Sun-Tzu

Most people know of The Art of War, even if they have never heard of the author himself. His aphorisms on the subject of off-roading, though not so widely recognized, are no less insightful. To wit, with emphasis added (and apologies to Sun-Tzu):

You must quickly get away from deadly configurations of terrain such as precipitous gorges with mountain torrents. Do not approach them in the wrong kind of truck.

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Even if you know the configuration of the land, if your suspension is inflexible, you will not only fail to take advantage of the ground but may even be harmed by it. It is important for drivers to adapt in appropriate ways.

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Mountains and forests, passes and natural hazards, wetlands and swamps, and any such roads difficult to traverse constitute difficult terrain; press ahead on difficult terrain.