Setting up newbie advice

[Ceason]

Being new to the 4WD experience. What is considered the 'must haves' before we go out, other than a kit (shovel, straps etc). Thinking Glasshouse?

[93patrol]

Compressor and a good tyre gauge. Recovery points (proper ones) and a recovery reciever hitch on the back of your car

[growler2058]

Half decent tyres, ie good all terrain or if $'s allow good muds.

[threedogs]

tyre gauge, compressor and a shovel, maybe an air jack but not familiar with that area

[Ceason]

Thank you. Much appreciated.

[Ceason]

Thank you. Much appreciated. Do you know where a novice can go ?

[Ceason]

Thank you. On the wish list.

[the evil twin]

Being new to the 4WD experience. What is considered the 'must haves' before we go out, other than a kit (shovel, straps etc). Thinking Glasshouse?

Someone who knows how to 4WD and can start you off with good basic techniques.
Techniques like gear selection, picking lines, throttle modulation, crawling, safe recovery techniques and especially how to do stall recoveries.

Do a course or join a club or go with someone who genuinely knows what they are doing.
Don't just follow them around, jump in their pax seat or have them jump in yours for some of the track challenges while you are out there and get them to talk you through it... and never stop asking questions.

Thinking Glasshouse then here is a few of the golden rules to get you started.
Don't touch the clutch - in a manual the moment you push the clutch in is the moment you have lost control so simply stall out, assess and recover
2nd Gear, Low range is Gods Gear - if in doubt use it
Go down a challenge 1 gear lower than you would use to go up
Traction - if you lose it then it can be really hard to get it back and only throttle modulation not braking helps
Momentum - will replace Traction in some challenges but means you may be pointed a different direction to what you started off
Traction for go, Momentum for show

[Ceason]

Thanks. The cousins gave him a lesson on the duck creek rd yesterday, he didn't drive, not his car but they will be with him more often then not :)

[threedogs]

Going down hill stick to the ruts, there is a very fine line between full noise and momentum.
General rule of thumb is low 2nd if going uphill with revs around 1800-2000
maybe lower if petrol. as ET says going down lock everything you have and select Low 1st
you can feather the brake if you feel you are going to quick , NEVER change gears or touch the clutch either going
up or down. If you dont feel comfortable about doing a track dont do it, take the easier track sometimes called the chicken track.
Avoid bog holes like the plague, it will only cause you pain. Make sure after any weekend away to clean your gear with hot soapy water,
allow to dry properly and pack it ready for your next trip. its all about momentum and wheel placement, going flat stick up a hill will only end in tears IMO
softly does it take your time and think it through.

[threedogs]

Going down hill stick to the ruts, there is a very fine line between full noise and momentum.
General rule of thumb is low 2nd if going uphill with revs around 1800-2000
maybe lower if petrol. as ET says going down lock everything you have and select Low 1st
you can feather the brake if you feel you are going to quick , NEVER change gears or touch the clutch either going
up or down. If you dont feel comfortable about doing a track dont do it, take the easier track sometimes called the chicken track.
Avoid bog holes like the plague, it will only cause you pain. Make sure after any weekend away to clean your gear with hot soapy water,
allow to dry properly and pack it ready for your next trip. its all about momentum and wheel placement, going flat stick up a hill will only end in tears IMO
softly does it take your time and think it through.
Find yourself a nice hill or track you can practice on, in the dry and in the wet , then when you master that look for something a tad more technical.
Dont forget the chicken track is there for a reason

[Ceason]

Today I have read the posts, and WOW this is either going to be great, or painful. Putting oil in my Camry a challenge (let it run dry), and washing the car, LMAO as I read hot soapy water.
But seriously thank you. Thankfully he is a softly does it and thinking person.

[Drewboyaus]

Firstly, join a club (and do driver training) or invest $300 on some 4wd QLD driver training. This will form the basis of what you NEED to know before heading out. Don't go on your own either.

As far as initial hardware goes:
A good map of where you are going (preferably topo)
UHF radio
Rated recovery points
Recovery kit
Tyre deflator
Tyre pressure gauge
Portable compressor

A set of decent mud tyres or all terrains would be good too but not essential to start with
depending on the tracks and the condition (wet or dry).
They're probably the basics and from there, it's wherever you want to take it with mods.

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