I'm just curious about your motivation for this pendantry, why specify both instead of just saying "off road "
(Motivation and pedantry aren't really the right words here, but those were tbe first to come to mind, and I'm too lazy to rack my brain for better choices.)
Off road typically specifies a vehicle that is road worthy and off road capable.
Off highway typically specifies a vehicle that is not road worthy, and is off road capable.
So, for instance tanks, excavators, and bulldozers are off highway - the treads tear up typical roads. They are usually allowed on gravel/dirt/unimproved roads, but are disallowed (except under temporary permit or in an emergency) on paved or otherwise improved roads. Similarly "Monster trucks" are considered off highway - they must be trailered to locations where they will be used, and cannot be driven on common roads.
You can buy diesel fuel without paying most state's gas tax. The gas tax is for roads, but there are enough off highway vehicles (tractors, construction equipment, etc) that don't use the roads the taxes were meant for that people demanded to be able to purchase fuel for them without paying taxes for roads the vehicles would never travel on. The diesel is dyed a different color, though, so if you use it in an on-road vehicle, in theory, you could be caught and fined for trying to avoid those road fuel taxes. They still charge sales tax, though, just not the "fuel surcharge".
And unless a vehicle is actually caught in the act of tearing up the road the police don't often ticket off highway vehicles on roads. That's because a lot of farm equipment has to travel via improved/paved roads due to many places paving a lot of rural areas despite the amount of off highway traffic they get.
You also don't have to get a license plate for off highway equipment (try to find one on a tractor or excavator), but in some states if you operate one near or on a paved/improved road you might be required to have insurance for it even if they don't require it be registered.
The above post is rated PEDANTRY INTENTIONAL.
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It's no different in MI. People think 4x4 is some talisman against stupid, and they're proven wrong again and again.
I remember Mazda had an implementation of AWD in the late 80's that would always drive 2 wheels. Sometimes it would be the front two, sometimes the back two, and in "extreme" situations it would drive the two wheels diagonal from each other, but it was always two wheels.
--Patrick
I like to count how many SUVs are in the ditch after the first slippery snow. I remember one year there were about a dozen in my 20 mile drive, and they were all SUVS - no other type of vehicle. Just stupid drivers who assumed their SUV made it so they didn't have to change their driving habits based on the weather.