Newsletter - Aug 2015

Trip Leader Weekend

We have successfully run our first Trip Leader info weekend this month. The Trip Leader Info weekend was taken place at Walhalla area, about 2.5 hours drive from Melbourne. Over the weekend, we have covered some of the essential skills and technique for leading a trip. We also covered some recovery skills and technique on Sunday morning. By running our Trip Leader Info weekend, we are hoping to encourage more people to become our trip leader and run their trips safely.

Our next Trip Leader info weekend is coming soon. Please register your interest here.

Trip Leader Guide and Dakar Tony

Sharing our 4wding experience is one of our primary goals. Tony (le Dakar) has recently helped us create an informative Trip leader Guide for our members which was used during our recent Trip Leader Info weekend in the heart of Walhalla. Tony became a qualified Driver Trainer in 1989. Since that time he has conducted 4WD training for a number of organisations including Telstra, Gas & Fuel and BHP. Tony went onto becoming the Manager of the RACV Driving School. He purchased his first 4WD (a well-used FJ40) in October 1985 and is coming up to his 30^th year in 4WDing this October which is a hobby he is deeply passionate about along with his love for long distance rally’s such as the Dakar Rally and the Australian Safari. We asked Tony what are three things he enjoys most about 4WDing?  He replied-

1. Meeting new people every trip (interesting people, interesting vehicle setups and watching someone take a new line up a hill that I never thought of)
2. Tackling technical tracks and hills (anything that forces you to stop, think and plan before you proceed)
3. You never stop learning something new (no matter how long you have been at it) and learning from others around you. It has been nearly 30 years of 4WDing and 25 years of driver training and I still learn something new (none of us are perfect) most weekends I go out which is normally every second weekend.

Tony said he is looking forward to going 4wding with as many members as possible and having fun. Welcome Tony and thanks for your help with the development of our new Trip leader Guide.

Click here to download our Trip Leader Guide

Can you help run Beginners Trip?

We are running a beginner trip in Aug. Within minutes, the trip was full! The response has been overwhelming. We will try our best to run more beginner trips but we need more experienced 4wders to help us. If you are interested in helping, please register your interest here.

Do you know?

Did you know there are three different connection points on 4WD’s. Nearly every year there is a person in Australia that is either seriously injured or killed after being struck from an object during a vehicle recovery gone wrong.  Most times it is due to the use of a piece of equipment that was not designed for a vehicle recovery.  This includes what you attach your snatch strap to. All to often, the unsuspecting 4WDer attaches their straps to a point that is not engineered for the forces experienced during the recovery of a vehicle that often weighs in excess of 3 tons. Do you know the difference between a tie-down point, a tow point and a rated recovery point?

Tie-Down Points

These are normally welded hooks often seen under the front of most 4WD’s. They are not rated and only used as a tie-down point  when the 4WD is on the back of a transport truck. Unfortunately they are often mistaken for recovery points and at time are used with disastrous results. There have been cases where the tie-down points have been used as a recovery point and the failure has resulted in someone’s death. Our advice is never let someone recovery you by attaching a snatch strap to their tie-down points.

Tow-Points

These points are also often mistaken for rated recovery points.  Some examples here include the hoop bolted to the back bumper on Nissan Patrols and the swinging shackle on the rear of Jeep Wranglers. These points are used for attaching a tow rope and towing someone along a bitumen road.  They are not designed to accept the forces involved in snatching a person out of a bog hole and can result in failure. Each time this has occurred in the past it has resulted in a missile attached to a snatch strap hurdling toward the vehicle behind.  Our advice is not to trust these tow-points as a safe means of recovery.

Recovery-Points

Now this is the real deal.  Recovery points are designed to take the forces that may be generated in a full recovery. These are points that have been engineered and tested to take a lot of force. Rarely do they come pre-fitted to a new 4WD and are normally an accessory that has to be purchased and retro-fitted to your vehicle using high tensile bolts.  They are normally painted red or bright yellow and are usually stamped with a maximum rating. Using a rated recovery point is the only safe means of attaching a snatch strap or other type of recovery gear.

One other thing to add to your ‘Do not do’ list is the use of tow-balls.  Occasionally we come across Drivers who decide it is just as easy to sling the snatch strap over the tow-ball.  This is a big no-no and can lead to tragic consequences.  Due to the side forces applied to the tow-ball, it can snap (it has happened many times in the past) and will result in a 5kg missile being flung at the front windscreen of other vehicle.  Never use the tow ball as a recovery point.

So what is the next Step?

If you are unsure of the type of points you have on your pride and joy, visit any number of 4WD stores across Australia and ask for their advice. They have experience in knowing the different types of points on 4WD’s and will usually provide guidance on what is safe and what is unsafe to use during a vehicle recovery. Unless your recovery point is stamped with a rating, don’t take the chance.  Our advice is get it checked out.

Big Pig returned from Cape York Trip

Allan (aka Big Al) has just got back from a Cape York trip. He joined the MDC crew on this trip. Who said Jeep’s can’t do outback trips? His Big Pig has completed the trip with flying colors. Keep an eye out over the next few weeks to see Big Pig in action on “Creek to Coast”, midday Saturday’s on channel 7.

View full photo album from this trip 2015 Cape York Trip with MDC Campers.

VMS 4x4 has partnered with 4WDTRIP! 

We are excited to partner with VMS 4x4. VMS has not just sponsored us but also provided us some free VMS GPS Units to use on our trips. 

Make sure you check out their latest navigation app MapExplorer (with 3D map!)

Click here to see details of MapExplorer

Featured Business

Mr Mods

Would you like to feature your business by sponsoring 4WDTRIP? 

Please get in touch. Click here to contact us.