like the topic says. I got elected (railroaded) into writing the lesson plans for an intermediate and advanced level four wheel drive class. We already have a basic class that covers tread lightly, difference in handling, adjusting tire pressure basic winch operation we even mention what the that lever marked 2H 4H N 4L is for.

This class will be P.O.S.T. certified in Nevada and will be the first real lesson a lot of people have in how to drive a 4x4. Everything from how to approach an obsticle to stratigies for different terran trail repair and survival.

So I got to thinking where can I get the best advice on what to include and figured people here have some strong opinions. This is your chance What must be in a good intermediate and advanced level class both in the class room and the field portion of class.

I would also greatly appreciate any links to online write ups or lesson plans. I never took a class, I learned it all the hard way and still have a lot to learn so every little bit is appreciated.

thanks for any/all help.

JEff

a survival section....like how to see how much daylight you have..and how to find north etc...

also - it takes practive to learn to drive....but if they understand what their rig is doing it helps tons...

gearing - diffs etc...

try to approach an obsticle in a way that keeps all the tires in contact with the ground (traction) - unless theres a camera rolling

cross ruts diagonally, one tire at a time

"as slow as possible, as fast as necessary" is something I always keep in the back of my mind, unless there's a camera rolling - then all bets are off :D

straddle ruts if possible

more control is maintained by keeping the vehicle as level as possible

put tires on the rocks - do not straddle rocks




I'm not exactly dure where to draw the beginner-intermediate line...all those seem basic to me, but from what you've explained, they might be in the intermed catergory....am I on the right track or still too basic?


:usa:

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Yellowsub1962
[B][color=yellow]try to approach an obsticle in a way that keeps all the tires in contact with the ground (traction) - unless theres a camera rolling



"as slow as possible, as fast as necessary" is something I always keep in the back of my mind


Pete ya liar, I rode with you in Truckhaven. Don't you mean "as slow as necessary, as fast as possible."

You might check out the California $ Wheel Drive Association have driving classes don't they?

Pete
that's it. the beginer class covered putting the vehicle in four wheel drive and included no field training it was a four hour class, probably the most boring four hours ever.

That is exactly the kind of thing I am looking for.

Survival will probably be more on the lines of necessary equiipment to carry in the vehicle. Most of the class will have already had extensive backcounty survival and navigation classes. The survival will focus more on how the rig even when broken can offer shelter etc. along with putting together an emergency kit to keep in the rig.

Moab, I like the idea fo teaching what the vehicle is doing, wieght transfer etc, might help alot when we get them in the field.

Keep it coming

Jeff

Read the book:

Offroader Driving

Should have everything you need, written by a rover guy about expedition type stuff (not really hard core rock crawling) but things like diagrams, principles, descriptions, etc are great

Ron

Originally posted by Sloan
[QUOTE]Pete ya liar, I rode with you in Truckhaven. Don't you mean "as slow as necessary, as fast as possible."

thats only in sand washes or when someone's trying to get to camp before you and steal a beer :D





use your lowest gear for going downhill to maintain control,

try to avoid locking up the brakes on steep downhills. If the rear end starts to come around - let off the brakes and steer into the direction of the skid, then slowly reapply the brakes to regain control.

keep you thumbs outside the steering wheel at all times

when cresting a blind hill, try to go slow in case someone is coming up the other way or the trail is washed out or ends... also get out and check if necessary before starting the climb

use a stick to check the depth of water before crossing.

always cross streams at 90 degree angles. DO NOT SPIN TIRES IN THE WATER, this tears up the river bottom, causes erosion and gets trails closed

know you vehicle's fording depth before finding out the hard way

uphill traffic has the right of way

leave the beer at camp

don't drive and park, accidents cause people...

I'm going to bed..hope these get you started :)



:usa:

do you plan to add anything on basic troubleshooting? seems when you get to what I consider an intermidiate level you are far enough off road to worry about breakage.
when we learn for the millitary we include all aspects off cross country travel, not just classroom but real field experience, its all fine and dandy to say 3 foot fording depth but untill you have done it......

Originally posted by Yellowsub1962



keep you thumbs outside the steering wheel at all times



Deffinately include this! It sucks to learn the hard way...

i think mytflick hit it !

I'd cover trail breakage and how to fix things. U-joints, dirve shafts, rear axle cover the basics. Show a typical tool bag. I know many carry everything. So people should see that. Explain the "DON'T WHEEL ALONE" concept and give some good examples. Go over the buddy system, (buddy up with a friend in a similer vehicle to "share" tools/parts. I did a small class for my old club and gave hand outs on a basic tool kit, epoxy, zip ties, duct tape, tire plugs, lug wrench, etc... Be surprised how much there is for a new person to gather up...

I think that when most people see or have experienced even "minor" trail fixes. They gain a new outlook on the trail fun vs trail fix ratio. Then you can outline basic trail navigation. Basic and rule probably needed is.... If your not sure follow your spotter...

Some others are..pay attention to those around you, they probably have been there before and by watching you can see how the obstical is approached etc... When you learn to follow others steps I think you can build a bank of knowledge to then build on to make your own decisions in the future...

Also just stress the importance of saftey and helping others etc.. I think the flood on new people into the sport/hobby has left a void of information on how to act responsably. Plus the part about fun, i think some get to worked up over things...

