4WD & Offroad Driver Training - VIC

[coxy321]

Hi all. Just wondering who/where the best place is to go for four wheel drive driver training in Victoria. My birthday is coming up and i figured that rather than blowing money on accessories, i'd go and get some edumacationing.

I grew up on a farm, and have been driving since i can remember, but i would like to go out and see what/how i should REALLY be driving, not just going off what my good old mates tell me i should be doing. I'm sure the old fellas could show me a thing or two.

ALSO, i'm going to take my better half with me to to some driving, as she is currently too shit-scared to even drive my car out of the drive (because its so fast and all ). I think the scientific name is bigtrukus-amaphobiosus-maximus.

Any names, businesses or experiences are more than welcome.

Cheers and thanks in advance,

Coxy

[blkmav]

http://www.fwdvictoria.org.au/drivertraining1.htm

[GUJohnno]

http://www.fwdvictoria.org.au/drivertraining1.htm

They run an excellent program.
Also join a club. The knowledge you can gain by wheelin with experienced people that have learnt through training and experience of many years is invaluble

[coxy321]

Yeah, I've been looking at joining a club for a while, there's three fairly close to Seymour, but its just a matter of which one i wont get bored with. I think the Alexander or Mansfield ones are looking good. I'm even considering the Geelong 4WD Club.

[HSV Rangie]

Yeah, I've been looking at joining a club for a while, there's three fairly close to Seymour, but its just a matter of which one i wont get bored with. I think the Alexander or Mansfield ones are looking good. I'm even considering the Geelong 4WD Club.

Goulbourn Valley 4x4 club Shepparton.

Good club. was member/President many years ago.

Michael.

[RockyF75]

I will probley get flamed for this but I reckon save your money for lockers . Just dont be stupid when driving, go out with experienced 4x4's and gradually build up your knowledge base. Also alot of helpfull tips to be found on this forum and other 4x4 sites. This is how i've learn't and wouldn't have it any other way, I've done 'training' courses for other recreational activities and found it just takes the fun out, and teaches you basic common sense which you should have anyway

But i've never done a 4x4 course so my opinions of them could be totally wrong

And I also spent a fair amount of time 'spotting' for others before I actually got my 4b

And IMO the 'correct way' isn't always the BEST way

[GUJohnno]

Yep, better put your suit on!!

Personally i think it is vital that every one gets training of some form when they start. Just weelin with a bunch of guys doesn't mean your going to learn much from them.
Learning correct stall recovery is a definate must, especially if you have a manual vehicle. Not knowing the correct techniques is asking for trouble. i have seen what can happen when some one gets it wrong and it's bloody scary!!

You would be better NOT getting lockers and learning as much as you can and get used to your vehicle, it's size and knowing that you can place your wheels where you want them. Lockers can get you further into the sh** and without knowing what your doing is asking for trouble.

There have been times when I have gotten further in my truck with out lockers than some others with lockers

[Allan Mac]

Agree with Jonno. Have done 2 training courses; 1 with the Pajero club & other with www.safetrek.com.au at Toolangi. Both were good, but if I had to choose, safetrek.

Cheers
Allan Mac

[matthewK]

www.pnl4wd.com.au

these people are pritty good from what i hear

[bogged]

You would be better NOT getting lockers and learning as much as you can and get used to your vehicle, it's size and knowing that you can place your wheels where you want them. Lockers can get you further into the sh** and without knowing what your doing is asking for trouble.

I agree. I find it hard that people honestly believe fully kitting out their truck with every option possible can make them a better driver.

You will become a much better driver learning to drive a stock truck to its limits, then working up in stages with mods/accessories than you would the other way.

Watch a driver thats 'old school', as Johnno mentions, they actually DRIVE the section. They understand wheel placement, they actually pick their line. Not just wack in lockers, and sink the size 14 to the floor and hope.

[Tiny]

You would be better NOT getting lockers and learning as much as you can and get used to your vehicle, it's size and knowing that you can place your wheels where you want them. Lockers can get you further into the sh** and without knowing what your doing is asking for trouble.

I agree. I find it hard that people honestly believe fully kitting out their truck with every option possible can make them a better driver.

I find it very hard that some one could feel knowlegable by posting on a forum 15000 times

seriously though, driver training is a must imo. maybe a lot is comman sense, but you will most probably learn something, it might even save you in the future. Especially comoplex recoveries etc and stall recoveries

[GUEEY]

You would be better NOT getting lockers and learning as much as you can and get used to your vehicle, it's size and knowing that you can place your wheels where you want them. Lockers can get you further into the sh** and without knowing what your doing is asking for trouble.

I agree. I find it hard that people honestly believe fully kitting out their truck with every option possible can make them a better driver.

You will become a much better driver learning to drive a stock truck to its limits, then working up in stages with mods/accessories than you would the other way.

Watch a driver thats 'old school', as Johnno mentions, they actually DRIVE the section. They understand wheel placement, they actually pick their line. Not just wack in lockers, and sink the size 14 to the floor and hope.

Competly agree with the above.

When i started offroading most of the fourbys in our club were open diff , leaf sprung vehicals.
most of the high country tracks were "bastards"(original dingo hill, butcher country, calidonia, the list could go on for ever, tracks that could have you on them all day and sometimes into the night.
"That is were we learned to drive, not with 6 inch coils and twin difflocks doing the work for you.
I often say to the yough guys coming through the club with their first car being a GQ shorty with coils and a great LSD and 4 wheel disks ansd power steer." You have not done your apprentiship untill you muscle around a fourwheel drum brake leaf sprung 40 series".
The skills and the basics need to be learned before all the gizmos go in.
i wouldnt have the skills and experience that i have today if i started with the quality of trucks easly afforded today IE Coils and twin difflocks.
Atleast even though i also have all the goodies on my own truck, i know that if the airlockes fail on a hard core drive i still know what to do.

Cheers Grant