Learning to drive - a 4x4

[bj0075 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bj0075]

OK DONT LAUGH

After forking out some serious folding for our first 4x4 , a new prado Altitude (yet to take possession) a serious family car......

Im after where I can learn to drive it properly... Any suggestions apart from a few joking posts of driving it up the gutter to wash it or onto the football fields carpark. Seriously Ive done more high performance driving days and courses than you can count - I use to instruct them ;-)

But Im first to admit coming from nearly a 500hp 2 seater , to a 3 tonne truck is a slight change in the physics of motoring.

I have only been off road with a mate in firstly his sierra , then a hilux and thats about it.

Im in western sydney if that helps as well for location. Oh and for the record I dont want to climb everest in the beast just learn the basics and go from there.

Thanks for your time and replies
Brian

[letsgoplaces Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close letsgoplaces]

Hey Brian,

If you google 4wd training Sydney, there will be a heap of options. You could join a 4wd club or my preferred option would be to join PP outings.

Cheers,
John

[spitfireslw Member Find all posts View Profile Close spitfireslw]

Hi brian,

I am also in western sydney. You should come along to one of our drives (Newnes/zigzag) as their is all different levels of experience. Where we head out their is always a easy way and a more challenging line and every one is always keen to lend a hand and help out where needed.

Cheers,

Steven

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Firstly it is great to see someone who understands that a 4x4 isn't the same as every other car, and recognises that a few new skills are needed. really you can go 2 ways and I think doing both is a good idea. You could go on a few trips with more experienced people and learn from them, after more than a decade of 4wdriving, and I am currently training to become a 4wd instuctor, I am about to head on a trip that i wouldn't contemplate unless I was travelling with people more experienced than myself.

To start out though you cant go past doing a basic driving course with a qualified 4wd instructor, I can teach someone more in half a day sitting in the passenger seat than I can in a month of them travelling with me. most of the better clubs will have a driver training unit, or given you are in Sydney I imagine there are a number private instructors, someone in the area may be able to give you a better idea exactly who would be good.

Cheers Andrew

[bj0075 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bj0075]

Hey Brian,

If you google 4wd training Sydney, there will be a heap of options. You could join a 4wd club or my preferred option would be to join PP outings.

Cheers,
John

Cheers John

Yes did do that , and was suprised at how many are out there ... Am looking for something that comes recommended even where I used to instruct they had a 4wd "course" which I never took part in - I used to hate the thought of a 4wd on the road - but now with kids and the fact we want to start going camping and weekends away well a 500hp MX5 doesnt get you to far off into the rough stuff alive anyway

BJ

[glen_ep Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close glen_ep]

How in the world do you get 500 HP out of a 1.8L MX5?

I think it's worth getting some experience on the tracks before going to a course - as the training may soak in a bit more having already covered the basics yourself. Keep an eye on our "NSW: next day out" thread and join in when you're ready to give it a go! The best locations to start out, IMO, are Lidsdale SF and Newnes SF.

Also, if you need some inspiration of what a 150 can do (beyond climb gutters), check out my video of spitfireslw's 150 at wheeny creek: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltYbEg-bryw

[MidLifeCrisis Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close MidLifeCrisis]

BJ
No one is laughing. I'm actually impressed by the question and voted some respect(green button things).

Good on you for asking and I will leave the suggestions to those in Sydney.

mlc

[netarch Member Find all posts View Profile Close netarch]

Going out with the other guys is a good way to build up your skills, but I found that I could never get the missus behind the wheel . I would recommend that doing a course is good idea as you can get your other half some experience with driving the car in the bush in a location she feels safe in.

We did a weekend course in Braidwood and the missus and kids enjoyed the experience and she was happy to get behind the wheel and try things out, especially as there were other couples doing the same thing. She still doesn't get behind the wheel that often but she knows she can do it if she wants to.

[bj0075 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bj0075]

How in the world do you get 500 HP out of a 1.8L MX5?

I think it's worth getting some experience on the tracks before going to a course - as the training may soak in a bit more having already covered the basics yourself. Keep an eye on our "NSW: next day out" thread and join in when you're ready to give it a go! The best locations to start out, IMO, are Lidsdale SF and Newnes SF.

Also, if you need some inspiration of what a 150 can do (beyond climb gutters), check out my video of spitfireslw's 150 at wheeny creek: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltYbEg-bryw

I just paused the video at 5mins , just to say holy sh17......thats way out of my league some great patience (mmm will need to see if thats on the options list) and driving....

Guys thanks for all your replies -
One of my biggest hopes is to get my wife into the drivers seat, she is first to admit she isnt a confident driver (she's been involved in a few rather large accidents when she started driving all of which not her fault at all other idiots not driving to the conditions) We also have some great family friends and I know they are on here so Mr and Mrs F we might have to have a few days catch up (you dont have to bring the lasagna Mrs F, but can we go back to your place for dinner ;-) ) And you can give me some pointers please.

I have also caught up (by accident) with an old work mate. Who is going to help out with some courses and days out, you all might know him actually, Scott from Penrith Offroad Warehouse (there's a plug for you Scott hahaha)

As for getting that kind of power out of an MX5 you ask , first step dont let the missus find out how much your spending, and the only thing that was standard under the bonnet was the ABS and the rocker cover....first run with an open diff was an 11 at eastern creek. But that cars sold to pay for the new family camping truck...

Brian

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Some of the magazines out there, like 4WD Action, have some good articles and DVDs on this subject too.

You can not be serious Roo. 4WD action, particularly their DVD's would be the worst possible place you could go to learn to drive a 4WD, unless of course you want to learn how to rip the S#*T out of tracks so the do gooders have more reason to lock gates, or work out the best way to inflict the most damage possible on your 4B. It is also useful for learning incorrect and dangerous recovery techniques.

Brian, getting your wife to do the course is a great idea, my wife has done one and it was a great idea. Except when she won't give me the keys back!

Cheers Andrew

[Brett1979 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Brett1979]

My wife doesn't drive my Prado off-road because she's not comfortable with the idea. She drove it for 2 mins on Fraser Island once until she had to stop quick on a bend because a tree 2.5ft in diameter had just fallen and blocked the track. We roped a dozen Sweedes into holding the tree up so we could drive under it to get to the barge in time as it was getting on in the afternoon.

[Ron.H. Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ron.H.]

Hi Brian I found a site with tips and techniques you may be interested in.
http://www.eulex-kosovo.eu/training/...ide.to.4WD.pdf
Ron.

[bj0075 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bj0075]

Thanks guys, Ron that's great thanks

Brian

[Disco4 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Disco4]

Brian

Great question & topic.
If you can get together with some 150 owners for a run that will be a huge benefit.
I have been really lucky in that my previous 4x4's I managed to meet specific model clubs that gave me huge knowledge about the car, these were Discovery 2 & 3.
My first day trip in my D3 I got bogged in a relatively easy section of track.
There were no other D3 owners around so no one to ask.
Went home thinking this D3 is not as good as my old D2.
After that I did some D3 specific trips with LROCV & that gave me back confidence in the car.

I would like to do something similar with my 150 when it arrives.
This forum is also a huge source of knowledge - I have already ordered my 4x4 stuff & know which tyres I am going to fit.

Hopefully there will be a PradoPoint day trip with a couple of 150's amongst the others soon after I receive mine.

I also went from high performance car to 4x4, best thing I did.

Regards

Disco4

[bj0075 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bj0075]

Well had a great phone call today I should have a new altitude to take on a how to learn to drive off the Tarmac next Monday