Team O'Neil, a New Hampshire-based driving school, released a video demonstrating how to safely drive tall trucks at speed on loose surfaces. The instruction focuses on managing the high center of gravity that makes vehicles like the Ford F-150 Raptor and Ram 1500 TRX prone to rolling.
The core technique is managing lateral weight transfer during cornering. Team O'Neil recommends braking in a straight line to scrub speed, then easing off the brake pedal while beginning to turn. This trail-braking method provides more control than using oversteer to slide through corners. Oversteer can help rotate the vehicle when exiting a corner that does not lead to a straightaway, but only after braking is complete.
For trucks with selectable four-wheel drive, the instructors recommend keeping the system in 4-Hi. Low range limits speed, but 4-Hi provides more stable braking and better cornering control than two-wheel drive. Drifting in two-wheel drive allows lateral loads to build faster and can require constant steering correction.
All-terrain tires with square sidewalls can dig into loose surfaces too easily, creating a lever action that increases rollover risk during aggressive driving. Lifting off the throttle before steering at lower speeds can substitute for braking into corners.