jeep-like vehicle? In essence, it's a short-wheelbase 4x4 off-road vehicle designed for utility above all else. Jeep-like vehicles are built like trucks, so they're distinct from cars. But their characteristics are unique enough to separate them entirely from trucks. Here are the most common Jeep-like vehicles.

Land Rover

In the United Kingdom, this vehicle is the classic Land Rover. The Land Rover was used extensively by the British Military and spread throughout its most remote colonies. It came in two-door models (like the original Jeep) and also numerous other configurations.

Modern land rovers share little in common with their ancestors. But the original Land Rover had numerous ingenious design features and is still preferred by off-roaders around the world for its robust reliability. Today, modern Land Rovers are extremely capable off-road vehicles.

Toyota Land Cruiser

The Japanese response to the Jeep and the Land Rover was the legendary Toyota Land Cruiser. The original Land Cruiser was a short wheelbase 4-wheel-drive vehicle with no creature comforts to speak of. But it outclassed other off-road vehicles in almost every respect, chiefly reliability.

Land Cruisers are still the most durable and robust off-road vehicles on the market. Toyota still produces a model based on an old body style, called the Land Cruiser 70. It's one of the most sought-after and reliable off-road vehicles in the world, but it's only available overseas.

Mercedes G-Class

Mercedes also produced a Jeep-like vehicle in Germany, which gained notoriety and widespread use across the world. And unlike most other automakers, you can still buy a G-Class Mercedes—and it's still running a variation of its original body style.

This distinct vehicle is highly capable. And it's one of the most advanced and powerful off-road vehicles in the world. It's become a status symbol in the United States, and they're hardly ever used off-road, which is a shame because that's what they're designed to do. And they do it well.

Off-Road Cars

Off-road cars are distinct from trucks and Jeeps, as they have a low profile and car-like features. But these vehicles are designed for off-road use and almost always 4-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive. Here are a few common off-road cars.

Subaru Outback

The Subaru Outback is an all-wheel-drive wagon powered by a flat four-cylinder 'boxer' engine. This engine has a similar configuration to Porsche and Volkswagen engines, and it's a characteristic of the Subaru brand.

Subaru's Outback is a capable off-road vehicle, which is especially good in muddy and wet terrain. Its low-profile and family-friendly layout makes it a popular choice in America for people who don't want a bulky truck or clunky SUV.

Many other Subaru vehicles share the same all-wheel-drive configuration, and many models have been produced over the years. These off-road vehicles include the Brat pickup truck and the Crosstrek in more recent years.

Lada Niva

What could a dinky Russian hatchback be doing on a list about off-road vehicles? As it turns out, this strange little Soviet two-door car is one of the most capable off-road cars ever built.

It's a 4-wheel-drive with a transfer case and a manual transmission, with a tiny four-cylinder engine up front and a spare tire under the hood. It usually has no air conditioning, and radio is optional—but it's traversed the Arctic and waded through the deepest Siberian swamps.

What makes the Lada Niva (also known as the Lada 4x4) so exceptional is its durability and lightweight. Whereas larger off-road vehicles use tready tires to dig in and blast through terrain, the Lada drifts right over it.

It's simple and reliable, and it was designed in the 1970s by the Soviets for nothing other than off-road capability. You can bet it has no creature comforts, but it's designed to be cheap and to creep over whatever terrain is in its way.

What Terrain Can Off-Road Cars Drive On?

Off-road cars typically don't have the suspension travel to scale rock formations like trucks, SUVs, and Jeeps do. However, they excel on snow and ice, where trucks and heavier vehicles usually fall short.

• Pavement
• Gravel
• Dirt
• Sand
• Snow

Two-Wheel-Drive Off-Road Vehicles

There's another type of off-road vehicle that's a bit unconventional but still useful for some terrain. Two-wheel-drive off-road vehicles are great for sand dunes and other terrain where lightweight and raw power are key. These vehicles are sometimes called ‘Pre-Runners’ in the truck community.

Dune buggies are a great example of this. For years, people have modified Volkswagen Beetle chassis due to their cost and low weight. Beetles are also great in the snow, as they are light enough to ride on top of and not sink, but the engine rests over the back wheels and provides traction.

What Terrain Can 2-Wheel-Drive Off-Road Vehicles Drive On?

Off-road vehicles with rear-wheel drive are great for the sand, ice, and snow. However, these vehicles are less ideal for crawling and situations where front traction is needed. Here's where 2-wheel-drive off-road vehicles shine.

• Pavement
• Gravel
• Dirt (dirt track racing)
• Sand
• Snow

Off-Road Trucks and SUVs

Trucks are some of the most common off-road vehicles due to their general utility and wide availability. Early pickup trucks were only rear-wheel drive.

To make up for this, farmers and ranchers put meaty tractor tires on the rear wheels and road tires on the front. You'll often see this on old farm trucks and in vintage photos.

Since the 1970s, 4-wheel-drive trucks have been common and available from the factory. SUVs fall into the same category as trucks, because they're usually built on exactly the same chassis as pickup trucks.

What Terrain Can Trucks and SUVs Drive On?

Trucks and SUVs can traverse almost all of the same terrain that off-road cars and Jeeps can. That said, they tend to lack weight over the rear wheels which can cause them to dig in. However, off-road trucks and SUVs can be highly capable. Here's where they shine.

• Pavement
• Gravel
• Rocks
• Dirt
• Sand
• Snow
• Mud

Tracks and Snowmobiles

The final category on our list is track-based vehicles. Tracks are famously used on tanks. They move like worms or snakes and essentially create a road surface for the inner wheels to roll on. This makes them capable of traversing just about anything, including surfaces like snow that wheels sink right into.

What Terrain Can Tracks Drive On?

Tracks can traverse any terrain except pavement. Light track vehicles, like snowmobiles, can traverse thin powder—while heavier track vehicles, like tanks, are best used on solid ground. Pavement is not ideal for vehicles with tracks. Here's where they can traverse easily.

• Gravel
• Rocks
• Dirt
• Sand
• Snow
• Large Debris