- bivvy bag
- A waterproof cover that fits over a sleeping bag, providing wind and rain protection when a tent is not available or has failed. Lightweight and compact, it is often carried as backup shelter. What to pack for remote overland travel is not the same as what to pack for a weekend away
- cat-hole
- A small hole dug for human waste, typically fifteen centimetres deep and at least seventy metres from water and campsites, then filled in after use. Toilet paper is either burned completely or packed out. Setting up wild camp: 7 principles that leave the place as you found it
- CV joint
- A constant-velocity joint that allows the halfshaft to flex as the suspension moves while still transmitting torque smoothly to the wheel. What a differential lock is NOT: the single most misunderstood control in your 4x4
- gross vehicle weight rating
- The maximum weight a vehicle is designed to carry, including its own weight, fuel, passengers and cargo. Exceeding it damages suspension, brakes and tyres, and makes the vehicle unsafe to drive. What to pack for remote overland travel is not the same as what to pack for a weekend away
- halfshaft
- The rotating shaft that connects the differential to each wheel, transmitting torque from the gearbox to the driven wheels. What a differential lock is NOT: the single most misunderstood control in your 4x4
- head gasket
- The seal between the cylinder head and the engine block. It keeps combustion gases, coolant and oil in their separate passages. When it fails due to overheating, gases can enter the cooling system, causing bubbles in the radiator or expansion tank, and coolant can leak into the cylinders or oil. Engine overheating off-road is not the same as overheating on tarmac: 5 field checks that tell you whether you can continue
- kinetic recovery
- A method of pulling a stuck vehicle out using the momentum and stretch of a snatch strap. The pulling vehicle accelerates gently until the strap goes tight, storing energy in the stretch, which then pulls the stuck vehicle free. Generates much more force than a static tow, but also much more danger if the strap or a shackle fails. Recovery isn't rescue: 6 tools and the order that keeps everyone safe when your 4x4 is stuck
- snatch block
- A pulley that changes the direction of a winch cable or doubles the pulling power by running the cable through it and back to the vehicle. Small enough to carry in a tool bag, and transforms what a winch can do when the anchor point is not straight ahead or the load is too heavy for a single line pull. Recovery isn't rescue: 6 tools and the order that keeps everyone safe when your 4x4 is stuck
- thermostat
- A valve in the cooling system that remains closed when the engine is cold, allowing it to warm up quickly, then opens to let coolant flow through the radiator once operating temperature is reached. A jammed thermostat blocks coolant flow and causes rapid overheating. Engine overheating off-road is not the same as overheating on tarmac: 5 field checks that tell you whether you can continue
- wading depth
- The maximum water level a vehicle can safely cross without water entering the engine or damaging electrical components. This depth is usually marked in the vehicle handbook and depends on the position of the air intake and vulnerable electronics. Planning your first overland trip: 6 decisions that shape everything else
- widow-maker
- A dead or damaged tree, or a large broken branch, that could fall without warning. Avoid pitching a tent or parking a vehicle beneath dead-standing timber or branches hanging at an angle. Setting up wild camp: 7 principles that leave the place as you found it
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