Although not commonly used in off-roading, left foot braking, when used correctly can be a real advantage for an off-roader, ensuring better control of a number of key factors including traction and acceleration as well as how your suspension ends up travelling over obstacles.
What does this gain in the long run? Well, firstly you will have a far smoother ride and secondly, your vehicle will thank you in the long term due to less wear and tear on your jeep parts.
When should I use left foot braking?
Although the time to use left foot braking is often a personal preference, there are indeed some situations when you can try it out if you never have before.
For instance, should you want to maintain a measured, steady speed over an obstacle or if you are driving over obstacles in a gear such as 4-low, left foot braking is a definite advantage. It can also be used when you are on a very steep incline to prevent your vehicle from rolling back.
Why do we use left footed braking?
So now that you have a few situations where left footed braking can be a huge benefit let’s take a look at why we use it.
Often when driving over very rough or technical terrain, you may experience a very stop/start ride with plenty of jerks. This happens because you are always alternating your right foot between both the brake and the throttle while travelling at a low speed. This can also occur when you get over the crest of an obstacle such as a large rock, or even very hilly terrain. At that point, the throttle pressure you were applying to get over the obstacle is too much, sending your vehicle forward very quickly. Left footed braking can help in these situations. Let’s take a look.
With your left foot apply the brake and hold very lightly while stopped in a lower gear. Then press the throttle until you begin to move. Keep in the RPM range that provides enough power to get you over your obstacle and then use left footed braking to control your speed. The more you practice, the easier this will become. This will help to prevent the stop/start that often occurs from suspension compression which can also protect your chassis from bashing against rocks or other terrain.
Left footed braking can be used if you drive with open differentials. Here, by using the throttle and brake at the same time, you can generate enough torque transfer to keep your momentum going forward smoothly.
So is there a time left footed braking should not be used?
In fact, there a few situations where left footed braking is a no-no.
- Most obvious is if you are driving a vehicle with a manual transmission. It is virtually impossible to achieve.
- When using any of your vehicles driving aids that use some form of braking assist.
- When off-roading through non-technical tracks or sections.
Bear in mind, left foot braking is not for everyone. Try it out on small obstacles first, get the feel for it and progress to larger terrain when you begin to feel more comfortable and confident.