TL;DR
Team O’Neil’s driving instructors published a video demonstrating how to manage a tall truck on loose surfaces, using an older Toyota Tacoma. Their advice includes braking in a straight line before turning, managing weight transfer smoothly and using 4-Hi where available. The video offers general guidance, not a guarantee against rollovers; driving fast in a high-center-of-gravity vehicle remains risky.
New Hampshire driving school Team O’Neil has published a video demonstrating how to control a tall truck at speed on loose surfaces, using an older Toyota Tacoma to illustrate braking, cornering and weight management. The guidance addresses a growing challenge posed by fast factory off-road pickups, whose high center of gravity increases rollover risk when lateral forces build quickly.
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In the video, instructors explain that a tall vehicle’s weight and long-travel suspension make lateral weight transfer a key concern when cornering. They recommend slowing in a straight line before turning, then smoothly easing off the brake as steering begins—a technique known as trail braking. The aim is to avoid abrupt shifts in load while entering a corner.
The instructors caution against relying on a large slide to get through a turn. They say oversteer may help rotate the vehicle when exiting a corner that does not lead onto a straight, but drivers should wait to accelerate until the steering wheel is straightened. At lower entry speeds, lifting off the throttle before steering can replace braking, according to the video.
For trucks with selectable four-wheel drive, Team O’Neil recommends 4-Hi rather than two-wheel drive for more stable braking and cornering. The instructors also warn that all-terrain tires’ squarer sidewalls can catch in loose surfaces and contribute to a vehicle’s rollover risk. The Drive reported that the Tacoma demonstration is intended to offer techniques applicable more broadly to tall trucks on loose terrain.
Why Tall Trucks Need Smoother Inputs
The advice matters to drivers of off-road pickups such as the Ford F-150 Raptor and Ram 1500 TRX, which can travel quickly but sit higher than many performance vehicles. A fast corner can transfer weight sharply from side to side; in a vehicle with a high center of gravity, that can increase the possibility of a rollover. The video’s main message is to control speed and weight transfer before attempting a turn, rather than treating a slide as the default way to corner.
The guidance is not a promise that a particular technique makes high-speed driving safe. Team O’Neil’s instructors, as described by The Drive, acknowledge that cornering quickly in a tall truck or SUV remains risky because of the vehicle’s physical characteristics. Drivers should not treat a demonstration as a substitute for appropriate training, safe conditions or conservative speeds.
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A Tacoma Demonstrates the Techniques
The Drive’s report describes the video as part of Team O’Neil’s instructional material. The New Hampshire-based school has used videos to present driving lessons, and this demonstration focuses on vehicles with a high center of gravity. The truck used is an older Tacoma, rather than one of the newer high-performance pickups that helped make fast off-road driving more prominent.
The report distinguishes between entering and exiting a turn. Before the corner, the driver should shed the required speed while traveling straight and then turn with a smooth release of braking. On exit, a controlled amount of oversteer can help rotate the vehicle in some situations, but throttle should wait until the steering is unwound. The video also cautions that two-wheel-drive sliding can make lateral loads build faster and leave the driver correcting the steering more aggressively.
“Brake in a straight line, then turn while smoothly easing off the brake.”
— Team O’Neil instructors, in the video as described by The Drive
Limits of the Driving Demonstration
The source material does not give the video’s exact publication date, identify the specific course or surface conditions, or provide measured comparisons of rollover risk between driving techniques. It also does not specify whether the 4-Hi recommendation applies to every truck’s drivetrain or operating conditions. The demonstration is described as broadly applicable, but the available report does not establish that the techniques work identically across different vehicles, tires or terrain.
No incident or crash prompted the video, and the material does not report a new safety rule or formal study. The advice is instructional guidance attributed to Team O’Neil, not a quantified safety finding. The precise speed at which cornering becomes unsafe will depend on the vehicle and conditions.
Practical Limits on Public Roads
The source material identifies no scheduled follow-up from Team O’Neil or additional testing. The next step for readers seeking the full demonstration is to consult the school’s video, as referenced by The Drive, and review the vehicle manufacturer’s instructions before using a four-wheel-drive setting. Any practice should take place in an appropriate controlled setting, not on public roads or trails shared with others.
The core advice remains to reduce speed before turning, make smooth inputs and avoid excessive sliding. Drivers should account for the limits of their own truck, tires and terrain: no technique eliminates the rollover risk associated with carrying speed in a tall vehicle.
Key Questions
What does Team O’Neil recommend before turning a tall truck?
The instructors recommend braking in a straight line to reduce speed, then steering while smoothly releasing the brake.
Why can a tall truck be more vulnerable in a corner?
A high center of gravity and rapid lateral weight transfer can make a tall vehicle more prone to rollover when cornering. The source does not give a universal safe speed.
Should drivers slide a truck through loose-surface corners?
The video cautions against relying on excessive oversteer. The instructors say it can help rotate a vehicle in some corner exits, but it can also allow lateral loads to build quickly.
What four-wheel-drive setting does the video recommend?
For trucks with selectable four-wheel drive, Team O’Neil recommends 4-Hi for more stable braking and corner control. Drivers should check their vehicle’s manual because the source does not address every model or condition.
Source: thedrive.com