Good luck
-yag

Is that thread Lance had for tips to be published in 4Wheeler or one of the other rags still around??

The advanced class should feature pyrotechnics for the trail, Mickies bottles in the bonfire & mounting tires with starting fluid.

Originally posted by Chris Geiger
The advanced class should feature pyrotechnics for the trail, Mickies bottles in the bonfire & mounting tires with starting fluid.

GOOD STUFF:D

Maybe we can cook a roast on the headers for lunch one of the field days.

Thanks everybody some great stuff there

Read the book:

Offroader Driving
Any idea on an author? I can't find the title on Amazon or Barnes and Snowball.

Thanks again for the great info.

Jeff

do you really want to teach people to do some of the stuff i do? i don't think so but just in case you do have one mental case in your class just pull him aside and inform him that he will not be excused from class until his rig is smashed up and all the running gear is broken. if he happens to make a obstacle then just keep pointing out that there is a bigger one near by, sooner or later he will roll his junk or break. then he will be an advanced wheeler/retard like me :D

and from mrs. camo:

for weeklong forays into the wilderness in you 4x4 rig. find out from your husband exactly how much room he has allocated for you to pack all of the essentials that you will need to survive in the outback for extended periods of time and then bring exactly twice as much stuff as he has made room for.

GOOD LINK (http://www.offroaders.com/info/tech-corner/reading/index.html)

Originally posted by zukipuke
"DON'T WHEEL ALONE" concept and give some good examples. Go over the buddy system, (buddy up with a friend in a similer vehicle to "share" tools/parts.


how could I have forgot this one:shaking:


absolutely never wheel alone







- besides there would be no one there to convince you you can do things that the laws of physics do not allow :D



:usa:

there's a good "check list" on ORC about how to prepare for a big trip....good info and clearly explained....

http://www.off-road.com/jeep/tech/tripchecklist.htm


:usa:

I may as well chime in. I try to be very analytical when driving. So here is my basic technique:

1. pick the line that makes the suspension flex the least
2. try to stay level, but when you can't don't worry about it, your students will be in stockish rigs that can lean very far over without rolling
3. take your time and think it through - then act
4. plan the next 5-10 feet in front of the vehicle, looking too far ahead is pointless, and not looking far enough ahead is dangerous
5. show them how to remove swaybars, hehehe.
6. try to crawl an obstacle a few different ways before bumping it, and then only bump as much as you need to to clear it.
7. after bumping over a ledge let off just before you reach the top, staying in the gas can cause breakage and rollovers
8. make each student lie under the test vehicle for at least 10 minutes, have them identify the low points on the vehicle, and crucial parts such as drivelines, and diffs, gas tanks, etc.
9. One interesting test i saw on TV one day, Ivan Stewart was teaching this chick how to Baja race, and he had her do this:
Place a rock on the ground, and pull the rig about 20 feet back from it. Have the student drive up to the rock, and get as close to it as possible with the passenger side front tire, without actually touching it. This will help them know where the other tires on the vehicle are.
10. When driving with no spotter, look ahead and try to plan the path of the driver's side front tire, then extrapalate where the passenger side tires will go based on the width of the vehicle. You can only see the driver's side from behind the wheel, so if you know how far the passenger tires are away, you can know where they are without seeing them, make sense?
11. have them spot for the other students, spotting is the best way to learn what lines to take, and it will translate into better driving ability, because they will see what works/doesn't work from the outside of the vehicle.
12. stress constant communication between spotter and driver, this is key.


Hope these helped some-
laters

Originally posted by Yellowsub1962



..... - besides there would be no one there to convince you you can do things that the laws of physics do not allow :D


:laughing: there is a downside to this......."do you think i can make this?" (fawkin constantly) :shaking: but i agree, NEVER alone

I forgot a hyphen:

off-roader driving

by Tom Sheppard

Ron

top

If at all possible, bring a fully locked rig (better yet, a locked one w/ some good flex) to use on the same obstacles as others. Then drive it up a harder obstacle, and have a stocker try to follow it.

I demonstrated this to a friend of mine once. I parked on the side of a dry trail, so that the drivers side tires were in a really gooey mudhole, then pulled out of it without a problem. I then had him follow in the same line, and almost stick his fully open ford. Remember this: If you have time, examples are better than explanations.

Make sure they understand the limitations of (their) ope diffed vehicles.

Everything else sounds good. If they have had a class on basic winching, toss 'em a bag of recovery gear and see if they know to plug in the remote, back out the cable, feespool it, and rig a double line pull. (Make them do a double line pull with a snatch block).


Hi-lifts: First, basic use. Sliding the arm w/ no load, the postion of the lifting/lowering lever and it's affect on operation, etc.

Next, safe use. Next to a winch, it's the most useful tool which can also do the most harm if used improperly. Don't go under the rig for any reason, whatsoever, when it's only held up by the teeter-totter of doom. Jam a log/rock under the frame if you have to get under the truck, use a nice fat base to try and stabilize the jack, and NEVER NEVER let go of the handle, or stick your head/body anywhere that the handle will kick back to if your grip slips (I very nearly got a concussion this way). Also, make sure they understand that the handle ALWAYS stays in the up & clipped position when they're not using it.