When you make history at the prestigious Baja 1000, you don’t just see the rocks and ruts ahead. You feel them. That level of instinct only comes with years of experience, but even the pros had to start somewhere.
Whether you’re a weekend explorer or a more seasoned off-roader, our “Chasing Off-Road Confidence” series with host Chase Gentry has focused on building the skills you need to trade the pavement for the trail — with a little help from great tools like the onX Off-Road app.1
Now, Chase is meeting up with a legend in the desert to demonstrate what Ford vehicles are capable of when a professional with a lifetime of experience gets behind the wheel.
That legend is Tavo Vildósola. He’s built a remarkable career in the SCORE Trophy Truck division and, in 2010, led the very first Mexican national team to an overall victory at Baja 1000.
Tavo and Chase may have plenty of off-roading experience under their belts, but that doesn’t mean they’re winging it out there. In fact, the best off-road drivers are often the most prepared. Here’s what I learned from watching Tavo and Chase off-road together in their F-150 Raptor vehicles.
Always Plan Your Route Beforehand
Chase and Tavo met up in the Plomosa Mountains, a rugged desert mountain range in Western Arizona chosen as a practical halfway point between the two. Before they put tires to dirt, however, Chase fired up the onX Offroad app and used the “Discover” tab to find the perfect playground. He checked the trail difficulty, terrain, and type and scrolled through real-time photos uploaded by other onX users to ultimately decide on a trail.
Read the Terrain
While Western Arizona’s terrain is similar to Eastern Baja, this was ultimately new territory for Tavo. For him, exploring new off-road trails is all about reading the terrain. Whether you are cruising over whoops (a series of evenly spaced bumps on a trail), romping through a sandy wash (dry stream/riverbed), or just easing your way through the trail, you have to actively read what the dirt is telling you. Check out the Ford AI assistant in the Ford app or your onboard digital owner manual to best understand what your Ford off-road vehicle can do.
Track Your Vehicle’s Vital Signs
Off-roading is a partnership between driver and machine. When you are letting these vehicles do what they do best, you have to stay connected to how they’re feeling and keep track of your vehicle’s health to keep the adventure going confidently. The vehicle’s Performance View on the digital screen allows you to monitor critical vitals like oil pressure and transmission temperature while keeping track of your steering wheel angle, pitch, and roll. Your truck is talking to you; you just have to listen.
Treat Your Truck as Your Co-Pilot
Horsepower is only half the puzzle. According to Tavo, “off-roading is all about the shocks.” The F-150 Raptor puts that philosophy into practice with its advanced sensors, which feed data into an intelligent algorithm reading the terrain. Using real-time inputs from your driving style and the ground beneath you, it instantly adjusts, whether the shock flow needs to be faster through high-speed terrain or slower to soak up giant bumps. The truck does the work for you, letting you stay focused, in control, and stable.
Watching Chase and Tavo out in the desert, it couldn’t have been more obvious how much fun they were having — and it didn’t take long for Tavo’s competitive spirit to surface. Seeing him completely relaxed, smiling, and just having a blast in a production truck is exactly why we build these vehicles.
But it’s important to remember, you don’t have to be a professional racer to go off-pavement with confidence, but you should always pick the trails that match your skill level — which is easy to do with the onX Offroad app. Check out Chase’s Off-Roading Tips and our “Chasing Off-Road Confidence” series to level up your off-roading skills. Plus, with the onX Offroad app you can identify available public trails to respectfully enjoy so it’s available for future generations.
And Ford owners who are eligible can enjoy the onX apps for one year complimentary.2 To start exploring with onX, open your Ford app3 or visit onxmaps.com/ford.
What to Read Next
Mike Aragon is president of Integrated Services.
1Always consult the Owner’s Manual before off-road driving, know your terrain and trail difficulty, and use appropriate safety gear.
2Offer ends 12/22/2028 and applies to new onX Offroad, Hunt, Backcountry, and Fish Midwest app memberships. Credit card activation is required, and memberships will automatically renew until cancelled. Must be an eligible owner of 2017 and newer Ford vehicles equipped with an activated modem. Customers who had an onX Elite Offroad, Hunt, Backcountry, or Fish Midwest membership in the 12 months prior to activation are not eligible for a complimentary membership on the same onX app. onX Backcountry not available via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. See onX terms for complete offer details.
3Customers need a Ford app login. Ford app, formerly known as the FordPass® app, compatible with select smartphone platforms, is available via a download. Message and data rates may apply. Terms and conditions apply. Visit ford.com for our privacy notice.
