4WD Sand Driving Course

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

Being a recent Prado owner (about 8 weeks now) the wife and I thought it might be a good idea to participate in a 4WD course before doing anything too stupid with it. Anyway, when my folks asked us what we wanted for Christmas this year, this came up and sure enough, the folks have gone and done it for us.

Because we are travelling away over Christmas I thought it would be best to do the course before we take the Prado away. So on December 14 we are participating in a 4WD Sand Driving Course. $250 for the day. Depending on the weather, the course may involve beach driving.

We have been told to bring along a air compressor, tyre gauge, and a shovel.

Just wondering, does anyone have any tips to 'prepare' the vehicle, like, is there anything I should be doing before heading out on the beach to help protect the car?

I'm not wanting to wrap it in cotton wool - don't get me wrong, but aside from checking the normal things (oil, water, radiator, etc.), any other tips would be great.

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

Re: 4WD Sand Driving Course

madkore,

i am guessing that you are doing the eureka course. You'll enjoy it - it is a good day out and they do a great job of encouraging and helping without feeling pressured.

I bought Mrs Fishnut the same course a while back (and the bush course too), so she could get advice from someone other than me (keep a happy marriage and all that... :lol: ). I got to be a passenger and listen in and picked up stuff too.

You really don't need to worry about 'setting' the car up. It'll do most of what they ask without any troubles, and they don't take you into any scratchies or near the water.

If you really want to do something to the car, then:

If you have time and inclination, putting on some recovery points might be worth considering (there's thread on here regarding Outback Ideas points that you can fit yourself for $80-100). You probably won't need them on the day, but you'll want them in the long-run anyway, so why not fit them now?? The day we went out, we were the only car with rated recovery points fitted :shock: . The result was that they chose our car to be the demonstrator to get bogged and have to recover. Funny thing was nothing Deb did could get the prado bogged! Ended up having to dig two holes to drop the front end into and the spin the rear to dig in.

Oh, some rubber floor mats with high sides (or fancy Sandgrabbas) will make the vacuuming easier the next day

I'd also add that you will want to make sure to give the car a good wash the following day or so - get underneath and squirt too. Want to get rid of the sand and salt.

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

Re: 4WD Sand Driving Course

oh, and if you haven't thought about it already, be sure that what ever you have in the back is secured - you will bump around a bit and it would be horrible to find that the shovel has worked it's way through the back of the seat...

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

Re: 4WD Sand Driving Course

Regardless of whether you will use it on the day or not I reckon you should definitely get yourself a recovery kit as a minimum for driving on sand or bush tracks. Always a good peace of mind to know the recovery kit is in the back.

[Snaga Wishing I was lost Find all posts View Profile Close Snaga]

Re: 4WD Sand Driving Course

I doubt you'll be doing any water obstacles on the day but it might be worth asking what elecrticky things need a spray (if any) under the bonnet... a bit of extra water proofing always helps.

Ask to be the one that gets bogged and recovered... it's good to know what the feeling is like just before forward motion is lost so you can learn to recognise it.
If you haven't bought one already... a good, quick compressor will be more likely to be used as opposed to a cheap, slow one. I know I'm more inclined to use the correct tyre pressures now that I have a faster compressor.

BYO recovery gear as has already been mentioned. (out on your travels rather than this course specifically)
You'll be more likely to be helped by a stranger if you're seen to be half prepared. Also, recovery gear isn't cheap so we shouldn't expect others to use their stuff to get us out of our spot of trouble.

ENJOY the day

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

Re: 4WD Sand Driving Course

I to was new to the 4wd world, and did both the sand and bush courses. I found them very useful and was really amazed how well the stock standard prado coped with everything. They don't really take you on anything extreme, but we did some fairly steep sand runs, and a trickey sloping beach that the insrtuctor got stuck on. Although he was the last through and we had really cut up the beach. You'll love it and get loads of tips from guys who know what they're doing.

Cheers,
Ray.

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

Re: 4WD Sand Driving Course

Champions - the whole lot of you!

I can't wait for the course either. Great to hear so many positive comments on the course - yes it is the Eureka one - I didn't know whether to mention it thats all.

Floor mats I've got. That's easy. Good point about securing everything in the back too!

They do say for the course to take along any recovery gear you have so they can check over it and make sure it suits your vehicle. Not sure if I will have some before the course. I do like the idea of recovery points and some other 'basics'.

I'm yet to convince Mrs Madkore to get a compressor, but I was hoping after doing the course she will be a lot more willing (also another reason why I made the course just before Christmas!).

I'll be taking the camera along so when I get back I'll have to learn how to post some pics!

By the way - more comments are welcome!

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

Re: 4WD Sand Driving Course

I think you'll need to organise a compressor for the course. You will certainly be letting your tyres down and the BFGs will probably go to 14psi up there in those dunes. Takes a while to pump up if you have to wait for someone else to finish first.

unless you plan to borrow one.

Think you need a uhf too.

[two+four Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close two+four]

Re: 4WD Sand Driving Course

I just did the Intro course with them last weekend and had a ball. Planning to do the Bush and Sand courses in the new year. As far as compressors go I borrowed a friends Blackmax for the course and it was fine time wise. I had been planning to get a bigger one but I suspect I will just get the same as his.

I told the other Prado driver about this site and hopefully he will join up.

Cheers

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

Re: 4WD Sand Driving Course

My apologies - I'm going to borrow a friend's compressor, and hopefully convince Mrs Madkore its a worthwhile investment.

And yeah, I've got access to a UHF no probs.

Great to hear others have enjoyed it.

[Signature035 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Signature035]

Re: 4WD Sand Driving Course

.........recovery gear is a must, ......and I never go onto the sand without my Maxtrax https://www.maxtrax.com.au/
You will have a ball, the Prado is a very capable vechile

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

Re: 4WD Sand Driving Course

My apologies - I'm going to borrow a friend's compressor, and hopefully convince Mrs Madkore its a worthwhile investment.

Take a hand pump and tell her she is "The Minister For Re-inflation"

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

Re: 4WD Sand Driving Course

HAHAHAHAHA!

Classic!

I love it!

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

Re: 4WD Sand Driving Course

Just to let you all know I completed the course yesterday. Was a long day - started at 9am, finished at 5:30pm, add on top of that a 45 minute drive to and from the meeting point.

Had a great day overall, but I tell you, it was STINKING hot - forecast for 35C, I reckon it was pretty close to 40 odd on the sand dunes. Lack of shade and the reflection off the white sand didn't help this.

As expected, the Prado did not surprise me at all - I knew it was a capable vehicle and performed everything asked of it with flying colours. The only limitation on the car was me. I learnt heaps about tyre pressue and operations of the vehicle (2nd start, etc.) to help me out.

For those in Perth, I highly recommend the course. I found it really useful and picked up lots of little tips that will help me tackle anything I choose to. Knowing my limits now I feel confident to travel on the beach and sand.

The only downside, apart from the heat, was with 12 vehicles on the course, there was pretty limited time to do some of the tests. Most of the challenges required each vehicle to go separately to allow for the instructors to talk you through any problems, so by the time 12 vehicles went through, it ate up a fair amount of time. The upside to that was you knew you were getting individualised attention when tackling an obstacle.

Thanks to all those you gave me tips for preparing for the day, they were all useful.

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

Re: 4WD Sand Driving Course

well done Madkore. They run a great course.

If you are interested in putting some of your skills into more practice, albeit in the hills with dry dust and rocks, we are doing a run on Saturday...see http://www.pradopoint.com/viewtopic....=4890&start=15
and a great chance to meet some of the other WA mob